A NEW business launched by a pair of animal lovers has been likened to Deliveroo for pet owners.

Same Day Pet Products is a new online platform enabling people to buy food and other pet products from local stores and have them delivered the same day.

Kerry and Shaun Bennett have worked in the pet sector for many years and hit on the idea last September, when they had Covid and were unable to get their normal pet products in a timely manner.

They hit on the idea of a “multi-vendor” platform where pet stores around the UK could sell their goods. The site’s own network of delivery drivers would then get them to the customer.

The platform has just been launched, initially centred on Poole and Northampton, with the intention of scaling up to cover the whole country.

Shaun said: “It’s one of those things that is nothing special in the retail sector as far as food goes, but nobody considers it for the pet sector.”

He and Kerry already run Poole Raw Pet Food at Hamworthy and Dogs & Mogs Pet Spa, which is at Hamworthy and at Gillam Road, Bournemouth.

Shaun said they had noticed that people were more likely to run out of products in the pandemic, as their regular work and shopping patterns changed.

He and Kerry ran short of supplies for their own pets when they were at home with Covid last September. “We needed some puppy pads because we ran out. Amazon didn’t have any available,” he said.

All the other places that had them in stock did not offer delivery or would take too long, he added – with the fastest delivery option being four days.

Kerry and Shaun have now launched the platform, with a website created by local business Cloud Digital Solutions.

The service is beginning with local businesses, with Southern Aquatics & Pets at Creekmoor recently coming aboard and others set to join them.

Shaun and Kerry believe in paying a living wage, with each driver receiving £4.50 per delivery. Since each delivery is within 10 miles of a store, drivers can earn £12 or more per hour, they say.

“None of our businesses have ever been set up from the money-making point of view. Poole Raw Pet Food was set up to keep raw food affordable for our customers. It’s the same for our pet spa,” says Shaun.

“We take a commission on sales but it’s quite low at 15 per cent. We’re not going to get rich by any means but if it makes other people’s lives easier, then we’re happy.”

“We know people want to shop locally but the convenience of shopping online means that people don’t necessarily buy from local businesses,” says Shaun.

“With this, you’ll be able to shop locally and still have it delivered.”

  • Same Day Pet Products is at samedaypetproducts.com and the Bennetts’ other businesses, Poole Raw Pet Food and Dogs & Mogs Pet Spa, are on Facebook.