Premier Pet Nutrition opens enhanced-safety premix facility

Premier Pet Nutrition has opened its new premix facility designed to provide absolute safety and assurance for all premixes manufactured by the company. 
Enhanced pharmaceutical features expand on its tumble mix system. 
According to Ben Helm, commercial manager: "We have invested heavily in the new premix facility to take our pet premix assurance for petfood manufacturers to the next level.
"I don't believe there is a more advanced pet premix facility anywhere in the world that is able to deliver custom pet premixes to the same level of homogeneity, safety and traceability," Helm added. "This means that our petfood clients can have complete confidence in every bag of custom pet premix they add to their petfood production." 

Nestle to build $98.4 million petfood production facility in Poland

Nestle says the company has selected a key market in Poland to lead the expansion of its petfood production operations in central and eastern Europe, where rising incomes have majorly impacted lifestyles.
The petfood maker says it is constructing a CHF93 million (US$98.4 million) new plant and distribution center in the southwestern city of Wroclaw, Poland. Nestle said the area was chosen because of its strategic position in Eastern Europe, and because Poland is the largest petfood market in Central and Eastern Europe with an estimated 13 million pets.  
"The investment also supports Nestle Purina's long-term ambition to bolster its position in Europe," the company said.
The new petfood production facility will employ nearly 200 people. Construction will begin at the end of 2013 and is scheduled to be completed and the plant operational by the second half of 2014.  

New retail price-monitoring, analytics service offered

RetailData and Brand View have formed a new partnership called Retail View, a price-monitoring and analytics service.
RetailData, which provides CPGs with a solution to assess accurate pricing data across the country, and Brand View, a provider of real-time price and promotions tracking, have teamed up to provide this fully customizable service with actual price tracking and analysis. The Retail View service can allow price to be managed centrally with reports and analysis available to account manager;ls and analysts instantly. 

Owners of petfood producer Vitakraft sell company

Vitakraft-Weke owners, the Wührmann family, has sold the producer of petfoods to two new owners.
According to a report, the two new shareholders are an unnamed private investor and petfood manufacturer Deuerer. The Wührmann family will retain a minority shareholding in the company.  

RECALL: Dogswell, Catswell brand jerky treats with chicken, duck

Arthur Dogswell LLC has issued recall for select Dogswell and Catswell brand jerky treats made with chicken or duck, after testing by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets found trace amounts of an antibiotic during a routine product sampling.
Treat products affected by the recall have a "Best Before" date marked on or before January 28, 2015. Brands affected include: Breathies Chicken Breast and Duck Breast jerky, Happy Heart, Happy Hips, Mellow Mut, Shape Up, Veggie Life, Vitality and Vitakitty.
The majority of products were delivered via retail stores or mail order prior to March 1.
Consumers can obtain a refund by calling +1.888.559.8833 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.

Livestock Feed and Pet Food Safety Research Round Table to be held August 13

Kansas State University's Department of Grain Science and Industry will host a Livestock Feed and Pet Food Safety Research Round Table at the International Grains Program on August 13. The event is geared toward professionals interested in learning about the latest updates in feed safety research and regulations in the livestock feed and petfood industries.
Petfood and livestock feed professionals will be able to review feed safety research, discuss with experts to identify priorities for future feed safety research, view facilities to conduct unique experiments and listen to a keynote speaker describe how multi-party cooperation has resulted in improvements in food safety.
Attendees will play an active role in a strategic planning discussion to help shape the future direction of research in livestock feed and petfood safety at Kansas State University. With the help of the experts in attendance, the department hopes to further its role as an essential player in feed manufacturing research.

Wenger Manufacturing launches new Facebook petfood processing blog

Wenger Manufacturing recently launched a new blog on Facebook, wengerpedia.com.
The extrusion processing technology company hopes the platform will educate, inspire and facilitate conversations to advance food and petfood processing around the world. Members will have access to information such as industry news, product developments, processing strategies, market insights, and featured trade shows, conferences and seminars. 

WATT launches Petfood Industry Community group on LinkedIn

The Petfood Industry Community group on LinkedIn is for petfood professionals involved in everything from packaging and marketing to manufacturing and ingredients. Network with petfood professionals from all over the world and stay up-to-date on the latest companion animal nutrition, research and trends. Have a production issue or nutrition question? Petfood Industry Community editors and experts will help you enhance your bottom line and help feed pets with the best ingredients and the safest methods.
This group is an extension of the Petfood Industry website and is designed to be a forum for research, discussion and exchanging ideas on the global petfood and treat market.
To keep the conversations going and to stay abreast of the latest news and research, we invite you to also join us on:
Facebook
Twitter

FDA to issue new 'Salmonella in Food for Animals' Compliance Policy Guide

On July 16 in its Federal Register, the US Food and Drug Administration will issue a new Compliance Policy Guide for Salmonella in Food for Animals. 
The Compliance Policy Guide "provides guidance to FDA staff on Salmonella-contaminated food for animals."
According to the guide, the final document is the conclusion of a process that begin in August 2010 when the draft (690.800) Salmonella in Animal Feed was issued. 
This guide coincides with another notice issued by FDA of the withdrawal of CPG 690.700, Salmonella Contamination of Dry Dog Food. Additionally, the term "petfood" is now used throughout the guide and is defined as "food for pets and includes treats and chews for pets." Comments may be submitted at any time on the new guide. 

