PetEdge growing faster than expected in Reno

PetEdge thought its new distribution facility in Reno might employ 35 or so by early 2005.

But the rapid growth in orders handled by the center already has boosted employment to approximately 50, and the company is looking to expand its staff in Reno again.

"Everything is going fantastic," says Andy Katz, president of the company based in Topsfield,Mass."We have a phenomenal team in Reno one that's exceeded our very high expectations."

PetEdge figured the new distribution center could cut delivery times to West Coast customers such as pet stores, kennels and veterinarians to a day or two.

Deliveries from the East Coast typically had taken about a week.

Those faster deliveries,Katz says, have allowed the company to pick up market share in the West, further boosting the growth of the 60,000-square-foot Reno distribution center.