It started with a small pet store...

Higgins Premium Pet Foods started out as a pet shop over forty-five years ago. In 1972, Ignacio Perea Sr., a Cuban immigrant who came to the United States in the late fifties, opened a small pet store in Miami/Florida that specialised in companion birds. He began mixing ingredients and vitamins by hand and fed the seed blend to his birds. 
Today, Higgins operates a state-of-the-art automated production mill. The next family generation continues to own, operate and move the business forward. Currently the company has 40 employees. 

"We produce bird and small animal food and treats," says Dean Reyes, director of marketing and sales at the Higgins Group. The raw materials come from various countries including Holland, France, the Philippines, Chile, Thailand and Canada. "However, most of our grain and seed ingredients come from the United States," adds Reyes. 

According to Higgins, the ingredients for the products are natural and free of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives and plant-based DHA Omega-3 is used to support the immune system and overall well-being of the pets. The company also uses high-end ingredients and formulates products in order to avoid using cheap fillers, finding healthier alternatives whenever possible. All diets are ­enriched with protected probiotics - beneficial microorganisms that support immunity and digestive health, according to the company.

"We distribute our products in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Caribbean islands, Panama, Costa Rica, Kuwait, Japan, Hong Kong and New Zealand. We are looking to add countries in the EU this year," explains Reyes. In the United States Higgins has a dominant position in the bird and small animal food segment. The products are available in the leading pet retail chains as well as in independent pet shops.