Petfood distribution grant from Banfield Charitable Trust helps low-income seniors

Banfield Charitable Trust recently provided low-income seniors at Old Colony Elder Services in Brockton, Massachusetts, USA, with a petfood distribution grant.
"Low-income seniors are among America's millions struggling with hunger and food insecurity. Many seniors and individuals with disabilities receive nutritious daily meals through Old Colony's Meals on Wheels program. In an effort to keep seniors and their beloved pets well-nourished, Old Colony now also provides nutrition support for their pets," said Old Colony's enterprising executive director, Diana DiGiorgi.
Meals on Wheels volunteers noticed the need after seeing that some recipients who could not afford petfood were also sharing their human food meals with their pet. 
The US$2,500 grant helps Old Colony purchase and distribute dog food and cat food to clients, allowing them to remain in their homes and still care for their pets. Old Colony was already receiving help from Hanson Grain Co., which has donated a considerable amount of dog food, DiGiorgi said. So, the Banfield grant allows Old Colony to expand services and equally divide the money between dog and cat food. 

Partner in Pet Food to acquire petfood division of Agro-Trust

Partner in Pet Food, a pan-European petfood producer, has agreed to acquire the petfood division of Agro-Trust, a family owned Hungarian agricultural and petfood company.
Agro-Trust produces a range of alucup products, petfood sausages, and specialty dried and smoked products. The investment in Agro-Trust supports Partner in Pet Food's growth strategy and allows the company to expand into the premium and super-premium petfood market segments. Partner in Pet Food's investment in Agro-Trust also will lead to the expansion of Agro-Trust's alucup production facility.
The transaction is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2013, subject to regulatory approval. 

Research funded by Mars, Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition looks at benefits of animal interactions

New research studies, supported by funding from Mars and Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition, focus on how interactions with animals positively affect people's physical, mental and social well-being.
The studies focus on three areas: the impact of equine-based programs on early teens' social skills, how structured interactions with dogs impacts people with dementia, and the effect of pet ownership on social relationships and community connectedness. 
The new research will be presented at the triennial meeting of the international Association of Human Animal Interaction Organizations, in partnership with the annual American Veterinary Medical Association meeting, taking place July 19-23 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Global Pet Expo 2014 dates announced

The American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association have announced dates of the 2014 Global Pet Expo. This pet industry show will be held March 12-14, 2014, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, USA. 
The show, which will mark its 10th anniversary in 2014, will feature the latest pet products on the market from more than 900 companies around the world, including 150 first-time exhibitors. 
In addition to more than 3,000 product launches, the show will have special sections: International Pavilion, Natural Pet, Boutique, Everything Aquatic and What's New. The New Products Showcase will give exhibitors the chance to highlight their newest product lines, and winners of the "Best in Show" awards will also be announced. 

'Pet Food in the US, 10th Edition' report available from Packaged Facts

Packaged Facts' Pet Food in the US, 10th Edition (July 2013) report identifies strategic directions for current and prospective marketers, focusing on the future of high-growth product segments and petfood market drivers.
The report covers products for many companion animals, with separate chapters for dog food, cat food and other petfood (birds, small animals, fish and reptiles).
It provides a market overview covering cross-market trends and opportunities through 2017, including: the impact of the recession and economic recovery; recent and expected mergers and acquisitions; private-label inroads; advertising and promotional trends, including social media and cause marketing; the trend of natural and organic foods; specialty diet products; weight maintenance and senior foods; the re-visioning of wet/canned foods; and novel ingredients such as glucosamine, omega fatty acids, antioxidants and probiotics. The report estimates 2012 US retail sales at US$20 billion and projects steady growth through 2017.

Italian pet owners feed most table scraps, treats to pets, survey finds

In a recent survey of nearly 1,300 Italians that asked whether they thought their pets were overweight, 29 percent agreed that their pet was overweight, according to a report commissioned by Hill's petfood company and the survey conducted by UK-based market research company YouGov.  
The survey further found that 26 percent of Italian pet owners said they feed their pet leftovers and snacks. This is compared to previous surveys conducted in the Netherlands and Great Britain, where just 8 percent and 13 percent of pet owners, respectively, fed their pet snacks and leftovers. Overall, it is estimated that overweight and obese pets in Italy could account for up to 95 percent of cats and 63 percent of dogs. 

Owners can feed pets using special petfood bowl, new smartphone app

A new application is available that allows pet owners to feed their pet remotely using their smartphone and a special petfood bowl.
The app, Pintofeed, lets pet owners remotely feed their pets when they are on-the-go, as well as lets pet owners set up a repeating schedule. The app and bowl notify the owner when the pet has been feed and also displays portion size. 
The app lets owners of multiple pets or shelters manage up to 50 Pintofeeds from one account. Pintofeed works with dry petfood only. 

Iams selects therapy dog as Love Tails contest winner

Petfood maker Iams selected a therapy dog from Augusta, Georgia, USA, as the grand-prize winner of the Love Tails contest. Brooks, a 2-year-old Golden Retriever, is a trained therapy dog who visits local assisted living facilities with owner, Derek Underwood.
The Love Tails contest received story submissions from more than 500 pet owners from February 14-March 3. Of these, 11 finalists were selected to have their stories presented in videos on Iams' Facebook page, where fans voted for the winner. A national ad campaign for Iams will feature Underwood and Brooks. 
To create his winning video entry, Underwood, a local filmmaker, teamed up with another local filmmaker, Hodges Usry, in an effort to show the genuine reactions of people who encountered the therapy dog for the first time. Underwood worked with a local facility, Morningside Assisted Living, which Brooks had never visited before, to film the dog's interactions with residents. 
"My mother decided to get her certified (as a therapy dog) so we could volunteer with her," Underwood said. "It's always a really positive experience whenever you're visiting. You see the way they light up," he said.

