SAN DIEGO — Petco Health and Wellness Company, Inc. announced Nov. 30 it has partnered with Stella & Chewy’s to bring a selection of the premium pet food company’s raw and natural products to Petco’s in-store shelves and online marketplace, starting January 2023.

Stella & Chewy’s offers complete-and-balanced freeze-dried raw formulas for dogs and cats, which are fortified with probiotics and antioxidants and formulated with responsibly sourced ingredients, according to the company. It also offers dry kibble coated with freeze-dried raw proteins in grain-free and grain-inclusive varieties, as well as a range of meal toppers “for picky eaters.”

"As a leader in the pet nutrition space and the first and only retailer to offer Stella & Chewy's both online and in brick-and-mortar locations in all 50 states, Petco is unequivocally committed to making high-quality nutrition available to even more pets across the country," said Amy College, chief merchandising officer at Petco. "Petco's Whole Health philosophy and focus on 360-degree health and wellness solutions for pets closely aligns with Stella & Chewy's mission and emphasis on healthy, safe and palatable nutrition, all in support of pets' overall happiness and wellbeing."

Stella & Chewy’s entrance into the big box pet retail space does not mean it is abandoning the neighborhood pet channel, according to Marc Hill, chief executive officer at the company. Some products — including its Raw Coated Baked Kibble, Raw Blend Baked Kibble and Frozen Raw lines — will remain available exclusively through neighborhood pet stores.

"Today's announcement is another step in a mission started almost 20 years ago — to make raw and natural diets more accessible to pet parents across the country," Hill said. "But that mission isn't possible without the ongoing partnership of our valued neighborhood pet stores — partnerships we will continue to invest in and support long term."

Stella & Chewy’s is the latest pet food company to strike a partnership with Petco following its ban on dog and cat food products containing artificial colors, flavors and preservatives in May 2019. The initiative is part of Petco’s Whole Health philosophy, which aims to support holistic health and wellness for pets. The Whole Health initiative was officially announced in March 2021.

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