Case study · Client work
The Honest Kitchen Pack Retreat: 7.7M Impressions
A three-day Catskills retreat for media, creators and 14 pups put The Honest Kitchen's full line, including the new Bake Mixes, in front of editors and earned 7.7M+ impressions.
7.7M+
Media & influencer impressions
30+
Organic social posts
11
Media & influencer attendees, 14 pups
What Communications Challenge Did The Honest Kitchen Have?
The brief from The Honest Kitchen Pack Retreat: 7.7M Impressions
The Honest Kitchen needed editors and creators to experience its complete range, not just a single product. The pet food category is crowded, and editors rarely have time to try everything a brand makes before writing a roundup.
The brand also had a new launch to introduce. Its Bake Mixes, made for dog-friendly birthday cakes and other celebrations, needed a hands-on moment that would let guests see the product in action rather than read about it.
What Is the 5W Pack Retreat?
The Pack Retreat is a three-day getaway that 5W built for pets, pet parents, media and creators at the Arnold House in the Catskills, from September 29 to October 1, 2026. The 2026 edition, Pack Retreat 2.0: Catskills Edition, gave participating brands a relaxed setting to meet editors and creators during the competitive pre-holiday editorial season.
Shared meals, outdoor activities and evening bonfires gave guests natural moments to try products, find story ideas and capture organic content alongside their dogs.
How Did The Honest Kitchen Show Up at the Retreat?
5W built the retreat so that The Honest Kitchen appeared naturally at every touchpoint. The brand secured visibility through five integrations:
- A feature in The Pack Dispatch, the retreat's welcome newspaper
- Official logo placement on the main welcome signage and on brand-owned signage throughout the retreat
- Product placement in every guest room, featuring Wholemade, treats, Bake Mixes and Clusters
- Prominent product displays in the common areas
- A brand-owned cake decorating activation built around the Bake Mixes
What Happened at the Cake Decorating Activation?
Guests decorated dog-friendly cakes for their pups using The Honest Kitchen's newly launched Bake Mixes. On-site staff prepared a cake for each dog, and guests topped them with applesauce, Greek yogurt, peanut butter, strawberries and blueberries while the team shared product details.
In the post-retreat survey, one guest called the activity the perfect way to experience the Honest Kitchen baked items and said they were enjoying all of the brand's products. Another named being exposed to new brands, with the cake decorating activity, as a favorite part of the retreat.
Which Media and Creators Attended?
The retreat welcomed 11 media and influencer attendees and 14 pups. Media included Forbes Vetted, Good Morning America, InsideHook and The Spruce Pets.
The creator group included:
- @goldenchilidog, 477K Instagram followers
- @thehuskymoon, 401K Instagram followers
- @lavenderandlatte, 258K Instagram followers
- @milothepencildog, 218K Instagram followers
- @anamateizsok, 183K Instagram followers
- @puppynamedcharlie, 122K Instagram followers
Attendees shared their experiences on their own accounts, generating unpaid social momentum that extended The Honest Kitchen's reach to new audiences.
What Earned Media Came From the Retreat?
An attendee turned the retreat into a timely placement. On October 7, 2026, Kelsey Legg published a Good Morning America story on pet deals during Amazon Prime Big Deal Days that featured The Honest Kitchen Wholemade Whole Grain Chicken Recipe.
Beyond that placement, attending editors now know the complete Honest Kitchen line, from complete and balanced food to treats and specialty items like the Bake Mixes. That familiarity builds a pipeline for future roundups and gift guides.
Why Do Pet Brands Use Retreats and Experiential PR?
Experiential events give editors and creators a reason to cover a brand that a press release cannot. When a guest decorates a cake with the product or finds it stocked in the room, the experience becomes their own story.
5W's pet PR practice combines events like the Pack Retreat with earned media, creator programs and AI visibility work for pet brands. Learn more on the 5W Pet PR and AI Visibility Agency page, or see related work for Yourgi and Pawlicy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Pack Retreat?
The Pack Retreat is 5W's three-day Catskills getaway for pets, pet parents, media and creators. The 2026 edition took place from September 29 to October 1 at the Arnold House.
How did The Honest Kitchen participate in the Pack Retreat?
The Honest Kitchen appeared in the welcome newspaper, on event signage, in every guest room and common area, and through a brand-owned cake decorating activation featuring its new Bake Mixes.
What results did the Pack Retreat deliver for The Honest Kitchen?
The retreat produced 7.7M+ media and influencer impressions, 30+ pieces of organic social content from attendees, and an earned Good Morning America placement on October 7, 2026.
How much does pet PR cost?
5W pet PR retainers typically start at around $15,000 per month, and event costs depend on scope. See the pet PR cost guide for details.
Results
7.7M+ media & influencer impressions · 30+ organic social posts
The retreat generated 7.7M+ media and influencer impressions and more than 30 pieces of organic social content shared by attendees. Social impressions are based on follower counts and estimate potential exposure, not unique viewers or sales.
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Media and influencer attendees | 11 |
| Pups in attendance | 14 |
| Organic social posts by attendees | 30+ |
| Media and influencer impressions | 7.7M+ |
| Earned media placement | Good Morning America pet deals story, October 7, 2026 |
Coverage included
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