Meet the Owner

Vivienne left a successful career in the corporate world because she was tired of watching big companies talk about change without actually making it. As a devoted pet parent, she saw firsthand how the pet food industry often hides behind buzzwords like "raw" and "human-grade" while using low-quality ingredients that would never make it to our own plates.

When she discovered Carnevore Mountain—a brand rooted in honesty, transparency, and true nutrition—she knew it was the real deal. Taking the reins felt like more than a career move; it was a chance to lead with purpose. Vivienne believes that if we wouldn't feed it to our furless kids, we shouldn't feed it to our furry ones either. She’s here to continue Carnevore Mountain’s mission: real food, real standards, real care—for the pets we love like family.

Photo of John DiBenedetto the founder of Carnevore Mountain.

Our Founder

At Carnevore Mountain, we believe real, minimally processed food is the key to a healthy, happy pet. Founded by Giovanni (John) Di Benedetto—owner of Toronto’s renowned Di Liso’s Fine Meats—Carnevore Mountain was born out of a passion for quality nutrition and a commitment to pet wellness.

Our story

How it all started

In 2020, John's brother’s 12 year old American Bulldog, Bella, struggled with severe health issues. After countless vet visits and no improvement, John turned to holistic pet nutritionist Lucy Jabrayan, founder of Thrive for Life Pet Food. Lucy formulated a raw diet tailored for Bella, and the results were life-changing. Within weeks, her shedding stopped, arthritis improved, and she lost 25 pounds. Inspired by this transformation, John knew more pets could benefit from real, species-appropriate nutrition.

Johnny took her formulations, partnered with trusted local farmers, and began producing high-quality raw food in a provincially inspected facility that also produces food for human consumption—certified by OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs).

Guided by Bella’s journey, we’re committed to providing your pets with food that is:

High quality

Nutritious

Holistic

Trusted

Continuing the legacy

In 2023, Carnevore Mountain was acquired by Vivienne Cristofari, who shares the same dedication to premium, ethically sourced pet nutrition. While John no longer owns the company, we continue working closely together to build on the vision and passion he put into every aspect of the Carnevore Mountain.

Che's story

If we had known better, Che—a sweet and loving Havanese—would have lived a different quality of life on raw. Suffering from colitis, our vet put him on a specialty Science Diet, which led to excessive bowel movements and frequent health issues—ear infections, stomach bugs, and more. Despite living to an old age, he spent much of his life in and out of the vet’s office, and the medical bills added up quickly.

In his final months, he lost his appetite, refused his medications, and had accidents in the house—something that deeply affected him. He was the cleanest, most well-behaved dog, and it broke our hearts to see him decline. In the end, we had to make the painful decision to let him go. He passed away in Vivienne’s lap, and we still tear up remembering him.

Che’s journey fuels our passion for better pet nutrition and education — so no pet has to go through what he did.

A Commitment to Better Pet Nutrition

Our top-selling formula, The Hypoallergenic Diet, has transformed the lives of dogs suffering from allergies and chronic health concerns. Through ethically sourced, premium ingredients and strict food safety protocols, we ensure that every meal provides optimal nutrition.

Carnevore Mountain is more than just pet food—it’s a commitment to giving pets the quality of life they deserve.

A Lifestyle, Not just a meal

We believe that a balanced diet should be complemented by an active lifestyle.

Regular exercise and disciplined obedience are as crucial as feeding your pets our raw or lightly cooked natural foods. It's a full-circle approach to well-being.

Our Bold Spin

In partnership with Holistic pet nutritionist Lucy Jabrayan, Thrive4Life Holistic Pet Food, we've crafted recipes that stand apart from the rest. Lucy brings a lifetime of knowledge about the impacts of unbalanced pet foods, and together we've developed a dog and cat food that's nutritionally balanced and simply the best for all life stages of your furry friend.

Sea Vegetables, A Key Differentiator:

  • Spirulina
  • E3live AFA
  • Kelp
  • Red Marine Algae
  • Chlorella
  • Bladderwrack
  • Irish Moss
  • Dulse