Native Pet Appoints Former MeUndies President Ariel Stoddard as First-Ever Chief Marketing Officer

The strategic hire signals a major pivot for the clean-label supplement powerhouse as it transitions from a high-growth startup to a category-defining retail titan.

In a move that underscores its aggressive expansion strategy, Native Pet, the rapidly growing clean-label pet supplement brand, has officially appointed Ariel Stoddard as its first-ever Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). The appointment, announced this week, marks a pivotal juncture for the company as it seeks to solidify its position as a household name in the competitive $10 billion pet health and wellness sector. With a footprint already spanning more than 13,000 retail locations across the United States, Native Pet is signaling that it is no longer content to be a mere challenger brand; it is aiming for total market dominance.

The Strategic Vision: Scaling a Category Challenger

Native Pet’s decision to bring in a high-level executive like Stoddard is not merely a staffing choice—it is a calculated architectural move. Since its inception in 2017, the company has operated with a "product-first" mentality, focusing on clean labels, veterinary-backed research, and ingredient transparency. However, as the brand reaches a saturation point in its current retail distribution, it requires a more sophisticated, data-driven, and emotionally resonant marketing engine to convert casual pet owners into lifelong brand advocates.

Stoddard, who joins Native Pet fresh from her tenure as President of the direct-to-consumer apparel giant MeUndies, brings a pedigree of scaling brands that thrive at the intersection of lifestyle and performance. Before her time at MeUndies, she served as Senior Vice President and General Manager at Fabletics, where she played an instrumental role in transforming the brand from a subscription-based startup into a global powerhouse.

For Native Pet, Stoddard represents the "missing link" between their high-quality scientific output and the broader consumer consciousness. By integrating her expertise in performance marketing with the brand’s existing reputation for safety, the company intends to dominate both the digital landscape and the brick-and-mortar aisles.

A Chronology of Growth: From Startup to Retail Titan

To understand the magnitude of this hire, one must look at the meteoric rise of Native Pet over the past seven years.

• 2017: Native Pet is founded with a mission to disrupt the pet supplement industry. The founders identified a significant gap in the market: consumers were tired of supplements filled with mystery fillers, binders, and synthetic ingredients.
• 2019-2021: The company builds a robust digital presence, leveraging direct-to-consumer (DTC) feedback loops to iterate on their formulations. They prioritize the inclusion of an in-house Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist to ensure every product meets clinical standards.
• 2022-2023: Native Pet initiates a massive retail rollout. By emphasizing "clean-label" transparency, they successfully secure shelf space in major pet specialty stores, natural grocery chains, and eventually mass-market retailers.
• 2024: The company reaches the 13,000-location milestone, cementing its status as a top-tier supplement brand.
• 2025: Native Pet achieves the prestigious Clean Label Project certification for "The Daily," their flagship supplement. This certification acts as a validation of their commitment to safety, testing the product against more than 150 environmental contaminants and toxins.
• Late 2025: Ariel Stoddard is named the company’s first CMO, tasked with steering the brand through its next phase of national and potentially international growth.

Supporting Data: Why the Market is Ready for "Clean"

The pet supplement market is currently undergoing a "humanization" trend. Pet parents are increasingly viewing their animals as family members, leading to a demand for the same level of quality in pet care as they demand in their own nutrition. According to industry reports, the global pet supplement market is expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 6% over the next five years, driven largely by preventative health measures.

Native Pet’s data-backed approach provides a significant competitive advantage in this landscape. Their commitment to transparency—specifically the Clean Label Project certification—addresses the "trust deficit" that has plagued the pet industry for decades. In a survey of pet owners, over 70% indicated that "ingredient transparency" was their primary concern when purchasing supplements. By leaning into this, Native Pet has positioned itself as the gold standard for safety.

Furthermore, the brand’s omnichannel strategy is paying dividends. By maintaining a presence in mass-market retail while simultaneously building a digital community of pet parents, they have created a "flywheel effect." Customers who discover the brand in a retail store are frequently converted into repeat digital purchasers, driven by the brand’s educational content and subscription-friendly model.

Official Responses: Aligning Leadership and Vision

The appointment of Stoddard has been met with enthusiasm from the brand’s leadership, who view her arrival as the catalyst needed for the company’s maturation.

"Ariel is exactly the kind of leader we’ve been looking for as we take Native Pet to the next level," said Dan Schaefer, CEO and co-founder of Native Pet. "She has built brands that consumers genuinely love while delivering real business results. That combination of brand vision and performance rigor is exactly what we need as we continue to grow our retail presence and reach more pet parents nationwide. We’re thrilled to welcome her to the team."

Stoddard herself has expressed excitement about the brand’s unique position. "Native Pet has already done the hardest part of the work—they’ve built a product that is objectively better, backed by science, and trusted by experts," Stoddard noted in an internal briefing. "My role now is to ensure that every pet parent in the country understands why this brand is the standard. We are moving from a phase of discovery to a phase of household integration."

The Implications: What This Means for the Pet Industry

The hiring of a CMO with a deep background in lifestyle branding suggests that Native Pet is shifting its marketing strategy away from purely clinical, benefit-driven messaging toward a more lifestyle-oriented, emotional connection.

1. The "Humanization" of Pet Wellness Marketing

Expect to see Native Pet’s campaigns evolve. While they will continue to tout their veterinary-backed formulations, the branding will likely become more integrated into the daily life of the pet owner. Stoddard’s history with Fabletics and MeUndies suggests a mastery of community building, social media influencer partnerships, and personalized consumer journeys.

2. Doubling Down on Retail Partnerships

With 13,000 locations already under their belt, the challenge is no longer just "getting on the shelf"—it is winning the shelf. Native Pet will likely leverage Stoddard’s experience to optimize in-store experiences, point-of-sale marketing, and trade partnerships to ensure they remain the preferred choice against legacy brands that have dominated retail for decades.

3. A New Standard for Transparency

As Native Pet scales, it forces the rest of the industry to adapt. The Clean Label Project certification is a high bar, and as more consumers become educated about ingredient safety, competitors will be forced to either clean up their own formulations or lose market share. Native Pet is effectively "setting the floor" for what quality should look like in the pet aisle.

4. Direct-to-Consumer Sophistication

While retail is a major pillar, the digital side of the business will likely see a surge in innovation. Stoddard is well-versed in the world of DTC subscriptions, and it is highly probable that Native Pet will launch new initiatives to deepen loyalty through customized supplement plans, pet-health tracking apps, and exclusive membership benefits.

Conclusion: The Path Ahead

The appointment of Ariel Stoddard is a clear signal that the "startup" phase of Native Pet has concluded. The company has successfully navigated the complexities of product development, veterinary validation, and initial retail distribution. Now, it enters the "scale" phase—a period where brand equity, customer lifetime value, and marketing efficiency will determine which companies survive and which ones lead the industry.

By merging the rigorous, science-first philosophy of their founders with the high-octane growth strategies of a seasoned consumer-brand executive, Native Pet is well-positioned to not only capture a larger share of the wallet but to fundamentally change the way the world thinks about pet supplements. As they prepare to reach millions more pet parents, the question for the industry is no longer "what is Native Pet?" but rather "how will everyone else keep up?"