Researchers in Brazil optimize petfood mineral composition analysis

A simple method to determine the mineral element composition of petfoods has been proposd by researchers in Brazil.
According to the research article: "Experimental design methodology was used to optimize an analytical method for determination of the mineral element composition (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ba, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, S, Sr and Zn) of dog and cat foods. Two-level, full-factorial design was applied to define the optimal proportions of the reagents used for microwave-assisted sample digestion (2.0 mol L−1 HNO3 and 6 percent m/v H2O2).
"A three-level factorial design for two variables was used to optimize the operational conditions of the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer, employed for analysis of the extracts. A radiofrequency power of 1.2 kW and a nebulizer argon flow of 1.0 L min−1 were selected. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were between 0.03 μg g−1 (Cr, 267.716 nm) and 87 μg g-1 (Ca, 373.690 nm). The trueness of the optimized method was evaluated by analysis of five certified reference materials (CRMs): wheat flour (NIST 1567a), bovine liver (NIST 1577), peach leaves (NIST 1547), oyster tissue (NIST 1566b) and fish protein (DORM-3).
"The recovery values obtained for the CRMs were between 80±4 percent (Cr) and 117±5 percent (Cd), with relative standard deviations (RSDs) better than 5 percent, demonstrating that the proposed method offered good trueness and precision. Ten samples of petfood (five each of cat and dog food) were acquired at supermarkets in Aracaju city, Sergipe State, Brazil. Concentrations in the dog food ranged between 7.1 mg kg−1 (Ba) and 2.7 g kg−1 (Ca), while for cat food the values were between 3.7 mg kg−1 (Ba) and 3.0 g kg−1 (Ca). The concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, P, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in the food were compared with the guidelines of the United States Association of American Feed Control Officials and the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento-MAPA)."

ResearchMoz offers report on China's petfood market competition

ResearchMoz now offers a report on China's petfood market competition, available for purchase online. 
The report provides an explanation of how petfood maker Mars entered the Chinese petfood market in 1993 with its Pedigree dog food and Whiskas cat food brands. In March 2001, Chengdu Care-Pet Food Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Tongwei Group, was established; the production of its first bag of petfood signified that China's local petfood brand entered into the petfood industry. Since then, the report says China's petfood industry has grown and completed upgrading for larger-scale production. 
The report says sales revenue in the Chinese petfood market has exceeded 1.5 billion Yuan (US$244.7 million), and market scale is increasing by more than 15 percent on average each year, which is far above the global average growth rate of 4 percent. 

MarketResearchReports.Biz adds 'Global Top 200 Petfood Manufacturers' report online

MarketResearchReports.Biz has added a new report, Global Top 200 Petfood Manufacturers,  to its online database.
This report provides an in-depth financial evaluation of the global petfood manufacturers. Using the Plimsoll method of analysis, each of the top 200 companies included is individually assessed and ranked against each other and compared to industry averages. Each two-page company analysis provides detailed financial analysis for the organization.
According to the report's findings: 29 of the 200 companies analyzed have been rated as "Danger"; 24 companies are ripe for takeover; 23 companies achieved greater than 10 percent increase in sales in 2012; 16 companies made a pre-tax loss; and 86 companies saw sales fall in 2012. 

Victam, FIAAP 2014 tradeshows focus on animal feed, petfood ingredients

Victam International general manager and former feed mill owner, Henk van de Bunt, said that sales for the FIAAP, Victam and Grapas Asia 2014 trade shows continue to increase thanks to the shows' focus on ingredients used in animal feed and petfood. The shows will be held April 8-10, 2014, in Bangkok, Thailand. 
According to van de Bunt: "A successful animal feed production plant, petfood plant or aquafeed feed plant require(s) different components. These include qualified and reliable staff, investment, professional management, etc. But you also need additional important ingredients, these are a safe and healthy working environment, well-constructed premises, good processing equipment, reliable and up-to-date ancillary equipment, a range of feed formulation programs, and of course, the right and most cost efficient ingredients and additives. In this way you should be able to produce the best possible product for your clients."
The show manager says the shows have seen a significant rise in the number of international companies looking to exhibit, as well as attend the range of technical conferences being offered. 
Co-located with the FIAAP, Victam and Grapas Asia tradeshows will be Petfood Forum Asia. This conference for petfood industry professionals around the world will take place April 9, 2014, in Bangkok.

New Euromonitor International report on petfood, animal feeds market in Canada available

Euromonitor International's Pet Food and Animal Feeds in Canada: ISIC 1533 report provides a complete view of the industry.
Available online from Fast Market Research, the report provides a guide to the size and shape of the market for petfood and animal feeds at a national level. The report provides the latest retail sales data, identifies leading companies and brands, and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market. 

'Pet Food in Russia' market report available online

Mintel Global Market Navigator's latest market report, Pet Food in Russia, provides annual year-end market size data, most recently updated in 2012.
The report, available online from Fast Market Research, covers the market for packaged, prepared dry and wet petfood, specifically for dogs and cats. 
Market size comprises sales through all retail channels and data is given in RUB and metric tons with a minimum of five years' historical data. Also provided are socio-economic data on Russia, including population, consumer price index, gross domestic product and exchange rates. 

Report on future of US pet care packaging provides market forecast to 2017

A new report, entitled, Future of the US Pet Care Packaging to 2017, has been added to the online database of market reports offered by MarketResearchReports.Biz.
The pet care packaging report provides time series consumption data on primary and outer packaging in the market. Quantitative data on retail pet care packaging covers key segments such as pack material and type, closure material and type, outer and multi-pack for the latest financial year and extreme ends of the historical and forecast periods.

Spring Naturals to award free petfood to 'everyday hero' contest winner

Spring Naturals brand of dog dinners and treats is searching for an "everyday hero" as part of a contest in which the winner will receive US$4,000 worth of Spring Naturals dog food and US$1,000 cash for their favorite animal shelter.
Heros can be nominated by submitting a photo and an explanation of why the person should be chosen. Nominations can be voted on and more information is available by visiting the company's Facebook page. 

