Online Store News Updated, July 20, 2021 Pet Food Experts Hires new VP to Lead Supply Chain Operations William May joins Pet Food Experts as Vice President of Supply Chain Operations PAWTUCKET, RI – Pet Food Experts (PFX), a leading distributor of pet food and supplies announced today the hiring of William May as Vice President of Supply Chain Operations. May will lead Pet Food Experts’ supply chain, warehousing, transportation and logistics across six distribution centers throughout the U.S. He will report to PFX Chief Operating Officer, James Bettencourt. May is a seasoned supply chain leader with extensive experience in both direct-to-consumer and direct-to-store operations. He comes to PFX from American Tire Distributor, where he most recently served as Regional Supply Chain Director overseeing operations across up to 19 distribution centers in the U.S. Prior to American Tire Distributor, May spent 12 years in various progressive leadership roles at W.W. Grainger, a Fortune 500 industrial supply company, where he was responsible for full site and P&L ownership as well as an influence across multiple distribution centers throughout the U.S., Latin America, and Canada. He led large teams solving complex supply chain issues and developed operational excellence rooted in precision, on-time performance, and employee engagement. May also held leadership positions at The Home Depot and the U.S. Coast Guard. “PFX has built an industry-leading supply chain and logistics network that supports over 6,000 independent pet retailers nationwide,” said Baker. “It’s a rapid time of growth for us and William’s strong track record of leading teams to elevate operational quality and efficiency make him a valuable addition to the PFX family as we continue to deliver the superior customer experience we’re known for.” “PFX has set a high standard for operational excellence, and I’m eager to help tackle the current widespread supply chain challenges,” says May. “I’m even more excited to be a part of the team responsible for building an operation for the future that continues to strengthen relationships with our brand and retail partners and drive long-term company growth.” May joined the company on June 7, 2021 and will be based out of Pet Food Experts’ national headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Updated, May 5, 2021 Pet Food Experts Closes Previously Announced Acquisition of United Pacific Pet Expands geographic footprint in the West and service to 6,200+ pet retailers. PAWTUCKET, RI – Pet Food Experts (PFX), announced today the successful closing of the previously announced acquisition of United Pacific Pet (UPP) in Fontana, California combining one of the leading distributors on the West Coast with PFX’s suite of high-performing brands, industry-leading fill rates, and superior customer experience. “We are excited to enter the West region through the milestone closing of United Pacific Pet,” said Michael Baker, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Pet Food Experts. “As the industry continues to rapidly evolve, there is tremendous opportunity to generate sizable growth for our Independent Pet retail partners,” continued Baker. The closing of the landmark acquisition reinforces Pet Food Experts as a leading distributor of pet food and supplies, serving over 6,200+ Independent Pet retailers from its six distribution centers across 39 states. Founded in 1918 in Colton, California, United Pacific Pet previously served approximately 1,500 Independent Pet retailers and pet professionals throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii with a broad assortment of high-quality pet foods and pet supplies. UPP has 115 employees, an extensive fleet of delivery trucks and operates out of a 154,000 square foot warehouse centrally located in Southern California’s major distribution hub. Updated, April 26, 2021 Pet Food Experts Announces Major Expansion in the West with the Acquisition of United Pacific Pet Transaction fuels continued growth, expands geographic footprint, and increases service to over 1500 independent retailers. PAWTUCKET, RI – Pet Food Experts (PFX), a leading distributor of pet food and supplies announced today the execution of an asset purchase agreement under which Pet Food Experts will acquire the operating assets of California-based United Pacific Pet (UPP), a regional distributor of pet food and animal care products in the West. This accretive acquisition brings together one of the leading distributors on the West Coast with PFX’s suite of high-performing brands, industry-leading fill rates, and superior customer experience. Pet Food Experts’ President and CEO Michael Baker said, “Today’s announcement is a fitting tribute to Maureen Costello and Jim Butler’s exceptional leadership and legacy at UPP.” Baker continued, “This will be a monumental acquisition for PFX as it will significantly increase our overall scale and footprint in the West region.” Baker added, “We’re looking forward to bolstering the existing vendor portfolio and providing partners with sustainable growth as we have for generations.” “Jim and I are very pleased to be joining the PFX family,” said Maureen Costello, President, and CEO of United Pacific Pet. “Having known the Baker family for over 30 years, Pet Food Experts is a company that shares our history, culture, systems, and commitment to the success of the independent retailer,” continued Costello. “Michael is a trusted business partner and we have complete confidence that together, we will be better positioned to meet the fast-changing needs of our customers, vendors, and employees. We look forward to a smooth transition and significant growth ahead,” Costello said. Founded in 1918 in Colton, California, United Pacific Pet currently serves approximately 1,500 independent pet retailers and pet professionals throughout California, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii with a broad assortment of high-quality pet foods and pet supplies. UPP has 115 employees, an extensive fleet of delivery trucks and operates out of a 154,000 square foot warehouse centrally located in Southern California’s major distribution hub. Marking its largest transaction to date, the acquisition will advance Pet Food Experts’ position as a leading distributor of pet food and supplies in the U.S. servicing over 6,000 independent retailers from it’s six distribution centers across 38 states. