Equine Insider - November 2006

"Winning Workplaces selected SmartPak Equine president and CEO Paal Gisholt as one of this year’s Best Bosses. SmartPak was also named to Inc. magazine’s list of the nation’s 500 fastest growing private companies for the second year in a row."

Horse Illustrated - November 2006

"SmartPak, provider of equine and canine medicines and nutrtional products in daily dose packages, opened its first ever retail store, the SmartPak Store, in Natick, Mass., on Aug 1."

Massachusetts Horse - October / November 2006

"SmartPak was pleased to report a successful grand opening…of their first-ever retail store, in Natick. Attracting a steady flow of customers, the SmartPak Store is establishing itself as a local resource for horse and dog enthusiasts."

"Move over, Agent 99 and make way for SmartPak’s savvy new Get Smart Series. From travel safety to colic prevention, the SmartPak Store in Natick will host monthly in-depth discussions on a range of equine health topics, with SmartPak medical director Dr. Lydia Gray."

Patriot Ledger - October 24, 2006

"The 7-year-old company is testing a brick-and-mortar strategy to boost its rapidly growing sales of food, dietary supplements and accessories for dogs and horses...Americans will spend an estimated $38.4 billion on their pets in 2006, according to a survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association of Washington…The 7,000 square-foot store is located at 30 Worcester St. at the former site of The Baby Place, a furniture store. It will compete with upscale dog boutiques, Gisholt said, with a selection of customized accessories and gourmet dog food."

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Plymouth Bulletin - October 19, 2006

"As I learned more about Winning Workplaces, it became evident that this award really recognizes a group’s achievement in building a winning culture,’ Gisholt said. ‘Since we started SmartPak six years ago, we’ve placed tremendous importance on empowering individuals to make an impact while having fun along the way. I am incredibly proud of our team and the positive work environment we’ve fostered."

Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar - October 2006

"SmartPak had a successful grand opening of their first ever retail store, a new resource for horse and dog enthusiasts in the Northeast. Special guests helped create a festive atmosphere at the grand opening and highlighted the weekend’s focus on charity and community involvement."

DVM - October 2006

"SmartPak Canine introduces SmartPak, a customized food plan for dogs. Veterinarians and owners can choose what diet plan is right for individual dogs. Food is shipped directly to the owner and is individually packaged. Supplements and high-quality foods are packaged together for daily consumption. Dog’s diet can be altered according to health concerns and age."

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Petfood Industry - October 2006

"One way to make portion control easier is with a product called SmartPak. It is a service that provides pre-measured dog food along with medications and supplements. Popular additions to SmartPaks, that add cost, include fatty acid supplements and Cosequin (glucosamine chondroitin sulfate). SmartPaks encourage dog owners to feed a consistent amount over a period of time."

Fortune Small Business - October 2006

"While many CEOs rely on Monster.com, Paal Gisholt prefers to find employees for SmartPak, a maker of equestrian products, at horse shows and university equine-studies programs…the company recently expanded into selling prepacked daily helpings of all-natural dog food. Don’t be surprised if Gisholt start scouting for talent at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show."

Pet Gazette - October 2006

"The survey included SmartPak’s client list of thousands of dogs across the country. SmartPak Canine specializes in creating custom meal plans, which include all-natural, high-end dog food, along with supplements and medications particular to each dog."

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DogFancy - October 2006

"The SmartPak Canine System provides factory-sealed dog food and supplements in individual portions customized for your dog. Select up to seven types of food and 58 types of canine supplements for your dog’s SmartPak, which comes in a 28-day supply and auto-ships every four weeks."

Duxbury Clipper - October 11, 2006

"Paal Gisholt of St. George Street was just named one of the ‘Best Bosses in the Country’ by Fortune Small Business. He’s featured in the October issue of the magazine. Paal is the CEO of Plymouth-based SmartPak"

Patriot Ledger - October 5, 2006

"Paal Gisholt, president and CEO of SmartPak in Plymouth, has been named one of this year’s ‘Best Bosses’ by Winning Workplaces…SmartPak, which makes diet supplement packs for horses and dogs, has also recently been listed as one of the fastest-growing companies the nation in Inc. 500 for the second year in a row."

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Equestrian Retailer - September / October 2006

"As of August 5, 2006, shoppers can take a break from searching for designer clothes to pick up supplements for their horses at Route 9’s new SmartPak store. Yes, a horse-supply store has moved into the neighborhood. But not just any horse store. Think of this as Equine Republic. Or maybe Horseagonia. Upscale retail culture has mixed with horse sense…horse owners will find plenty to occupy their attention. Spread out of 7,600 square feet on two floors, clothing and tack and gifts are displayed…A large clearance area on the second floor holds bargains and overstock."

Trail Rider - September / October 2006

"Opening the SmartPak Store has been a great aspiration of ours, and we’ve been working hard to bring this to fruition," said Becky Minard, SmartPak’s founder and vice president of marketing."‘The opportunity to greet our customer face-to-face and personally interact with them on a more consistent basis is the next step for us in offering unparalleled service."

