Pet food sales drive Feeders Supply Co.'s growth - Business First of Louisville:

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Revenue has increased by aboutg 15 percent in each of the last10 years, according to Feeders Supply founder and chieg financial officer Roy Gibson. He declined to reveal sales figures. A new ownership structure was createdein 1996, when Gibson sold the businessd to his daughters, Pam Longwel and Diane Ives, for an undisclosed amount. Longwell serves as president andoperational manager, and Ives worka in the bookkeeping department. Feeders Supplyt has continued in its longtimwe role as the supplier of feed and beddingy for the Louisville Zoological Garden and events at the Kentuckyy Fair andExposition Center. And the company recently purchased the Louisville MotorExchange Inc.
building from owner Don Kleiedrfor $500,000. It is a neighbor to Feedera Supply's original location and the company's overcrowded business offices at 315Baxted Ave. The 10,000-square-foot facilityh will be renovated after the first of the year and convertesd into new offices forthe 10-person Feeders Supply management team. Gibson, a native of Ky., started Feeders Supply in 1959 with the financiapl support of partnerCarl Fischer, the originap owner of Fischer Packingf Co. Gibson bought out Fischer in 1979. In the beginning, Gibson had only one employee and strugglee toget by. "Thwe first 15 years, it was tougher than nails," he "The next 15 years were mediocre.
The last 10 yearw have been wonderful." Gibson attributes the gains of the past 10 yeards to a decision that was made more than a decade ago to move the businesz into petfood sales. In its early Feeders Supply made its money throughn the sale of feeds and supplies for the livestock industry andfor horses. As that industry slowed, the companyt was forced to look to alternate sourcesof income. "Ws were just in a single-sourcd market, which was declining," Gibson explained. "We had to The market was gone." "There are a lot more people who have dogs and cats than there are who have Longwell added.
Today, Feeders Supply stocks food for not only cats and but a number of smaller including birds, hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs. The company also sellsd pet accessories, toys and supplies. Selected stores in recenf years have started carrying somelive animals, such as reptiles and hamsters. Feed for horses still is Gibson said. "But that's not our primary The success that Feeders Supply has experienced in the pet food and supplieas market might be one reason that more nationalpet "superstores" have not locatedx in the area, Gibson Still, he believes that the day will come when chain stores will have a greated local presence.
"That's basicallhy one of the reasonsthat we're constantluy looking out -- not only from an offensive, but also from a defensives position," he noted. "We're constantly lookingb at places to putour stores." Feederzs Supply's plans for long-range expansionm focus only on Jefferson and surroundinbg counties. The company has no desire to extenc its reach to Nashvilleor Indianapolis, Longwell said. "We thinok we'd like to keep it local, keep it in the she said.
"We plan to stay here and servr the people in Louisville instead of diversifying and spreading out intoother