10/25/2026
https://voyagevirginia.com/interview/community-highlights-meet-christopher-gabriel-of-natures-nibbles/
Hi Christopher, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My dog, Gypsy, suffered from severe atopic dermatitis. Her condition became so bad that her skin would come off with her hair, leaving red, bloody hot spots all over her body. After visiting multiple veterinarians and spending thousands of dollars on treatments, misdiagnoses, and “prescription pet food”(which I found out later is a scam – there is no such thing as “prescription pet food”) a friend recommended we feed “All Natural Pet Food”. “Well, isn’t it ALL ‘All Natural?'” I asked… Come to find out, no. The same person suggested I read a book called, ” Food Pets Die For – Shocking Facts About Pet Food” by Anne Martin. Ann Martin was the first to expose the fact that euthanized cats and dogs are common ingredients in many commercial pet foods. She expanded her research to find that pet food can also contain diseased cattle, contaminated meat, moldy grain, roadkill, and rancid fats from restaurants. The more I dug, the worse it got. I changed Gypsy’s food to an all natural dry food. Things quickly improved, but she still had some issues. Through trial and error, I eventually transitioned her to pre-made raw meals. Over time, her symptoms completely disappeared.
That experience changed my life.
I decided that I wanted to help educate pet owners about nutrition and provide access to high-quality, natural pet foods. In 2005, Nature’s Nibbles was born. My wife, Anne, and I started the business as an online delivery service operating out of our home. About a year later, we opened our first brick-and-mortar store in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia.In July 2019, we opened our second store in the Hollin Hall Shopping Center—just six months before the COVID-19 pandemic. Managing two retail locations during such an uncertain time proved challenging, and we ultimately decided to move our pet food business entirely online. To better serve our customers, we expanded our delivery service from once a week to twice a week.
Today, Nature’s Nibbles continues its mission of providing pet owners with trusted, all-natural nutrition and personalized guidance based on decades of research and experience. Our goal remains the same as it was when we started: helping pets live healthier, happier lives through better nutrition.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road. Anne was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic breast cancer in the fall of 2023, and I suffered a heart attack in September 2025. In addition, the new administration’s workforce reductions and the layoffs of thousands of government employees have created significant challenges for many small businesses, including Nature’s Nibbles. Despite these obstacles, we remain committed to providing the highest quality nutrition and service to our customers and their pets.
We’ve been impressed with Nature’s Nibbles, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Nature’s Nibbles, we specialize in all-natural pet nutrition. For more than 25 years, owner Chris Gabriel has dedicated himself to researching, recommending, and providing high-quality natural foods and supplements to help pets thrive.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
The people.
The traffic.
Contact Info:
Website: https://www.naturesnibbles.com
Instagram: naturesnibblesalexandria
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nibbleshollinhall – https://www.facebook.com/NaturesNibbles10
