MONT VERNON, WASH. — Pet Wants, a fresh pet food company and retail franchise, announced the opening of a new retail location in Mount Vernon. According to Pet Wants, the new location aims to “elevate the nutrition and health of pets” while also creating a community for local pet parents.

Susan Hughes, a retired Boeing engineer, will serve as the owner of the new Pet Wants store. She came across the brand after visiting a Pet Wants location.

“When I visited a Pet Wants pet store, I realized it could be a great way to start a family business that I could grow with my daughter and granddaughter,” Susan Hughes said. “We all love pets and animals in general, and we were really drawn to healthy pet food. Between the three of us, we have six dogs and three cats. Within two weeks of eating Pet Wants food, our dogs had more energy, which really impressed us. We are excited to share this with our local Mount Vernon community.

“My husband passed away three years ago, so this venture is really something new and a second opportunity for me,” she added. “Looking ahead, my family and I couldn’t be more excited about the opportunity to support the fellow pet parents of Mount Vernon and become an integral part of the community through our Pet Wants franchise.”

Pet Wants specializes in fresh, natural pet food free from fillers and animal byproducts and made in small batches. The brand offers a variety of fresh formulas, targeting a pet’s individual dietary needs, according to Pet Wants. The formulas are available at Pet Wants locations and can also be shipped directly to consumers.

Susan Hughes will run the new location with her daughter Alexandra Hughes and granddaughter Alexis Hughes. The team’s plan is to  establish a community-centric ethos at the new store.

“I have been all over this area taking care of people and their pets at their homes, so when this opportunity came, I also knew I would be serving those in this community,” Alexis Hughes said. “Many in the community could benefit from having good quality pet food being delivered to their homes or have the option of a small business instead of big box stores.”

Read more about pet retail trends.