Hunter & Sport Horse - September/October 2006

"Horse owners are familiar with SmartPak’s ability to efficiently deliver complex, customized supplements and medications to stables. And now SmartPak’s Canine Catalog provides the same superior service for dogs! SmartPak has also developed LiveSmart Dog Food with natural meat as its primary source of protein, plus vegetables and herbs... LiveSmart dog food is the answer for dog owners who don’t trust supermarket brands which are bulked up with fillers and preservatives."

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Old Colony Memorial - September 23, 2006

"Rosie is a big, beautiful chocolate Lab with skin conditions," Breda said. "We knew she needed special foods that wouldn’t affect her allergies, but at the same time, we wanted to control her weight. SmartPak Canine was perfect because the system provides her the right amount of food for her weight and it keeps her allergies under control."

PetGazette - September 2006

"SmartPak is a revolutionary feeding system designed to provide your dog with better care while simplifying your life. Each SmartPak is customized to meet your dogs specific nutritional needs…Suddenly, feeding is on auto-pilot!"

Equine Journal - September 2006

"In consultation with leading pet nutritionists, SmartPak developed LiveSmart Holistic Dog Food made of pure human-grade ingredients. The company has also partnered with leading dog food brands in the industry including Newman’s Own."

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Horses Inc. - September 2006

"...the best colors we’ve found are plaid: SmartPak’s SmartPink and SmartBlue plaid that is. Proceeds from the SmartPink apparel line have already raised more than $20,000 for breast cancer research and has helped increase awareness. SmartBlue proceeds will benefit horses in need through equine charities. According to Nina Akerley of SmartPak, "the proceeds go to charities that promote the well being of horses through rescue, rehabilitation, retirement or research...We have had such great success with SmartPink; whole barns have changed their show colors to it and we hope that this same popularity will also help SmartBlue to support equine aid charities."

Hopkinton Crier - September 2, 2006

"Puppies ‘Envy’and ‘Midge’ from Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton were on hand at SmartPak’s grand opening celebration in Natick. They were successfully adopted that weekend."

Inc 500 - September 2006

"Owners are increasingly serving their animals more healthful food and SmartPak offers the convenience of online accounts. It sends customers a month’s worth of top-grade mosh (e.g. chicken, vegetables, brown rice) every four weeks."

"SmartPak Equine…Sells customized, prepackaged supplements, prescriptions, and food for high-end show and performance horses...Their business model is half Expedia half GNC. What’s next: Ninety percent of horse owners are also dog owners – the company’s next big market. ‘It will surpass our equine business one day,’ Gisholt says."

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Patriot Ledger

"SmartPak has become one of the hottest private firms in the US. SmartPak’s portfolio now includes the original equine supplement division and SmartPak Canine, which launched in March."

"In August, the company opened the SmartPak Store–its first brick-and-mortar retail shop –in Natick. The store offers all of the same products featured in the SmartPak catalog, including nutritional supplements for horses and dogs, dog food, a tack room and other supplies."

"Inc. magazine has twice recognized SmartPak in its annual list of ‘America’s 500 Fastest-Growing Companies’... It was the first time in the history of the Inc 500 rankings –which the magazine first published in 1983 –that Inc. named an equine business to the list."

Business Week Small Biz - Fall 2006

"In 1999 I was working for Harvard Business School as a consultant and riding my horse, Westley, after work. One evening, Westley just didn’t seem his normal self. I checked his feed bucket to make sure he was getting the supplements he needed but they weren’t there. Westley was boarded with more than 30 horses, all of were probably getting different supplements at different doses. It’s hard for barn managers to keep up. I started thinking that there had to be a better way to get the right supplements at the right dosages to these animals."

Home Living Connecticut - Fall 2006

"Feeding your dog just got easier. SmartPaks are pre-portioned daily packs of high quality food, supplements and pharmaceuticals, customized specifically for each dog’s individual needs. From seniors with arthritis to pups who need extra protein, your dog gets exactly what he needs each day, no matter who feeds him – kids, kennel or pet sitter."

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Stable Management - August 2006

"The horse world is familiar with SmartPak Equine’s introduction of pre-packaged supplements to the market six years ago, and now the company is offering the same service for dogs. After requests for such a product by many horse people, SmartPak now offers the Canine system. Unlike on the equine side, however, the Canine system is a full feeding system, where the dog food is pre-portioned and packaged, along with any supplements the animal may be on."

San Diego Pets - August 2006

"The latest way to feed your dog a high-quality diet also wins points for convenience. SmartPak has been called Nutrisystem for dogs, because its prepackaged portions are along the lines of the popular human diet program."

Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar - August 2006

"SmartPak proudly announces the grand opening of its first retail store in Natick, Mass. The opening is scheduled for August 1, 2006 and will feature a wide array of the newest and most innovative products for horse, rider and dog. The grand opening will start off a month of events and promotions."

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MetroWest Daily News - August 6, 2006

"Darlene Frappierhad ventured into the new SmartPak Store only minutes before and already had her hands full of gear for her horses, Jigsaw and Cricket. ‘I love this store,’ the Framingham resident said, as she started to peruse horse treats. ‘It’s big and it has a lot of choices'.

