WELCOME TO INDEPENDENT PET PARTNERS
ABOUT
The easiest thing to do in the world is love your pet. They’re givers. They give you attention. Companionship. Joy. Sure, they may use an occasional high heel as a chew toy, but they never complain, they don’t have bad days and their world revolves around you like the earth revolves around the sun.
Taking care of them should be easy too. But with an online retailer for this, a drive across town for that, an appointment for one thing and a Google search for what is that thing – ugh. Pet parents need a single place to go with people they could trust like good neighbors – all under one roof. That’s where IPP comes in.
IPP is a pet store experience unlike anything in the world. We’re a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community of experts and educators bonded together to make life better for both pets and their adopted human parents. We’re comprised of two independent pet store brands spread across the country – Kriser’s and Chuck & Don’s. However, they both share a common wellness philosophy and mission to be the place your pet would go if it could only reach the dang gas pedal.
We’re so committed to the idea of wellness that we defined it. The 5 Pillars of Pet Wellness® drives and inspires everything we do from food to services to advice. With 66 pet supply locations and an online shop that is always open, it’s no wonder we were named the Pet Retailer of the Year.
ABOUT
The easiest thing to do in the world is love your pet. They’re givers. They give you attention. Companionship. Joy. Sure, they may use an occasional high heel as a chew toy, but they never complain, they don’t have bad days and their world revolves around you like the earth revolves around the sun.
Taking care of them should be easy too. But with an online retailer for this, a drive across town for that, an appointment for one thing and a Google search for what is that thing – ugh. Pet parents need a single place to go with people they could trust like good neighbors – all under one roof. That’s where IPP comes in.
IPP is a pet store experience unlike anything in the world. We’re a diverse, inclusive and welcoming community of experts and educators bonded together to make life better for both pets and their adopted human parents. We’re comprised of two independent pet store brands spread across the country – Kriser’s and Chuck & Don’s. However, they all share a common wellness philosophy and mission to be the place your pet would go if it could only reach the dang gas pedal.
We’re so committed to the idea of wellness that we defined it. The 5 Pillars of Pet Wellness® drives and inspires everything we do from food to services to advice. With 66 pet supply locations and an online shop that is always open, we can help you win the World’s Greatest Pet Parent award anytime, anywhere.
What’s love got to do with it? Everything.
Maximizing pet wellness is as paramount to living our own best lives as it is of our furry friends. We believe it so wholeheartedly that we created the first ever definition of pet wellness. The 5 Pillars of Pet Wellness includes Nourishment, Play, Comfort, Companionship and Purpose. It Inspires everything we do as a company – inside the store and out.
THE 5 PILLARS OF PET WELLNESS®
Health vs Wellness
Most pet parents are familiar with health — good nutrition, lots of exercise, regular visits to the vet. But wellness? Not so much. The difference is that wellness is about the mind and body connection. Pets, like people, need to be physically, mentally and emotionally cared for to live their best lives.
Introduced in 2019, the 5 Pillars of Pet Wellness® simplifies the conversation with pet parents. It supports their education in the essential elements necessary for their pet to live a full and healthy life. Founded as an educational reference and the first true definition of pet wellness, IPP’s trademarked 5 Pillars provides an easy-to-understand guide for education, products, services and tools to help pets (and their human parents) thrive.
NOURISHMENT
PLAY
comfort
companionship
purposePet Foodies
No one knows more about pet food. Except maybe pets.
We are Pet Foodies. All 600+ of us. And we collectively have over one million hours of dog and cat food training. It’s our job – but it’s also our obsession.
Our philosophy is simple. Dog food and cat food should be real food. Every diet we recommend is all-natural with only high-quality ingredients. But the true key to a healthy diet is balanced nutrition and a steady rotation of proteins, grains and other ingredients.
Imagine eating the same meal day in and day out, week after week. You’d be overloading on some nutrients and have a deficit of many others. But how do you know what to get and when? We can help.
We’ll help you become a pet foodie too.
Our team of experts have created guides to help parents understand their pet’s unique health needs, as well as a food finder tool to find the perfect custom mix. On top of that, our build-a-bowl recipes make it even easier to put together a pet’s ideal meal.
Trust us when we say we’ve read up on every ingredient, studied every label and yes (eyes awkwardly averting to the ground) even tasted the food from time to time. Like we said – obsession.
