Carnivore Meat Company, a leading producer of ultra-premium freeze-dried and frozen raw pet food, is proud to announce the appointment of Heather Govea as chief executive officer. Govea, a renowned figure in the industry, brings extensive experience in team leadership and fostering growth. Her impressive career includes notable roles at Natural Balance, Del Monte/Big Heart Pet Brands, Nulo, and most recently, as chief strategy officer at Alphia.
Based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Carnivore is a key player in freeze-dried raw pet food production, offering unique products under the Vital Essentials brand. These products are distributed across a network of over 7,200 retailers in the U.S. and Canada, as well as online through platforms like Chewy and Amazon, and in 14 international markets. Additionally, Carnivore serves as a trusted partner to numerous co-manufacturing and private label customers.
"I am thrilled to join Carnivore as CEO at this pivotal moment in the Company's journey," said Govea. "With a strong team in place and the recent re-launch of the Vital Essentials brand, I am eager to drive continued growth. Moreover, with Arbor's investment and support, Carnivore is poised for expansion as we move into a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and headquarters later this year. This aligns perfectly with my passion for driving growth through innovative, high-quality products that positively impact the lives of pets and their owners."
Carnivore Meat Company is under the ownership of Arbor Investments, a specialized private equity firm focused on food, beverage and related industries. Arbor's acquisition of Carnivore was announced in December 2021.
"We recognized the need for a CEO with deep industry expertise and a genuine passion for the pet sector, coupled with the drive to steer our business forward," said Arbor Partner Chris Tuffin. "Heather's track record of scaling pet brands and fostering strategic partnerships with retailers makes her the ideal choice for this role."
"Heather's appointment underscores Carnivore's commitment to excellence and innovation," remarked Arbor President and Carnivore Board Chairman Carl Allegretti. "We are excited to welcome her to the Carnivore team, confident in her ability to seamlessly integrate with our dedicated workforce in Green Bay."
A native of the Midwest, Govea holds a degree in Animal Science from California State Polytechnic University.
Govea will make her debut as CEO at the upcoming Global Pet Expo trade show and officially assume her role on May 1st.
