Carnivore Meat Company appoints Mandy Gayle as Senior Director, National Sales. Gayle joins the company after 18 years in the pet food industry, most recently as vice president of sales at Open Farm Pet. 18 minutes ago July 28, 2026 (PRESS RELEASE) GREEN BAY, WI - Carnivore Meat Company, a leader in premium raw frozen and freeze-dried pet nutrition and parent company of Vital Essentials, announced the appointment of Mandy Gayle as Senior Director, National Sales. Gayle joins the company after 18 years in the pet food industry, most recently as Vice President of Sales at Open Farm Pet. In her new role, Mandy will lead the national sales team by setting strategy and working directly with distributors, independent retailers, and key retail partners across North America. Her appointment reflects Carnivore Meat Company's continued investment in expanding the Vital Essentials brand while reinforcing its long-standing commitment to the independent pet channel. "Mandy's appointment is an important commitment to our independent pet retail partners," said Heather Govea, CEO of Carnivore Meat Company. "The indie pet channel is critical in our industry, it's where education for pet parents happens, and is also a place for discovery of new products & solutions. Mandy has deep relationships across both indie pet retailers and distributors, so her leading the team will help us ensure we're meeting the needs of the channel." Mandy joins Carnivore Meat Company from Open Farm Pet Foods, where she most recently served as Vice President of Sales and has built sales organizations from the ground up. She worked closely with distributors and independent retailers to grow premium pet food brands across North America, shaping how she thinks about the role ahead. "What attracted me to Carnivore Meat Company was its commitment to quality, its relationships across the industry, and a culture that puts pets and people first," said Mandy. "The best opportunities come down to people, purpose, and impact, and this one had all three. Right now my focus is listening: spending time with our sales team, our distributors, our retail partners, figuring out what's working and where we can do better." A focus on independent retailers isn't new for her: they have long been central to the industry. Mandy's role is making sure they have the tools, education, and support they need to stand out and keep delivering a great experience for pet parents. When independent retailers do well, the whole specialty pet community benefits. About Carnivore Meat Company. Carnivore Meat Company is an award-winning leader in premium raw frozen and freeze-dried pet food and treats. Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the company is widely recognized as a pioneer in raw pet nutrition and owns and operates the largest freeze-dried manufacturing facility for pet food in North America. The company's freeze-dried division also supplies private label, co-packing, and ingredient solutions to customers worldwide. Its rapidly growing brand, Vital Essentials(R), is distributed through more than 7,000 U.S. retailers, 14 international markets, and online. Carnivore Meat Company has earned numerous accolades for growth and manufacturing excellence, including the Greater Green Bay Chamber Growth Award, Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award, Governor's Export Achievement Award, Greater Green Bay Chamber Manufacturing Award of Distinction, and six consecutive placements on the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies. Learn more at CarnivoreMeat.com. Featured video. NASC Media Spotlight. At first it was just an idea: Animal supplements needed the same quality control that human-grade supplements receive. But that was enough to start a movement and an organization - the National Animal Supplement Council - that would be dedicated to establishing a comprehensive path forward for the animal supplements industry. In this Media Spotlight interview, NASC's president, Bill Bookout, talks to PETS+ interviewer Chloe DiVita about the industry today: Where it's headed, what's the latest focus and why it's vital to gain the involvement of independent pet product retailers. You may like. Subscribe. Bulletins. Get the most important news and business ideas from PETS+.

Open Farm and PetSmart partner to expand access to premium, responsibly sourced pet nutrition. Published: June 08, 2026 at 3:11PM EDT TORONTO-(BUSINESS WIRE)- Open Farm, a premium pet food brand made from the world's best ingredients, today announced its partnership with PetSmart, bringing its portfolio of pet nutrition to stores across North America and expanding access to responsibly sourced, high-quality nutrition for pet parents. Beginning this month, Open Farm's range of dry, wet, freshly crafted meals, freeze-dried raw, treats, and supplements will be available in nearly 1,700 PetSmart stores across the United States, Canada, and online. The launch will be supported by a significant in-store presence at PetSmart locations, with merchandising displays designed to help pet parents easily discover the brand. With this partnership, Open Farm's recipes will be available in more than 9,500 retail locations across North America. "This is a milestone moment for Open Farm and a reflection of the trust we've built with pet parents over the past decade by delivering exceptional nutrition, uncompromising sourcing standards, and unparalleled transparency into how our recipes are made," said Isaac Langleben, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Open Farm. "Partnering with PetSmart allows us to bring Open Farm to millions more pet parents while continuing to lead with the standards that define our brand." Founded in 2014, Open Farm was built to challenge conventional pet food through the Open Farm Promise, placing exceptional nutrition, animal welfare, sustainability, and transparency at the center of every recipe. Today, the brand has grown into a category leader in premium pet food, with a strong and expanding presence across both digital and physical retail channels, meeting pet parents wherever and however they shop. "We started Open Farm to raise the bar for pet food, and today we're seeing that vision resonate at scale," said Jacqueline Prehogan, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer, Open Farm. "As we grow, our responsibility grows with us - from the standards we set for every ingredient to how our recipes are thoughtfully developed with veterinary and nutritional expertise, and shared transparently with pet parents. We've never cut corners, and that won't change." PetSmart, the leading omni-channel pet retailer in North America, offers a powerful platform for discovery, combining national scale with a strong in-store experience and integrated services for pet parents. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing sustainability and bringing forward brands that are setting a new standard for nutrition, ingredient sourcing, and transparency. "As pet parents become more focused on ingredient quality and transparency, we're excited to welcome Open Farm into our assortment to help us further meet and exceed their expectations," said Erika Tervelt, Vice President of Consumables Merchandising, PetSmart. "Open Farm's leadership in responsibly sourced nutrition, ingredient quality, and transparency make them a strong addition to our offering, and we look forward to introducing their recipes to more pet parents across our stores and digital channels." Open Farm recipes are now available in PetSmart stores across North America and online at PetSmart.com and PetSmart.ca. About Open Farm Open Farm is a premium pet food brand dedicated to helping pets live their healthiest, happiest lives by delivering exceptional nutrition made from the world's most responsibly sourced ingredients. Founded in 2014, Open Farm is on a mission to Do Some Good for animals and the planet. As a certified B Corporation built on a foundation of best-in-class nutrition, high animal welfare, sustainability, and transparency, Open Farm continues to raise the bar in the pet food industry, one meal at a time. Open Farm recipes are available at more than 9,500 retail locations and online at OpenFarmPet.com and OpenFarmPet.ca. About PetSmart PetSmart is the leading omni-channel pet retailer in North America with a mission to help everyone experience more joy with pets. The company offers a compelling assortment of pet care essentials, exclusive brands and must-have items for each season, along with expert pet services. With nearly 1,700 stores across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico - plus a seamless shopping experience at PetSmart.com and through the PetSmart app - PetSmart's convenient shopping options are complete with autoship, same-day delivery and in-store pickup. Expert services include a professional grooming salon in every store, veterinary care in more than 700 locations, pet training, and Doggie Day Camp and PetsHotel overnight boarding in many locations. The PetSmart Treats Rewards loyalty program provides value to pet parents through personalized offers and points on every purchase that can be used for future savings. PetSmart and PetSmart Charities have a long-standing commitment to supporting pets and people in the communities they serve, and PetSmart Charities is the largest funder of animal welfare in North America. Together, they are proud to have helped more than 11 million pets find loving homes through in-store pet adoption programs. For more information, visit PetSmart.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260608206222/en/ Meg Sharpley Communications and Public Relations Manager, Open Farm [email protected] [email protected] Business Wire