Valerie Maumon waiting for the first bits of winter like others the buds of spring. They announced the return of a spirited activity: the sled dog race. When he crosses the numb forest and slide the white expanses planed in the air, this businessman shares with his pack of huskies moments of collusion that only practitioners of this Inuit discipline can understand.
Because Valérie Maumon was bitten by the cat universe. To finance his activity as a sled driver, or “musher”, in 2016 he created the company Element.vet, which specializes in dietary supplements for dogs. In fact, standard kibble isn’t enough for the Olympic pooch who burns calories at the rate of an oil boiler. “Don’t think that these supplements are made of anything,” said the 51-year-old manager, who struggled for a long time before finding the right industry partner to launch his range. “Standards are as delicate as baby food. »
Distributed online and to veterinarians, at a rate of 40% annual growth, Element.vet supplements have conquered Europe. Although Valérie Maumon remains discreet about her turnover. And within a few days, throw out the plastic packaging! The company celebrates its conversion to minimalist packaging, made from wood fiber and cane, which is recyclable and 100% biodegradable.
A niche market
Valérie Maumon points to the Maghreb and then the United States. “It’s an appropriate market,” he said offhandedly. “But there is a demand. It requires being ecologically responsible throughout the production chain,” said this boss, an expert on dogs.
Asked on his Instagram account @valerie_maumon where the photos of the epic career are accumulated (he needs six a year), every day he responds to requests for advice on a thousand and one ways to train a dog.
Born near the mountains of Grenoble, he raised his first dog at the age of eight. “An Irish setter was lost in the mountains, who came to me and never let go,” he recalled with a touch of emotion. When my friends were playing with dolls, I was playing vet with my dog. Enough to increase your sensitivity to animal welfare. “But I’m not good at math: I didn’t try the vet,” he said.
Twelve huskies
He studied economics in Grenoble before taking various jobs in Chamonix, mainly in the organization of sports events. Valérie Maumon built a family, of which dogs were always a part. Her children learned to walk by holding their hair. After the sad burial of his faithful golden retriever, he falls in love with a husky. He quickly found him a game and, curious to return them to their natural element, had them pulled on a snow sled. “Something clicked with me. That was what I wanted to do! “he said. He quit his job, learned to be a musher and signed up for official races. He strengthened his physical condition, went through storms, hardened himself in the cold. “ Valérie is very strong, physically and morally, confides Stéphanie Gino, her handler (the musher’s right arm). He is also stubborn, even directive and stubborn. But not stupid! »
From two huskies, the sportswoman’s kennel grew to twelve. Today, this troop of feathers lives at home, between her photographer husband who follows her on her shopping trips and three grown children who cannot imagine a life without barking. In the morning, Valérie Maumon takes care of and trains her dogs. He then dedicated himself to his three-person business, which would soon welcome his 26-year-old eldest daughter. His comfortable life as an employee seemed far away. The package call was definitely picked up.