BRANDS
We curate the best brands on the planet.
Because you have the bestest good boys and girls on the planet.
We don’t carry anything we wouldn’t give our own family pets. We test every product, visit manufacturers’ facilities and hand-select the best, safest and most natural pet products we can find. Compromise isn’t a word we use. Every brand we work with has been vetted. Here are just a few we partner with:
As seen on the cover of Food & Whine.
Our exclusive line of Roosevelt food and treats was developed by a team of pet health and nutrition experts and is made in the Midwest by a third-generation, family-run business. We source many of our ingredients from local farms and the streams and pastures of Colorado and Oregon.
Roosevelt food shares common bases, whether it’s with ancient grains or grain-free. Pet parents can rotate proteins so their dogs and cats can get the range of nutrients they need without upsetting digestion.
Roosevelt is also available in treats that are perfect for training, snacking or is often the case, bribing.
SERVICES
Pets are some of the best people we know. That’s why we have a full suite of services to take care of them inside and out.
Pets are just like people. It starts with what they put in their bodies. But it doesn’t end there. A healthy coat, exercising the mind and body, frequent grooming, socialization and consistent monitoring of the entire ecosystem leads to happiness and longevity.
We wanted to make it easy for pet parents to get the level of care they desired. No more driving all over town. Each of our stores has a unique combination of offerings. Be sure to check your local store for what’s available.
Locations
You can turn to us when you don’t know where to turn.
Luckily, we’re at every turn.
Wherever you go, there we are. Whether it’s a physical pet store location right in your backyard or an online shop that can get you whatever you need – sometimes even the same day – we’re there for you anytime, anywhere. We’re the local neighborhood pet store in 66 neighborhoods with the expertise of a dedicated national network of pet lovers, behaviorists and experts.
Inside our pet stores, you’ll find our philosophy of wellness permeates everything we do. You can shop using the Five Pillars of Pet Wellness as your guide. You can learn how to build a bowl of well-rounded dog food or cat food that is light years ahead of simply pouring a bowl of kibble. You can get advice, wash your pup, set up a training program or find the perfect toy based on how your dog is wired.
Above all, you’ll feel a sense of relief. Finally, a pet store that makes sense – and makes life easier.
FIND YOUR STORE
FIND YOUR STORE
MEET THE TEAM
Chief Executive Officer
Pets: Brooklyn (German Shepherd Mix), Fozzie Bear (Poodle Mix)
Julie is a proven business leader with 25 years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods (CPG) and information services. A proud University of Minnesota graduate, she has led in multiple Fortune 500 and private equity-backed companies. Julie is a collaborative and purpose-driven leader dedicated to achieving growth, building strong teams and fostering inclusivity.
Chief Merchandising Officer
Pets: Charlie (Great Pyrenees/Hound Mix)
Mary is an experienced senior executive with a track record of leading high-performance teams to deliver transformational results. As a business leader, Mary is committed to optimizing operational efficiency and costs. Her industry-spanning expertise includes consumer products and services, strategic planning, marketing and retail merchandising.
Chief Financial Officer
Pets: Alle (Goldendoodle), Lela (Goldendoodle)
Chad is a dynamic financial leader who brings valuable expertise to IPP. His experience spans many sectors of finance and accounting, including public, private, family-owned and private equity-backed companies. Combining financial strategy with a passion for helping people, Chad drives economic and operational excellence.
Senior Vice President, Channels
Pets: Sisters Nova & Luna (Siberian Husky & Alaskan Malamute Mixes)
Chris is a performance-driven leader dedicated to achieving organizational excellence across store, field and digital operations. Balancing consistency with flexibility, Chris optimizes business processes, develops high-performance leaders throughout the enterprise, and ensures IPP remains agile to meet current and future objectives.
Jodi Funk
Vice President, Information Technology (IT)
Pets: Sunhi (Pitbull Mix), Piper (Pitbull Mix), Gracie (Havanese)
An IT executive with a passion for people and innovation, Jodi embraces an analytical, hands-on approach to leadership. With experience across a wide range of industries, Jodi is skilled in enterprise infrastructure architecture, IT strategy and the software development life cycle (SDLC). She evaluates complex IT systems to make them more efficient.
