What: Gourmet dog treats
Company: Bone Appetit Bakery
Address: 103 Frazier Ave.
Website: Down for update, but the store has a Facebook profile
Telephone: 756-2663
Owner: Kathy Levy
What’s special: All Bone Appetit treats are made in-house using “human grade” ingredients, said former co-owner Joan Nash, who now works as a sales associate for her sister, and current owner, Kathy Levy. The treats are overbaked to clean the dogs’ teeth and ensure a longer shelf life (up to four months for treats that use yogurt or cabot, six months without those ingredients).
The origin story: Nash said she and her sister founded the company to start a business that would be different from anything else in Chattanooga. “By golly, we were different, but it took awhile to teach Chattanooga that you can spoil your pet,” she said, laughing. “It took two to three years to realize where we were going with it, but we went in a good direction.”
How long does it take to make a treat: Most treats require four hours to make.
Where it’s sold: In addition to its store sales, Bone Appetit soon will be selling treats online again via a revamped website. It also will ship anywhere in the United States and has in-state wholesale accounts in Athens, Knoxville and Johnson City and in Atlanta.
How long has it been in business: Bone Appetit opened April 1999.
Plans: Nash said Bone Appetit eventually will expand its kitchen in anticipation of increased wholesale business and to add to the diversity of the product line.
Lessons of the trade: “Retail really can be fun,” Nash said, laughing. “It’s a whole new world, but it’s fun. The biggest lesson – and it’s not really a lesson – is to learn what to purchase and what not to purchase again. Over the years, we’ve learned to try and be a little more careful.”
– Compiled by staff writer Casey Phillips, cphillips@timesfreepress.com