When Amanda Rolat was confronted with the obvious realization that what we feed our companion animals drastically impacts their health, there was no looking back. The well-being of her dogs took priority over her burgeoning law career. Her steadfast dedication to ensuring that her dogs were nourished and thriving unintentionally led to her company’s inception- Bramble. Backed by science, overseen by board-certified veterinary nutritionists, and (most importantly) approved by her pooches, Amanda is embarking on creating fresh, human-grade, plant-powered foods for dogs!
VW: How did your journey evolve from a career as a lawyer to founding a plant-based, fresh dog food business?
AR: Back when I was a lawyer, my dog at the time passed away due to cancer. I went down the rabbit hole, researching all there is to know about cancer in dogs. My takeaway was that the quality of food is a major risk factor. Feeding dry kibble made from poor ingredients that we would never consume ourselves is highly correlated with cancer risk in dogs, among other degenerative conditions. It was a revelatory moment for me. I realized that everything I had rejected in my own food choices- from clever marketing ploys to heavily processed animal products, was still prevalent in what I was feeding my dogs.
I wanted my dogs to enjoy a variety of fresh, nutritious, plant-based foods instead of eating the same kibble all day every day. I also don’t have kids, but I always look forward to cooking for my friends and their kids. Why wasn’t I doing the same for my dogs? I felt called to show my love for them by cooking fresh food as I had cherished doing for my friends and family. I hired a veterinary nutritionist who helped me formulate well-balanced, plant-powered meals for my dogs. Not long after, I decided to launch a business so more people could feed their beloved companions the delicious and nutritious food they deserve!
VW: That’s a remarkable story! What was your process unlearning the narrative that dogs are carnivorous and how has that informed your business?
AR: Once I began learning about the connection between what we feed dogs and their health, the obviousness was striking. What my common-sense and endless scientific research has shown as killing people is the same thing that’s a leading cause of deaths of our companion animals! It was a much-needed wake-up call indeed. Hiring a veterinary nutritionist instead of a veterinarian was crucial given the dearth of nutritional training in veterinary school. Dogs need the optimum amount of nutrients, not ingredients. As long as the meals are formulated such that they provide the necessary nutrients, the requirement for animal flesh becomes moot. Dogs are also scientifically proven to be omnivores. Companies like Hill’s Science Diet, Natural Balance, Halo, Royal Canin, and more have vegan formulations.
VW: Have you considered a similar approach to formulating fresh cat food?
AR: Definitely! Although, it might be an educational hurdle since cats are obligate carnivores. What that means is they cannot derive all the essential nutrients from plant-based sources. However, that doesn’t necessitate the consumption of animal flesh given that specific nutrients can be synthetically produced. This eliminates the need to feed our feline friends poor-quality animal products. Of course, this will be overseen by seasoned veterinary nutritionists. I’d feel a lot more comfortable feeding cats a well-formulated meal without animal ingredients than currently available conventional cat food. If consumers are still set on feeding them meat, I hope they take the reducetarian approach and mix Bramble into the meals.
VW: In your opinion, what are the biggest mistakes people make when preparing fresh vegan foods for their dogs?
AR: I think it’s critical to have an expert animal and veterinary nutritionist formulate the meals. Most recipes are very generic with the ingredients- using terms like “beans”, and “vegetables”, without factoring in the differences in protein content and bioavailability of these nutrients among different beans and vegetables. Furthermore, how and how long we cook the protein source- be it TVP or beans- affects the resulting nutritional value of the meal. Truly well-intentioned people can easily compromise their dog’s health by feeding them vegan meals that are either too high in fiber or too low in proteins and fats. We want to avoid that issue and ensure that Bramble’s foods have an optimally balanced nutritional profile by sending them to a third-party lab for testing.
VW: What products do you currently offer and how accessible are they to folks wanting to feed their dogs fresh, high-quality, plant-based foods?
AR: We have a tasty grain-free option called “The Cowbell” that is loaded with superfoods like sweet potatoes, lentils, peas, and apples. We also have “The Roost,” which is a combination of potatoes, whole-grain brown rice, garbanzo beans, blueberries, and carrots. They are all prepared with human-grade ingredients, no preservatives, and are gently cooked to retain maximum nutritional value. We currently ship to the North-East and expect to ship to the rest of the East Coast and the Midwest by September. Hopefully, we will expand nationwide by early 2022! Customers can opt for a subscription that can be tailored to their convenience.
Our price points are comparable to existing fresh, direct-to-consumer dog food. As we expand, we certainly wish to lower our prices, raise our margins, while not compromising on the quality of ingredients. I firmly believe that this is only feasible when we don’t use animals in the supply chain. I’m optimistic that we will accomplish that!
VW: Speaking of animals in the supply chain, thousands of farmed animals are fortunately living out their natural lives in peace at sanctuaries across the globe. Do you see an opportunity to support such sanctuaries through your business?
AR: We are thrilled to have an “Add an Animal” program as part of our subscription. Subscribers may add a recurring $2 donation to support the care of a sanctuary resident of their choice! Separate from this initiative, we also donate 1% of every meal sold to different animal rescues in the country. I hope we can do some work with companion animal shelters and pet-friendly domestic violence shelters moving forward.
VW: All very noble efforts indeed. As your business grows, do you foresee lab-grown meats finding a place in Bramble recipes?
AR: They cannot arrive fast enough! I’m so excited for them to hit the markets and I think companion animal food is the perfect gateway for lab-grown meats to make their entry. When it comes to companion animal food, the goal is not to produce the perfect steak or chicken breast. All you need are cells that are producing the nutrients we want to incorporate into the food. Moreover, we only need a little bit of these cells, so in the grand scheme of things, it’s far more feasible, sustainable, and ethical than the current system of raising animals for consumption and I’d be delighted to feature cultured meats in Bramble Foods! I think it’s important for us to acknowledge that we do not live in a vegan world. Naturally, the solutions we try to develop are as vegan as possible while also being mindful of their practicality within our society.
VW: We are so excited for your products to expand nationwide and perhaps even globally! What can we expect in the future from Bramble Foods?
AR: In addition to expanding our reach, we are working on fresh cat food recipes as I’d mentioned earlier. We also have supplements and treats that are in the pipeline and will be available soon! At the end of the day, we will stay true to our mission to deliver fresh, human-grade, high-quality, plant-based, sustainable versions of the currently most sought-after pet food products. Ultimately, we want our customers to feel good about what they are feeding their companion animals.
If you’re pumped about Bramble’s mission and want to stay in the know, follow them on Instagram and stay tuned for more updates. While you’re at it, hop on a sweet deal of 25% off your first purchase on their website!