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions. Updated, February 10, 2021 PFX Announces Key Executive Promotions and Appointments New leads of Finance, Customer Experience, IT, Business Development, Marketing, and Human Resources accelerate the Distributor’s growth. PAWTUCKET, RI – Pet Food Experts (PFX), a leading distributor of pet food and supplies in the independent pet specialty industry, announced today a number of senior leadership appointments fueling its ongoing growth trajectory. “Today’s organizational announcement is another building block in our company’s transformative journey,” said Pet Food Experts President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Baker. “We’re moving quickly to structure our organization for faster growth so we can respond to the ever-changing needs of independent pet retailers and brand partners across the U.S. These leaders bring a wealth of industry knowledge, innovation, and experience from their respective industries and I look forward to working together as we scale and grow our business,” continued Baker. The changes support work already underway to create a more agile organization focused on strategy, modernization, brand revitalization, and portfolio expansion. Senior Leadership Appointments Leaders assuming newly expanded responsibility in the organization include: Vice President of Finance Elaine Rei Marques has over 30 years of accounting and finance experience in the banking, manufacturing, and distribution industries. As a ten-year PFX veteran, Marques is the company’s first female vice president instrumental in developing and driving accounting best practices and significant economies of scale across the organization. During her tenure, she’s held numerous senior leadership roles and established the accounting and human resource departments’ best practices. Most notably, Marques was the driving force behind three game-changing acquisitions contributing to the organization’s exponential growth over the course of five years. She holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Rhode Island and an MBA from Bryant University. Vice President of Customer Experience Jim Sharp, a Pet Industry pioneer with over 30 years of executive level sales, trade marketing, and strategy, has been named Vice President of Customer Experience. Sharp recently unveiled a comprehensive reorganization plan integrating inside and outside sales divisions into a unified Customer Experience team designed to streamline a single voice to deliver elevated, best-in-class service for PFX’s 4,500 independent pet retail locations and vendor partners nationwide. Sharp holds a B.A. in Economics from Indiana University Bloomington. Vice President of Information Technology Barry Silver has been a C-Level technology and operations executive for over 20 years, focused on evolving businesses through technology innovation and operational improvements. In 2019, Barry was awarded the Tech10 Technology Award for driving technology and innovation in the Rhode Island technology ecosystem, currently serves as a Board of Directors Member for Rhode Island Tech Collective and is a Member of the Board of Advisors for Google Cloud Premier Partner, Cloudbakers based in Chicago, IL. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Barry is also an accomplished musician with major TV appearances and touring credentials supporting renowned bands such as KISS, Queensryche, Cheap Trick among others. Vice President of Strategy & Business Development Brian Wyrostek brings more than 20 years of Pet Industry leadership and management experience in both B2B and B2C. Before PFX, Wyrostek was responsible for expanding Rumford Pet Center’s retail footprint across Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Recently promoted to Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Wyrostek will identify new business opportunities and develop strategic plans supporting PFX’s growth strategy. Brian will also continue to oversee purchasing and inventory control producing industry-leading fill rates along with uncovering economies of scale throughout the organization’s supply chain generating significant savings and efficiencies. Brian has a B.S. in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Vice President of Human Resources Natalya Fater is a human resource expert with over 25 years of diverse management and leadership experience. Prior to joining Pet Food Experts, Fater was VP of Human Resources for Nouria Energy Corporation for over six years overseeing the strategic direction and key human resource functions critical to the successful operation of the organization. She also led Human Resources for The March & McLennan/Protector Group Insurance Agency, Inc. Fater received a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Worcester State University and an MBA from Assumption University. Vice President of Marketing Nicole Dominguez brings 20 years of expertise in B2C and B2B brand-building and digital marketing transformation for the world’s most iconic brands in the entertainment, healthcare, and education Industries. Prior to PFX, Dominguez served as CMO for the YMCA responsible for membership acquisition, loyalty and digital strategy. Previously, she fueled significant growth for Kindermusik overseeing the brand’s revitalization efforts and lucrative partnership with Disney Junior. She also held various executive positions at Hasbro and The Art Institutes overseeing digital strategy and CRM. In her new position, Dominguez will lead brand, marketing and communications strategy, along with digital optimization for the organization. Dominguez received a B.A. in Communications with an Advertising concentration from San Diego State University. Director of Customer Experience & Strategic Accounts Kelly Pye brings over a decade of sales, business development, and training expertise throughout her ten-year PFX tenure. She was instrumental in the company’s two lucrative acquisitions onboarding new retail partners and orchestrated the restructuring of the Inside Sales and Customer Experience teams. In her new role, Pye will lead the Customer Experience Team and bring an optimized approach to the end-to-end ordering, sales, and training processes. She will also expand and cultivate relationships with key strategic accounts nationwide. Prior to PFX, Kelly worked in the pet retail and floral industries and attended Johnson & Wales University. Updated, November 20, 2020 Special Webcasts From Pet Food Experts Thank you for joining us during our Fireside Chat updates. Each "episode" will be posted to access whenever you need. 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