JustFoodForDogs (JFFD) has named Michael Meyer as chief executive officer, the fresh, human-grade pet food company announced.
Meyer succeeds Eric Kufel, who plans to step down for personal health reasons and pursue board and consulting advisory roles.
Meyer has worked in the pet industry for nearly two decades. Since 2022, he has served as CEO of "I and love and you," a natural cat and dog food brand sold in grocery stores. He previously held leadership and board roles at other L Catterton portfolio companies, including Wellness Pet Company and Lily's Kitchen in the pet sector, as well as Restoration Hardware and Plum Organics. Meyer served two years on the JFFD board at the time of L Catterton's initial investment in 2017.
"This is a full-circle moment for me," said Meyer. "Since my time on JFFD's board in 2017, I have long admired the strength of the JFFD brand and its mission. Fresh pet food continues to be one of the most exciting and fastest-growing segments in the overall category.
"With consumers focused more and more on their pet's health, demand for fresh, better-for-you and higher quality food has surged," he added. "JFFD's unwavering commitment to transparency, innovation and science-backed nutrition has enabled it to cement a unique position in the fresh pet food category. I'm excited to lead JFFD into its next phase of growth, and with the support of L Catterton and its deep industry expertise, believe we are well positioned to accelerate the opportunities ahead for the brand."
For his part, Kufel said leading JFFD has been an incredible privilege. "I'm proud of what the team has accomplished over the past few years — from advancing innovation and expanding the company's science-backed product portfolio, to strengthening relationships with key retail partners, to deepening the brand's connection with consumers," he said. "JFFD has a differentiated value proposition and is well positioned for the future. Michael is a proven leader who understands both the category and what makes JFFD unique, and I'm confident he is the right person to lead the company forward."
Matt Lischick, a partner in L Catterton's Flagship Fund, said Kufel has been an outstanding leader for JFFD, strengthening the company's brand and accelerating growth across our wholesale and digital channels.
"We are grateful for his contributions to JFFD and wish him all the best," said Lischick. "We are thrilled to welcome Michael as CEO. He is a strong leader with firsthand familiarity with JFFD and deep roots and a genuine passion for the fresh pet food category. The fresh pet food opportunity is as compelling as ever, with significant whitespace across digital and wholesale channels, and we are excited to embark on the next stage of growth together."
