CHINA: Bakery for canines offers tantalizing cakes and biscuits to cater for the refined appetites of pet dogs in Beijing

Record ID: 572878

  • Title: CHINA: Bakery for canines offers tantalizing cakes and biscuits to cater for the refined appetites of pet dogs in Beijing
  • Date: 20th May 2011
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MAY 16, 2011) (REUTERS) STORE EXTERIOR AND CUSTOMERS WALKING IN WITH A DOG CUSTOMERS PICKING DOG BISCUITS BISCUITS IN TRAY DOG SNIFFING BISCUIT CUSTOMER WATCHING CUSTOMER FEEDING BISCUIT TO DOG DOG LICKING BISCUIT AND THEN EATING IT CUSTOMER WATCHING DOG WATCHING HAND FILLING BAG WITH BISCUITS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 36-YEAR OLD BAKERY CUSTOMER HUAN, SAYING: "Dogs normally just have dog food, but then I heard about this place from a friend who said that this store specializes in making cakes and biscuits for dogs. So I felt that the products might be fresher and that the flavours are better, so that's why I checked it out." BAKING AND OFFICE AREA CAKES ON SHELF CHEF COOKING FLOUR BEING POURED INTO BOWL CHEF POURING FLOUR INTO BOWL CHEF COOKING CHEF SCOOPING UP MIXTURE INTO BATTER INGREDIENTS BEING MIXED CHEF REMOVING CAKE FROM OVEN CHEF PLACING CAKE FROM MOLD CHEF CAKE ON TRAY (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) BAKERY FOUNDER SONG YU SAYING: "Pet products and food in terms of customer spending was about 20 to 40 billion yuan (3.1- 6.2 billion US dollars) (in China last year). Predictions show that in 2012 it should reach 40 billion (6.2 billion US dollars). If that's the case, and if we can secure even just a small share of the market, we would already be extremely successful." BEIJING, CHINA (MAY 18, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE AND DOGS AT DOG BIRTHDAY PARTY IN A PARK DOG WEARING BIRTHDAY HAT HAND GRABBING BAG OF DOG BISCUITS MAN INSTRUCTING DOG DOG STANDING UP ON HIND LEGS MAN THROWING BISCUIT INTO THE AIR AND DOG CATCHING BISCUIT WITH MOUTH PEOPLE STROKING DOGS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) 36-YEAR-OLD BAKERY CUSTOMER / DOG TRAINER TANG BING SAYING: "Because the food that we can buy in the shops all have additives or preservatives among other things, so even though they have a long shelf life, they definitely contain substances that are not healthy for dogs and that could be poisonous or harmful." DOG LOOKING ON AT CAKES CAKE KNIFE CUTTING CAKE PERSON HANDING CAKE OUT DOG EATING CAKE OFF PLATE OWNER SMILING DOG CHOMPING ON CAKE
  • Embargoed: 4th June 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA6796V52YJ4U7EV75V3R1ZDHL6
  • Story Text: The Paopao Pet Bakery is the first of its kind in China, offering gourmet cakes and biscuits to a customer with a difference.
    All of their products are catered to the taste buds of dogs.
    The bakery, located in the outskirts of Beijing, has attracted dog owners willing to spend more on quality food for their much-loved pets. Some favouring it over pet food sold in local supermarkets or pet stores.
    The human customers are told that they can even taste the products for themselves as all ingredients used are fresh and natural -- a strong selling point for the bakery.
    Biscuits contain ingredients such as sweet potato, carrot, pumpkin combined with minced pork and chicken.
    Some are even infused with the unusual flavor of green tea.
    Thirty-six-year-old Ms. Huan said that she has been a regular customer from the very beginning.
    "Dogs normally just have dog food, but then I heard about this place from a friend who said that this store specializes in making cakes and biscuits for dogs, then I felt that the products might be fresher and that the flavors are better matched, so that's why I checked it out," she said.
    In its first month alone, sales went up to 8,000 yuan ($1,230 U.S. dollars), far exceeding their initial expectations, bakery founder Song Yu said.
    The prices of cakes range from 128 yuan ($19.6 U.S. dollars) to 300 yuan ($46 U.S. dollars).
    It has been two months since they have opened their doors, and Song said customer numbers have steadied but the business shows no signs of slowing down.
    Online sales have also increased, with customers across China ordering cakes and biscuits, with order coming in from as far as the southern Chinese province of Guangdong.
    With a small kitchen situated on the floor above the store, Song said that they are still in the process of testing the business model before expanding their market reach.
    "Pet products and food in terms of customer spending is about 20 to 40 billion yuan ($3.1- 6.2 billion U.S. dollars). Predictions show that in 2012 it should reach 40 billion ($6.2 billion U.S. dollars). If that's the case, and if we can secure even just a small share of the market, we would already be extremely successful," said Song.
    Another popular baked treat is the birthday cake - supported by a new trend by some loving pet owners to throw birthday parties for their dogs.
    Food quality concerns has started to spread to pet food with bakery customer and dog trainer Tang Bing saying he preferred the bakery products to shop goods.
    "Because the food that we can buy in the shops all has additives or preservatives among other things, so even though they have a long shelf life, they definitely contain substances that are not beneficial to dogs and that could be poisonous or harmful," he said.
    Throwing birthday party for dogs is becoming very common in China, a contrast to decades back when owning a dog was illegal under Chairman Mao as it was considered to be bourgeoisie.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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