Interzoo 2014 on track to be larger than 2012 pet industry show

The international pet industry will again gather at Interzoo in Nuremberg, Germany, May 29-June 1, 2014. Show organizers say that based on the current level of registrations, Interzoo 2014 is on track to beat registration in 2012.
"The number of registrations is up 21 percent over the comparable period before Interzoo 2012," says Hans-Jochen Büngener, chairman of the Interzoo Exhibition Committee.
"Interzoo has gained new exhibitors, but many of the more than 1,500 companies at the event in 2012 have also registered again and booked larger stand spaces," says Herbert Bollhöfer, managing director of the Interzoo promoter Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH.
Interzoo says its growth is also thanks to positive growth in the worldwide pet market. 

Luxury cat food sells out in one hour in UK

A luxury cat food in the UK reportedly sold out within one hour of being sold for the first time recently. 
The "wold's most luxurious cat food" was created by Simon Rimmer, a celebrity chef, and is a nutritionally balanced dish that is enough to feed a cat for one day. The food costs £24.99 (US$37.98) per portion and contains roasted duck, lobster sushi roll, Beluga caviar and beetroot jellies.

Dog food trucks gaining popularity across cities in the US

The popularity of food trucks for dogs is growing in a number of USA cities, offering treats, ice cream and meals for dogs.
Owners of these food trucks from Orlando, Florida, to New York, New York, are reporting successful business and positive feedback from customers.
"This year is turning out to be really good because a lot of people are hearing about me," said Angela Meyers, who launched The Frosty Pooch in July 2012. "I'm getting a lot of return customers."
Meyers makes small-batch, dog-friendly ice cream in six flavors, which she sells from her truck in parks and farmers' markets in the New York, New York, area.
In Chicago, Illinois, business for Donna Santucci, who opened Fido To Go in 2011 is growing so quickly that she is now looking to franchise the business and is searching for a bigger cooking facility. Santucci currently makes the cookies and frozen yogurt cups from scratch in a commercial kitchen.
A number of factors have contributed to these food trucks' rising popularity, including the fact that pet owners seem to be willing to spend a lot on their pets, as well as the improving economy. For some petfood brands, these food trucks can act as mobile marketing campaigns, such as for Purina's Chef Michael's, Science Diet, Freshpet and Rachael Ray's Nutrish that have all done dog food truck promotions.
Pet owners are also becoming more concerned about the safety of their pet's food after a number of petfood recalls, which includes knowing how and where their pet's food and treats are made. "You get to know these people in the trucks, you know they make the food and you get to have a relationship with them," said Angela Hill, a dog food truck customer from New York, who fosters rescue dogs.

New report on the US petfood market offered online

MarketResearchReports.Biz has added a new report, Pet Food Market-US-March 2013, to its online database.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, pet ownership has declined since 2006. Due to a waning number of end users, marketers must consider ways to encourage petfood buyers to feed their pets a variety of new food/treats, tap into the under-developed elderly pet owner demographic, and drive interest for premium products and shopping experiences among key Hispanic pet owners, the report says.

Novus International releases 2012 sustainability report

Stratum Nutrition's parent company, Novus International Inc., released its fifth annual sustainability report, providing  detailed information and examples of how the company works to improve and advance its sustainability efforts.
The 2012 Novus Sustainability report applies The Global Reporting Initiative Framework at Application Level B. GRI is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization, which acts to increase the level of business transparency by promoting sustainability reporting among companies worldwide.
"We know that one company alone may not affect the large-scale change needed to secure our sustainable future; however we strive to set a standard for sustainability," said Thad Simons, president and CEO at Novus International. "By working together to advance shared objectives, we can succeed in making a better life for ourselves and for future generations. This report serves to reinforce the value we place on these partnerships."
"Stratum utilizes partnerships to empower product innovation both upstream and downstream," Jeremy Moore, president, Stratum Nutrition, said. "Upstream we work with our technology partners to further the science and commercialization of each specialty ingredient. Downstream we further the natural products industry by working with finished product partners who want innovative, scientifically supported and consumer-needed product solutions. Developing these partner relationships help our global nutrition industry grow sustainably."
The report is available in a digital edition, along with interactive videos and content on the company's website. 

Obesity-related conditions cost pet insurance policyholders US$34 million in 2012

Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. recently sorted its database of more than 485,000 insured pets to determine the top 10 dog and cat obesity-related health conditions in 2012. With the epidemic of pet obesity rising, the company says its policyholders filed more than US$34 million in claims in 2012 for conditions and diseases that can be caused or made worse by excess weight. 
The most common obesity-related condition for dogs was arthritis, for which more than 34,000 claims were filed at an average fee of US$300 per pet. For cats, bladder/urinary tract disease was the most common condition, for which the company received more than 4,200 medical claims at an average cost of US$415 per pet. 
Other top obesity-related conditions, in order, in dogs were: bladder/urinary tract disease, undiagnosed limp, low-thyroid hormone, liver disease, torn knee ligaments, diseased disc in the spine, diabetes, heart failure and chronic kidney disease. For cats, these were: chronic kidney disease, diabetes, asthma, liver disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, undiagnosed limp, heart failure and gall bladder disorder. 
"Taking your pet to the veterinarian for regular wellness visits is the most effective way to monitor your pet's weight," said Dr. Carol McConnell, DVM, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. "Routine exercise, a regulated diet and watching for signs of excessive weight gain are important steps in avoiding pet obesity and the additional health concerns that are associated with it."

