MARKHAM, ILL. — Chelsea and Brett Sher, a twin-sibling duo behind family-owned Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company, have been named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2020 Notable Entrepreneurs.

Evanger’s was founded in 1935 and purchased by the Sher family in 2002. Joel and Holly Sher continue running the business with help from Chelsea, Brett, and their other daughter Callie. Callie was one of three young engineers to be awarded the Next-Generation Leadership award from the Natural Association of Manufacturers in 2019.

Chelsea and Brett co-founded their own brand, Against the Grain Pet Food, under Evanger’s in 2015. The twins are both vice presidents of Evanger’s, with Brett focusing more on the operational side of the business and Chelsea spearheading consumer-facing initiatives.

“Our parents (Holly and Joel Sher) truly are our mentors, our inspiration, and the biggest supporters of our brand, despite being our formidable competitors,” Brett said. “Making foods that not only help pets thrive, but also help pet-parents enjoy the mealtime experience is what motivates us to continue innovating in our industry. Providing exceptional quality pet foods to independent pet retailers in the United States and beyond and a commitment to constant innovation has been the key to our success.”

This year’s Notable Entrepreneurs list features 39 entrepreneurs in a range of consumer products, B2B services, nonprofit companies. To qualify, businesses must demonstrate revenue growth or increasing capital over the last three to five years, including those whose revenue falls between $500,000 ad $10 million.

“It’s an honor to be included in this highly respected list of Chicago’s movers and shakers and recognized amongst this list of incredible business entrepreneurs,” Chelsea said. “This award for Brett and me represents all the hard work we put into Evanger’s and Against the Grain. Our parents, whose unwavering devotion helped take Evanger’s into a globally recognized brand, have instilled this same devotion in ourselves, and had a huge influence on our entrepreneurial achievements.”

Read our exclusive processor profile on Evanger’s Dog and Cat Food Company from our March 2019 magazine.

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.