Set to feature at the Pet & Aquatics Trade Show 2026 (PATS) in our New Starter Zone - CAN 9 is an all-in-one daily supplement your dog needs.

A scientifically formulated powder blend that fills the nutritional gaps in your dog's diet - whatever that diet looks like.

Read our recent Q&A with Bertrand Nicoli, Founder at CAN9:

1. How did your business transition from a concept to a reality, and how long did that journey take?

It was actually quite easy to go from final idea to product + branding, once the concept had been finalized and this stage took about 3 months of formulation and branding and another 3 months of production. That said, I had been thinking about doing something in the supplement space for 18 months or so. I saw the human supplement market moving towards convenient formats where you would have blends of supplements rather than single ingredient formats and thought this would work well in the dog space. Specifically, I saw a lot of friends and family struggle with their dog's nutrition, so I wanted to create something that could support any dog, regardless of diet, to alleviate this stress from their owners. While most of the pet supplement market is aimed at treating problems after they arise, I believe your dog is better served with preventative treatment (much like humans) and the all-in-one formulation really helps with this supporting dogs throughout their life, increasing overall health and longevity.

2. What was the single biggest hurdle your brand faced during its early stages?

We are still in the early stages! I think the biggest hurdle is gaining credibility with dog owners. I know the supplement works, my one biggest requirement when formulating it, was that it really is 100% effective and that everything in their works to support the dog's health (the only non-active ingredient is yeast for taste). However, communicating this to owners is tough, with most looking to authority figures such as vets, nutritionists etc. I am looking to connect with vets and nutritionists to support the brand and all those I have spoken with to date have had positive things to say!

3. What is the primary challenge your business is navigating today?

My primary focus is developing and proving a marketing system, which would mean I can have predictable, sustainable growth. We are still in the early stages so getting the word out there is important, but I want to make sure the strategy is systematic and repeatable and that I understand what the customers want.

4. Which success story or aspect of your brand are you most proud of so far?

I am incredibly proud of the CAN9 product itself. The further I immerse myself in the pet supplement market, the more convinced I am that we have a market-leading product, offering an exceptional, high-quality formula with proven effectiveness. I’m thrilled that PATS provides the perfect platform to showcase this quality to a wider audience.

5. Where do you look for fresh inspiration and new ideas?

Inspiration comes from everywhere, particularly by monitoring international competitors and trends in human supplements, beauty, and innovative F&B brands. Furthermore, we leverage direct feedback, questions, and concerns from our community - friends, family, and CAN9 users - to create authentic and relevant content.

6. How did you first discover PATS, and why is being part of this specific community important for your brand?

From searching Google! It's important to me to really become part of the pet ecosystem and I view this as having three tiers:

· Pet owners - the most important!

· The trade - they are the ones who will help promote your brand and support and thats why I think PATS will be a really good experience - to connect with the trade.

· Investors/finance - who can support the growth of the business.

7. What can visitors expect when they visit your stand?

Are there any exciting new launches or specific partnerships you’re looking to build? Visitors who come and visit CAN9 at PATS 2026 can expect an informative experience, we have a lot of good ingredients, all science-backed, so we'll be showcasing those. As well as some fun, healthy treats for any pups that come our way! We are looking to connect with the trade, wherever that leads (but a couple of retail listings would be nice)!

8. Looking beyond this show, how do you see your brand evolving over the next 18 months?

Our primary focus is on driving brand awareness and enhancing canine health. Based on that growth, we will evaluate new SKUs - including alternative pack formats, new flavours, or broader product lines - with plans to expand internationally by 2027.