PHOENIX, ARIZ. — As pet owners continue to explore online options for pet shopping, Kira Best, vice president of sales, Chewy, at Royal Canin North America, is tasked with building the brand’s presence in Chewy while strengthening its nutritional expertise in the functional and veterinary space. With two decades of CPG experience, Best is well-positioned to tackle this endeavor, but he is also committed to supporting the success of his teammates and other industry professionals as he leads Royal Canin into the future.
“Be authentic and be brave. Know that you are good enough and more than worthy of a seat at the table,” she said.
In the following Q&A, Best details his biggest challenges and successes, and how he uses a passion for professional development to lead his team to success.
PFP: Tell us about your business or career in the pet industry.
Best: I have worked in the consumer product good (CPG) industry for 20 years and spent the last eight years raising pets. Throughout my career, I have had extensive sales experience including sales, merchandising, category management and people leadership across a diverse customer base.
PFP: How did you get started in the pet industry, and how did that experience get you to where you are today?
Best: I started in the pet industry over eight years ago with Royal Canin North America, expanding our business and partnership with one of the leading national pet specialty retailers. Eventually, I moved into a role that allowed me to lead a team, which was a passion of mine, as I wanted to help with professional development.
This role also gave me the opportunity to scale a new retail program in support of national pet specialty retailers to drive compliance and create value by engaging advocates and educating recommenders. That experience helped lead me to my current role as vice president of sales, partnering with the largest pet e-commerce retailer, Chewy.
PFP: What is your biggest challenge — personal or professional — related to your work in the pet industry?
Best: My biggest challenge is navigating the unknowns presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The world has essentially changed overnight, and there is no playbook on what to do. We have pet parents and retail partners to support, and I have a team of associates to help out, as well as the business to run. Being creative in how we do business has helped me face adversity, be resilient, and show my leadership in times of uncertainty.
PFP: Tell me about a professional achievement in the pet industry that you are proud of.
Best: Post 2020, as seen in many other industries, the supply chain has become a challenge, leading to unpredictable service. Through high collaboration across multiple functions, I was able to stabilize demand despite challenging supply constraints, successfully implemented Collaborative, Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment (CPFR) processes, and helped drive greater efficiency in our business and retailer partnerships.
PFP: What is top of mind for you and/or your business in the industry right now?
Best: Sustainability within the pet care industry is a high priority. Royal Canin has committed to becoming carbon neutral by the end of 2025. Some of the ways we plan to do this are by developing carbon-optimized formulas, sourcing climate smart materials, switching to renewable energy sources , reducing waste, and strengthening circularity and innovation. our ways of working.
PFP: What is one thing about the pet industry that people outside the industry might not realize?
Best: Before I joined the industry, I didn’t realize how much pets are considered family members to pet parents. Pet parents are very passionate and have the same high standards for their pets’ needs as their own families.
PFP: What advice would you give to young people starting their careers in this industry?
Best: Spend time getting to know pet professionals in the industry, whether it’s through a veterinarian, shelter or breeder. Referrals will continue to be a very critical part of a pet owner’s journey, so it’s important to understand their needs and how you can help them support pet parents and their pets.
PFP: Just for fun, do you consider yourself a dog person or a cat person? Or, if you have your own pets, tell us a little about them.
Best: I’m a dog person. Unfortunately, we do not have a dog at this time, but we are looking for the perfect companion to join our family.
PFP: Any final advice for other women in the pet industry?
Best: Be authentic and be brave. Know that you are good enough and more than worthy of a seat at the table. Finally, make decisions that align with your values. Regardless of the outcome, you’ll know you stayed true to yourself.
Kira Best first joined Royal Canin in 2015 as a national account manager, where she leveraged previous experience in CPG and customer strategy from Unilever, Reckitt Benckiser and General Mills. Before becoming promoted to vice president of sales, Chewy, in June 2023, Best also served as field retail team leader for the company, where he supported Royal Canin’s relationships with national pet specialty retailers. In addition to her work at Royal Canin, Best also participated in the 2021 McKinsey Black Leadership Academy, Mars’ Women Leading Purposefully program in 2020, and Women Leaders Influencing and Navigating the Future of Mars in 2023. She also co-chairs Royal Canin’s Black Advisory Council Associate Resource Group. Best earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Arkansas.
Continue reading about other female leaders featured in our Female in the Pet Industry series.
