Wellness Pet Company
A privately held pet-food and pet-treat company built around natural and wellness-oriented nutrition brands.
Last updated August 27, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Wellness Pet Company is a United States-based pet-food and pet-treat business formerly known as WellPet. Its portfolio developed through the combination of several established natural-pet-nutrition and treat brands, including Wellness Natural Pet Food, Old Mother Hubbard, Eagle Pack, Holistic Select, Sojos, and Whimzees. The company is headquartered in the Boston area, with facilities and offices in Massachusetts and manufacturing operations in the United States and the Netherlands. The business has roots in Old Mother Hubbard, a Massachusetts bakery founded in 1926 that originally made small dog biscuits. Jim Scott acquired the company in 1961 and moved it to Lowell, Massachusetts. During the 1990s, Jim Scott Jr. and animal-nutrition specialists developed the Wellness line, which entered the dog-food market in 1997 or 1999 depending on the product and historical account, followed by cat-food products in 2000. Wellness became particularly prominent in independent pet-specialty retail and helped establish the company’s identity around natural ingredients, nutritional formulation, and premium positioning. The corporate platform took shape during a series of ownership and consolidation events. Eagle Pack was sold to Berwind Corporation in 2007, while Wellness and Old Mother Hubbard were sold to Berwind in 2008. The Eagle Pack and Old Mother Hubbard businesses were subsequently combined into WellPet LLC during 2008–2009. The company expanded its portfolio by acquiring Sojos in 2016 and Whimzees, a producer of dog dental chews, in 2017. Clearlake Capital acquired WellPet in November 2020, after which the company adopted the name Wellness Pet Company. It opened new Boston offices in 2021. The portfolio spans dry and wet dog food, cat food, treats, dental chews, freeze-dried and fresh-food products, and nutritional supplements. Major brands include Wellness, Old Mother Hubbard by Wellness, Eagle Pack, Holistic Select, Sojos, and Whimzees. In 2022, the company entered an expanded fresh-food offering with Wellness Bowl Boosters Freshly. In 2023, it introduced its first dedicated line of dog supplements, covering areas such as digestion, immune support, seasonal allergies, skin and coat, calmness, and joint and hip function. Manufacturing is carried out at facilities in the United States and the Netherlands. Reported sites include operations in Arkansas, Minnesota, and Indiana, as well as the Whimzees manufacturing campus in Veendam, Netherlands. The company has emphasized quality certification, domestic production for selected Eagle Pack recipes, and sustainability initiatives involving product development and packaging. In 2023, it joined the Pet Sustainability Coalition. Its market positioning is premium and wellness-led, aimed at pet owners seeking ingredient-conscious food, treats, dental care, fresh-food additions, and supplements rather than purely value-oriented feeding options.
History
Wellness Pet Company traces its heritage to Old Mother Hubbard, a bakery-related business founded in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1926. The company initially produced small dog biscuits as an extension of A. Hubbard and Sons Bakery. In 1961, animal-nutrition professional Jim Scott purchased the business and relocated it to Lowell, Massachusetts. Under the Scott family’s stewardship, the company gradually moved beyond traditional biscuits toward broader pet nutrition. During the 1990s, Jim Scott Jr., who later served as chief executive, worked with animal-nutrition specialists to formulate the Wellness brand. Wellness dog recipes were introduced in the late 1990s, with cat recipes following in 2000. The brand’s natural and nutrition-focused proposition helped it gain distribution in independent pet-specialty retailers. By 2004, Wellness was described as the leading natural pet-food brand in that channel. A second historical component came from Eagle Pack, which began in 1970 with its Hy-Ration dog-food brand. Eagle Pack later developed the Holistic Select line, launched in 2000. In October 2007, Eagle Pack was sold to Berwind Corporation. Wellness and Old Mother Hubbard were also sold to Berwind in August 2008. The Eagle Pack and Old Mother Hubbard businesses were merged with the Wellness operation during 2008 and 2009, forming WellPet LLC. WellPet pursued portfolio expansion in the following decade. It acquired Sojos in January 2016, adding a brand associated with freeze-dried and raw-inspired pet nutrition. In 2017, it acquired Whimzees, a dog-chew business whose products include dental-health formats such as Brushzees and Stix, along with variety and daily-use packs. The company continued to manufacture Old Mother Hubbard biscuits and other treats while operating a broader house of pet-food and pet-care brands. In November 2020, Clearlake Capital Group acquired WellPet. The company subsequently adopted the name Wellness Pet Company and opened new Boston offices in 2021. Leadership also changed during this period: Camelle Kent-Rizkalla became chief executive in 2013 and was succeeded by Reed Howlett in 2021. The modern company operates a manufacturing network spanning the United States and the Netherlands. Reported production sites include facilities in Arkansas, Minnesota, and Indiana, while Whimzees products are made at a campus in Veendam, Netherlands. The company has highlighted quality certifications at several facilities, including British Retail Consortium ratings reported for its Indiana, Minnesota, and Netherlands operations. Recent product development has broadened the company beyond conventional dry and wet food. In 2022, it introduced Wellness Bowl Boosters Freshly, an offering intended to give owners a fresh-food addition for use with regular meals. In 2023, it launched its first dedicated dog-supplement range, covering digestive health, immune and seasonal-allergy support, skin and coat, calmness, and joint and hip function. The same year, it joined the Pet Sustainability Coalition, reflecting an effort to address sustainability in products, packaging, and operations. The company remains an active privately held producer and marketer of premium pet food, treats, dental chews, fresh additions, and supplements.
