Friday, July 30, 2010

Is the M&A market heating up for petfood?

A couple months ago, it was Procter & Gamble announcing it's acquiring Natura Pet Products. (See what your fellow Petfood-Connection.com members had to say about that.)
Around that same time, an investment group in Canada
announced it's buying Petra Pet Inc., parent company of pet treat manufacturer Beefeaters.
Now
comes word that a global equity firm, the Riverside Co., is buying one of the only two petfood companies in Turkey. Tropikal petfood was founded in 1999 as a distributor for international brands such as Sport Mix, Pro Pac and Beaphar. It began making its own dry petfood in 2005, becoming the first domestic petfood producer in Turkey, it says, with brands Goody, Champion, JFD and JFC. The latter two are new lines.
With its new brands and an annual capacity of 7,500 tons--and being based in a rapidly developing market for petfood--one can see why a company like Tropikal would be attractive to investors. Or really, why any petfood or pet care company would be attractive, given how well the pet industry has ridden out the economic storm.
Does this mean the mergers and aqcuisition (M&A) market is heating up for petfood? What other mergers or acquisitions do you expect to see this year?

Eukanuba brand awarded 'Superbrand' status in three markets

Proctor & Gamble Pet Care's Eukanuba brand was recognized with “Superbrand” status in the three markets of Croatia, Hungary and South Africa.
The award honors a market’s strongest brands for exceptional achievements, excellence in branding and outstanding credibility.
“The 'Superbrand' status will help us to create an even more discerning brand identity in the three markets,” said Richard Pistori, P&G Pet Care commercial director for central and eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

AFIA calls for FDA revision of Reportable Food Registry

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revise its Draft Guidance for Industry on its Reportable Food Registry to ensure the registry legally recognizes standard commercial feed industry practices for ensuring the safety of its ingredients. Further, AFIA said FDA must establish regulations for when actions taken to ensure human food safety should be applied to animal feeds.
Under current requirements of FDA Amendments Act of 2007, the Reportable Food Registry requires the reporting of any food, feed, ingredient or petfood deemed reasonably likely to cause serious adverse health effects or death in humans or animals. AFIA asked FDA to revise its draft guidance to include the following: “No reportable food report is required if a load of incoming product has been sampled, but legal transfer has not occurred, provided the trailer is on the premises of your facility only for as long as is necessary to sample, test and reject the shipment, and no longer. Your facility has not ‘held’ the reportable food. Therefore, you are not a ‘responsible party’ with regard to such food.”
AFIA Vice President Richard Sellers also asked for clarification of FDA’s definition of “reportable food.” The phrase, “…will cause serious adverse health consequences to humans or animals” in the current definition and FDA attempts to explain it, “leave many questions unanswered and may be subject to misinterpretation,” said Sellers.

London rolls out first ice cream van for dogs

The first ice cream van for dogs has made its debut at a Boomerang Pets Party in London, according to an article from the London Evening Standard.
The van offered two flavors of ice cream: the Dog Eat Hog World flavor, a gammon and chicken sorbet, and the Canine Cookie Crunch flavor, dog biscuits mixed with ice cream. The flavors were developed specifically for the party by a team of scientists who experimented to find the right combination of taste, temperature and texture.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Del Monte CEO predicts growth in its petfood business

Richard Wolford, chief executive of Del Monte Foods, predicted growth in the company's petfood business, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Del Monte recently lowered its sales outlook to 2% - 4%, from 3% - 4%. But despite the economy, the company expects to see the most growth in its pet business, according to Wolford.
"People always feel very special about their pets," said Wolford. "They treat them better than their children; our survey will actually show they are more willing to cut back on their children then they are their pets in a tough time."
Participation in the GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance (FSA) program has increased, and is expected to grow even more.
The GMP+ FSA scheme ensures the whole feed chain meets the legal regulations on feed safety. On July 1, the GMP+ FSA scheme had 11,285 participants in 67 countries throughout the world, and it currently has 16 trade associations as partners in Germany and the Netherlands. GMP+ International, the administrator of this scheme, expects a further increase in participation due to stricter market requirements and changes in the certification scheme.
In mid-September, the GMP+ FSA scheme will go on a worldwide tour and will launch the Feed Safety Database (FSD). GMP+ certified companies and its partners will be able to use the FSD to minimize the risks to safety in their production process, feed products and feed safety policy.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

