Fresno-based pet food manufacturer Citizens Pet is expanding its local operations by 40,000 square feet and adding six members to its leadership team as the company looks to increase production and grow its national portfolio of pet food brands.
The expansion brings the company’s Fresno footprint to more than 125,000 square feet, adding manufacturing and operational capacity for its Unconditional, Plato Pet Treats and Furry Republic brands, according to a Nov. 10 announcement.
The investment follows a change in ownership last year and the introduction of a new dog food brand in September.
Citizens Pet operates a manufacturing facility at 2676 S. Maple Ave. in south Fresno, where its Plato brand has produced pet treats for years.
The company specializes in air-dried pet foods and treats — a manufacturing process that uses controlled heat to remove moisture from ingredients.
A longstanding Fresno manufacturing operation
Citizens Pet’s Central Valley roots extend through Plato Pet Treats, a company founded in 2006 that eventually established its manufacturing operations in Fresno.
Hugh Williams, senior vice president for operations, said Citizens Pet has called Fresno home for over 20 years, so expanding here was an easy decision.
Williams said they manufacture all their brands, Plato, Unconditional and Furry Republic, in the Fresno factory , where they’ve spent years refining their air-drying process.
“The Central Valley has always been a great fit for how we make our products, with care, quality and intention. We’re surrounded by the farms and suppliers we’ve worked with for years, and this region is full of people who take pride in making good food. From here, we ship our products to pet parents across the country,” Williams said.
In November 2025, pet industry entrepreneur Avrum Elmakis acquired a majority ownership stake in Citizens Pet Products, the parent company of Plato Pet Treats and Furry Republic.
The acquisition was intended to expand contract manufacturing, private-label production and product development while building on the company’s existing manufacturing operations.
Elmakis, now chairman and CEO, said the latest investments will support the company’s next phase of growth.
“Citizens Pet is entering an exciting phase of growth. Investing in the right people and infrastructure is critical to our long-term vision,” Elmakis said. “These leaders bring the expertise needed to strengthen our commercial strategy, build our brands, and enhance our operations.”
He said the pet food category is large and still growing, and food and treats are a big part of that.
New products and national distribution
Citizens Pet expanded its portfolio in September with the launch of Unconditional, a premium dog food brand offering air-dried products and blends combining traditional kibble with air-dried ingredients.
The company said the products are manufactured at its Fresno facility and distributed nationally through retailers including PetSmart, Petco, Pet Supplies Plus and independent pet stores.
The launch gave Citizens Pet a third brand alongside Plato Pet Treats and Furry Republic.
Citizens Pet said its ownership of the Fresno manufacturing facility allows it to oversee production, ingredient sourcing and quality control rather than relying entirely on outside manufacturers.
“Shoppers are spending their money on brands they trust. Because we make our own products, we control sourcing, production and food safety from start to finish. When a customer asks how something was made, we can tell them exactly, because we made it,” he said.
The U.S. pet food & treats category was worth $68.3 billion in 2025, according to the American Pet Products Association.
Six leadership appointments
Alongside its facility expansion, Citizens Pet announced six leadership appointments covering sales, marketing, supply chain management, engineering and business development.
Peter Christiani was named chief commercial officer. He previously served as executive vice president of omnichannel growth at Portland Pet Food Co. and held commercial and marketing positions at Red Bull. He will oversee commercial strategy and retail partnerships across the company’s brands.
Adriaan Zimmerman was appointed chief marketing and digital officer. Zimmerman previously co-founded the health and wellness brand Ned and was a founding partner of BroBible. He will lead marketing and digital strategy.
Doug Siegal, a 20-year pet industry veteran, was named senior vice president of pet specialty. Siegal spent 17 years at Stella & Chewy’s before holding leadership positions at Fabdog and Humbl Pet Food.
Jagdeep Basi was appointed vice president of supply chain and business operations. Her previous experience includes positions at Foster Farms, Sensient Technologies, OFI and Clorox.
Jim Abbas was named vice president of engineering and artificial intelligence. He will oversee manufacturing automation, process improvements and the company’s adoption of AI technology.
Julie Barron, former CEO of Solid Gold Pet, joined the company as an adviser. Barron has more than 30 years of consumer packaged goods experience, including leadership positions at Waggin’ Train and Kraft Foods.
The company said the appointments will help strengthen distribution, improve operational efficiency and support additional growth across its pet food and treat businesses.
