The Pair Behind Buddy Bites, Hong Kong's First Subscription-Based Dog Food Brand
Everything in our multi-connected world is subscription-based these days. Watch movies? Get an annual pass for Netflix. Need a shave? Set up on Dollar Shave Club. Want to learn something? Go on MasterClass.
Two dog-loving Hong Kongers had the idea of bringing the insanely popular 21st century model to dog food, creating Buddy Bites in 2019, Hong Kong’s first and only direct-to-consumer, subscription-based dog food brand, catering to your pup's nutritional and culinary needs.
Mid-Levels resident Ryan Black and Clearwater Bay-er Chris Lee founded Buddy Bites with a mission to provide Hong Kongs’ dogs with a monthly subscription of delivered kibble and treats tailored to your dog. This year, the duo plan to bring new products and partnerships to the kennel with Adult Salmon & Sweet Potato (HK$85/kg) dry dog food, Buddy Bites Training Treats (HK$78), and Dental Sticks (HK$78).
"Both of us were working full-time gigs when we came up with the Buddy Bites concept,” Ryan told The Beat Asia. “I had just completed an MBA and was looking for inspiration to strike on a direct-to-consumer brand. The question was what product would it be?”
With the pair’s love for dogs - “a lot,” Chris said – creating Buddy Bites three years ago was in part to support Hong Kong’s local shelter community and to solve a common problem with owners’ purchasing dog food.
“I think the biggest pain of being a dog owner is when you are looking down the bottom of a dog food bag, with no spares ready to go, and you have got to find the time to run to the store and lug a huge bag home,” Chris said. “The subscription and delivery element of Buddy Bites was a no-brainer.”
Buddy Bites is “proud” to be Hong Kong’s very first dog food subscription service. Dog owners, in search for a curated monthly plan, can head to their website to select what product is most suitable for their dog – Buddy Bites Puppy, Adult Duck, and Adult Lamb– with options to purchase European-produced chicken and fish, and duck or lamb kibble.
Once confirmed how much kibble you need for your dog, Buddy Bites handles the rest. Deliveries can be scheduled every four to 12 weeks, with amounts of kibble product ranging from 5 to 25 kilograms. To make things even easier, Buddy Bites provides a clever quiz to help new dog owners and “newbies” pick the best kibble.
“Our dog food is formulated with the help of veterinarians [in Hong Kong] and produced by a European manufacturer who operates in alignment with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFC) and European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) regulations. Put simply, we hold our products to the standards of world-class dog food,” Chris said.
“Buddy Bites kibble is formulated for dogs of various life stages and currently offers three different dog food formulas.”
The Puppy flavour is packed with a blend of chicken and fish proteins and vitamins, formulated by a team of Hong Kong vets to aid the growth of your pup. The adult kibble flavours, Duck and Lamb, are classed as novel proteins used in a diet to minimise the risk of allergic reactions.
In the Year of the Tiger, Buddy Bites is ushering in prosperity with new products in their selection, including the tasty Salmon and Sweet Potato flavour for our fluffy friends. “It is rich in nutritious omega-3 fatty acids which can help support dogs’ immune systems and has the added benefit of encouraging a glossy, healthy coat,” Ryan said.
Additionally, Ryan and Chris are introducing Training Treats and their tooth magic Dental Sticks to their online subscription selection. The Buddy Bites Training Treats pack a punch with poultry-rich, bone-shaped snacks designed to support intestinal health. The adult-only Dental Sticks work well to boost teeth coat care and reduce tartar.
With Chris’ commitment to assisting the larger dog shelter community in Hong Kong, Buddy Bites remains committed to working with charities and canine organisations city-wide.
For every two kilograms of kibble sold in their store, Buddy Bites donates a kilogram to dogs in need, through dog's charities Catherine’s Puppies and Hong Kong Dog Rescue. With the launch of the Adult Salmon & Sweet Potato product, Buddy Bites will now be supporting the work of TAILS Lantau, a non-profit animal rescue in South Lantau, and Paws Guardians, a Yuen Long-based rescue shelter.
“In Buddy Bites’ first year, our first and only partner, Catherine’s Puppies received a donation of 300 kilograms. In January 2022, we donated 1.75 tonnes of food in a month across three shelters, HKDR, Catherine’s Puppies, and Paws Guardian. Late last month, we also announced our collaboration with TAILS Lantau and their wonderful network of fosters,” Ryan said.
“We take a lot of pride in being able to support three huge shelters [that], together, house hundreds of dogs. [It] is such a heart-warming achievement for ourselves and of course our clients.
“By buying high quality food, - which you already needed anyway - delivered to your door, you are feeding not just your own pup, but another who is still waiting for their chance to find a forever home. Most shelters survive off food donations and vet bills are constant. By donating food, we provide these dogs with a steady diet, and it’s one big expense less to think about each month.”
Buddy Bites’ new products and existing tasty selection can be found on their website, with prices for a 5-kilogram bag of Puppy, Adult Duck, or Lamb kibble beginning at HK$375, or HK$479 for a one-off purchase.
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