- 2023
Wellness launches dog supplements
[1]The company introduces its first dedicated dog-supplement line.
- 2022
Bowl Boosters Freshly launches
[1]Wellness enters an expanded fresh-food format with Bowl Boosters Freshly.
- 2021
The company becomes Wellness Pet Company
[1]The business adopts its current name and opens new Boston offices.
- 2020
Clearlake Capital acquires WellPet
[1]Clearlake Capital Group purchases WellPet in November.
- 2017
Whimzees joins the portfolio
[1]WellPet acquires the dog dental-chew brand Whimzees.
- 2016
Sojos joins the portfolio
[1]WellPet acquires Sojos.
- 2009
WellPet is formed
[1]The Eagle Pack and Old Mother Hubbard operations are combined into the WellPet platform.
- 2008
Wellness and Old Mother Hubbard are sold to Berwind
[1]Berwind acquires the Wellness and Old Mother Hubbard businesses.
- 2007
Eagle Pack is sold to Berwind
[1]Berwind Corporation acquires Eagle Pack.
- 2004
Wellness gains independent specialty leadership
[1]Wellness is described as the leading natural pet-food brand among independent pet-specialty retailers.
Products and positioning
Premium, natural and wellness-oriented pet nutrition, with emphasis on nutritional formulation, ingredient quality, specialized health benefits, dental care, and more convenient fresh-food formats.
Dog and cat food · 1997
Wellness Natural Pet Food
The company’s central nutrition brand, Wellness offers dog and cat food positioned around natural ingredients and formulated nutrition. Its portfolio includes dry and wet recipes and specialized lines such as Complete Health and CORE. The brand developed from the nutrition work undertaken in the 1990s and became especially prominent in independent pet-specialty retail.
Dog biscuits and treats · 1926
Old Mother Hubbard by Wellness
Old Mother Hubbard is the company’s heritage treat brand. Originating in a Massachusetts bakery in 1926, it began with small dog biscuits and continues to offer biscuits, cookies, and other dog treats. The brand became part of the WellPet family during the company’s 2008–2009 consolidation.
Pet food · 1970
Eagle Pack
Eagle Pack is a pet-food brand with roots in the 1970 Hy-Ration dog-food business. Its recipes are associated with practical, nutrition-led feeding and are manufactured in the United States according to the referenced company history. Eagle Pack became part of the WellPet platform after its sale to Berwind and subsequent consolidation.
Dog and cat food · 2000
Holistic Select
Holistic Select is a nutrition-focused dog and cat food line launched by Eagle Pack in 2000. It broadens the portfolio’s premium and holistic positioning with recipes intended to support digestion and overall wellbeing. The line remained part of the broader Wellness Pet Company portfolio after the Eagle Pack integration.
Freeze-dried pet food
Sojos
Sojos adds freeze-dried and raw-inspired feeding formats to the company’s portfolio. The brand was acquired in 2016 and supports owners seeking less conventional alternatives to standard dry or canned food. Its products complement Wellness Pet Company’s broader emphasis on ingredient-conscious and premium nutrition.
Dog dental chews · 2017
Whimzees
Whimzees produces chewable dog treats designed around dental care and daily chewing. Its range has included variety packs, daily-use packs, Brushzees dental formats, and Stix. Acquired in 2017, Whimzees operates as a distinct international brand within Wellness Pet Company and manufactures products at its Veendam, Netherlands, campus.
Fresh pet-food toppers · 2022
Wellness Bowl Boosters Freshly
Bowl Boosters Freshly is an expanded fresh-food offering introduced in 2022. It is designed to be added to a pet’s usual meal, giving owners a flexible way to incorporate fresh food without replacing the entire feeding routine.
Pet supplements · 2023
Wellness Dog Supplements
Introduced in 2023, Wellness dog supplements represent the company’s first dedicated supplement range. The reported product options address digestive health, immune and seasonal-allergy support, skin and coat, calmness, and joint and hip function, extending the Wellness proposition beyond complete food and treats.
Brand decisions
2023
Launch of dog supplementsProduct launchBackground
Wellness had historically focused on complete food, treats, and chews, while pet owners increasingly sought products aimed at specific health concerns.
Action taken
The company introduced its first dedicated line of dog supplements across several targeted health-support categories.
Aftermath
The range extended the brand into condition-specific pet wellness products.
2022
Expansion into fresh-food toppersProduct launchBackground
The company sought to serve pet owners interested in adding fresh food while retaining the convenience of an established feeding routine.
Action taken
Wellness introduced Bowl Boosters Freshly as an extension of its Bowl Boosters range.
Aftermath
The launch broadened the company’s offering into fresh-food additions and meal customization.
2020
Sale of WellPet to Clearlake CapitalM&ABackground
WellPet was a privately held pet-food company with a portfolio spanning food, treats, freeze-dried nutrition, and dental chews.
Action taken
Clearlake Capital Group acquired WellPet in November 2020.
Aftermath
The company was subsequently renamed Wellness Pet Company and continued portfolio and product expansion.
2008
Consolidation of the WellPet portfolioM&ABackground
The businesses associated with Wellness, Old Mother Hubbard, and Eagle Pack were brought together under common ownership following transactions with Berwind.
Action taken
The operations were merged into a single WellPet platform during 2008–2009.
Aftermath
The consolidation created the multi-brand corporate structure that later expanded through Sojos and Whimzees and was renamed Wellness Pet Company.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/wellpet · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled