FRANKLIN, TENN. — While Alanna McDonald is relatively new to the pet care industry — having just celebrated her two-year anniversary in November — she already feels a common commitment and passion with her industry counterparts. As the regional president for Mars Pet Nutrition North America, she is helping the company follow its “Five Principles” of Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom to help build “A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.”

Bringing more than 25 years of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) experience to her role at Mars, McDonald is letting her passion for making a positive impact guide the company’s mission to deliver innovation to the pet care industry.

“Our North America leadership team remains focused on identifying the next big area that pet parents will be drawn to and getting out in front of it,” she said. “Of course, none of us have a crystal ball, so the closer we can stay to pet parents, the better we can identify category trends and get ahead of them.”

In the following Q&A, McDonald shares how she’s helping to lead her fellow team members at Mars to support the company’s mission while helping the pets the serve.

PFP: How did you get your start in the pet industry, and how did that experience lead you to where you are now?

McDonald: I have been in the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) space for more than 25 years, and the common thread in my career path is that I’ve always been drawn to companies with a clear purpose and potential to make a positive impact. Ultimately, this focus is what brought me to Mars. The company’s belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today and Mars Petcare’s Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS, both deeply resonate with me.  

Of all the categories I’ve worked in, baby care stands out due to its similarities with pet care. In both, the purchaser is not the end user, and the parent — or pet parent — wants to do the absolute best for their loved one.

Having been immersed in the pet care industry for two years, Mars’ “Five Principles” and purpose-driven approach continues to fuel my passion, allowing me to channel my personal curiosity and professional experiences into making a real difference for pets and their families.  

PFP: What has been your biggest challenge — personal or professional — related to your work in the pet industry?

McDonald: At Mars, many associates have dedicated their careers to making a difference in the pet industry. Coming in, being newer to the category, my challenge has been to learn as quickly as possible to get to a depth of knowledge. There is a challenge to learn and understand pet parent wants and needs — and ask curious questions — in order to add value. I am grateful to these associates for helping to accelerate my learning curve.

It’s every associate at Mars’ responsibility, myself included, to recognize what pet parents need from us, and to innovate in service of the world’s many kinds of pet parents so we can solve their pain points wherever they are in their journey.

PFP: Tell me about a professional accomplishment in the pet industry that you are proud of.

McDonald: As I celebrate my two-year anniversary at Mars, I’m incredibly proud of the team I have helped build. Our associates are not only dedicated to creating a world where pets are healthy, happy and welcome, but they’re also genuinely committed to each other’s growth and wellbeing. I have been lucky to work alongside each of them.

We support each other through challenges both professionally and personally, which helps us drive meaningful and lasting change. It has been an inspirational experience taking part in this growing culture where purpose, teamwork and compassion are at the heart of everything we do.  

In a working environment, people individually go through highs and lows in their lives. I am proud of how associates have shown up for each other holistically. The way we have each other’s backs and our culture of being at service to pets and pet parents is an amazing thing. When you’re winning together — and you have the support of each other as people — the win is sweeter.

I am also proud of our commitment to sustainability, which sits at the heart of our purpose, since we know that “A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS” is a better world for people and the planet. We have made strides toward climate smart agriculture, packaging circularity, and our NUTRO brand’s Greater Ground initiative is advocating for and supporting healthier soil practices. With Mars being a privately owned company, we are able to think in generations and sustainability is something we are committed to long term.

PFP: What is top of mind for you and/or your business in the industry right now?

McDonald: We are always thinking about the next big thing in pet parenting — what’s the next pet parent pain point that we can solve? The Mars business is built from key innovation over decades.

For example, our SHEBA brand’s Perfect Portions are easy-to-use wet cat food trays that eliminate messy leftovers, addressing a key pain point for cat parents.

Our North America leadership team remains focused on identifying the next big area that pet parents will be drawn to and getting out in front of it. Of course, none of us have a crystal ball, so the closer we can stay to pet parents, the better we can identify category trends and get ahead of them.

This is why, to understand pet parents better than anyone else, we launched an extensive Pet Parent Study with insights from 20,000 global pet parents across 20 countries, revealing the latest trends around pet ownership and the significant impact pets have on our lives. According to the study, a third of pet owners say their pet is the most important thing in their life, and that number even increases with Gen Z and Millennials. Our consumers want support at every stage, from the moment they bring their pet home to the first time they travel together. It is important to us to really understand the mindsets of our consumers.

PFP: If you could pick three trends influencing the industry today, which are the most important and why?

