Skip to main content

Natural Awakenings Twin Cities

Chuck & Don’s Raises Minimum Wage

Kudos to Chuck & Don’s, a Minnesota-based pet-supply retailer with 25 locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Colorado, which has taken significant steps to invest in its team members to support the company’s future growth plans. In January the company raised its minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, $2.85 more than the federal minimum wage.

“For those who were making $9 or $10 an hour, their wages went up proportionately, so they went from $9.50 to $11 or whatever the case might be,” says co-founder Chuck Anderson

The raise is in addition to health care benefit improvements made in anticipation of the Affordable Care Act. In early 2013, Chuck & Don’s invested $150,000 in health care benefits, boosting offerings and choices for employees. The company will invest $250,000 in health care packages in 2014.

“Health care is critical,” states Bob Hartzell, Chuck & Don’s CEO. “We’re not waiting for mandates to do what’s right for our team members and their families. We want everyone who contributes to the company to share in its successes, from the part-time team members to our managers and corporate office staff.”

The company believes that by investing in its team members, employees in turn will treat Chuck & Don’s as a career versus a job and help to invest in the company’s future growth. Chuck & Don’s is a privately held company, with 142 full-time employees and 153 part-time employees.


Chuck & Don’s advocates responsible pet ownership and commits to meaningful corporate citizenship that makes a positive difference in the communities in which it operates.

For more information, visit ChuckAndDons.com.