50 Years of Agri Feed Pet Supply: A Family Story, A Knoxville Legacy
This year, Agri Feed Pet Supply turns 50. And as I sit down to write this, I find myself thinking less about the business milestones and more about the people who made this place what it is — starting with my grandfather, Mel Sturm, who opened these doors in Knoxville in 1976.
It Started With a Merchant's Heart
Mel Sturm was a merchant most of his life. It was in his blood. He grew up in Jellico, Tennessee, learning the trade from his own father's stores. After serving our country in the United States Navy during World War II, he came home and got back to what he knew — building something. He went on to co-own Sturm's Youth World with his brother Evan — a retail career built on hard work, relationships, and a genuine love of serving customers. When a business opportunity presented itself in Knoxville, it wasn't a leap of faith so much as the next step on a path he'd been walking his whole life. Agri Feed Pet Supply was born in 1976, and Knoxville has been our home ever since.
The Generation in Between
My father, Bradley Sturm, was part of this story too — and I want to make sure he's remembered in it. He was involved with the business for many years and it was here in Knoxville that he met my mother. When Bradley passed away in 1999, my mother stepped up in a way that I don't think gets talked about enough. She transformed the business and ran and grew these stores for over 20 years. Twenty years. Through all the change that came with that era of retail — the rise of the big box stores, the internet, shifting customer expectations — she kept Agri Feed Pet Supply not just alive but thriving. I am incredibly proud of what she built and deeply grateful for everything she sacrificed to keep this family legacy going.
Coming Home
In 2016, I came back to Knoxville after completing my MBA with one goal in mind: to continue what my grandfather started and my mother preserved, and to take it somewhere new. I've always had a deep passion for animal nutrition and a belief that what we feed our pets matters — that a longer, healthier life for the animals we love starts in the bowl. That philosophy has shaped every decision we've made over the past decade.
We've grown our fresh and raw food selection into one of the most comprehensive in the region. We launched Purr & Post, our own line of handcrafted cat furniture. We added The Spaw, a self-service dog wash at our Middlebrook Pike location. We're opening a brand new fenced outdoor dog park — a free community space for Knoxville's dog families. We expanded into a full English equestrian tack department at Kingston Pike. We became the sole U.S. supplier of the NVR Miss Litter Box. We offer local delivery and nationwide shipping. And we earned the Pet Business Magazine Retailer Excellence Award for Best Overall Multi-Unit Retailer — as well as many local recognitions.
None of it happened overnight, and none of it happened alone.
What 50 Years Really Means
Fifty years in retail is rare. Fifty years as an independent, family-owned retailer in a market dominated by national chains is something else entirely. It means generations of Knoxville families who chose us — who trusted us with the health of their pets, year after year. It means a staff that genuinely cares. It means vendor partners who believe in what we're building. And it means a community that has shown up for us the way we've tried to show up for them.
Our annual Petoberfest has become one of my favorite expressions of that relationship. What started as a celebration has grown into one of Knoxville's most beloved pet events — and this year, for our 50th anniversary, we're making it the biggest one yet. Mark your calendars for August 28–29, 2026. More details coming soon, but trust me — you won't want to miss it.
Celebrate With Us — Friends & Family Day, June 6th
Before Petoberfest, we'd love to see you at our Friends & Family Day on Friday, June 6th at both Knoxville locations. It's our way of saying thank you — to the customers, neighbors, and pet lovers who have been part of this story. Come in, bring your family (four-legged members welcome), and let's celebrate together.
From my family to yours — thank you for 50 years. Here's to the next 50.
— Britt Sturm, Owner
Third-Generation Retailer, Agri Feed Pet Supply
Middlebrook Pike: 5716 Middlebrook Pike | (865) 584-3959
Kingston Pike: 10420 Kingston Pike Suite C | (865) 691-7787
Shop online: agrifeedpetsupply.com | Local delivery available | Nationwide shipping