MarketResearch adds new report on natural pet products

MarketResearch added a new report by Packaged Facts, titled “Natural, Organic and Eco-Friendly Pet Products in the U.S., 3rd Edition.”
The report divides the market into two classifications: petfood and pet care. For each classification of the natural and organic market, the report provides retail sales estimates from 2005 through 2014. It also provides competitive strategies and profiles of key industry manufacturers, along with trends in new product development. According to the report's pet owner consumer survey, 62% of dog owners and 56% of cat owners have purchased natural or organic pet products within the last three months.

RECALL: Iams prescription cat food recalled over Salmonella concerns

Procter & Gamble Co. issued a recall of its Iams brand prescription cat food due to possible Salmonella contamination.
The affected product is Iams Veterinary Formula Feline Renal, packaged in 5.5-pound bags. The company did not know exactly how many bags were involved in the recall but said that the product was distributed to veterinary offices throughout the US, according to Jason Taylor, a company spokesman. No illnesses have been reported, the company said in a statement.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Canine Caviar opens petfood superstore in New York

Holistic petfood manufacturer Canine Caviar opened its first healthy petfood superstore in New York.
The petfood store was created as a partnership between Jeff Baker, the nutritionist founder of Canine Caviar, and Gunnar Larson, of Virtu New York fitness apparel and NetworkGlobal.tv. The store will carry the complete Canine Caviar and Feline Caviar lines of dog and cat foods, treats, bones, chews and supplements. Dogs and cats are also welcome to visit the store.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Nestle Purina brand ranks among top cat foods

Nestle Purina topped the list of cat treats sold this year thanks to its Fancy Feast Appetizers line, according to the market research firm ACNielson.
The company earned US$25 million in domestic sales of its Fancy Feast product just one year after it was launched. The company also broke into the top 10 list of wet cat food sold this year, ranking 10th, according to the market research firm SymphonyIRI Group. Retail sales showed that pet owners purchased more brand names like Purina, with private label wet cat food sales decreasing by 3% over the previous year.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Information on fish and fishmeal from the Gulf

At Daybrook Fisheries, one of the two Menhaden fish meal and oil processors in the Gulf of Mexico, product safety is our primary concern. We understand the importance of the questions raised concerning Gulf of Mexico fish-based ingredients on Petfood-Connection.com and offer the following in response.
First and foremost the petfood industry can rest assured that Daybrook values the petfood business and will prioritize their safety concerns and tonnage requirements, you will receive fishmeal and it will be tested to comply with known contaminant limits.

1) PETFOOD VOLUME: The US petfood industry is a very large consumer of menhaden meal but still only makes up about 25-35% of the total annual menhaden fishmeal sales. All contracted sales to date have received timely shipments and nobody has had any shipment problems.

2) FISHING: Fishing is continuing and has thru-out the Deep-water Horizon oil spill; however it has been restricted to areas away from any oil impact zones. Daybrook only fishes in open areas that have been tested by the NOAA Fisheries Service found to be free of contamination. Additionally EPA is testing water quality and Louisiana departments of Health and Hospitals as well as Wildlife and Fisheries are routinely analyzing the seafood throughout our fishing areas and none have found any results of concerning levels.

3) SAFETY CONCERNS: No fish are being caught in closed areas. No fish kills have been reported; menhaden are filter feeders and are not being observed in areas of oil. We are testing our catch and have not found any concerning results. Weekly samples of fishmeal production are submitted to an outside certified laboratory for testing contamination elements related to the oil spill. Analysis for individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and total aliphatic hydrocarbons with detection limits down to the ppm and ppb levels have shown very low levels or below detection levels. While regulatory authorities have not set maximum limits on most of the PAH’s, the EU has set a limit for both fresh and smoked fish for human consumption on one PAH, Benzo(a)pyrene, and all of our tests have shown that this chemical is below detection limits. The US has set some criteria for reopening closed fishing areas which covers 8 different PAH’s and all of our results are 1 to 4 orders of magnitude below those limits or below detection limits.

