PAWTUCKET, R.I. — February 21, 2022 — Pet Food Experts announced today the retirement of James Bettencourt, Chief Operating Officer, after over four decades of devoted service effective this month. Effective immediately, William May has been appointed Chief Operating Officer.

There is one thing all pet parents know is true; our pets love receiving a good treat. For pet owners, switching up treats and chews is a fun opportunity to spice up the life of their four-legged friends, which is why it is no surprise that pet treats are one of the highest-grossing product categories in the pet space. At Pet Food Experts, our carefully curated brand portfolio offers pet specialty retailers and the communities they serve trusted brands and high-quality products that keep consumers happy and their pet's tails wagging.

TACOMA, WA/DENVER CO – Pet Food Experts announced today the expansion of two new distribution centers in Washington and Colorado over the next two months to support the growing demand for natural pet food and supplies. The expansion allows Pet Food Experts to better serve the pet specialty businesses of the Pacific Northwest and Mountain Region.

Over time we've seen the pet industry transform and grow into what it is today. It is crucial to have leaders we can count on through all this change, especially when our world is thrown into chaos by a global pandemic. This year, Pet Age Magazine has launched the Power 50 List to recognize and highlight our industry's incredible leaders and influencers.

William May joins Pet Food Experts as Vice President of Supply Chain Operations

It's no secret that the challenges our world faces today are too big for any individual or individual organization to tackle. The Pet Sustainability Coalition is helping pet industry organizations and individuals turn their collective motivation and shared vision into action. As purpose-driven leaders, working together is the only way to make a real difference and tackle systemic change. In a short amount of time, the coalition has made a profound impact in helping to shape and activate sustainability efforts across this great industry. We’re pleased to announce this collaborative commitment and invite others to help drive further transformation.

On this 51st Earth Day, four Pet Sustainability Accredited brands are taking extra steps in celebration and action to advance their communities' wellbeing. While we're of the mindset that Earth Day is every day, this annual holiday prompts us all to take an extra step to protect and preserve this beautiful planet we all call home. Our amazing planet not only provides a bountiful place for our families to work and play, but it also generously provides the natural resources needed to successfully run our businesses.

At the Global Pet Expo in March of 2020, the Pet Sustainability Coalition, Earth Animal, and Pet Food Experts announced a unique Flex Forward Pilot Program. Since August 2020, retailers from across the nation have been working toward a collective mission to gather 5,000 pounds of pet food packaging in an effort to identify sustainable alternatives to the packaging disposed of in landfills.

It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot about our way of life. Undoubtedly one of the most significant changes is the way in which we gather. As a result, we have seen many of our treasured industry shows, including PFEXPO, either canceled, postponed, or testing virtual formats to keep attendees, exhibitors, and workers safe. If you attended Global Pet Expo 2020 just weeks before the world shut down, then you can remember the feeling of impending change. Empty booths, quiet whispers, and the questioning looks when you saw someone sporting a mask as they walked through the aisles. We didn't know at the time, but everything was about to change.

Over the past year, we’ve seen nearly every industry event pivot to a virtual platform. I’ve had the pleasure of attending several virtual conferences and recently participated in the first-ever Pet Sustainability Coalition’s UnPacked21 event. UnPacked brought together over 400 attendees, including sustainable packaging experts and suppliers, as well as pet industry brands, manufacturers, and retailers, to shed light on one of our industry’s largest issues.