Pet Food Processing - November 2023 - 17

PROCESSOR PROFILE
Treating customers like partners is the business model
that's led to success at Custom Veterinary Services.
By Kimberlie Clyma | kclyma@sosland.com
R
Ruben Martinez knows his business. If you ask him, he
might say it's all he knows. But that certainly isn't a bad
thing. It's that knowledge base that stems from his 38
years in the veterinary dermatology and nutritional
supplement business that's led the company he founded,
Custom Veterinary Services, to its growth and success.
Custom Veterinary Services (CVS) is a contract manufacturer
of nutritional supplements, medicated dermatological
pet supplies and grooming products based in
Miami. While the roots of the company go back to 2005,
a capital investment and partnership with Align Capital
in 2021 helped take the company to the next level with
a new production facility, expanded product lines, and
strategic direction for the future.
Ruben, founder and president of CVS, started working
in the industry for Dermatologics for Veterinary
Medicine (DVM) in 1986. The company was considered
one of the pioneers of veterinary dermatology, first producing
dermatological products and later producing soft
chew supplements. Ruben worked for DVM for 20 years,
soaking up as much knowledge about the industry and
the segment as possible.
" That's where I learned the trade, " he said.
In
1992,
the
company
was
sold
to
IVAX
Pharmaceuticals, a larger human pharmaceutical company,
which years later moved its operations to St.
Joseph, Mo., after its purchase of Phoenix Scientific's animal
health division. It was at this time that Ruben chose
to keep his family in Miami and go out on his own.
After working on the consulting side for a couple of
years, Ruben moved into manufacturing in 2007.
" I wasn't able to get my customers the product they
wanted on time, so in 2007, I started manufacturing in
order to meet their needs, " he said.
Starting with a small 5,000-square-foot product bay and
1,000 square feet of office space, Ruben began producing
Left: Custom Veterinary Services' soft chews can be extruded
into a range of shapes including dog bones.
Ashlyn McKibben
what he knew best - dermatological products. About a
year later, he added soft chew supplements to his product
offerings. Within two years of starting production, he doubled
his manufacturing space to 10,000 square feet, and in
another couple years, doubled it once again to 20,000.
By this time, the business was operated by the full
Martinez family. Ruben's wife Madelaine, and two sons,
Ruben (RT) and Rene, all took on various roles including
accounting, human resources, product development
and operations.
" It's been a family business from day one - everyone
has contributed in a significant way, " Ruben said. " It is a
special thing to be able to build a business alongside your
wife and kids, and I was blessed to have that privilege.
My oldest son RT has been at my side from the very beginning
when we just had one kettle and one computer.
I could not have done it without him. We love our kids;
they have always been the source of our inspiration. "
The Martinez family -
(from left) Ruben (RT),
Madelaine, Ruben
and Rene - work side
by side in the daily
operations at Custom
Veterinary Services.
Ashlyn McKibben
www.petfoodprocessing.net | November 2023 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 17
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Pet Food Processing - November 2023

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