New dog treats made from nutria of Louisiana, USA, wetlands

One pet owner has developed a new type of pet treats made from nutria from Louisiana, USA.
Hansel Harlan began experimenting with new recipes when his dogs developed allergies, and he says he heard about the benefits of nutria meat and destruction the animals were causing to the wetlands of Louisiana.
"We knew that they were spending a lot of money down there to kill them," Harlan said. "So, we were wondering if we could make them out of petfood or pet treats. And thus the idea was born."
Harlan's "Marsh Dog" treats are made from nutria meat, brown rice, oats and molasses. The treats have now been sold at select retailers in southern Louisiana for nearly a year, along with a nutria jerky product.
"To be quite honest, we weren't sure whether it was going to work or not," said Harlan. "But the response has been literally overwhelming."

Pet owner asks for warning labels on petfood packaging after dog suffocates

A pet owner in Canada is hoping to raise awareness about petfood packaging dangers after her Yellow Lab suffocated after getting his head stuck in a petfood bag, according to a report.
Natalie Burnell took one of her dogs for a walk, while leaving her other dog, Bison, at home in the basement. But, Bison got into a bag of cat food in the home, which got stuck on the dog's head and caused him to panic, Burnell said. Burnell found the dog dead in the basement when she came home.
"I had no idea he could suffocate from these bags. . . . I keep blaming myself for not putting the bag one shelf higher," she said. "It's been such a huge blow. He was such a big part of our lives and we thought he would live a long life.''
Burnell advises pet owners to cut up the petfood bags before throwing them away. She is also asking petfood manufacturers to put warning labels on the packaging so that other owners do not experience the same thing with their pets. 

Virgo launches SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights online resource

Virgo, an information distribution company focused on business-to-business markets around the world, unveiled a new online resource called SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights.
SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights provides animal nutrition developers, producers, marketers and distributors with in-depth coverage of science, ingredients, innovations and strategies that drive the animal nutrition market.
Content includes ingredient and formulation strategies, emerging market and product development opportunities, innovations, and business best practices for the petfood and animal feed industry. Underwritten by Horn, a distributor of raw materials and specialty ingredients, this online platform delivers ingredient and supply chain information to the animal nutrition industry via reports, digital issues, video reporting and more.
"We are introducing SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights because we continue to see more people from the animal nutrition field coming to our events and looking for information through our websites. There is great innovation happening right now in ingredients, technologies and applications in this area, and we are excited to serve our global audience with original content to help them capture the opportunity," said Jon Benninger, vice president of Virgo'S SupplySide Health & Nutrition Network.

'Secrets of the petfood industry' identified in new report by Clear Conscience Pet

Clear Conscience Pet published a new report, Top 10 Secrets the Pet Food Industry Doesn't Want You To Know, written by its founder and chief nutritionist, Anthony Bennie.
The free report is a frank discussion of how petfood industry marketing and advertising has led to widespread misconceptions on the best ways to feed companion animal, and it also offers advice on how to decipher petfood labels and recognize truth in petfood advertising. The report covers topics from whether dry petfood is the best option to the truth about the grain-free petfood trend and information on specialized diets. 
According to Bennie: "After over 20 years in the petfood and treats industry, it frustrates me that so many people are still largely in the dark when it comes to feeding a simple and healthy diet to their dog or cat. My career in pet nutrition has been a great gift and I feel the ethical obligation to give back, so the 'Top Ten Secrets' is my way of bringing animal lovers out of their kitchen and into the boardrooms and factories where petfoods are designed and manufactured.
"It's important that those who read this report know that it is truly unbiased, since my current company, Clear Conscience Pet, does not manufacture any petfoods, only treats and food toppers. So this is not a sneaky attempt to get customers to use Clear Conscience dog or cat foods, since we don't sell basic foods...," said Bennie. 

New site alerts consumers when their petfood brands are recalled

Petfood delivery website Petflow.com has created a new website that alerts pet owners if their pet's dog or cat food brand is recalled for safety concerns. 
The website, http://recalls.petflow.com/, lets consumers enter their email address and select up to six petfood brands they would like to receive alerts for. News on recalls, formula changes, and national sales and promotions affecting the brands will be sent to the consumer's inbox. 

Global petfood market to reach US$74.8 billion by 2017, new report says

The global petfood market is projected to reach US$74.8 billion by 2017, according to a new report from MarketResearchReports.Biz.
The report, Pet Food Market - Global Scenario, Trends, Industry Analysis, Size, Share And Forecast, 2011-2017, identifies factors that will be the driving force behind the petfood market and sub-markets in the next few years. This report provides an analysis of the industry, current market trends, industry drivers and challenges for better understanding of market structure, segmenting the petfood industry in terms of product and geography. 

Court orders FDA to publish proposed FSMA regulations by November 30

A federal court has ordered the US Food and Drug Administration to complete the new food safety regulations of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act. According to a decision by the US District Court for the Northern District of California, FDA must publish all proposed FSMA regulations by November 30. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton ordered the comment period for the regulations will not close later than March 31, 2014, and all final regulations shall be published in the Federal Register no later than June 30, 2015.
FSMA improves FDA's regulation and authority over food production, including petfood and treats, in numerous areas, including preventing contaminated petfood imports, new preventative controls and hazard analysis requirements for production facilities, and safer production of fruits and vegetables used as petfood ingredients. FSMA also grants FDA new authority to, for the first time, mandate recalls and suspend facilities, as well as new inspection and enforcement powers. But, FDA regulations implementing the statute's mandates were needed before these improvements take effect.
On April 22, the US District Court for the Northern District of California held that FDA violated the law in "unlawfully withholding" the FSMA regulations. The court then ordered the parties to submit rvised proposals for new deadlines to complete the regulations, which the parties did on June 10. After consulting experts, the Center for Food Safety submitted new deadlines to the court. FDA refused to submit meaningful deadlines, offering only "target timeframes" well into 2016, which it argued it could unilaterally change.
The court's Order Granting Injunctive Relief, issued on June 21, rejected the FDA's proposal. "Congress indicated that the rule-making process should be close-ended, rather than open-ended," according to the order. "Thus, the court finds defendant's 'target timeframes' to be an inadequate response to the request that the parties submit a proposal regarding deadlines that can form the basis of an injunction." The court granted the Center for Food Safety's motion for an injunction, set 2014-2015 deadlines as described above, and retained jurisdiction to enforce the terms of the order.

