(VeteransFranchise.com) - By Melissa. Updated Oct 19, 2015
Pet Supplies Plus Appoints David Leonardo as Senior Vice President of Franchising
Franchise Industry Veteran Bolsters Executive Team at Nation’s Largest Pet Retail Franchise
Livonia, Mich. (INSERT DATE) –Pet Supplies Plus, the nation’s largest pet retail franchise with more than 300 location in 26 states, announced today the hiring of David Leonardo as the company’s Senior Vice President of Franchising.
Leonardo joins the Pet Supplies Plus team as a veteran franchise executive with experience in high level roles at Wild Wing Café, Arby’s Restaurant Group, Wendy’s and Burger King. Most recently, Leonardo served as the COO at La Galere Markets, a start-up company that operates and develops gourmet, self-checkout mini-markets.
“Coming from a start-up environment, I wanted to use my franchising experience at a company with high-growth potential and in which I truly believe in the concept,” said Leonardo. “Looking at the franchise industry overall, I was attracted to pet industry because of its steady and continual growth. Pet Supplies Plus is a leader in the pet franchise category and I am thrilled to join the team.”
As one of his first initiatives at Pet Supplies Plus, Leonardo will place an emphasis on introducing qualified multi-unit franchisees from different categories to the opportunity in the thriving pet industry. According to the 2015 American Pet Products Association report, consumer pet spending shows no signs of halting. Pet owners spent $58 billion in 2014, which is only expected to increase with industry experts projecting to surpass the $60 billion mark this year.
“After working in the restaurant space for over a decade, I saw firsthand the constant labor and food cost pressures that hurt franchisees’ bottom line,” added Leonardo. “I believe that Pet Supplies Plus offers a solution to these burdens with a business model posting single digit labor costs and strong unit-level economics in an anticyclical industry, which has seen more than 20 years of positive growth. It even saw some of its highest sales growth throughout the recession.”
Leonardo joins Pet Supplies during an accelerated growth period. In 2015, to date, Pet Supplies Plus has signed 27 agreements for a total of 34 locations. Newly signed agreements will bring the neighborhood pet stores to new and underserved markets including Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Jacksonville and Nashville. For continued expansion, Pet Supplies Plus is also currently seeking qualified single and multi-unit owners in Atlanta, Houston, Memphis, Minneapolis, Raleigh, St. Louis and Tampa.
To break down barriers for potential franchisees, Pet Supplies Plus announced earlier this year a reduction of royalty fees from 4 percent to 2 percent for the first 12 months of a new franchise agreement. Following a franchisee’s first year, the royalty fee will remain at 3 percent for the life of the franchise agreement. Initial investment levels range from $549,400 to $1,097,400.
Founded on the idea that convenient, quality service for busy neighbors was lacking in the pet industry, retail veterans, Jack Berry and Harry Shallop, opened the first Pet Supplies Plus store in Redford, Michigan. Since then, the neighborhood-style pet store has become a household name in 26 states. Pet Supplies Plus is a portfolio company of the private equity firm Irving Place Capital.
About Pet Supplies Plus
At Pet Supplies Plus, we’re crazy for pets, too. With more than 300 corporate and franchise locations in 26 states, Pet Supplies Plus is America’s favorite neighborhood pet store. Each location offers a wide array of pet food, pet products, grooming services and animal expertise all at a great value, allowing customers to spoil their pets even more. Friendly, knowledgeable staff get to know each pet and their owner by name and provide playful store experiences to remind them just how fun it is to own a pet. Pet Supplies Plus stores are large enough to house an incredible variety of food and equipment, yet small enough to still feel neighborly. As a growing Livonia, Michigan-based franchisor we are ranked in Entrepreneur magazine’s 2015 Annual Franchise 500® list as the Top Full-Service Pet Supplies Franchise for exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate, and system size. For more information about franchise opportunities, please visit www.petsuppliesplus.com/franchise.
