Steven Rosenfeld the President of The F.C. Sturtevant Company Windsor Locks in Connecticut was recently awarded a Pet Age 2018 Icon Award. They followed with the below interview.
Years in Industry: 22
What inspired you to get into the pet industry? I grew up in a family that included five children, a dog, a rabbit, tropical fish, and two parakeets. As a young person growing up, I always felt happiest when I was hanging out with my dog. When
I was a teenager, I began riding horses, and my interest in animal health developed at around that time. I was inspired to get into the pet industry when I had the opportunity to work at an iconic company like The F.C. Sturtevant Company.
What do you feel is your biggest contribution to the pet business and/or pet owners? I think that supporting our domestic industry and providing products that are safe and effective in treating infections and wounds in large and small animals are among my strongest contributions to our business and to pet owners. Each day when I read a letter or an email describing how a seriously ill animal was helped and even saved as a result of using one of our products, it becomes a beautiful day.
What do you think will be the next “Big Thing” in pet specialty? I think that the next big thing will be an added focus on pet care. While many retailers continue to provide minimal offerings in this category, I believe that the recent success in human healthcare from the use of topical probiotics will expand to pet care. I predict that there will be topical probiotic products to successfully treat atopic dermatitis, staph infections, hotspots and even help fight parasites.