Free Domestic Shipping over $150. Free International Shipping over $400+.

Alexis Kwong Alvarez is Passionate about Delicious Nutrition for Cuddly Canines

If you’re a dog-lover but never have time to cook for your beloved friend at home, you should meet Alexis Kwong Alvarez, the founder and CEO of Dogalicious, for advice. From an experienced media worker to an entrepreneur, Alexis has set up the one and only fresh dog food company in Asia. At first, he simply intended to prepare nutritious food for his dog Phoebe, who had been diagnosed with cancer. And now he has been working hand-in-hand with vets, selling more than 500,000 meals already. All in all, Alexis, who is half-Chilean and half-Chinese, has a wealth of experience to share.

What is your urban transplant story?

Chile is my mother’s home country. I have a Chilean passport and lived there for more than one year. Geographically, there is a 12-hour time difference between Hong Kong and Chile. Culturally the two places are very different, and there is a huge contrast between their lifestyles. People in Hong Kong are extremely hard-working, while Chileans are more passionate. I taught English in Chile and later worked at the record company SONY. Then they offered me a job in Hong Kong, so I moved back. After working in the marketing field for SONY for some time, I joined Channel [V]. Initially my work was only about music. Then I participated in many projects, including start-ups, videos, and television programs. In 2015, I quit my online marketing job. In the same year, my dog Phoebe was diagnosed with cancer, so I started to cook food for her. I did research on dog food and found that they were not as good as they claimed to be. Processed food would never be healthy. While I was doing research, I met a nutritionist in Australia, and we worked together on the recipe. Soon afterward, many friends of mine showed interests in the dog food I prepared. Seeing a huge potential in the market, we set up the business based in Hong Kong in 2016.

Are you an animal lover in general?

I think I have a personal connection with dogs. They are grateful, loyal, and protective creatures, and they love you unconditionally. I don’t have such a connection with cats. I would not stare at cats and have enormous fondness, but for dogs (looking at his dog Courtney) I always will. I had many different kinds of animals as pets. My mother told me when I was a child, two large dogs kept me company and protected me. My memories came back when I saw the photos. My mother loved cats, and my father, who was a sailor, brought different animals back home. I remember there were two parrots from Brazil. I even had silkworms as pets. I like animals in general, but dogs are just different from others, and I have a strong connection with them.

What is your dressing style? Will your career and lifestyle affect you in deciding what to wear?

When I was in the music/entertainment industry, I did not quite need to dress in suits, not until I was in a managerial position. Sometimes I had to go to occasions and events, so I would dress up a bit. But now, as an entrepreneur, I do not have to dress in formal attire. When attending meetings or seeing someone, I can still have casual wear such as a t-shirt, shirt, or polo shirt with jeans. For me, the dress code is “comfort” and what I wear for work or leisure time do not have much difference. I am with shorts and slippers when I walk my dogs in the early morning. I go to work in t-shirts and shorts, preferably in light colors, in the summertime. Personally, I don’t like wearing pullovers in winter because it would ruin my hairstyle.

Are there any memorable moments or challenges that you have faced in launching Dogalicious?

When Dogalicious was first set up, I was the sole investor and had to shoulder all the expenses incurred. On one occasion, I only had a single 20 dollar Hong Kong bank note in my pocket. And that’s it! Nothing more! I had to wait for few more days before cash would flow in. I hadn’t been on holiday for two years, and I didn’t have spare money to buy new clothes. I would not starve to death, but I know not everyone can make it. By this I mean not everyone can be an entrepreneur. If you are not born rich, you have to strive hard to turn a passionate interest into a successful business. Not everyone is able and willing to sacrifice everything to achieve this goal. The 20 dollar note is a small token and serves as a reminder. I will drive through obstacles to ensure I would not find myself in the same desperate situation again.

You can see more from Alexis on Instagram.

Credits:

Writer: Luna Wong
Stylist: Jake Wong
Photography: Deacon Lui

 


More from this issue

Want to See More?

View All Issues
New to O.N.S? Well, welcome.
Ollie's been waiting for you!

Sign up to our list and get 15% off plus lots of cool perks:

VIP Online Sales
In-store Parties & Events
Exclusive Capsule Launches
Art & Music Showcases
O.N.S Manual Features