Since 2010, Scout & Zoe’s Premium Pet Products, based in Anderson, Indiana, has been creating premium dog chews and pet treats designed to enhance the lives of pets. What began as a solution for the founder’s own dogs has grown into a global business. Woman-owned and committed to quality, the company uses USA-sourced, human-grade ingredients and diverse proteins to craft treats for pet parents who consider their pets part of the family. Within just one year of launching, Scout & Zoe’s products were being exported to pet owners worldwide.

Food Export–Midwest has played an important role in supporting the company’s international growth, providing opportunities to connect with foreign buyers through programs such as Buyers Missions, Focused Trade Missions, Food Show PLUS!™, the Branded Program, and more.

In December 2023, Scout & Zoe’s participated in Food Export’s Food Show PLUS!™ at Pet Festival Dubai, where they met with buyers from the United Arab Emirates. As a result, the company selected a UAE distributor and projects more than $45,000 in sales over the next twelve months. Owner Cindy Dunston Quirk reflected, “I really enjoyed the pet festival and felt this was a great way to gauge how well pets are cared for in Dubai. Talking with pet owners, potential distributors, and store owners was very informative.” The trip also increased brand awareness in the Middle East, setting the stage for further expansion in the region.

Most recently, in March 2024, Scout & Zoe’s attended Food Export’s Pet Food Buyers Mission at the Global Pet Expo, where they met with buyers from China, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Peru, and Taiwan. These meetings resulted in a new distributorship in Hong Kong, generating $4,000 in immediate sales and projected sales of $60,000 in the coming year.

Through strategic use of Food Export programs, Scout & Zoe’s continues to build valuable international relationships and strengthen its global footprint, demonstrating how small, woman-owned businesses can thrive in worldwide markets.

Food Export uses funding from the Market Access Program (MAP) to help America’s small businesses increase their exports of food and agricultural products. As these exports increase, these small businesses are creating jobs and improving the strength and stability of our agricultural economy. Food Export-Midwest and Food Export-Northeast are non-profit organizations that work in collaboration with their member state departments of agriculture and the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service. They offer a wide range of programs and services that help boost America’s agricultural exports.