We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony Davis and Jason LeDay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony Davis and, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When Jason and I founded Amaizing Brands, it was a call to action to provide premium products to a market that is filled with poor quality products and is expanding rapidly. In our research on the global pet care market, we found that it was growing at an average of 5.3 percent a year, and culturally diverse companies were present but focused more on areas that were auxiliary to pet health rather than integral to pet health. The pet industry, as it stands today, is controlled by huge conglomerates that hold 98% of the market. We believe that these large conglomerates are slow to utilize newer marketing strategies such as social media and to0 slow to recognize emerging trends and innovation. In an industry that is expected to double in size and profits in the next 5 years, we felt being reactive and not being in front of trends or not listening to customer voices was unacceptable, so we set out to be different.

With Jason having a background in Private Equity and my background in government and science we figured that we could research a way to get around being left out of the pet food supply chain. As we sought opportunities for inclusion, we found a small pet product supply company who controlled their own manufacturing and structured an exclusive rights deal with the ability to control our product manufacturing and quality processes which resulted in creating Bovine Bytes and Amaizing Fresh Cat Litter.

Bovine Bytes are human grade grass-fed dog chews sourced from Colombian cows, pigs, and chickens. We took care to ensure that we sourced the highest quality ingredients and focused on quality because our competitors had premium pricing but inferior products in our opinion.

The same thinking went into creating Amaizing Fresh. Amaizing Fresh cat litter is sourced from premium corn and manufactured into a cat litter that: 1) has excellent clumping; 2) is odor absorbing; 3) is low dust; and 4) nontoxic. As far as representation goes, there are very few small United States businesses that have the capacity to manufacture high quality cat litter in the quantities that we can, so we are proud to be representatives in the market.

What should our readers know about your business?
Again, when we started Amaizing Brands, it was started from scratch. We were looking for ways to have an impact on people’s day to day lives and since more and more households adopt pets, due to varying reasons, we felt that we could provide value by giving these their pets healthy treats and clean homes. I think what differentiates us is our passion for our products and the connections to our customers. We built Bovine Bytes and Amaizing Fresh to give alternatives to what already existed, which we felt was substandard. We also felt that there was a need for our community to have representation in a multibillion-dollar industry.
Our journey has not been easy, but we don’t assume that anything worth having is. My mentor once told me that the road less travelled is more difficult and rugged but the treasures you find along the way will be worth the suffering. It took Jason and me travelling unbeaten paths to find what we assumed to be the perfect products. We spent a considerable amount of time and financial resources on developing our presence. From developing social media; developing marketing material; conducting sales meetings; overcoming language barriers and cultural business practices; haggling with producers and suppliers; and managing projects and processes, we feel that we learned valuable lessons and stashed away many treasures. These things tested our limits of stress, as we spent countless nights and heated discussions on small things like the size scale of the tongue on the cow on our logo, for example. But we had those stress filled days and nights and discussions all in the pursuit of excellence, because we felt that our customers and end users deserved that level of detail from the businesses that provide them services.
I am certain that we frustrated our friends and family with constant requests for feedback and review, but we are grateful that they answered the calls, and this business is an ode to the spirit of community and collaboration. The development of Amaizing Brands has truly been an AMAIZING (intentionally stylized to represent our company) experience and we are proud to be standard bearers in an extremely difficult market to navigate as small business owners.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If I had a friend visiting Atlanta for a few days there are a few places we would have to go in order to make it fun.
Thursday: 1)Kennesaw Mountain for a hike. 2)Gabrielle’s Bakery for lunch 3)Jimmy’s Mexican Cantina (try the Molcajete!!!)
Friday: 1) Exercise at Hammond Park 2)Arden’s Garden for a Smoothie 3) Dinner and drinks at The Bellyard
Saturday: 1) Walk the Beltline 2) Lunch at Ponce City Market 3) Dinner DBA Barbeque
Sunday: 1) Hike Stone Mountain 2) Lunch at JR Crickets (Panola) 3) Dinner Busy Bee Cafe

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
This will sound cliche’ but I have always admired my mother. When I was a child, she worked a lot and took college classes as time permitted. As a result, we graduated college in the same year. That was one of the most exciting moments of my life because I could see her hard work and determination paying off. And watching her success helped me believe that anything was possible if I focused faith, worked hard, stayed determined and sought happiness. My mother achieved a lot but never found happiness at work because she felt that she could be replaced at any moment. It was her goal to start a business, but she passed before that happened. In 2015, during our last conversation she asked if I was happy. I answered, “I don’t know” and she responded that I should find those things that make me happy, because that job will go on with or without you. So, in 2016 I started my first business with a resounding thud, but I kept leaning on my mother’s last conversation with me about faith, and beliefs. She left me with a wealth of knowledge but not a lot of support, so all I had was faith, determination and the pursuit of happiness to drive me. Those things led to the founding of Bovine Bytes and Amaizing fresh and my business partnership with Jason. I would like to give a shoutout Alonzo Ford, The Lowe Family and Clint Lawrence for being awesome people. Outside of the people mentioned above, I would recommend reading “Focus: The Hidden Driver of Success by Daniel Goleman.
Ja
My father is the person I admire the most. His journey, marked by resilience, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment, has profoundly shaped who I am today. Born as the eldest of five siblings, he faced the harsh reality of being placed in separate foster homes at a young age. However, at the tender age of 16, driven by an indomitable spirit and a fierce sense of responsibility, he managed to work and bring all his siblings back together under one roof. This incredible feat speaks volumes about his character and strength. He instilled in me the belief that anything was possible, a lesson that has guided me through many of life’s challenges. Despite the demanding nature of his job as a truck driver, which often required long hours on the road, he always made time for us. He would check in regularly, offering sound advice and guidance that I still cherish to this day. His dedication to our family was unwavering, and his love for my mother was evident in their strong marriage, which lasted until his passing 15 years ago. My father’s life and legacy continue to inspire me, reminding me of the power of perseverance and the importance of never stopping the pursuit of one’s goals.

In addition to my father’s influence, I have found great inspiration in Ray Dalio’s book, The Changing World Order. Having read countless books, this one stands out as it frames my mindset in today’s environment. It offers a comprehensive history lesson that provides perspective on the myriad factors impacting the world’s economy. Dalio’s insights have enhanced my understanding of global economic dynamics, reinforcing the principles my father taught me about perseverance and continuous pursuit of goals, no matter the challenges that arise.

Website: www.bovinebytes.com and www.amaizingfresh.com

Instagram: @bovinebytes and @amaizingfresh

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bovinebytes/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/amaizingfresh/

Twitter: @bovinebytes and @amaizingfresh

Facebook: @Bovine Bytes and @Amaizing Fresh

Youtube: youtube.com/@bovinebytes and youtube.com/@amaizingfresh

Other: Tiktok.com/@bovinebytes and tiktok.com/@amaizingfresh

Image Credits
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