4) US FISHMEAL INDUSTRY: There are two companies operating four menhaden processing plants in the Gulf and one on the Atlantic. Two of the Gulf plants “traditional fishing grounds” have been closed by federal and state authorities. Until such time that they are re-opened those boats will travel much further west in order to fish. The increased travel time and greater competition in the reduced open areas has led to a decrease in the catch.

5) PRODUCTION VOLUME: The menhaden industry normally produces between 150,000 and 200,000 ST of meal and 70,000 to 100,000 ST of oil per year over the past decade. The global production is typically around 6 million MT of meal and 1 million MT of oil so the US only makes up about 3% of the world’s meal and 7+% of the world’s oil.

6) BOTTOM LINE: Neither the petfood manufacturers nor consumers should have any concern about the supply or safety of Menhaden fishmeal. There is no doubt that this catastrophe is having a significant impact on our industry but as it relates to the petfood segment we currently have and expect to continue to have ample supplies of safe, high quality, meal for our friends and loyal customers in the petfood segment.

Scott Herbert
VP - Market Development
Daybrook Holdings

Spending increasing in Latin America petfood, pet care market

Latin Americans are spending more money on products and services for their pets despite the poor economy, according to an online article from The Independent.
A July 15 report from Euromonitor International indicated that Latin American and Caribbean pet owners are spending more money than previously on pet care goods and services, such as petfood, toys, fashion accessories, health care and grooming. This trend spreading in Latin America is driven by Americans, who treat their pets like children, and the "pet parents" who believe that animals have equal or almost equal rights to people, according to the report.
Euromonitor statistics reported spending on petfood and pet care products increased dramatically across Argentina and Chile from 2004 through 2009. In Argentina, spending increased from US$0.2 billion in 2004 to US$0.6 billion in 2009, and in Chile spending increased from US$0.3 billion to US$0.5 billion in the same period.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

RECALL: Feline's Pride recall expanded due to Salmonella concerns

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded the recall of Feline's Pride cat food due to concerns about Salmonella contamination.
The previous recall, issued on July 1, included only the 2.5 pound bags of Feline's Pride Natural Chicken Formula raw food produced on June 10, 2010. It was expanded to include the 2.5 pound packages of Feline's Pride Natural Chicken Formula raw food produced on June 2, 2010 and June 21, 2010, because of concerns about the products being contaminated with Salmonella. The food is sold frozen to consumers across the US, in uncoded plastic containers.
Consumers who have purchased the affected products should contact Feline's Pride at +1.716.580.3096 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Top scoring petfood brands in eco-friendliness ranking

Just three of 30 popular petfood brands received top scores in a ranking of eco-friendliness by Greenopia.
Greenopia collected data from petfood manufacturers and independent sources about many product factors, such as ingredients, packaging, animal testing policies and green building design. The brands were rated on a green-leaf-system, with companies receiving extra points for the implementation of environmental initiatives.
Top scoring brands got a four-green-leaf award and included the
Karma Organics line from Natura Pet Products, The Honest Kitchen and Raw Advantage. Nearly one-third of the brands evaluated got the lowest, zero-leaf rating, including Friskees, Iams and Purina.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Pet support organization seeks petfood partners

Share the Love was recently founded as a non-profit group, to organize and distribute petfood donations to many needy animal shelters.
Created by Scott Morgan, this organization operates as a food bank, distributing petfood and pet supply donations equally to animal rescue shelters, as well as outreach shelters for low income families. Petfood manufacturers receive a large number of requests from shelters seeking donations, but do not always know which ones to choose. According to Morgan, this dilemma results in manufacturers throwing out excess food and supplies in order to avoid conflicts or lawsuits. He hopes that petfood manufacturers who discard food and supplies will instead consider donating them to Share the Love, so they can be equally distributed by his organization to many needy shelters.
If interested in more information about Share the Love, or to make a donation, contact Scott Morgan, P.O. box 458, Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, USA 27041, or call +1.336.655.4284.

Friday, July 16, 2010

Boulder, Colorado, is a leader in natural petfood movement

Residents in Boulder, Colorado, USA, lead the movement in feeding natural petfood diets to dogs and cats, according to an article from dailycamera.com.
Although the price of natural and organic petfoods can be more than traditional food, Boulder residents are willing to pay. Some pet owners attribute the higher-priced, premium-based foods to their pets' good health and lower veterinary bills. The movement toward natural petfoods may have started due to a major recall in 2007 involving nearly 100 petfood brands contaminated with wheat gluten and rice proteins, the article says.
"For people in Boulder, it's not about the money," said Marty Grosjean, owner of Only Natural Pet Store. "Boulder is on the cutting edge of everything."

Thursday, July 15, 2010

United Pet Group expands recall of Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement

United Pet Group voluntarily expanded its recall of Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement tablets for dogs, due to Salmonella contamination concerns.
The recalled products now include United Pet Group Pro-Pet and Excel product brands for dogs and cats, as well as certain other private label brands of the same products. All of the products are packaged in tablet or powdered form, and have expiration dates between January 2013 and June 2013. A complete list of recalled products is available on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
website.
Consumers who purchased the recalled products should contact the place of purchase, or call United Pet Group at +1.877.399.5226 Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Pets of the Homeless leads national petfood drive

Pets of the Homeless will hold a national petfood drive for the first National Feeding Pets of the Homeless week, Aug. 8-14.
The organization is asking the public to take donations of petfood and petfood supplies to one of the identified, local collection sites, so they can be distributed to food banks and homeless shelters nationwide. A listing of over 200 collection sites can be found on the organization's website.
"Since 2008, collection site members have taken over 52 tons of pet food and over $8,000 worth of supplies to homeless shelters, food banks and soup kitchens across the country. It is a combined effort to continue year-round collections of pet food. We applaud the caring, member volunteers who have reported their contributions. The need is great for communities to continue to donate to this on-going effort," said Genevieve Frederick, executive director of Pets of the Homeless.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Former North Star Foods owner proposes R&D center in Minnesota

Patrick Thesing, former owner of North Star Foods, proposed building a research and business development center outside of St. Charles, Minn, according to the Winona Daily News .
The facility would focus on petfood production and be located on a 13-acre lot at 23671 County Road 37. Initially the workforce would consist of two to four people, but could grow to up to 15 employees, as stated in Thesing's proposal. The request for a conditional-use permit for the facility will be presented for the Winona County Planning Commission on Thursday, July 15.

Monday, July 12, 2010

The Dog Talk Project

I would like to invite dog owners to participate in a new online research program involving owners and their dogs. The Dog Talk Project (http://www.dogtalkproject.com) is a web-based system of surveys that studies a wide range of dog-related topics, including dog owners’ daily
activities and routines, dog health care practices, behavior, training, breed preferences and attitudes, tthe social effects of dogs, and nutrition and feeding practices.

We currently are collecting data with seven surveys and have several additional surveys in development. Select sets of results are posted on our “Results Pages” and are updated regularly. Participation is free and is completely voluntary. Participating dog owners have a wide variety of dog interests and professions, and include dog sports enthusiasts, professional trainers and behaviorists, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, breeders, shelter and rescue professionals, dog
sitters/walkers, pet nutritionists, pet supply store owners, and of course, pet owners who simply love spending time with their canine companions.
Please feel welcome to visit the Dog Talk Project to learn more about
this project (
http://www.dogtalkproject.com) and to share your dog-related
experiences and knowledge. (Note: AutumnGold also offers sponsored and customized surveys to pet-related organizations and companies. Please contact AutumnGold for details).
Thanks!
Linda Case,
Administrator, The Dog Talk Project (admin@dogtalkproject.com)
Owner, AutumnGold Consulting (
http://www.autumngoldconsulting.com; lcase@autumngoldconsulting.com)