Del Monte, Milo's Kitchen chicken jerky treat claims can't be dismissed, judge rules

Petfood maker Del Monte may not dismiss claims that its Milo's Kitchen brand of chicken jerky treats made in China poisoned and killed dogs, according to a federal judge.
 Lisa Mazur filed a federal class-action suit against Del Monte and Milo's Kitchen in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, in 2012. Mazur claimed that her healthy 7-year-old dog, Riley Rae, suffered kidney failure and had to be euthanized after occasionally eating the jerky treats for about a month. She is seeking punitive damages for the class for common law fraud, unjust enrichment, negligence, product liability, unfair trade, breach of warranty, failure to warn and defective manufacture or design.
"Defendants intentionally concealed known facts concerning the safety of their dog treats in order to increase or maintain sales," Mazur said in the complaint.
US District Judge Jeffrey White agreed in April to transfer two other Northern California cases to Pittsburgh, where Mazur's case is pending.
Del Monte and Milo's moved to dismiss in September 2012, and US Magistrate Judge Maureen Kelly recommended that only the unjust enrichment claim be dismissed. Mazur's claims "appear sufficient to permit the inference that a defect exists in Milo's chicken jerky treats and that the defect is the most likely explanation for the illness suffered by plaintiff's dog by eliminating other reasonable causes," Judge Kelly wrote.
Kelly found the claims under Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law are "more than sufficient to place defendants on notice of the precise misconduct with which they are charged" and added that the allegations "more than adequately set forth losses suffered by plaintiff and the putative class members that are distinct from the disappointed expectations evolving solely from the purchase of defendants' products; they clearly articulate property damage in the form of harm to their pets."
However, the judge dismissed the claim of unjust enrichment, writing: "Here, it is apparent from plaintiff's allegations in the complaint that, while she is dissatisfied with the chicken jerky treats, she nevertheless purchased, received and used the product. It therefore cannot be said that the benefit bestowed on defendants in the form of a profit from the sale was 'wrongly secured.'"
US District Judge Cathy Bissoon adopted Kelly's recommendation on June 25.

Alltech names petfood company as first Chinese partner of World Equestrian Games

Alltech has announced Jinkangbao as the first Chinese company to become an Alltech Official Partner of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy.
The Alltech Official Partner Program is a strategic partnership with horse feed and animal health and nutrition companies around the world. The partnership allows Jinkangbao exclusive marketing rights, and the company will begin a number of marketing and promotional campaigns across their range of petfoods.
"Jinkangbao is proud to be the first Chinese Alltech Official Partner for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy. We are a very dynamic company in the Chinese petfood market and the partnership will not only help us increase our brand awareness in a fast growing Chinese petfood market but will allow us to  enter the equine feed market soon," said, Jiang Chao, CEO.

New report of global petfood market through 2016 available online

Researchmoz is offering a new report, "Global Pet Food Market 2012-2016," which focuses on quantitative market metrics to characterize the growth and evolution of the petfood market.
According to the report, the global petfood market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.35 percent over the period of 2012-16. One of the key factors for growth is the increase in urbanization and subsequent increase in people's purchasing power. 
Additionally, the report includes market analyses for various regions, as well as a discussion of key market players, such as Colgate-Palmolive Co., Del Monte Corp., Mars Inc., Nestle S.A., and Procter and Gamble Co.
The full report can be purchased from Researchmoz online.

Animal nutrition company invests in German production facility

Family owned Leiber, a German manufacturer of specialty products made from brewers' yeast, is investing 7.5 million euros (US$9.8 million) in its production facility in Lower Saxony, Germany, in 2013. 
The plant's recent groundbreaking, which comes three years after construction of a spray-drying tower and finished goods warehouse were completed, will result in an additional spray-drying tower and doubling of storage capacity to 4,000 pallet slots when finished. When construction is completed, the plant will be powered by electricity from renewable resources that the company says will dry more than 2,000 tons of brewers' yeast cell-wall products for the company's animal nutrition business. Adaptation for use with other special brewers' yeast products for animal nutrition is also being planned.
The new spray drying tower is expected to begin production in April 2014, and the semi-automated, computer-controlled warehouse will open at the beginning of 2014. An additional four to five jobs will also be created when the project is completed. 

Petfood brand owner Dr. Tim Hunt brings vet care to rural Alaska, USA

Dr. Tim Hunt of Dr. Tim's petfood brand is heading to Alaska, USA, in June to bring medical care to pets of impoverished residents of rural villages. 
Hunt will offer pet spays, neuters and vaccinations at "an affordable rate" during the 11-day trip.
"We were able to get a USDA grant plus a little help from the Native Rural Cooperative to start a volunteer vet program," Hunt said. "Many of these communities have no vet care. Rarely does anyone service these interior villages. There's a definite need for vet care in these poor communities. People rely on someone coming through to help. One person used to do this, but no one does any more."
Hunt is hoping to spay and neuter 20 to 30 animals daily. He says many of the families who will bring their pets in have not been able to have the cats and dogs seen by a veterinarian before.
"I think this is going to be an eye-opening experience," Hunt said. "It's a big deal to get into these situations and realize how good we have it here."

