Hidden Gems: Meet Maddie Wildman of Love Bites Treats and Toppers, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maddie Wildman

Hi Maddie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
In December of 2023, I was making frozen treats for our 3 dogs; (Bijou, Lacey, and Roxie), as well as baking treats for our friends and coworkers for Christmas. I had jokingly said to my boyfriend and business partner, Geoff, that I needed a hobby. He said the dogs were my hobby and I should sell dog treats. From there we spent the next 4 months testing recipes that would make our treats more shelf stable without any added chemicals or preservatives. We wanted to make treats that were all natural. Too many dog treats sold in stores are full of chemicals, preservatives, and ingredients that aren’t safe for dogs.

You would never let your dog eat corn syrup, food coloring, or artificial additives like Propylene Glycol. However, many people unknowingly do. Next time, you are out shopping for dog food or dog treats, I encourage you to look at the list of ingredients. If you can’t pronounce what’s in your dog’s food, then they probably shouldn’t be eating it. Every ingredient we use has been researched and proven to be safe for your pet. It’s even safe for you to consume! All our ingredients can be found in your local grocery store. The coloring in our treats comes from the ingredients we use. For example, blueberries make a beautiful purple hue when baked into dough. Our dogs are family. If we wouldn’t feed it to our dogs, then we are not adding it to our treats.

Once we locked in a recipe, our friends started asking us for cat treats. We don’t have cats of our own, but the demand was there, so we researched safe ingredients for cats and developed a recipe we love. Bijou, is picky eater. Sometimes we have a hard time getting him to eat his food, so I add fun toppers to his meals. The toppers were usually left over fruit or vegetables from our fridge. I wanted to make a line of shelf stable toppers and so, Bijou’s Bitty Bites were launched. They’re like pet sprinkles. Sprinkle them on top of your pet’s meals or use them as a fun addition to a lick mat. Our Bitty Bites are a fun twist on treats and are safe for both dogs and cats to enjoy. We launched Love Bites Treats and Toppers, LLC online on Aril 30th, 2024 and started attending pop-up markets that summer. We truly enjoy making these treats and meeting everyone and their pups.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everything comes with its challenges. We both work full time jobs and working around our schedules to attend pop-ups, or staying up late to bake or pack orders can be difficult. It is truly a labor of love, but we have enjoyed every second of it. In the beginning, it was overwhelming learning how to build a website and learning all the ins and outs of starting a business, but once you obtain your licenses, everything else you can just learn as you go. I think people forget that many small businesses don’t have a team behind them for marketing, production, etc. It’s just one or two people doing it all. We are constantly learning and adjusting as we go.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Love Bites Treats and Toppers, LLC?
We specialize in all natural pet treats and toppers for dogs and cats. All our products are free from any chemicals, added dyes, or preservatives. Any coloring in our treats comes from the super foods we use. We want you to know what’s in your pet’s food. Which is why we will always be transparent about the ingredients in our treats.

What am I most proud of brand wise? That we get to share our love for dogs with other like-minded people and we get to do it with our own dogs. Without Bijou, Lacey, and Roxie, there would be no Love Bites Treats and Toppers. They’re the taste-testers, the quality control team, the face behind the brand. Our love for them is what makes us so passionate about what we do. Working with my dog every day. A dream.

If there was one thing I would want readers to know, it would be that we also have a great line of cat treats. So often our customers tell us “No one ever has anything for cats.” Well, we listened, and we crafted our Tabby Bites collection. just for you. Flavors range from chicken and duck to kale, carrot, and beet root. Next time you need to re-up on treats, give us a try. I would also tell you to try our Bitty Bites. They are so easy to sprinkle on your pet’s food and are a fun way to spruce up any meal. Throw them in your freezer and pull out when you’re ready to use. They will last for months in your freezer. They’re also great for pet’s who can’t have hard treats. Check out our Instagram ( @lovebitestreatsandtoppers ) for inspiration on how to use our pet sprinkles.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
You can find us online at lovebitestreatsandtoppers.com or follow us on Facebook or Instagram to see where we are popping up next. We do themed treats for each holiday, so be on the lookout for new launches each month.

We love to give back! All 3 of our pups are rescues. You can visit our website and choose to donate a bag of treats to a local shelter. A few of our favorites are Wake County SPCA and Second Chance Pet Adoptions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lovebitestreatsandtoppers.com
• Instagram: @lovebitestreatsandtoppers
• Facebook: Love Bites Treats and Toppers, LLC