McDonald: Behavioral trends highlight the shift from pet ownership to pet parenthood, particularly among Gen Z and Millennials. Pets have gone from living in the backyard to the living room, the bedroom and even the bed. Pet parents today want to spend as much time as possible with their pets, valuing their companionship during travel, dining out and working. While every pet is unique, they all need exercise, balanced nutrition and proper care to thrive.

The overarching trend driving the industry is proximity, which we see coming to life across physical and emotional proximity as key drivers for health and wellness. As humans become increasingly aware of how they support their own wellness, we’re seeing a parallel interest in how they support their pets’ wellness.

Physical proximity reflects the closeness of pet parents to their pets, such as pets sleeping in beds, making them more aware of health changes like bad breath, oral health and weight fluctuations. We know that 80% of dogs experience oral health issues by age three, and our brands offer a range of solutions to address these needs. Our GREENIES brand, for example, provides canine dental treats recommended by veterinarians to combat plaque and tartar, promoting clean teeth and fresh breath. This growing focus on preventative care extends beyond oral health to include supplements, offering proactive approaches to address targeted health concerns.

Emotional proximity reflects the deepening bonds that influence feeding habits and nutrition choices, leading to innovative products like our CESAR Wet Dog Food Mini-Pouch and TEMPTATIONS Lickable Spoons, which foster engagement and connection.

PFP: What is something about the pet industry that people outside of the industry may not realize?

McDonald: As discussed, increasingly, pet parents are applying their personal values and preferences to their pets’ diets — like culinary flavors, sustainable sourcing and whole foods. At Mars, sustainability and quality are involved in each step of the process, aligning with our “Five Principles” that put quality first. This commitment ensures we aren’t compromising what’s best for pets, while also making thoughtful choices for our planet. This principle-driven approach is a big part of what first drew me to Mars, and what continues to make my work so fulfilling.

Science plays a significant role in our industry, and a great amount of science goes into having complete and balanced diets that meet 100% of a pet’s nutritional needs, often through one food. Mars has a well-established history in driving transformative pet health innovation through our Waltham Petcare Science Institute which, as our science center, has focused on pet health for over 60 years. For example, in the 1980s, Waltham researchers identified taurine levels essential for cats, impacting their heart, vision and digestion. This work has helped shape modern pet food nutrient requirements for cats and dogs, ensuring complete-and-balanced nutrition.

PFP: What advice would you give to other women in this industry?

McDonald: The advice I would offer to women is really advice for all of us to be courageously authentic. Business is at its best when people are at their best and feel comfortable showing up as their true selves.

“When we show up as who we are — unafraid to use our strengths, personality and creativity — we not only perform better, but we encourage others to do the same,” said Alanna McDonald of Mars Pet Nutrition North America.

I believe there’s a distinct difference in performance and outcomes when we encourage originality and authenticity in the workplace. When we show up as who we are — unafraid to use our strengths, personality and creativity — we not only perform better, but we encourage others to do the same.

The support we give each other is vital to a strong, successful company culture. And with collective support — ideally — all of us will feel empowered to bring our authenticity and uniqueness forward.

We can all agree it feels great to work somewhere that supports the whole person and not just your professional side. Work-life flow has always been a passion area of mine, and as a leader, I try to encourage those around me to make choices that are best for both their personal and professional lives.

And it’s refreshing when we bring our unique selves to our professional worlds. For me, personally, I love to dance when I’m excited. Sometimes it happens when I’m telling a story... it’s just who I am. But, even more importantly, I hope that by showing up as myself, I empower others to do the same. If I’m dancing because it feels right to me, maybe someone else will feel encouraged to share what makes them feel their best or express their passion without hesitation.

PFP Just for fun, do you consider yourself a dog person or a cat person? Or, if you have pets of your own, tell us a little bit about them.

McDonald: Though I love all pets, I have to say I’m a dog person. Our dog, Howie, who we rehomed and became part of our family when we moved to Tennessee, has brought us so much joy and truly helped Nashville feel like home, especially for my two boys. We were immediately met with unconditional love. We are incredibly grateful for his loving cuddles and warm presence in our lives.  

Alanna McDonald serves as regional president for Mars Pet Nutrition North America where she focuses on driving action behind Mars’ ambition to be the world’s most pet parent-centric organization. She has more than 25 years of experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry and is champion of equity, inclusion and diversity, self-improvement and prioritizing team development. Before joining Mars, she was president of Maybelline New York, Garnier and essie at L’Oreal, and prior to that, spent 17 years at Procter & Gamble. She received her bachelor’s degree in commerce from The University of Calgary.

Continue reading about other female leaders featured in our Women in the Pet Industry series.