AusMumpreneur of the Year

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I am incredibly thrilled and honoured to announce that we won second in the Global Brand and Mumpreneur of the year categories!

I launched Rufus & Coco while pregnant with my first child, quickly followed by my second. Now celebrating our 12-year anniversary, I’m pleased to say that Rufus & Coco is Australia’s most awarded pet care brand, selling 4.3 thousand products per day to 4500 stores in 9 countries around the world. It is a story with many struggles and victories that parallels David & Golaith with our major competitors being large multinationals.

I’d like to think Ausmumpreneur for these awards and warmly congratulate all the finalists. I hope that my recognition will help inspire future generations of female entrepreneurs. Including my children to also think they can do anything they want to if they try. And for my son, who will never question that a woman can achieve just as much as any man in business.

Australia’s Top Ten Women in Business→

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The very nature of being an entrepreneur and an innovator means that you fully embrace ambiguity and are comfortable with being challenged regularly. Choosing this career path is completely irrational because the odds of succeeding are dismal, but most succeed because of their unwavering belief, laser focus on delivering and persistence.

The 10 Australian women business leaders nominated by Business Game Changer Magazine are of different ages, social backgrounds and industries. However, the one common thread which unites them is that they dared to believe. And, in believing, they made the seemingly impossible a reality.

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Anneke van den Broek: Humanity And The Purpose Of Pets→

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With many of us returning to the office post lockdown I figured it was a good time reflect on some of the silver lining moments of the last few months. For those who have pets, I am sure one of the pleasures of working from home has been having the time with you fur baby by your side. After all, for the animal lovers out there our relationships with our cats, pooches, parrots, or whatever crazy critter fill our hearts - pets are our family.

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Rufus & Coco CEO and founder on going from startup to global enterprise→

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Anneke van den Broek has built a globally successful business in the pet care industry. Rufus & Coco is Australia’s most awarded pet care brand, having received seven business awards for innovation, and winning the 2016 title of the NSW Telstra Business award.

Anneke’s mission has always been to support pet owners and give back to animal charities and not-for-profits. She had many business ideas, but decided on pets as she recognised this was where her passion would remain long-term.

Recognised as one of Australia’s 50 most influential women entrepreneurs by Rare Birds, Anneke’s career landed her in a position where she was prepared to launch her own business in 2008 – whilst pregnant with her first child. In our interview, she discusses how her background and her MBA assisted her in her entrepreneurial success.

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It started with a mouse: Leaving a big paw print on the pet care world→

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It is widely acknowledged that it's smart business to understand your customers. That was never going to be a problem for Anneke van den Broek.

The founder of pet care brand Rufus & Coco has owned somewhere around 40 pets, a fact that makes her business success seem logical. Her brand, which offers pet care items such as vitamins, grooming products, toys, dog collars and cat litter, is stocked in nine countries and sells 2.5 products per minute through supermarket giants Coles, Woolworths, IGA and online.

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“Heartbreaking”: The renters missing out on Australia’s pet boom→

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RSPCA estimates 15-30% of dogs and cats surrendered to shelters are from owners who couldn’t take their pets into a new rental property.

“Not welcome”

As Rufus & Coco founder Anneke Van den Broek explains, the problem may even get worse as more Australians move towards higher-density apartment living.

“Pets in Australia are not welcome in tenanted and rented accommodation,” she tells SmartCompany.

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From DOGTV to pet cremation: How humanisation is driving a boom in the business of our furry friends→

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Growth industries are of constant interest to Australian entrepreneurs — there’s money to be made and those willing to take risks betting on new ideas are more likely to be rewarded.

When it comes to growth, few industries are more promising than Australia’s booming pet care and services market, which is enjoying a spectacular rise on the back of the much talked about fur baby phenomenon.

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