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Stella & Chewy’s takes its name from the two dogs its owner, Marie Moody, adopted in 1997. Chewy was very sick, and at the advice of a veterinarian, Moody fed him a raw diet. He made a rapid recovery, and Stella’s health improved under the diet as well, inspiring Moody to found her own business, selling raw, organic pet food. Over 25 years later, the company continues to sell that high-quality and responsibly sourced food, free from artificial preservatives, coloring, hormones and antibiotics.
That story, and Moody’s commitment to better-quality pet food, attracted Jennifer Matter, Kathleen Gilbert and Kerry Furlong to the company. “As a pet owner, I really admired what Marie did for her dogs,” Matter says.
Matter, the human resources director at Stella & Chewy’s, recently helped launch a new program called the Stay Plan, an innovative retention program that includes a company-wide holistic approach to reducing turnover and promoting the unique culture at Oak Creek-based Stella & Chewy’s. Gilbert and Furlong lead the food safety wing, ensuring that everything the company produces is safe for both pets and people.
“Working for Stella & Chewy’s, there’s a real opportunity to make a difference,” Gilbert says. “The food we make changes the lives of pets and of pet parents – there’s no better reward. Plus, it’s a dog-friendly workplace!”
“The right nutrition can make a huge difference in a pet’s life.”
– Jennifer Matter
Q&A
Jennifer, what brought you to Stella & Chewy’s?
JM: I knew about the company as a pet owner. I admired what Marie did for her sick dogs. I know how much of a difference nutrition can make in a pet’s life. When I had the opportunity to interview with the company, it was an easy decision. It’s a growing company with an entrepreneurial spirit. You have the opportunity to stamp your own career path here and really make a difference. I had come from larger organizations before, and it could be hard to see your impact. But here, I have the chance to be creative, solve problems and really see my efforts pay off. And we’re a dog-friendly workplace!
What do you find most rewarding about the work?
JM: Knowing that the food we make has changed pet parents’ lives. We’ve had parents contact us and say, “You saved my pet’s life.” As a pet parent, I know how having a happy, healthy pet makes your life more rewarding. So to be able to see the product that we make help a pet live a better life – to me, there’s no there’s no better reward. We get to do that every day.
