Carnivore Meat Co. Named to Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Companies for 2020

Carnivore Meat Company, manufacturer of frozen and freeze-dried pet food brands Nature’s Advantage​, ​Vital Essentials​ and ​Vital Cat​, has been named one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States by ​Inc.​ Magazine. This is the second consecutive year Carnivore Meat Company has been recognized for this achievement based on the company’s success in the natural pet food category, with a three-year growth rate of 187 percent.

Inc.​ Magazine’s Inc. 5000 list comprises the most successful independent small businesses and the 2020 list ranks Carnivore Meat Company at #2241 nationally and #23 among Wisconsin businesses recognized.

“We have an incredibly dedicated workforce that has helped us achieve great results throughout the past year, and we’re honored to be recognized again by ​Inc.​ Magazine,” said Lanny Viegut, Carnivore Meat Company CEO and Owner. “We implemented a number of sustainability initiatives along with efficiency improvements that contributed to our overall success. This, combined with the new brand introduction of ​Nature’s Advantage, gave us some great momentum that we will continue to build upon.”

Carnivore Meat Company brands are sold in more than 6,000 pet specialty stores, online at Chewy and Amazon and exported to 14 international markets. In addition to its branded products, the company provides private label, co-pack services and ingredient components for other brands globally.

“The companies on this year’s Inc. 5000 come from nearly every realm of business,” said​ Inc.​ editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “The 2020 list proves no matter the sector, incredible growth is based on the foundations of tenacity and opportunism.”

Although 2020 brought many challenges, the year also brought opportunities to connect with local and industry communities through Carnivore Meat Company’s Covid-19 response initiatives which included a ​Vital Relief Challenge and the donation of the ​use of UV equipment​ to help local healthcare workers and first responders.

“Our pandemic response made us much stronger and more unified as a company and within the community,” Viegut stated. “Our team pulled together to achieve some phenomenal results.”

Despite the difficult business environment facing brick-and-mortar retailers this year, Carnivore Meat Company launched a new frozen dog food line, Vital Essentials ​FUSION​, that is intensely consumer focused, delivering quality product at an exceptional value-based price point. In addition to this new product launch, the company forged new partnerships with Wisconsin-based ​Festival Foods​ to distribute its Hemp Chews throughout the state and with Costco to launch its newest brand, Nature’s Advantage, throughout the Midwest.

“Our innovative new product lines and expanding product reach puts us in a great position to answer the demands of our newest generation of pet parents,” Viegut says. “It’s an honor to be named among the fastest growing private companies in America based on our efforts to enhance the lives of pets through quality nutrition.”