Friday, July 9, 2010

Two sides to petfood safety

It seems every day brings notice of a new petfood recall due to potential Salmonella contamination. Most people in the industry would tell you this is not because petfood manufacturers are making more unsafe products or not following safety or hygiene protocols; rather, it's because the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has greatly stepped up its inspections (many unannounced) of manufacturing facilities and rules on reporting the findings from those inspections.
And with Salmonella and all its various strains being among the organisms that are nearly always present in minute amounts, it's very likely to show up in an inspection, even if it's nowhere near the raw materials, processing areas or finished products and even if the amount present is nowhere near enough to cause any sort of problem.
We all know food safety is of the utmost importance and that consumers demand not just the highest levels of safety but also transparency and communication about it. This is especially true in petfood since the massive 2007 recalls in the US. Though those were caused by intentional adulteration with melamine, a substance that normally does not even enter the same conversation as petfood, the 2007 situation made pet owners, especially in the US, keenly aware of what goes into their furry charges' food and how it's made.
But are the stepped-up inspections and reporting regulations a classic case of overkill? One industry member says many small companies don't have the costs to meet the increased regulations built into their business models and even larger companies that can afford the latest equipment, programs and consultants will never recoup their costs, though they'll likely try by raising the prices of their products. Will that cause upscale pet owners--who to date have proven wonderfully recession resistant--to finally say "enough!" and draw the line at what they'll pay for a bag of superpremium dog food?
What's your experience and opinion on ensuring safety without breaking the bank?

FDA calls January recall of Merrick Beef Filet Squares 'ineffective'

The 2010 January recall of Merrick Pet Care's Beef Filet Squares for dogs was "ineffective," according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Tejas Industries Inc. manufactures the brand and was given a warning letter on June 1, 2010, stating an FDA analysis showed that the dog treats tested positive for Salmonella meleagridis. The company was given 15 business days to respond to FDA claims that the company delayed alerting consumers, gave incorrect lot codes and failed to alert pet owners that the recall was for Salmonella contamination. Tejas Industries originally said the recall was for improper processing.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Ethoxyquin Toxic to Fish & Invert's: How the Industry Should Respond

While researching the effects of Ethoxyquin on pet freshwater invertebrates, I found a 2005 reassessment of inert ingredient tolerance of ethoxyquin, commissioned by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The reassessment states that "studies indicate that ethoxyquin is toxic to aquatic invertebrates, and mildly toxic to fish" when ingested. To my knowledge, the studies cited are the only ones conducted on fish and invertebrates.
The rumor that all fish foods contain ethoxyquin because all fishmeal contains it, is probably what fueled the latest backlash by consumers of dog and cat food. It was further fueled by the suggestion that ethoxyquin could be hidden from the label list of ingredients if it was used to preserve an ingredient in the fish food. This rumor was perpetuated by a fish food manufacturer who was attempting to justify the inclusion of ethoxyquin in their product, and consequently made these statements online.
There are, of course, sources of ethoxyquin-free fishmeal and more are popping up all the time due to the increase in demand for 'natural' products. The rumor stating that all fishmeal MUST contain ethoxyquin would only apply to fishmeal being transported by boat and even then, a special exemption may be obtained. The second rumor stemming from this misleading information regarding labeling is entirely false - ethoxyquin content specifically must be stated on the label, whether it was added intentionally or inadvertently through an ingredient.
This is a classic case of inaccurate information found online by consumers and the damage it can cause to the pet food industry, especially when the source seems reputable.
This brings us to the three points that I will address in this article:
1. Ethoxyquin should not be used in fish/invertebrate food.2. What should we do when a baseless rumor spreads like wildfire online?3. How can the fish food industry turn this fish poo into a salmon steak?
Ethoxyquin should not be used in fish food
This may be a simple matter of educating the manufacturers of fish food, or perhaps informing them that consumers are aware of these facts and they're going to lose money if they don't remove it from their product. We do not increase the bottom line by using less expensive preservatives, if our preservative of choice results in the loss of sales. That is precisely what many manufacturers of dog and cat food concluded when they decided to no longer use ethoxyquin, even though there were no studies proving that it is toxic to mammals.
It is crucial that this preservative no longer be used in fish/invertebrate food, not only to please consumers as it was with dog and cat food, but because it threatens the health of the very creatures its designed to feed. Invertebrates are commonly found in freshwater aquariums today - both shrimp and snails are wildly popular. Those who only keep fish are not at all comforted by the knowledge that ethoxyquin is 'mildly' toxic to fish.
I was unable to obtain a copy of the studies cited by the EPA, but perhaps someone else will have better access to the proper channels. I did contact
Wildlife International as they conducted the study for the EPA, but they are unable to release the studies without the EPA's consent. Following are the studies you will be asking the EPA about:
MRID No. 43978101 (1996) Ethoxyquin Technical A Dietary LC50 Study with the Northern Bobwhite

