Marie Moody's journey with Stella & Chewy’s began in 1997 when she welcomed two rescue dogs into her home, which ultimately inspired the creation of her successful raw pet food company in 2003. Driven by the need to provide the best nutrition after her dog Chewy was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, Marie meticulously prepared a raw diet for her pets, leading to notable improvements in Chewy’s health.
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The company initially started in Marie's Brooklyn brownstone, where she prepared food, froze it, and delivered it via taxi. As the demand grew, Stella & Chewy’s expanded to a manufacturing facility in Muskego, Wisconsin, and later to a much larger 355,000-square-foot complex in Oak Creek. Early products were raw frozen patties, which transitioned to freeze-dried formats in 2006 to enhance convenience and preservation of nutrients. Since then, the company has launched a comprehensive range of offerings, including premium kibble, wet food, and various nutritional toppers for both dogs and cats.
Safety is a cornerstone of Stella & Chewy’s operations. The facility is SQF Level 2 certified and has received certification from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for international export. The company has adopted high-pressure pasteurization since 2007, enhancing food safety by eliminating pathogens and ensuring that every batch is tested before reaching consumers.
Product development emphasizes enhancing the bond between pets and their owners. The company gathers direct feedback from pet owners to identify unmet needs and create safe, palatable products. Recently, they launched trial sizes of their freeze-dried meal mixers and Dinner Dust.
Partnerships are crucial for Stella & Chewy’s success, particularly with North Freeze Dry, which has significantly improved their production efficiency by allowing on-site freeze-dried protein production. New innovations are in the pipeline, including a product that combines freeze-dried protein with fresh fruits and vegetables to meet the growing trend of humanization in pet food.
Initially, products were only available through independent pet retail stores. However, sales channels have expanded to include e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Chewy.com, as well as major retailers such as Petco and Target. The company aims to grow its presence across various shopping platforms to accommodate shifting consumer habits.
As it continues to honor its roots, Stella & Chewy's focuses on operational efficiency and innovative product development while seeking to double its household penetration in the U.S. from two percent to ten percent over the next few years. Jay Thompson, the current CEO, emphasizes that the brand's unique focus on the deep connection between pets and their owners is what sets it apart in the competitive pet food market.