Demand at a new bargain pet pantry project launched by Ramsgate couple Lee and Sophie Carter has increased four-fold since launching last month.
Bargain Pet Pantry is aimed at easing the financial strain on pet owners by offering high-quality, branded pet food at significantly reduced prices.
Sophie and Lee, who are parents to two-year-old Bentley and owners of dogs Buster, Luna. Mowgli and Chaos, say they want to do their bit to help people keep their pets well-fed even during the ongoing cost of living crisis.
Operating between a traditional pet food bank and a retail shop, Bargain Pet Pantry sources its stock in bulk from a trusted supplier and passes on cost savings to the customer.
The business started out with a one pallet order and now needs to bring in four pallets at a time.
Sophie, 24, said: “We have been running for around four weeks so we are still very new but it has absolutely taken off.
“We are dog owners so we know how expensive pet food can be and wanted to do this as a way of giving back to the community.”
Lee, 37, has a network of dog owner contacts through his work with Barking Mad dog training and says the pet pantry means he can do something that is within his passion for helping animals but also gives him free time with his family.
Items vary from week to week,but all products are in-date and come from popular brands.
Lee said: “We know how challenging it can be to afford pet food right now. Our goal is to ensure no pet in Thanet has to go hungry, and to take some of the financial pressure off their owners.
“Hopefully that means people can spend a little bit money on their families.”
Lee is running the business full-time while Sophie pitches in part-time alongside her buggy and pushchair cleaning business.
Bargain Pet Pantry operates online with stock updates published on its Facebook page. Customers can browse the available items, place orders and arrange for local delivery.
Sophie said: “We know there are pet food banks in Thanet doing a fantastic job but there is only so much they can do as there are not enough donations. So we thought if we found a way to get prices down then more people can afford their pet food and the pet food banks can help people who need that assistance.”
So is it a charity or a business? Seems a bit sus to sell at the prices that they do
It’s not a charity
I don’t have a problem with them not being a charity, as long as they can make a profit, and supply cheap dog (and cat?) food under cutting the big stores. I tried to get Ramsgate ASDA to put out food boxes for people to donate to, and the reply I got was their store in Broadstairs does it, so they won’t, duurh! Ramsgate Waitrose have food boxes for people to donate to, which is a much smaller store than Ramsgate ASDA, so whats the problem?