Pet Product Vending With A Difference

A fledgling US vending machine company has plans to grow its brand internationally over the next few years. The Hey Buddy franchise installs on-street pet product vending machines - in parks, picnic areas and at veterinary clinics. The machines sell a range of 'last minute' pet supplies including retrieving balls, poop-scoop bags, dog treats and drinks.

Businesswoman Carlotta Lennox patented and installed her first vending machine at a dog park in Dallas, Texas, in 2005. The company now has agreements to place and operate its vending machines in a number of US city authority run dog parks.

Alongside the essential dog-mess clean-up equipment and replacements for lost balls, the brightly coloured branded machines sell dog leads, flea collars and even frisbees. They are begining to make an appearance at pet-friendly hotels and next to dog-wash facilities. One has even been installed on a US Army base.

Hey Buddy has plans to install a thousand machines over the next 3-5 years.