Brazil pet products association organizes local companies at Agroexpo XIX

The Brazilian Association of Pet Products Industry, Abinpet, through the Pet Brazil Project, developed in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, will coordinate a number of Brazilian companies at Agroexpo XIX, an international tradeshow aimed at entrepreneurs and professionals in the agriculture, livestock and agribusiness sectors. The fair will be held from July 11-21 at the International Exhibition Center CORFERIAS in Bogotá, Colombia.
At the event, the companies Adimax, Alcon, Guabi, Nutrire, Vetnil and VigoFlex under the Pet Brazil project umbrella will present their product lines and seek new international distributors and buyers:

• Adimax will display its complete line of food for dogs and cats. For the first time in the pavilion of the fair, Adimax's goals will be expanding markets and exchanging experiences to strengthen the brand internationally.Also at the fair, Alcon, an exporter of Labcon branded products, will release new food lines for birds, including Canaries and Parakeets, as well as display its fish and other small animal foods.
• Guabi will feature its line of natural, therapeutic foods designed especially for diabetic and obese dogs and cats, as well as other pet nutrition products.
• Nutrire will also present its line of pet products, such as the Birbo line, which was redesigned in late 2012 with new, vivid packaging. 
• Vetnil will release a new line of medicines and supplements for the maintenance of health and development of athletic animals. 
• Vigoflex will release an antimicrobial substance that prevents the formation of bacteria on plastic parts used by animals. 

FDA, Center for Food Safety fail to submit FSMA regulation schedule

The US Food and Drug Administration and the Center for Food Safety were unable to reached an agreement on a proposed schedule for Food Safety Modernization Act deadlines in compliance with a court's order to do so by May 20. FDA was ordered to set the schedule after being sued by the Center for Food Safety for missing several statutory deadlines in implementing FSMA.
FDA and the Center for Food Safety were given a 20-day extension by a US District Court to reach an agreement by June 10. However, the groups did not submit a joint proposal as required, instead submitting separate timelines for implementing the remaining regulations. 
FDA's timeline for parts of FSMA is reportedly longer than the Center for Food Safety and lacks some specific dates. For example, FDA set deadlines for a proposed foreign supplier verification program rule and timeline for issuing a proposal for accrediting third-party auditors by summer and set a deadline for the final rule for summer 2015. The center set deadlines of August 31 and a final deadline of December 31 for these parts of FSMA. 

Evanger's searches for pet photos for 2014 calendar

Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company is looking for new pet photos to feature in its nationwide pets calendar. Each winner selected as a "Cover" pet, "Holiday Feature" pet and/or "Pet of the month" will receive a prize package of Evanger's petfood and treats. 
Entrants can compete for a feature spread in each of the calendar's five themes for 2014: Dog and Cat Sport Exhibitors, Service Dogs, Rescued Pets, Most Creative Pet and Most Active Pet at Play. Winners will receive Evanger's Nothing but Natural grain-free jerky treats and Evanger's super-premium canned and dry petfood, as well as a 2014 calendar. 
Entries should be submitted on or before August 31. More information on the various ways to enter the contest can be found on Evanger's Facebook page and website. On September 3, selected finalists from each category will be uploaded to Evanger's Facebook Page for two weeks for voting. Entries that receive the most votes from each category will be selected as the grand-prize winners.

Petfood bowl, scooper may be contributors to pet obesity epidemic

The size of a pet's food bowl and the tools used to scoop out the petfood are likely contributing to the epidemic of pet obesity, according to a study published in the April 2012 issue of the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition.
The four-treatment trial study, conducted by researchers at the University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine, included 54 dogs that consumed kibbled dog food in the following serving combinations:
• Small bowl and small scoop
• Small bowl and large scoop
• Large bowl and small scoop
• Large bowl and large scoop
The food portions offered to the dogs using the small bowl with the small scoop were significantly less than all other bowl and scoop combinations, the study showed. The small/small combination averaged about 151 grams, compared to 172, 173 and 185 grams for the other combinations. The small bowl/large scoop and the large bowl/small scoop amounts were almost the same (172 grams versus 173 grams), while the large bowl with the large scoop resulted in a 185-gram serving.
Study authors say these results emphasize the need for pet owners to use standard measuring cups when measuring out their pet's food, and for owners of overweight pets to use smaller bowls and serving scoops. Researchers say it is also important that pet owners calculate their pet's ideal daily caloric intake.

Sensient Colors focuses on sustainability

Sensient Colors LLC, a business unit of Sensient Technologies Corporation, is focusing on its commitment to applying sustainable practices to secure quality raw material and create sustainable color solutions.
The company says its global supply chain is managed regionally for optimal monitoring and to ensure a collaborative relationship with the grower of raw ingredients to improve growing standards, produce stable botanical sources and optimize food quality. Specifically, Sensient has focused on energy reduction by installing motion-detected energy efficient lighting systems, working with raw material suppliers to limit usage of non-renewable energy sources such as coal, and implementing zero-discharge programs with suppliers in China and India to eliminate wastewater.
The company also implemented waste-reducing systems, including a corporate-wide recycling program, capital investments in packaging systems with reduced carbon footprint, and new software programs to eliminate paper transactions.
Additionally, products are developed with the goal of reducing product and application waste. Sensient recently introduced new AccuPak dissolvable color bags in the US, which are dissolvable bags that reduce packaging materials and minimize plant clean-up costs. Soon it will launch new Elvajet digital ink technology, which Sensient says reduces water consumption by up to 90 percent, energy consumption by 60 percent and CO2 emissions by up to 75 percent versus conventional printing processes.
"We evaluate and renew our commitment to sustainability constantly at Sensient Colors because we believe that implementing sustainability programs is an important ethical decision for Sensient and it makes good business sense. Our approach involves examining all aspects of our business, how they interact and discovering new solutions that deliver a lasting, positive environmental impact," says Mike Geraghty, president, Color Group, Sensient Technologies Corporation. 

