San Rafael’s Worldwise to expand to Novato
By Jeff Quackenbush
San Rafael-based pet products producer Worldwise plans to expand to Novato this fall as it has become one of the nation’s largest in the retail realm of cat and dog toys, beds, carriers and other accessories with a recent major acquisition of brands.
In mid-October, the 25-year-old company plans to relocate to 18,500 square feet of space in the Hamilton Landing office complex. Worldwise (worldwise.com) currently employs 53 and will have room to add more.
“We are growing both organically and via acquisition, so there is no limit to how many employees we will eventually have,” said Kevin Fick, CEO.
In May, Worldwise merged with Denver-based Quaker Pet Group, whose product lines Sherpa carriers, goDog beds and Hear Doggy toys, Supercat catnip treats, Fox & Hounds fashion dog collars and Guaranteed On-Board program for precertification of pet carriers with airlines.
Operations for those brands were consolidated to San Rafael, but the design and product-development team led by Quaker Product Group founders David Blatte and Neil Werde remains in Denver.
Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but the merger makes Worldwise the sixth-largest pet accessory supplier for U.S. pet products, the company said, pointing to industry data.
Read NBBJ article
