Not every day do we get to speak with a side-hustling dog chef, let alone one that provides unmatched quality fresh food for dogs in Singapore. If this does not exemplify passion and drive, I do not know what will.
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From wanting to start a billion-dollar tech company to founding Chuku’s Kitchen, a fresh pet food company in Singapore, Josh has come a long way!
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Witnessing a loved one suffer from illnesses and diseases is not for the faint-hearted. The eventual heartbreak could potentially deflate you entirely, and the same could be said for pets. The funny thing about pain is that it can drive some to do the wildest things, some of which were never even planned.
Chester, 3-year old Border Collie; Chuku, 6-year old Toy Poodle; Josh (R)
Josh, who works full-time in a data company, thought his life goal was to start a billion-dollar tech company. However, after going through the ordeal of Chuku (his dog) getting diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Josh decided to set up Chuku’s Kitchen, where pet owners can turn to when sourcing freshly cooked food for dogs.
Here is pet food entrepreneur Josh’s unlikely story of how he started his side hustle of cooking for dogs,
“We realised that what we wanted was not available in Singapore. Hence, Chuku’s Kitchen was born.”
J: Our first dog, Chuku’s Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), led us to search for the best diet that we could provide her to alleviate her symptoms. It was a highly stressful period for me and Chuku as there were ongoing vomiting episodes, persistent blood in her stools, decreased appetite, and hefty bills due to trips to the vet.
After extensive research, we found that what we were looking for was unavailable in the local market. Therefore, we started Chuku’s Kitchen in June 2020, which offers freshly cooked food for dogs while complying with the nutritional standards of The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
“We wouldn’t want to eat instant noodles every day, so dogs should have access to fresh food too!”
Fresh produce and meat are ingredients used for Chuku’s Kitchen dog food
J: We do not want to be just another dog food supplier. Instead, we want to educate and raise awareness among pet owners that kibbles should not be the norm. To achieve this goal, we adhere to the following rules,
All that sounds like a lot of work for one man, let alone one doing it as a side hustle.
J: I am proud to say that Chuku’s Kitchen now comprises a team of four dedicated and hardworking individuals. I have learnt to keep a routine schedule, which means a full-time job during the day and being a dog chef at night and on the weekends.
The team behind Chuku’s Kitchen
“I am surprised how one can stretch, shorten, use or lose the time that they have.”
As for my personal life? I wouldn’t say that I am missing out on a lot. In fact, I still indulge in social media or watch Netflix, just that I do it while I am packaging food!
J: My dogs motivate me! Knowing that I am giving my dogs the best by providing them with quality ingredients makes the process of cooking Chuku’s Kitchen dog food worthwhile. Furthermore, I am also glad that I can share this experience with others through Chuku’s Kitchen platform.
Chester pictured with the dog food made by Chuku’s Kitchen
J: Coming up with the idea was the easiest part. It was a challenge to ensure the idea’s sustainability as we had to work with the unknowns while going through multiple rounds of trial and error. As for skills, I think that being proactive is a very useful trait to have.
J: They’re not satisfied with what they have today. Once they get what they are lacking, they would no longer be juggling, but side hustlers would just be a part of their ordinary lives.
J: One should have the courage and do it! It is especially important that what you do overlaps with what you love, and it will motivate you so that it does not feel like a chore but more of a fun hobby.
Sheer passion and love for his dogs made Josh the dog chef that he is today
Not every day do we get to speak with a side-hustling dog chef, let alone one that provides unmatched quality fresh food for dogs in Singapore. If this does not exemplify passion and drive, I do not know what will.
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