At the annual convention of the big pet supplies chain Petland, various awards were presented. President and CEO Joe Watson acknowledged company founder Ed and his wife JoAnn with a Petland Award of Excellence. The Petland Impact Award, highlighting a store that has made significant contributions to the community and the Petland family, was presented to the Marquez family, franchisees of Petland locations in Davy, Plantation, Pembroke Pines and Kendall, Florida.
The Nicholas Alexander Progress Award was presented to Petland Pickerington for the time and resources dedicated to improving every part of its operation, from a remodel to additional training and implementation.
Vice-president Steve Huggins presented the Store of the Year Award to Steve and Lois Gauntt and Adam Berger, of Petland Racine, WI. The International Store of the Year Award was presented to Rodrigo and Ana Gisely from Petland Sao Luis, Brazil. Presidential awards were also given to outstanding employees in each management department of the Petland stores.
Petland was the vision of Ed Kunzelman, who opened a single pet store in Chillicothe, Ohio on 21 October 1967. The first franchised location opened in Portsmouth in 1972 and the company now has locations across the U.S. and in Canada, Mexico, China, South Africa, Brazil and El Salvador, with openings planned in Saudi Arabia by the end of the year.
