Rolf C. Hagen began acquiring bird seeds from the prairies in Western Canada with the intention of exporting it back to Germany, where he had established contacts. This was the initial stage of his new venture before expanding his business into a diverse pet supplies manufacturer. During the past fifty years, the Hagen Group of Companies was able to export its business from Canada to the international market. Its customers include small and local pet stores in Canada and the United States, as well as publicly owned "box stores" such as Petsmart and Petco.