Petland Founder Kunzelman Receives National Honor of Lifetime Achivement

Petland, Inc. founder Ed Kunzelman has been honored by the World Pet Association (WPA), receiving its Lifetime Multi-store Achievement Award. Kunzelman opened the first Petland store in downtown Chillicothe, OH on Oct. 21, 1967. In the 55 years since opening, Petland has grown to include 301 retail pet store locations, in eight countries around the world.

Recognizing Kunzelman’s 55 years of service to the pet industry, WPA board member and Hagen’s Director of Marketing Jeff SanSouci said, “Ed and Petland have a simple message, ‘Pets Make Life Better,’ and Petland is always about pets. The Petland mission is to pair the right pet with the right customer; and if you’ve ever walked into a Petland store, you see hamsters, birds, ferrets, dogs, cats and beautiful tropical fish – all accessible to the customer. You’ll also encounter smiling and educated pet counselors ready to help engaged, prospective pet parents.”

The education and knowledge of Petland’s pet counselors is a direct result of Kunzelman’s background as a teacher. He has made pet counselor training a pillar of Petland’s business model and its success. SanSouci, added, “With a focus on top-notch customer service and trained pet counselors, Petland defines leadership in the pet store retail industry by remaining the largest retailer in the world that focuses specifically on pets.”

“I am grateful and humbled by this recognition from the World Pet Association,” said Kunzelman. “The support Petland and I have received throughout the past 55 years from our loyal customers, suppliers, pet enthusiasts and so many others, has and continues to be what drives us in our mission to match pets with their lifelong families. For me personally, this has been a labor of love. I am grateful to WPA, our suppliers and my Petland family for their support and dedication to fulfilling a lifelong dream.”

To learn more about Kunzelman and Petland’s journey, visit the company’s history timeline here.