American Pet Products Association Selects FWV Fetching as Public Relations Agency of Record

APPA Home / Events & News / Press Release
March 10, 2021

RALEIGH, N.C. (March 10, 2021) – FWV Fetching, the division of French/West/Vaughan (FWV) dedicated to pet and animal health PR/marketing, today announced it has been selected as agency of record for the American Pet Products Association (APPA), the leading trade association in the pet industry. FWV Fetching will handle communications and public relations along with social media support, for APPA, the Global Pet Expo (the pet industry's premier event) and the Pets Add Life initiative, which promotes the joys and benefits of responsible pet ownership. 

“We are honored to serve as the agency of record for such an esteemed organization,” said FWV Fetching President Kristen Levine. “We feel privileged to be able to strengthen the APPA name and its reputation as the leading trade association in the industry. The pet industry saw tremendous growth during the coronavirus pandemic due to increased online shopping and curbside pickup from brick and mortar retailers, along with an uptick in pet ownership and adoption. We look forward to supporting APPA and raising awareness about forecasted trends, which will be revealed during this month’s Global Pet Expo Digital Access.” 

APPA is renowned for its mission to promote responsible pet care and advance the pet products industry. Throughout its 63-year history, APPA has built a network of members across large corporations and growing business enterprises worldwide. The trade association is made up of nearly 1,000 pet product manufacturers, their representatives, importers and livestock suppliers. APPA, along with the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), co-produces Global Pet Expo, the premier industry event featuring thousands of new product launches in the pet and animal health space. 

FWV Fetching was selected after a rigorous and competitive review process consisting of multiple rounds of proposals and presentations. The agency stood out among dozens of other public relations firms due to its expertise and experience in the pet industry, as well as its innovative and original ideas surrounding APPA’s key programs. FWV Fetching will be able to capitalize on the fact that the pet industry has surged during the global pandemic, and is arguably more important than ever. People are happier with pets, as adoption rates have soared and overall sales numbers for pet products have increased exponentially over the past year. FWV Fetching has made it a priority to track these trends and opportunities during these unprecedented times. 

“This has been a long time coming, so we are especially excited to have kicked off work with FWV Fetching,” said APPA President & CEO Steve King. “The team’s track record of success serving brands in the pet and animal health industries will be hugely beneficial, as will access to the agency’s full suite of in-house integrated media services, which is something we were looking for in a long-term strategic partner. We look forward to working together to meet our 2021 goals.” 

FWV Fetching specializes in delivering results through innovative campaigns. Founded in 2003 by Kristen Levine, it was the nation’s first agency dedicated exclusively to pet and animal health clients. With extensive industry experience, established relationships and boundless creativity, it has a reputation for elevating visibility and consumer loyalty for new and existing brands. Now a division of FWV, clients include Healthy Pet, Zoetis, PetHub, Pumpkin Pet Insurance, ThunderWorks, Prairie Dog Pet Products, Holistic Hound, Happy Go Healthy, SYNLawn, Northeast Veterinary Dermatology Specialists, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, Vets Pets and I‑CAT Feline Thyroid Treatment Centers. 

FWV Fetching has already begun work for APPA in advance of Global Pet Expo Digital Access, which will be held as an online-only event from March 24-26, 2021. For more information about the American Pet Products Association, please visit AmericanPetProducts.org.

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About French/West/Vaughan
French/West/Vaughan (FWV) is one of the nation’s leading public relations, public affairs, advertising and digital media agencies. National, international and local clients represented by the agency include Wrangler, ABB, Proximo, Melitta, Volvo Trucks North America, the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the N.C. Department of Transportation. Owned or affiliated companies include fashion and lifestyle PR firm AMP3 (New York City); pet and animal health practice FWV Fetching; active lifestyle, outdoor, ski, fashion, technology and travel PR and consumer brand marketing agency CGPR (Greater Boston); and feature film development imprint Prix Productions. FWV is a partner in IPREX, a $380 million network of communication agencies with 1,600 staff and 110 offices worldwide. For more information, please visit fwv-us.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Vimeo or Instagram. 

About American Pet Products Association
The American Pet Products Association (APPA) is the leading trade association serving the interests of the pet products industry since 1958. APPA membership includes nearly 1,000 pet product manufacturers, their representatives, importers and livestock suppliers representing both large corporations and growing business enterprises. APPA's mission is to promote, develop and advance pet ownership and the pet product industry and to provide the services necessary to help its members prosper. APPA is also proud to grow and support the industry through the following initiatives: Pets Add Life (PAL), Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) Pets and Vets Program, the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), and the Pet Care Trust. Visit americanpetproducts.org for more information.

 

Contact

Contacts:

Jennifer Skelley
American Pet Products Association
jskelley@americanpetproducts.org

 

Mackenzie Smith
FWV Fetching
msmith@fwv-us.com
(877) 703.3824 x106