Nutrition, Science, and Innovation: NorthPoint Pets Turns 10

Commemorating Our 10-Year Journey

In 2024, we celebrate an incredible milestone—our 10th anniversary of NorthPoint Pets transforming pet wellness through science-driven nutrition. This incredible journey has been filled with wagging tails, purring companions, and plenty of ups and downs as we’ve worked tirelessly to revolutionize pet care and nutrition.

Join us as we take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, exploring our humble beginnings, the philosophy that drives us, and the extraordinary team that has made our vision a reality.

From a Desperate Search to a Thriving Business

Nicci Cammack launched NorthPoint Pets & Company in September 2014 to share her love for improving animal wellness through better nutrition and educating pet owners to make more informed choices on feeding their four-legged companions.

A Passion Fueled by Purpose

In short, the company’s genesis was born out of love and necessity.

Nicci’s young pitbull, Taser, was experiencing severe gastrointestinal issues. She worked with her veterinarian to find a cause and treatment program and tried multiple diets and supplements.

“Rescuing Tase was the beginning of an unexpected journey—one filled with challenges, learning, and, ultimately, the creation of NorthPoint. Tase faced numerous health and gastrointestinal challenges early on, underscoring a glaring void in the pet care industry for science-backed nutrition and supplement solutions. But Tase was more than just a catalyst for a business idea; he was my teacher.” ~Nicole Cammack, founder

Taser’s condition didn’t improve.

“Conventional nutrition and medicine were not working,” recalls Nicci. “There had to be something else.”

Even though Taser’s GI issues seemed unsolvable, she refused to give up.

Using her background in human medicine and pharmaceutical research, Nicci embarked on a mission to find a dietary solution that could save her beloved companion.

Her dedication paid off.

Armed with science and a fair amount of trial and error, she restored Taser’s health through a fresh, nutritionally balanced diet.

Taser’s recovery sparked a fire in Nicci, which grew into a burning desire to help other pets through scientifically backed nutrition.

This experience led Nicci down two distinct pathways: human and companion animal nutrition.

Despite being told she couldn’t successfully merge those fields, she returned to college and earned a master’s degree in human nutrition science with a focus on biochemistry and metabolism.

“I knew I needed to intimately understand the human nutrition space to study canine and feline nutrition,” Nicci said. “The reason is that we share so many of the same diseases and conditions like obesity, diabetes, and cancers – but our dietary advice is so different – humans are told to eat more fresh and unprocessed foods because processed foods are associated with disease. Meanwhile, our pets are told to eat processed foods that humans are advised against—it didn’t make sense to me.”

NorthPoint Pets and Company was Born

In September 2014, she opened the doors to NorthPoint Pets and Company in Cheshire, Connecticut.

Over the past decade, our journey has been marked by significant achievements that have shaped our identity and solidified our position as pioneers in the pet nutrition industry:

A Decade of Milestones and Memories

• September 2014: The birth of NorthPoint Pets and Company, launching a new era in pet retail with our focus on personalized nutritional counseling and premium products.
• March 2018: We moved from our 1,700 SF store to our current 6,500 SF space due to company growth.
• April 2019: Launch our pet wellness journal, Undogmatic.
• January 2020: Sage named Nicci the Rising 50 Club contest winner for successfully growing the business and awarded NorthPoint Pets $10,000.
• August 2021: Nicci was appointed adjunct faculty member of the University of Helsinki’s prestigious DogRisk team.
• September 2021: NorthPoint Pets named 2021 Storefront Retailer of the Year by the Independent Pet Innovation Awards.
• October 2021: Published her first peer reviewed research study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34733904/
• September 2022: Nicci presents “Evolving the Narrative: Known & Unknowns About Pet Food Safety” to the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society (RFVS) annual conference in Barcelona, Spain.
• September 2022: Nicci presents “Differently Processed Dog foods and Their research” to the DogRisk panel at the University of Helsinki.
• August 2023: NorthPoint Pets named 2023 Storefront Retailer of the Year by the Independent Pet Innovation Awards.

The Heart and Soul of NorthPoint Pets

At NorthPoint Pets, we’re more than just a pet store. We believe in the transformative power of education and transparency. Our dedication to continuous learning has been the cornerstone of our journey over the past 10 years.

We don’t chase fleeting trends or fads. Instead, we focus on what truly matters—the health and happiness of the pets we serve.

Empowering Pet Owners with Transparent, Science-Backed Nutrition

We pride ourselves on being the focal point of knowledge where pet owners can find scientifically validated information and products that have passed our rigorous standards. As we’ve grown, we’ve developed a comprehensive set of guidelines to assess brands and products, ensuring the highest standard of safety and nutritional excellence.

We’re not here to sell products. We’re here to empower pet owners with the knowledge they need to make the best decisions for their treasured companion animals. Therefore, our commitment to ongoing education means our team always adapts and improves to stay current with the latest in pet care science.

The Secret Ingredient: Our Incredible Team

Behind every wagging tail and contented purr that leaves our store is a team of dedicated individuals who are the true heart of NorthPoint Pets. After all, to be the best, we must have the best team.

Our Commitment to Lifelong Learning 

In the ever-evolving world of pet health, we believe that knowledge is power. That’s why our staff constantly updates their understanding of the latest pet health research, ensuring that every recommendation we make is backed by science and driven by genuine care.

We’ve provided personalized training to everyone on our team since we first opened our doors. We offer ongoing education through our weekly reading assignments and monthly in-store team meetings, which focus on team-building and education.

A Closer Look at Our Team

Take Morgan Hunt for example. She’s a certified veterinary technician in the state of Connecticut. Not only is she Fear Free certified, ensuring a stress-free environment for our four-legged companions, but she’s also gone above and beyond earning certifications as a Pet Nutrition Coach (NAVC) and in Natural Animal Nutrition from the College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies.

We are fortunate to have Jenna Harrison as our store manager who is passionate about animal nutrition. She holds a Certificate in Animal Nutrition from the University of California, Davis Extension of Veterinary Medicine program and is currently pursuing a diploma from University of Glasgow in Animal Nutrition.

Deepening Our Commitment to Education

In addition to our commitment to team and customer education, Nicci has advanced her knowledge by studying under numerous veterinarians and human and veterinary nutritionists. She is also pursuing her long-held dream of obtaining a Ph.D. in Canine Nutrition and Metabolomics.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

As we look toward our second decade in business, we’re excited about the future. We envision expanding our reach and touching the lives of more pets and their owners with our unique blend of science-backed nutrition and heartfelt care.

So here’s to another decade of memorable moments, continued success,, and of making the world a better place—one pet at a time. Ultimately, thank you for being part of our journey.

Here’s to the next chapter of NorthPoint Pets and Company!