Feeding Off the Pet Boom
by Eileen Swift, Newsday February 18, 1990
The health-food craze has bounded from two-footed to four-footed diners. Jan Salimbene thought that Fidos and Fifis are entitled to snacks with nutritious-looking green bits lurking righteously inside, so she founded a vegetarian pet-food business in her East Northport garage four years ago.
Salimbene's story runs a little like the movie, "Baby Boom," in which the heroine launched a gourmet baby food company while juggling her own baby.
"When I separated from Mikelle's father, I knew that whatever I would do I wanted to take my baby along with me, so I formulated my time and business around her," she said.
After working at a Manhattan clerical job 14 years, she stayed home in East Northport to take care of her daughter, now 4, and to do volunteer work with an animal-rights group. A vegetarian herself, she found it natural to apply that philosophy to her four-footed family of three dogs, two cats and one horse.
"When I read about a vegetarian dog food company in California, I immediately ordered a few hundred pounds and started selling the product to friends," she said. After becoming a distributor for the company, Nature's Recipe, Salimbene started thinking about making her own pet snacks. "Since I was eating as a vegetarian, I felt there should be a vegetarian dog biscuit," she said, "so I went into my kitchen and created a recipe."
The result was a green-speckled bone-shaped snack. To her surprise, her idea took off, and the business, Wow-Bow Distributors, outgrew its kitchen-garage origins within nine months. Currently Salimbene has an East Northport office, a Huntington manufacturing facility and a Deer Park warehouse. And her snacks are sold in Macy's "Petigree" outlets. "We used to contract for bakery time, but now we're planning to build a bakery on the premises," she said.
Salimbene said she went into business "to extend what I believe in my own life" on vegetarianism, she said.
"People think it was kind of flukey because it just hit the market and constantly grew," she explained. "I had no business or bakery training. I didn't do great in school - got just C's and D's - and had no college. This was all instinct."
Nor has Salimbene skilled management to take credit for her success. "The people that work for me are all laymen, street-smart people. It's all gut-level stuff," she said.
Because of her involvement in pet food, Salimbene stays pretty much out of the kitchen at home. "We dine out," she said. "My baby is also a vegetarian. She likes Chinese food and eats `Buddhist Delight' - that's broccoli, baby corn and mushrooms. She grew up on that and macaroni and eggs and spaghetti and juice."
by Eileen Swift, Newsday February 18, 1990
The health-food craze has bounded from two-footed to four-footed diners. Jan Salimbene thought that Fidos and Fifis are entitled to snacks with nutritious-looking green bits lurking righteously inside, so she founded a vegetarian pet-food business in her East Northport garage four years ago.
Salimbene's story runs a little like the movie, "Baby Boom," in which the heroine launched a gourmet baby food company while juggling her own baby.
"When I separated from Mikelle's father, I knew that whatever I would do I wanted to take my baby along with me, so I formulated my time and business around her," she said.
After working at a Manhattan clerical job 14 years, she stayed home in East Northport to take care of her daughter, now 4, and to do volunteer work with an animal-rights group. A vegetarian herself, she found it natural to apply that philosophy to her four-footed family of three dogs, two cats and one horse.
"When I read about a vegetarian dog food company in California, I immediately ordered a few hundred pounds and started selling the product to friends," she said. After becoming a distributor for the company, Nature's Recipe, Salimbene started thinking about making her own pet snacks. "Since I was eating as a vegetarian, I felt there should be a vegetarian dog biscuit," she said, "so I went into my kitchen and created a recipe."
The result was a green-speckled bone-shaped snack. To her surprise, her idea took off, and the business, Wow-Bow Distributors, outgrew its kitchen-garage origins within nine months. Currently Salimbene has an East Northport office, a Huntington manufacturing facility and a Deer Park warehouse. And her snacks are sold in Macy's "Petigree" outlets. "We used to contract for bakery time, but now we're planning to build a bakery on the premises," she said.
Salimbene said she went into business "to extend what I believe in my own life" on vegetarianism, she said.
"People think it was kind of flukey because it just hit the market and constantly grew," she explained. "I had no business or bakery training. I didn't do great in school - got just C's and D's - and had no college. This was all instinct."
Nor has Salimbene skilled management to take credit for her success. "The people that work for me are all laymen, street-smart people. It's all gut-level stuff," she said.
Because of her involvement in pet food, Salimbene stays pretty much out of the kitchen at home. "We dine out," she said. "My baby is also a vegetarian. She likes Chinese food and eats `Buddhist Delight' - that's broccoli, baby corn and mushrooms. She grew up on that and macaroni and eggs and spaghetti and juice."
In Loving memory....
by Mikelle Salimbene
I believe "passion" is the best word to describe Janet, and the influence she has contributed to the pet food industry. Only a woman of true passion would be able to accomplish what she has over the past twenty-three years. A true innovator, Janet pushed the health food movement for pets with a single biscuit, straight out of the upstairs of her home. She spent many years driving around in her van to various stores, teaching and educating store owners of the harsh realities behind the commercial pet food industry. I'm sure after reading this, some of you will be able to flash back, and envision Janet standing before you with a wicker basket full of her cookies. I know, because I was by her side the entire time…or at least in the passenger seat.
It is you, the loyal customers she was fortunate enough to gain, that allowed her passion, ideals, and life to flourish. Therefore, it has become my priority to maintain my mother's life through this company. Her spirit will live on through the progress and success of Wow-Bow, none of which would happen without all of you. Therefore I also want to personally thank all of you for trusting us at Wow-Bow. You, the customers were of utmost importance to my mother, and for all you have done, I am here to serve you and show my appreciation. Wow-Bow will continue to service you with the integrity and honesty that my mother created. Please contact me at anytime, with any questions or concerns that may arise. Thank you all again, and please never forget Janet Salimbene…a mother, founder, leader, and a voice for the animals who can't speak for themselves.
Sincerely,
Mikelle Salimbene
by Mikelle Salimbene
I believe "passion" is the best word to describe Janet, and the influence she has contributed to the pet food industry. Only a woman of true passion would be able to accomplish what she has over the past twenty-three years. A true innovator, Janet pushed the health food movement for pets with a single biscuit, straight out of the upstairs of her home. She spent many years driving around in her van to various stores, teaching and educating store owners of the harsh realities behind the commercial pet food industry. I'm sure after reading this, some of you will be able to flash back, and envision Janet standing before you with a wicker basket full of her cookies. I know, because I was by her side the entire time…or at least in the passenger seat.
It is you, the loyal customers she was fortunate enough to gain, that allowed her passion, ideals, and life to flourish. Therefore, it has become my priority to maintain my mother's life through this company. Her spirit will live on through the progress and success of Wow-Bow, none of which would happen without all of you. Therefore I also want to personally thank all of you for trusting us at Wow-Bow. You, the customers were of utmost importance to my mother, and for all you have done, I am here to serve you and show my appreciation. Wow-Bow will continue to service you with the integrity and honesty that my mother created. Please contact me at anytime, with any questions or concerns that may arise. Thank you all again, and please never forget Janet Salimbene…a mother, founder, leader, and a voice for the animals who can't speak for themselves.
Sincerely,
Mikelle Salimbene
