Allan Levey, the industry veteran behind APPA’s success
The 1958 co-founder of the American Pet Products Association (APPA) died, leaving a significant legacy to the industry.
The veteran had 70 years of experience in the pet industry. He began working for Wardley Corporation, his father’s business and a distributor of aquarium products, in 1950.
Eight years later, Allan Levey founded the APPA with the help of 17 manufacturers who were willing to take a chance on the pet industry. At the time, it was known as the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association or APPMA.
He also worked to establish and accept fish and other aquatic animals as household pets.
The first pet show
Levey organized the first pet trade show, the Global Pet Expo. “He knew that the pet industry’s growth would transform into something bigger and better than just business profits,” said the APPA.
He was also “instrumental” in the creation of the NGO Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) in 2010. The entity, participated in by Zoetis and Petco, focuses on gathering, funding, and sharing scientific research to demonstrate the positive health impacts of companion animals on their owners.
Levey was co-founder and former chair of the Pet Advocacy Network (previously the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, PIJAC). The network to date works closely with APPA to promote responsible pet ownership and advocate for pet care priorities at local, state, federal, and international levels.
In 2012, he received the Walter H. Ebers Memorial Award from the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA). He received the Nancy G. Knutson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020 from the Pet Advocacy Network for his 70-year commitment to the pet industry.