Wellness Pet’s Digital Evolution: Embracing Change for Growth and Efficiency

For nearly a century, Wellness Pet Company has been a trusted name in pet nutrition, guided by a vision to enrich the lives of pets and their families. Known for natural pet food and treats, Wellness Pet has grown from its beginnings with Old Mother Hubbard in 1926 to a global operation with over 500 employees. But with growth and legacy come challenges—especially when it comes to keeping technology current in a fast-paced, digital-first world.

Facing Growing Pains with Legacy Systems

For Chief Information Officer Ernie Huber, the increasing strain on Wellness Pet’s aging ERP system was a mounting concern. Legacy systems, left outdated over the years, added risk to daily operations. Manual processes slowed productivity, and acquisitions operating on standalone systems created operational silos. It became clear that Wellness Pet’s ambitions required more than their current infrastructure could support.

In Huber’s words, “Our systems weren’t just outdated; they were holding us back from new functionality and pushing our processes further away from the efficiency we needed.”

Building a Modern Foundation

When Wellness Pet decided to update its ERP system, the goal went beyond simply modernizing. The company needed an integrated system capable of scaling with its expanding operations and supporting everything from product innovation to streamlined daily processes. A transformation was underway, one that required thoughtful planning, expert guidance, and a clear roadmap for the future.

With a methodical approach, Wellness Pet began tackling the issues: upgrading to IFS Apps 10, integrating recent acquisitions, and phasing out time-intensive manual tasks. These initiatives weren’t just about system enhancements; they were about positioning the company for continued success in a competitive landscape.

Transformation in Action

Today, the results of this transformation are apparent across the organization:

• Efficiency Gains: The new system minimizes redundancy, allowing employees to focus on high-value tasks—think strategic decision-making instead of spreadsheet updates.
• Risk Reduction: Operating on a current ERP platform reduces operational risk, improving reliability and giving the company confidence in its foundation.
• Streamlined Integration: Integrating acquisitions onto a single platform strengthened cross-functional workflows, simplifying processes and boosting collaboration.

Reflecting on these improvements, Huber noted, “With our new ERP in place, we’re seeing our teams work with more agility, focusing on insights and actions that add value instead of getting bogged down by routine data entry.”

Long-Term Impacts for Leadership and Teams

For Wellness Pet’s leadership, this transformation signals more than immediate gains. In an environment where large projects hadn’t been undertaken in nearly a decade, the recent upgrades and integrations demonstrated a renewed capacity to take on complex initiatives. This shift has not only enhanced team productivity but has also instilled a sense of trust and forward momentum within the organization.

Today, Wellness Pet has a comprehensive ERP roadmap guiding their future, allowing them to evolve alongside industry needs. The team is moving forward with confidence, knowing their technology can scale and support upcoming innovations.

A Path for Other Manufacturers

Wellness Pet’s experience highlights the importance of a strategic, phased approach to ERP transformation. Manufacturers facing similar challenges can see a path forward through their story—one rooted in adaptability, collaboration, and a focus on sustainable, meaningful change.

This shift to a robust, integrated platform is about much more than software; it’s a foundation for resilience and growth. For Wellness Pet, that foundation means a legacy of excellence and innovation poised to support the company for generations to come.