April 27-29, 2026

All Speakers

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

Kevin Ryan
CEO and Founder
Malachite Strategy and Research
Kevin Ryan, Ph.D., is founder and CEO of Malachite Strategy and Research, where he helps consumer product goods, retail and foodservice leaders translate cultural shifts and consumer behavior into smarter innovation strategies. Drawing on 20 years at the intersection of anthropology, food science and corporate strategy, Ryan specializes in mapping emerging demand spaces, uncovering jobs to be done and guiding companies to opportunities they might otherwise miss. Before founding Malachite, he was global strategic senior planner at Amazon, shaping brand and advertising strategy for Prime and non-Prime consumers worldwide. He also led innovation strategy at General Mills, building new platforms and capabilities across its global portfolio. Ryan holds a Ph.D. in food science and a master of science in food anthropology. He is regularly featured as an industry expert in publications like Food Dive, the Food Institute and Food Navigator-USA.
Date/TimeTitle
Tue Apr 28
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Welcome and opening keynote: Next-gen premium: The consumer trends rewriting pet food innovation
KCCC Room 3501
Kevin Ryan, Ph.D., CEO, Malachite Strategy and Research, covers the rapidly changing consumer trends that are redefining what “premium” means in pet food and reshaping how innovation must respond. No longer defined by price or ingredient lists alone, premiumization now reflects shifting expectations around purpose, experience and culture. Ryan explores how forces from human food and wellness (from functional nutrition to values-driven storytelling) are reshaping what consumers want for their pets, and what innovation must look like in 2026 and beyond. Gain a fresh perspective on premiumization that extends beyond ingredients into emotion, experience and values; insight into the human food and wellness shifts most likely to cross over into the pet category; examples from beauty, beverage and luxury retail that can inspire the next wave of pet food innovation; and actionable ways to infuse the new rules of premium into your innovation pipeline.