Val Johnson
Vice President, Human Resources
Pets: Marley (Golden Retriever), Beau (Golden Retriever), Buffet (Calico Cat)
Val is a human resources and business leader with over 20 years of global experience. She has a proven track record of developing and delivering programs that support companies and their employees. Dedicated to cultivating and retaining high-performance teams, Val assesses organizational needs, sets strategic goals and drives successful outcomes.
Megan Mouser
Vice President, Culture & Services
Pets: Flash (Corgi), Moe (Golden Retriever), Michigan (Russian Blue)
Megan brings over 15 years of pet retail experience to IPP. She is a strategic, analytical leader committed to team collaboration, learning and development. With an innovative, data-driven approach, Megan is skilled at motivating remote teams, working cross-functionally to achieve results and prioritizing the customer experience.
Jennifer Patton
Vice President, Marketing
Pets: Baxter (Black Lab Mix), Ruby (Shepherd Mix)
Jennifer is a strategic leader with a background in omni-channel and digital marketing, retail, client services, franchise operations and project management. With over 20 years of experience across a range of industries, Jennifer is a team player dedicated to understanding the customer experience and delivering organizational results.
MEET THE TEAM
Julie Maday
Chief Executive Officer
Pets: Brooklyn (German Shepherd Mix), Fozzie Bear (Poodle Mix)
Julie is a proven business leader with 25 years of experience in retail, consumer packaged goods (CPG) and information services. A proud University of Minnesota graduate, she has led in multiple Fortune 500 and private equity-backed companies. Julie is a collaborative and purpose-driven leader dedicated to achieving growth, building strong teams and fostering inclusivity.
Mary Ortizcazarin
Chief Merchandising Officer
Pets: Charlie (Great Pyrenees/Hound Mix)
Mary is an experienced senior executive with a track record of leading high-performance teams to deliver transformational results. As a business leader, Mary is committed to optimizing operational efficiency and costs. Her industry-spanning expertise includes consumer products and services, strategic planning, marketing and retail merchandising.
Chad Underwood
Chief Financial Officer
Pets: Alle (Goldendoodle), Lela (Goldendoodle)
Chad is a dynamic financial leader who brings valuable expertise to IPP. His experience spans many sectors of finance and accounting, including public, private, family-owned and private equity-backed companies. Combining financial strategy with a passion for helping people, Chad drives economic and operational excellence.
Chris Eilitz
Senior Vice President, Channels
Pets: Sisters Nova & Luna (Siberian Husky & Alaskan Malamute Mixes)
Chris is a performance-driven leader dedicated to achieving organizational excellence across store, field and digital operations. Balancing consistency with flexibility, Chris optimizes business processes, develops high-performance leaders throughout the enterprise, and ensures IPP remains agile to meet current and future objectives.
Jodi Funk
Vice President, Information Technology (IT)
Pets: Sunhi (Pitbull Mix), Piper (Pitbull Mix), Gracie (Havanese)
An IT executive with a passion for people and innovation, Jodi embraces an analytical, hands-on approach to leadership. With experience across a wide range of industries, Jodi is skilled in enterprise infrastructure architecture, IT strategy and the software development life cycle (SDLC). She evaluates complex IT systems to make them more efficient.
Val Johnson
Vice President, Human Resources
Pets: Marley (Golden Retriever), Beau (Golden Retriever), Buffet (Calico Cat)
Val is a human resources and business leader with over 20 years of global experience. She has a proven track record of developing and delivering programs that support companies and their employees. Dedicated to cultivating and retaining high-performance teams, Val assesses organizational needs, sets strategic goals and drives successful outcomes.
Megan Mouser
Vice President, Culture & Services
Pets: Flash (Corgi), Moe (Golden Retriever), Michigan (Russian Blue)
Megan brings over 15 years of pet retail experience to IPP. She is a strategic, analytical leader committed to team collaboration, learning and development. With an innovative, data-driven approach, Megan is skilled at motivating remote teams, working cross-functionally to achieve results and prioritizing the customer experience.
Jennifer Patton
Vice President, Marketing
Pets: Baxter (Black Lab Mix), Ruby (Shepherd Mix)
Jennifer is a strategic leader with a background in omni-channel and digital marketing, retail, client services, franchise operations and project management. With over 20 years of experience across a range of industries, Jennifer is a team player dedicated to understanding the customer experience and delivering organizational results.
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