BROOMFIELD, Colo., March 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Camp Bow Wow®, the largest and leading doggy day care and boarding franchise, announced one of the most successful years in its company history at the close of 2016 across all facets of the company. The brand which is ranked #1 in the 2016 and 2017 pet category on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list and a recipient of three prestigious Stevie® Awards in 2016, not only increased its annual year-over-year revenue by 9%, but its nationwide franchise network generated more than $100 million in revenue, system wide. Camp Bow Wow currently has more than 135 open Camps in 39 states (US) and 1 province (CAN), with 50 additional Camps currently in development, figures that firmly solidify the brand's position as the foremost leader in the doggy day care and boarding sector.

2016 proved to be one of the highest years of franchise sales growth in Camp Bow Wow's 16-year history. The company's genuine passion and execution for its vision of "Happy Healthy Pets, Happy Healthy People" which is shared by the corporate team and individual franchisees alike, helped contribute to the 18% increase in the number of qualified leads of potential new franchisees. Franchise sales grew from 19 sales in 2015 to 26 sales in 2016. Camp Bow Wow expects its strong momentum to continue throughout 2017, projecting 30+ franchise sales, a record-breaking number. The brand is off to an impressive start in Q1 with many new franchises awarded in Michigan, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas, as well as the opening of new Camps in Louisiana and Ohio.

Backed by the support and proven expertise of Camp Bow Wow's executive team, the low-risk, high-growth franchise network has experienced rapid expansion at the unit level. Camps increased customer bases by 13.5%, welcoming 3.2 million dog visits nationwide, and serving an average of 86 dogs per day per Camp. The expansion brings the brand's concept of the highest levels of fun, safety and service to an unparalleled number of two-legged and four-legged customers. In addition, for Camps open at least one year, the average gross annual revenue reached $780,000. Further, the company's top 25% highest-earning franchises generated $1.1 million in revenue on average and 12 new Camps reached the million-dollar milestone in 2016.

"The Camp Bow Wow team is passionate about providing the absolute best service for our pets, pet parents, franchise owners and local communities. We are thrilled the strong partnership between our corporate support team and franchise owners resulted in another year of unprecedented growth. Our system thrives on pushing the boundaries and innovating in every aspect of the brand from technology and facility design, to operational processes and cleaning protocols. We look forward to reaching new heights in 2017 and continuing to be the trailblazer in the pet care sector," said Camp Bow Wow President, Christina Russell.

The company continues to align itself with strategic franchisee partners who are interested in expanding and investing in the pet care business. Through its thoughtful expansion strategy, Camp Bow Wow projects to reach more than 300 units in the next five years primarily focused on domestic growth across the US and further expansion within the Canadian markets.

The company's nonprofit, The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation, which provides medical grants to dogs in need, also continued to expand its philanthropic efforts. As charitable giving and animal welfare are of the utmost importance to the pet-focused company, Camp Bow Wow revamped the Foundation's website at the end of Q3 in order to drive donations and generate new grant applicants. As a result, the Foundation raised nearly $150,000 and more than 60 dogs were helped in 2016.

For more information about Camp Bow Wow, to find a location near you, or to become a franchise owner, please visit campbowwow.com.

About Camp Bow Wow®

In 16 years, Camp Bow Wow, the largest and premier pet care franchise, has sold more than 150 franchises in 39 states and Canada. The company has over 130 open locations and more than 50 in the process of opening across North America, becoming a $100+ million dollar brand. In 2016 and 2017, the company was ranked #1 in the pet care category in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 list. The Camp concept provides the highest levels of fun, safety and service for its Campers, and peace of mind for their parents. Dogs romp together in an open-play environment and pricing is all-inclusive. The Westminster, Colorado-based company started franchising in 2003, and today over 70% of franchises have women in ownership positions. In August 2014, Camp Bow Wow was acquired by VCA, Inc. (NASDAQ: WOOF), a leading animal healthcare company in the United States and Canada.

The Camp Bow Wow brand family also includes:


    --  Home Buddies by Camp Bow Wow® - premier in-home pet care
    --  Behavior Buddies® - premier dog training
    --  The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation - a non-profit organization dedicated to
        providing urgent medical care funds to dogs who are either homeless or
        whose parents cannot afford to pay their veterinary bills.

About The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation:

When the going gets ruff, the Bow Wow Buddies Foundation helps support the health and happiness of our four-legged friends to keep them in their forever homes. The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation provides grants of up to $2,500 for individuals, shelters, and rescue groups across North America who cannot afford necessary medical care for a particular dog. Individuals may apply for a grant when they are struggling to cover the cost of their dog's veterinary care, and a shelter or rescue group may apply for a grant for a dog who is awaiting adoption pending veterinary care. The Bow Wow Buddies Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. To learn more, make a donation, or apply for a Bow Wow Buddies Foundation grant, please visit www.bowwowbuddies.com.

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SOURCE Camp Bow Wow