Pet stores in Bahrain protest sale of pet food by cold stores

TDT | Manama     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Zahra Ayaz

The increasing competition from cold stores selling pet food in Bahrain is causing owners of specialized pet food stores to struggle to make ends meet. They are now seeking government intervention to limit sales through cold stores, which sell not only pet food but also accessories.

This has led to a decline in their businesses and made running their specialized shops unsustainable. However, cold store operators argue that customers are choosing them due to convenience and ease of access.

Irshad Ishtiaq, who runs Pet Fantasy in Hoora, shares her struggles due to the rising costs and lack of income due to unfair competition. She revealed that her business could only make BD150 last month.

"The fact that these products are readily available in various markets and ordinary cold stores has made it challenging for pet shop owners to cover expenses such as rent, electricity, and salaries and then make a profit," she said.

Rising costs coupled with a lack of sufficient income due to the allegedly unfair competition have forced several pet food stores to shut down, she further claimed.

Meanwhile, Asas Supermarket at Umm Al Hassam apparently sees high demand for pet food, especially canned food for cats and dogs, as people have easy access to the area. Fajr Cold Store in Hoora only sells a limited range of pet foods, specifically canned items.

"There are no pet food stores nearby, and owners of pets have to travel long distances if they are not obtaining the pet food from nearby cold stores."

The competition between specialised pet food stores and cold stores has sparked a debate about the sustainability of businesses, with cold stores capitalising on the convenience factor for consumers and pushing specialized pet food stores into financial hardship.