BUSINESS - New Leader at Royal Canin USA

With Keith Levy assuming a new global leadership position within Mars' recently merged confectionery business, Kamie McHenry Eckert has been named president of Royal Canin USA.

"Kamie is a brilliant strategist who brings a strong vision for this company and is well positioned to continue to grow the US business," said Levy.

"She is also committed to the customer experience – driving the business to make choices based on how it helps customers expand their category while also ensuring pets live the healthiest possible lives."

Eckert began her career with Royal Canin USA as the eBusiness and eCommerce Director, building this function of the business from the ground level in 2013, including launching B2B eCommerce, a B2C website platform and the market's CRM architecture.

In 2015, Eckert was named Vice President of Retail, eCommerce and Professional Network sales teams, overseeing integration of strategy across multiple customer groups.

Last year she was appointed Vice President of Veterinary Sales and Chief Customer Officer.

During 2016, the business experienced record sales and earnings under her leadership.

"My focus going forward is to continue to grow the business, engage consumers and pet owners, deliver precise nutrition for pets, and ensure Royal Canin is top of mind for pet owners in the US," Eckert said.
 

"However, I am most excited to lead a team of passionate associates who continually make Royal Canin a great place to work by living the mission of making the world a better place for pets."

Prior to joining Royal Canin, Eckert held roles at Calphalon (a division of Newell Rubbermaid) and Macy's (formerly May Department Stores).

October is Royal Canin Fundraise For Farley Month!

The 2015 Royal Canin Fundraise for Farley Month is happening this October. It will be their biggest campaign so far. The Farley Foundation helps Ontarians and their sick or injured pets.

The Farley Foundation was created in 2002 and since then it has disbursed $2.4 million CDN to over 6,000 people and 800 veterinary practices. Currently over 300 practices raise money for the Farley Foundation during Fundraise for Farley Month.

More information about Fundraising for Farley may be found here.

       

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Royal Canin offers Online Shelter Sanitation Seminar

Shelters, pounds and rescue organizations can benefit from a relationship with Royal Canin. The Elite Shelter program offers a number of benefits for those who shelter animals. 

Royal Canin provides complimentary continuing education for shelter teams and shelter volunteers. On Tuesday, September 29th, Royal Canin will offer their Online Shelter Sanitation course.

Sabine Maarse is the National Shelter Program Manager and a good friend of people and pets in communities across Canada. 

Click here to access Royal Canin Shelter Resources!

Click here to contact Sabine Maarse

Who in the World is Mars PetCare

It would be hard not to notice the recent acquisitions and developing PetCare Business now owned by Mars, Incorporated. According to Forbes magazine in 2010, Mars  was ranked as the 3^rd largest privately held company in the United States. The company history reaches back through the Wrigley brand and other sales activities to the late 19^th Century. But it was early in the 20^th Century (1911), when Frank C. Mars began to make a ‘buttery’ candy in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and rode the confections horse to fame and fortune.

The fame and success of the company advanced beyond earthly bounds when M&M’s were selected as the official candy of the Shuttle program. Now Mars has parlayed this success into a new PetCare business that owns strong brands such as those pictured on this page. To understand how this all came to be, one needs to understand the ‘Essence of Mars’. These five principles have created an environment which also won Mars distinction as a Global Top 50 Employer.

So how does Mars intend to gather these brands together and create a better world for pets and people? Watching the video embedded in InfoStream will provide some of the answers.

The Mars PetCare Academy ensures that all Mars PetCare associates understand the goals and aspirations of the PetCare business. This focus seems to have propelled Mars management into acquisitions that move beyond the traditional role of nutrition and manufacturing. Servicing the health and wellness of pets is a direction that may alleviate the commoditization issues that nutrition and manufacturers are now experiencing. Brands like Banfield speak to a broader understanding of the pet client and the evolution of the pet business.

Now you have an understanding of how Mars describes the PetCare business. But of course Brands are more about what others say. Sharing your comments about Mars and the approach it is bringing to petcare are invited and may be entered in the comment section below. 

