Customers waiting in line for a product created in Latvia

The story of Himalayan International began eight years ago when one of the co-founders of the company, who was living in Nepal at the time, discovered a product the locals had created for their pets, it was very popular and rapidly captured the US market. Made according to ancient Himalayan methods, the product was natural, nutritious and completely unique. Inspired by its popularity, she wondered why not produce this innovative milk product in Europe, right here in Latvia? With that the idea was born to manufacture dog chews that are now exported to more than 20 countries.

Although the idea was promising, the journey was not a smooth one. For the first three years the company actively experimented with the formula of the product trying to pinpoint the ideal balance of ingredients for the cheese chew that would make it not only healthy and natural, but free of any artificial additives or preservatives. The development process was technically complicated as there was no ready-made manufacturing equipment available for this type of product, so the company had to create and develop its own technologies from scratch.

The business incubator established by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) provided the company with crucial support in overcoming these challenges. “Without the support of the LIAA incubator we might not have been able to continue working,” Līga Aļijeva, Chair of the Board at the company, admits. The incubator not only allowed the company to purchase the supplies it needed, but also provided practical advice and access to the business community. This collaboration was the necessary stimulus to continue development despite the company not making any profit. “Working together with other entrepreneurs in the incubator gave us the motivation and assurance that even seemingly wild business ideas can become success stories,” Ms. Aļijeva adds.

After lengthy experiments, the company finally arrived at the ideal formula for its product and the market response was immediately positive. “Our product was so unique in Europe that customers were literally waiting in line for the first batches. The pet supplies market is a very tight-knit community where anything new is quickly noticed and appreciated,” Ms. Aļijeva explains. The healthy properties of the product, such as reduced lactose content and high calcium, make it not only a tasty, but also a nutritious treat for dogs. Moreover, consuming these chews is good for dogs’ teeth and keeps them entertained.

The factory located in Preiļi with over 20 employees can currently produce around 14 tonnes of the product per month. The majority (98%) is exported abroad, mainly to Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and even farther away places, such as Australia. The demand for Himalayan dog chews continues to grow, therefore the company is planning to expand its production facility and install new equipment to be able to satisfy the constantly growing demand.

Since 2024, the Business Incubation Aid Program has been implemented by LIAA representative offices in Latvia and any company up to the age of 5 operating in the supported sectors can apply for the programme.

This article has been produced with financial support from the European Regional Development Fund, Small and Medium Enterprises Programme, Incubator Subproject.