Special Series: From Healthcare to Top Dog: How this Founder Disrupted the Pet Food Industry

High Achieving Female Podcast Powered by KNOW Special Series: Up Close with Kathleen McCarron of Portland Pet Food Company

Have you ever heard these myths about starting a successful retail business? 

• Myth 1: It's too late to start a new career after retirement.
• Myth 2: Retail is too competitive for new products.
• Myth 3: You need a background in the industry to succeed. On today's episode, we will discuss the truth about these myths.

Today's special guest is Kathleen McCarron, founder of Portland Pet Food Company and one of the winners of the 50 Fastest Woman Owned/Led Companies in 2024, presented by Women Presidents Organization & JPMorgan Chase

Kathleen McCarron, the top dog and founder of Portland Pet Food Company, has an inspiring journey from healthcare administration to leading entrepreneur in the pet food industry. Her company has grown from serving clients in the US to expanding into Canada and Japan. Motivated by her own dog, Kathleen started making meals at home, which led to the creation of her company in 2014. Her dedication to using only human-grade ingredients sourced and made in the United States has set her company apart. Kathleen's passion for providing wholesome, high-quality pet food has led to the success of her business, making her a valuable source of insights for aspiring female entrepreneurs seeking business growth in the pet food industry.

The key moments in this episode are:

• 00:01 - Introduction to Kathleen McCarron and Portland Pet Food Company
• 02:29 - How Kathleen Started in the Pet Food Industry
• 06:24 - Life Before Portland Pet Food Company
• 09:32 - Launching into Retail and the First Hire
• 13:47 - It's Never Too Late to Start
• 14:10 - Importance of Support and Community
• 15:29 - The Subscription Model
• 16:31 - Business Growth and Revenue
• 17:24 - Learning from Mistakes
• 19:24 - Celebrating Success and Advice for Business Growth 

Links:

• Stay connected and become a KNOW Insider. Go behind the scenes, access Insider-Only content, masterclasses, and more: INSIDER

• Visit Portland Pet Food Company: portlandpetfoodcompany.com

• More on JPMorgan Chase: jpmorganchase.com

• Learn about Women Presidents Organization:women-presidents.com

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Sponsors:

KNOW Media is proud to be the media partner for the Women Presidents Organization and the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Businesses.

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Podcast Production:

Produced by our friends at The Found House.