In my mind, you aren't even close to being ready to launch anything. The first thing you need to do is to create some customers to try out your product -- even IF you must give it away to them. Then your next step is to find out IF they will pay you for it and at what price point. At that time, you sharpen your pencil and figure out IF you can afford to produce your product and sell it direct at that price point. Your goal is to create a local product with great reviews that you can turn into a regional product. Then you figure out the local merchant's markup and figure out IF you can wholesale your product to local small business stores. Can you say, "I'll demonstrate my product on my card table to your customers. And it won't cost you (the business owner) a dime. I'll supply the products for your customers for free. Please just give me a chance to show your customers my product."? You go out and demonstrate your product by giving it to pet owners that come to the local stores day after day. Yes, it will cost you money for your time and your product. Your goal is to get your product on their shelf with customers that you have generated through your demonstrations. Your potential customers must ask for your product. Only then, when you have a proven track record, that has gone regional, are you ready to even start talking to the grocery stores, pet stores, and convenience stores. FYI. You don't talk to them directly. Most contacts are done through food brokers and distributors. It takes years and years, and piles of money to launch most products. Also, keep in mind, you don't have a lock on any food product. They can't be patented.I was vaguely aware. I need to do more research on it.
But, I'm sure that you don't want to hear this. How do I know all of this? When I was young, I was the trophy wife to one of the leading food techs on the West Coast. We set up commercial kitchens, production lines for manufactures, new product launches, and the hot food program for the Western five states for a major oil company's convenience store chain. (My husband was a certified genius who couldn't tie his shoes without having me at his side. And I was very good at being his wife.) I learned a lot about the food business during those years. But, who am I to give you advice?