Salespeople can talk at length on most products and free samples abound. 'At some other stores, you can’t trust what they say to you. Some of them have been there for only two weeks,’ said Barrie resident Jane Lynds, who owns a horse named Maverick. Gisholt said it’s part of their drive to make their first SmartPak store a unique experience for customers."

Connecticut Post - July 23, 2006

"Any pet worthy of its tail has mastered the art of faking out its owner about the timing and amount of its most recent feeding. But dogs and horses whose owners have SmartPak will need to learn some new tricks."

It’s very very active at the entry-level because its so easy to extend human foods-centered business like a bakery to the pet market. If there’s a trend in human food, it will appear in about five months in the pet food market. The supplements are a big piece of what’s on."

Arizona Republic - July 29, 2006

"Whether traveling with your pooch or leaving him or her behind in care of neighbors, the SmartPak Canine customized feeding system puts your pet's care on autopilot. SmartPak features either LiveSmart or Newman's Own Organics dog food, which is pre-measured and can be prepackaged with a selection of supplements or prescription medications."

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Old Colony Memorial - June 2006

So you think your office is a zoo? Probably not as much as SmartPak…where work has gone to the dogs…A dog at work is business as usual for the fast-growing 7-year-old company, which is headquartered in the Plymouth Industrial Park. SmartPak allows – even encourages – its employees to bring their pooches to the office on a regular basis. ‘We’re an animal-focused company and dogs are part of our culture,’ SmartPak President and CEO Paal Gisholt said."

Boston Herald - June 21, 2006

"Tally was in trouble. The black Lab had become a porky pooch, tipping the scales at an unhealthy 93 pounds...it was strict portion control that helped trim her down to an appropriate 68 pounds, said owner Paal Gisholt. He and his wife, Becky Minard, turned the experience into a business selling individually packaged portions of dog and cat food. You get high quality, wholesome food packaged in a sealed container that makes it easy to feed the right amount of food"

Equine Insider - May 2006

"SmartPak has expanded its single serving packs to the dog industry with the recent launch of its 40-page SmartPak Canine catalog and Web site. In addition to medications and supplements, dog owners have the option of ordering customized packs with dog food. SmartPak Canine also offers beds, crates, toys and other canine accessories."

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Dressage Today - April 2006

"SmartPak Equine has introduced a SmartBlue line to benefit equine charities. The SmartBlue products sport a blue plaid design and include bags, blankets and halters."

DMNews - March 29, 2006

"Thanks to SmartPak’s latest catalog offering, every dog can have its day…The SmartPak concept, which it has used for SmartPak Equine, is to provide animal care products such as supplements, medications, and food in single-serve packs customized for each animal. Orders can be automatically replenished on a monthly basis."

Catalog Success - January 2006

"We used a combination of rapid growth and a maniacal focus on operating efficiency. Shortening product assemblers’ walking paths, learning how to handle materials just once and relying on automation allowed Gisholt’s team to create a lean manufacturing process that lets them reduce costs enough to keep product prices low."

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Hollywood Dog

"Prepared Meals. Try these custom-prepared meals for your dog with ultra-premium food and nutritional supplement. Why cook when you can have it delivered?"

TrailRider - November/December 2005

"Last August, Hurricane Katrina devastated portions of the Gulf Coast in Louisiana and Mississippi. The equine community responded immediately to help equine victims and their owners...SmartPak Equine is offering free replacement SmartPaks and a 20 percent discount on all products to victims of Hurricane Katrina and their animals."

Equine Insider - November 2005

"Inc. Magazine ranked SmartPak Equine the 106th fastest-growing private business in America, and the sixth fastest growing privately held consumer products company. With a growth rate of 848% in the last three years, SmartPak has achieved recognition never before attained by a company in the equine industry."

"The equine business is so competitive that to succeed you need to be different,’ said Becky Minard, the company’s founder and principle inventor of SmartPak’s patented feeding system. ‘We don’t just sell great merchandise. We view our role as partnering with our clients to help them solve problems and get the maximum enjoyment from their horses.

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Dressage Today - October 2005

"SmartPak Equine is donating 20 percent of the profit from their SmartPink™ Plaid products to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF). Jaralyn Gibson, vice president of new business development at SmartPak Equine says, "Nearly 80 percent of the horse market are women, so this is a nice way to give back to women and support health issues." Since the program's launch in April 2005, more than $10,000 has been donated to NBCF. The SmartPink line features fly protection, saddle bags and halters all in an exclusive pink plaid designed to promote breast cancer awareness. SmartPink products can be ordered directly from the Web site SmartPakEquine.com or by calling (800) 461-8898."

Horse & Rider - October 2005

"Shopping for a Cause"
This halter is one of a number of horse products - from blankets to tote bags - sold through SmartPak Equine's SmartPink line. SmartPak will donate 20 percent of the net profit from the sales of the SmartPink™ line to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information, log on to : www.smartpakequine.com.

Boston Business Journal - September 1-7, 2000

Profiled in Boston Business Journal. Serving Greater Boston’s Business Community. Click here to view entire article.
September 1-7, 2000

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