MRID No. 43978301 (1996) Ethoxyquin A 96-Hour Flow-Through Acute Toxicity Test with the Rainbow Trout
MRID No. 43978401 (1996) A 43-Hour Flow-Through Acute Toxicity Test with the Cladoceran
Read the entire blog on Petfood-Connection.

Will eased safety rules for homemade goods spread to food for pets?

A recent article from the Associated Press (AP) caught my eye. It described how several states--Wisconsin, Wyoming, Maine and Tennessee were all referenced--are easing licensing and inspection regulations for homemade goods sold at farmers markets, on small farms and in similar venues.
As more US consumers become interested in buying local or locally grown food, the article says, a few states are creating exemptions for "amateur chefs" who want to sell their extra jams, canned goods and the like. The exemptions are starting a debate about balancing the need for food safety with "regulatory common sense" and causing anxiety among food processors who are still required to follow inspection and licensing rules.
This got me thinking about how many times I've heard owners of small petfood companies, especially those specializing in raw products, describe how they started making food for their own dogs in their kitchens, then began sharing the food with friends and acquaintances and then, based on the response, decided to make and market the foods on a larger scale.
Many of these start-ups have gone on to become successful petfood manufacturers that now have state-of-the-art safety and processing programs. But how many of them start out giving away or selling their homemade products without any sort of safety standards in place? As long as they are taking care to not subject their own pets to unsafe foods, should we all trust that those foods, like the homemade goods for humans mentioned in the AP article, need not meet licensing and inspection regulations?
What do you think?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Bones unsafe for dogs, FDA says, many alternatives available

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised pet owners that bones are unsafe dog treats, but many alternatives are available, says an article from Tampa Bay Online.
FDA listed 10 reasons supporting their recommendation to stop giving bones to dogs, among which are: bones causing broken teeth, mouth and tongue injuries; bones getting looped around the dog's lower jaw; bones getting stuck in the dog's esophagus, windpipe, stomach or intestines; and bones from people food causing peritonitis, a bacterial infection that causes splinters to poke holes in stomach and intestinal linings.
There are many healthy alternatives to bones, such as the Kong Toy, crunchy treats like Rachel Ray's Nutrish Just 6 line and chews made from pork, called Pork Chomps, or those made from the private parts of male cattle, called Bully Sticks.

Eagle Pack introduces new line of dog food, redesigned website

Eagle Pack has introduced a new line of wet dog food. The new food is available in chicken, beef, lamb and turkey flavors. All of the company's products come in redesigned packaging, which features color coding, nutrition information and the brand's heritage story.
In addition, the Eagle Pack website has been redesigned to feature the company's new color palette. Consumers can now interact with the brand through the Eagle Pack Club e-newsletter and Large Breed Resource Guide.

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

200 Cats For Adoption At Pet Supplies Plus Cat Days of Summer July 9-11

For any of you who may be located in Michigan or have friends or family in Michigan please refer this pet rescue blog posting!
Thanks so much!!
http://opcatchat.blogspot.com

RECALLS: Three pet products may contain salmonella

*Merrick Pet Care Inc. recalled one lot of 10-ounce bags of Beef Filet Squares for Dogs. The treats could be contaminated with salmonella. The treats were sold in 10-ounce plastic bags marked with the best by date of March 24, 2012, and the lot number 10084TL7. Consumers can call 800-664-7387 . The company recalled the same product in January, for the same reason.

