I don't know if this is actually newsworthy or not, but I'll post it anyway.
We can all breathe easier knowing that Zoo Med is doing well. I don't know how we could possibly take care of our reptiles if it weren't for their overpriced commercialized garbage, I mean products.
Imagine life without iguana hammocks, sandblasted grapewood with a plastic plant stuck in it, those wonderful analog humidity guages, and now a $30 fake turtle log. If they'll just bring back the turtle bowl with the plastic palm tree they'll have everything.
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A weekly update on the plans and promises made by local businesses
The Tribune
Name: Ken Fontes
Age: 49
Job: Chief financial officer
Business:
Zoo Med Laboratories,
3650 Sacramento Drive,
San Luis Obispo
Web site:
www.zoomed.com
What he said then: When The Tribune interviewed Ken Fontes, Zoo Med Laboratories chief financial officer in April 2005, the reptile pet products company was shifting its operations to a new 113,000-square-foot facility on Sacramento Drive.
The company, founded by Gary Bagnall in 1986, develops and sells its products —from bug heaters to turtle docks — to national retail chains, such as PETCO and PetSmart, and pet store distributors across the country.
The purchase came as a surprise because Zoo Med had previously announced plans to build a 100,000-square-foot headquarters and warehouse on a 10-acre property it owned on Vachell Lane, near the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport. Fontes said the company may still move to Vachell Lane, but the Sacramento property proved too good an opportunity to pass up.
What he says now: ZooMed’s move meant combining 13 buildings and all services under one roof, a complicated process that took more than eight months to complete. The company had completely moved into its new facility in January 2006.
"This brought all of our production facilities together and allowed us to pick up efficiencies in management, communication, raw good storage, production storage and shipping," Fontes said. "It’s been awesome."
ZooMed business has also been good, said Fontes.
PETCO gave the company a "Product of the Year" award two years in a row. This year, a new floating turtle log ($29.95 and 6 to 16 inches long), got the honor.
"For us, getting this twice in two years is huge because the majority of what these large chains sell are dog and cat products," Fontes said.
Although Fontes declined to discuss annual revenues, he said company growth is about 5 percent a year.
Because of the increased efficiencies created by their new location, they cut a few employees. The average employee stays with the company about five to seven years, said Fontes. The company has 57 employees.
--- Melanie Cleveland
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