April 27-29, 2026

All Speakers

Dog and cat food research experts who will present at Petfood Forum & Petfood Essentials

Jodi McCarthy
President
Pet Food Solutions
Jodi McCarthy serves as the president of PFS. She started her career at KPMG’s Chicago audit practice in 1998. She also worked in various accounting roles for several large Chicago-based companies. Beginning in 2010, she joined Sustainable Sourcing where she gained experience in the fats and oils industry. McCarthy has a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in history from DePaul University.
Date/TimeTitle
Mon Apr 27
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM
Petfood Essentials: How ingredient partnerships power efficiency, innovation and food safety in pet food manufacturing
KCCC Room 2215

Craig Grantham, director of business development; Jodi McCarthy, president; and Kyle Wiley, logistics and procurement manager, Pet Food Solutions, explain that efficiency doesn’t just happen on the plant floor; it begins with partnership. When ingredient suppliers and pet food manufacturers move beyond a transactional mindset and work together as true partners, the results are measurable: reduced downtime, lower inventories, faster research and development (R&D) cycles and more consistent product quality. These experts explore how collaboration between ingredient suppliers and manufacturers streamlines operations and sparks new ideas that benefit both businesses. In addition, it leads to faster testing and smarter ingredient use; supply chain efficiency through transparent forecasting and joint planning that minimize inventory strain; food safety as a shared mission through joint verification and traceability efforts; and mutual accountability through aligned KPIs.