*Feline’s Pride announced a voluntary recall of Feline’s Pride Raw food with ground bone for cats and kittens, Natural Chicken Formula, Net Wt. 2.5 lbs., produced on June 10, because it may be contaminated with salmonella. The product is packaged in uncoded plastic containers and sold frozen to private customers nationwide. This recall affects only those orders placed and shipped from June 10-17. Consumers can call 716-580-3096.

*United Pet Group is voluntarily expanding its recent recall of Pro-Pet Adult Daily Vitamin Supplement tablets for Dogs to include additional supplements for dogs and cats, due to possible salmonella contamination. A list of recalled products is provided on the Web site of the Food and Drug Administration. The affected products are those with expiration dates from "01/2013"to "06/2013."

Fresh-Lock zipper spool recycle program helps companies go green

The Fresh-Lock Zipper Spool Reuse and Recycle Program has helped petfood companies become more environmentally friendly and reduce waste.
The program allows participants to send old spools, on which Fresh-Lock zippers are wound, back to the company in the original shipping cases, at no charge. The spools are then inspected and washed, and recycled into new, single-use spools.
Since the program began in the fall of 2008, 165 tons of solid waste have been eliminated and 90,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions have been prevented, according to the company.

Monday, July 5, 2010

Investors: Nestle should buy natural petfood maker

Nestle may aim to expand further in the petfood industry, according to an article from Bloomberg Businessweek, and investors are urging it to consider buying a natural petfood maker to better compete with Proctor&Gamble, the recent purchaser of Natura Pet Products Inc.
After a deal to sell its shares of Alcon Inc. to the majority owner, Novartis AG, Nestle will receive US$28.1 billion. With this, investors also want Nestle to expand operations into emerging markets. The company has a list of five markets it is looking to enter, according to John Harris, Nestle Waters chief executive.

Halo, Ellen DeGeneres donate to Central Florida Animal Pantry

Halo, Purely for Pets partnered with Ellen DeGeneres to donate 5,000 meals of Halo's Spot’s Stew to the Central Florida Animal Pantry, according to an article from the Orlando Sentinel. The donation was part of Halo and DeGeneres’ initiative to raise awareness about the need for pet adoption, with the goal of donating 1 million meals to shelter pets in 2010. According to a news release, the donated petfood was delivered to the pantry on July 1.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Study: consumers should do research when choosing a 'diet' cat food

It is important to do research when choosing the best lower-calorie or weight loss cat food because calorie contents vary, according to a study summarized in an article on readingeagle.com.
Researchers evaluated 49 cat foods designed to aid in weight management. Their findings, published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, showed that dry food calorie contents varied from 235 to 480 calories per cup, while canned food varied from 78 to 172 calories per cup. The researchers recommended that consumers check with manufacturers for the actual calorie content of the petfood. In addition, the article says that a normal cat requires 20 calories per pound of ideal body weight per day, but that overweight cats should only be given about 50% to 70% of that amount.

New report released about petfood market in India

A new market report about the petfood market in India was released from companiesandmarkets.com.
It begins with a market overview, which says the market in India is currently worth about INR 876 million (US$18.8 million). The report also offers an analysis of key trends and factors affecting industry growth, such as increasing pet ownership, increasing consumer awareness and increasing promotional activities. The competition section provides an overview of the Indian competitive petfood market with profiles of major domestic and foreign players. The greatest challenge identified in the report is high import duties combined with frequent import bans.
The full report can be purchased
online.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Petfood is big on cause marketing

Even during a worldwide recession--or perhaps because of it--many companies have stepped up their campaigns to support and promote specific causes and charities. Petfood manufacturers are no exception.
Check out the great
article by Jessica Taylor, "Paws with a cause," about companies like Del Monte, Three Dog Bakery, Canidae and Halo, Purely for Pets.
And read her
article about Bil-Jac's licensing deal to support Veteran's K-9 Corps.
If you want an idea of what some companies in industries other than petfood are doing, watch these videos
posted on Advertising Age.
What is your company doing to support a cause or charity? Or do you know of other petfood companies doing great work in this area?