Podium Pet Products, an international pet food specialist founded by three former GB athletes, is celebrating a remarkable achievement as one of the inaugural recipients of the King’s Award for Enterprise from King Charles III.
Headquartered in Berkshire, UK, and with offices in Florida, USA, Podium Pet Products has been honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise 2023. The company was established by Carina Evans, a former World Cup Skeleton athlete, and International Polo players Andrew Hine and Nick Evans.
The King’s Award for Enterprise recognises Podium Pet Products’ excellence in international trade, reinforcing its position as a global leader in the pet food industry.
Out of 148 organisations to receive the prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise, Podium Pet Products is among the first cohort of recipients. This is not the company’s first encounter with such esteemed recognition. In 2016, Podium Pet Products received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for its popular product, Dog Rocks.
The King’s Award for Enterprise, now in its 57th year, is regarded as the most esteemed business award in the country. Successful companies granted this honour have the privilege of utilising the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.
Carina Evans, Co-Founder & CEO of Podium Pet Products, expressed her delight at receiving the award, stating, “This is an incredible honour for our company and a testament to the hard work, innovation, and inspiration of our talented team.”
She further added, “Having previously received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise seven years ago was a marvellous accomplishment, and being recognised with a King’s Award as one of the first UK companies is truly special.”
Podium Pet Products has experienced significant growth in recent years, expanding its presence in international markets with a diverse range of pet products. The company’s exceptional performance in international trade has now been acknowledged and celebrated.
Running a business is never without its challenges, and Carina acknowledged the daily hurdles. Nevertheless, she expressed the team’s overwhelming joy at receiving this prestigious accolade and emphasised their commitment to expanding customer and partner relationships while delivering excellent service.
Carina founded the company in 2006 after being introduced to an Australian product called Dog Rocks by a family friend. In 2008, Podium Pet Products was officially established, with Andrew and Nick joining Carina in the business. The company subsequently expanded into Europe and later ventured into North America, where it achieved tremendous success. Today, international trade constitutes more than half of Podium Pet Products’ business.
Driven by the triumph of Dog Rocks, Podium Pet Products began exploring the creation of natural products. Carina’s long-standing interest in this area led her to discover an old animal husbandry book, a cherished family heirloom, which inspired the launch of the Be:Loved brand. Utilising ingredients found in nature’s bounty, the book provided a wealth of recipes for crafting treatments and balms that offer calming and soothing effects for both humans and animals.
The successful integration of Be:Loved into the product portfolio prompted Carina to rename the company from Dog Rocks UK to Podium Pet Products, together with Andrew and Nick.
Carina further explained, “Initially, exporting posed challenges, particularly in America. However, Europe has become less traditional and more accessible to younger English-speaking buyers and savvy marketers, making it an attractive market for us as well.”
The King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade 2023 represents a significant milestone for Podium Pet Products. It is a prestigious accolade that will contribute to the company’s growth across all markets, and an achievement to be cherished.
For more information about Podium Pet Products and its range of pet food offerings, please visit their official website at www.podiumpetproducts.com.