Mars listed on World's Best Multinational Workplaces for 2011

World-leading food company Mars, Incorporated praised for its global Associate engagement program

Mars, Incorporated has been ranked 19th in the inaugural World's Best Multinational Workplaces list, the world's first global workplace excellence ranking by Great Place to Work(R). The list, announced today at a ceremony and gala dinner at the New York Stock Exchange, honored the top 25 global companies to work for in the world.  The World's Best Multinational Workplaces list is based upon all the Best Workplaces Lists published between September 2010 and August 2011 and is featured on Fortune.com. 

Mars, Incorporated is the owner of  brands such as PEDIGREE(R), ROYAL CANIN(R), WHISKAS(R), KITEKAT(R), BANFIELD(R) Pet Hospital and NUTRO(R.  Mars, alongside other qualifying companies, was required to feature on at least five national Great Place to Work lists, have at least 5,000 Associates and have at least 40 percent of their workforce located outside the country in which their company is headquartered. Twelve of Mars, Incorporated's operations are featured on the list including Austria, Belgium, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

  

"As a global business, we are united by our Principles-based culture," commented Paul S. Michaels, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mars, Incorporated. "Although we operate in 71 countries, speak different languages, and have diverse perspectives and opinions, our culture remains consistent and provides our 65,000 Associates with the opportunity to make their work mean more every day."

  

"To receive this recognition from Great Place to Work and to be featured in the inaugural World's Best Multinational Workplaces list is testament to every Mars Associate who is passionate about their work and takes pride in putting the Five Principles of Mars into action every day," adds Michaels.

The Mars Five Principles of Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom are the foundation of its culture and approach to business. They unite Mars across generations, geographies, languages and cultures.  First expressed by Forrest E. Mars, Sr. in the 1930s as his business model based on delivering a "mutuality of benefits" for all stakeholders, and later articulated as the Five Principles by the next generation of the Mars family, these philosophies guide Mars Associates' relationships with consumers, customers, business partners, communities and one another.

Click here to learn more about Mars as a workplace   

SOURCE  Mars, Incorporated

Royal Canin Get One, Give One Benefits Animal Welfare Partners

Novel program samples product and donates to animal welfare

Royal Canin and PETCO™ are partnering to provide assistance to animal welfare partners through the "Get One, Give One" promotion. While supplies last during the weekend of July 8-10, 2011, PETCO will offer every customer a free can of Adult Instinctive or Ultra Light adult feline wet formula for their cats - no purchase necessary (limited to two cans per customer). For each can given away, Royal Canin will match it with a product donation to the PETCO Foundation.

"This is a great opportunity for us to support the amazing work of the PETCO Foundation and our animal welfare partners with the optimum nutrition that all animals deserve," said Staci Kombrink, Brand Manager at Royal Canin. "Beyond contributing food through the PETCO Foundation to deserving animal welfare partners across the country, we're excited to provide PETCO customers with the exclusive opportunity to sample our Feline Health Nutrition™ canned cat food and witness the passion for science and nutrition that Royal Canin puts behind all of our products."

The "Get One, Give One" promotion supports the PETCO Foundation's animal welfare partners, a nationwide network of shelter partners connected by special collection bins in PETCO stores across the country. In addition to trying free cans provided by Royal Canin during this three day event, customers can provide ongoing support to animal welfare partners by dropping off food or cat litter donations purchased during their shopping trip at PETCO in the donation bins at the front of the store. These contributions will go to animal welfare partners across the country. The ongoing program launched in February 2010 and has since collected more than 500,000 pounds of food and added 400 new charitable partners.

About Royal Canin USA
Royal Canin USA is a forerunner of nutritional and technological advancement in dog and cat food. With more than 40 years of experience in the animal health and nutrition industry, the company prides itself on putting knowledge and respect for the animal first. Royal Canin collaborates with nutritionists, breeders and veterinarians from around the world on impartial and relevant research to ensure dogs and cats receive the best nutrition.

About PETCO
PETCO is a privately held specialty retailer that provides products, services and advice that make it easier for customers to be great pet parents. PETCO operates nearly 1,100 stores in 50 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading pet products and information destination at http://www.petco.com/   The PETCO Foundation, has raised more than $75 million since its inception in 1999 to help promote and improve the welfare of companion animals. The Foundation works with and supports approximately 7,000 local animal welfare groups across the country to help find homes for more than 200,000 adoptable animals every year.