Pet owners, petfood banks supported by new Royal Canin Facebook challenge

Petfood maker Royal Canin and Banfield Charitable Trust are teaming up to support pet owner retention programs, as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says that more than 2 million pets are surrendered annually to shelters by families that encounter hardships. The "40,000 Pounds in 40 Days" Facebook challenge runs through July 26.
For 40 consecutive days, Royal Canin will be sharing inspiring stories through Facebook posts of cats, dogs and their families who were the recipients of petfood assistance programs through Banfield Charitable Trust. For each "like" or "share" engagement on Royal Canin's or Banfield Charitable Trust's Facebook pages, Royal Canin will donate one pound of food, up to 40,000 pounds.
As part of the "40,000 Pounds in 40 Days" Facebook challenge and the ongoing partnership with Banfield Charitable Trust, two new food pantries will receive donations to help open their doors in the coming months:
•North Park Friendship Center in Chicago, Illinois, USA, will make petfood available in their existing human food bank, supplied in part by donations from Royal Canin.
•The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, Kansas, USA, will open a petfood pantry to make support available on a permanent basis.

Opportunities in social media for petfood industry, new research shows

Despite recent increases in the popularity of social networking and digital marketing, almost half (47 percent) of pet owners believe that owning a pet is better for their social life than these social networking websites, according to new research from Mintel. But, the survey of pet owners found there are many opportunities in social media for the pet industry.
Mintel found that 16 percent of pet owners also said they are interested in using these new technologies to enhance relationships with their pets. One in 10 (12 percent) respondents say they use social media to learn about pet-related products and services, while 28 percent said they receive online or promotional discounts on their phones for pet-related products, and 17 percent said they would be interested in receiving promotions via smartphone.
"Whereas the pet shop owner used to be the prime touch point to find out how best to care for their pet, social media has become the new way for pet owners to explore and share experiences around their pet," said Gabi Lieberman, social media analyst at Mintel. "Further, as people take a more renewed interest in their own diets, we're seeing them pass along their own concerns about food ingredients, creating a market for gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan petfoods."
"Millenial" pet owners are most engaged with pet-related technology, with 17 percent saying they have a pet-related app on their smartphone or tablet (9 percent of pet owners overall). Additionally, 27 percent of that generation would like to receive promotions and coupons for pet care products that can be redeemed via their phone, and one in four (26 percent) are interested in technologies and innovations that foster a stronger pet-owner relationship.
"Brands are becoming very creative with their social media campaigns, using gimmicks like dogs on skateboards, celebrity endorsements and online cat awards to attract the attention of pet owners. It's one of the few categories where brands aren't actually marketing to the end user, and they're tapping into something very personal for people, so they have to be creative, and social media really allows them to do that," Lieberman said.

Purina, Jenny Craig team up to help pet owners, pets lose weight

Petfood maker Nestle Purina and weight-loss company Jenny Craig are teaming up for the Power of Two program, which aims to help pets and their owners lose weight together. 
In working together, weight loss experts from Jenny Craig and Purina found that many of the strategies effective in helping people lose weight are also effective in helping pets lose weight. The companies say the most benefit for pets and their owners came from personalized counseling offered by trained veterinary professionals and Jenny Craig consultants. The Power of Two program joins pets and their owners with weight loss experts: consultants in Jenny Centers and Purina certified weight coaches in veterinary clinics. These experts develop customized eating and activity recommendations, supervise regular weigh-ins, and provide ongoing counsel and support.
"Pets are a part of the family, and they share the lifestyle of their owner, including healthy or unhealthy habits," said Jessica Collins, area market director and consultant trainer for Jenny Craig. "With the right tools and support, pets can make the best weight loss partners, as they can help motivate their owners to ditch bad habits and get moving."
"The support of a weight-loss buddy can be invaluable, and a four-legged friend fills the role without judgment," says Purina certified weight coach, Heather Prendergast. She says that exercising with pets can actually help boost both the duration and intensity level.
Pet owners interested in the program can sign up on the Power of Two program website, as well as find more information and special offers. 

Friskies cat food brand calls for entries to video contest

Cat food brand Friskies is calling for video entries to "The Friskies" contest for the chance to win a US$5,000 cash prize and a custom-made, gold-plated statue. 
Cat owners can upload a video up to two minutes long to www.TheFriskies.com that captures their cat's funniest or most adventurous moment through July 15. Entries are accepted in four categories: 

• Cat Comedy: Your cat(s) in an humorous situation
• Catventure: An indoor cat adventure
• Rescue Cat: Your cat(s) adopted from a rescue group or shelter enjoying life
• Pursuit of Food/Treat: Your cat(s) pursuing or engaging with their cat food or treat(s)
All entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges using the following criteria to select 20 semi-finalists (five from each category): originality & overall artistic impression, audience appeal & entertainment quality, sense that there's a story being told and portraying cat's perspective.  
The 20 semi-finalists will be announced on August 6 and will be awarded a one-year supply of Friskies cat food and Friskies Party Mix brand cat treats. Then, the public will have a chance to vote on the semi-finalists' videos through September 16 to select the top three videos from each category. These finalists will win a trip to New York, New York, USA, to attend "The Friskies" award show on October 15, where one grand-prize winner from each of the four categories will be selected. The four grand-prize winners along with a fan-favorite winner will receive a Friskies Catuette statue and a US$5,000 cash prize.

Central Garden & Pet executive receives Pet Industry Lifetime Achievement Award

Central Garden & Pet Company, a pet supplies producer, announced that Jim Heim, president of business development, has received the Pet Industry Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council.
Heim, who served on the PIJAC board of directors for seven years and as the chairman for the past four years, focused his efforts on communicating to the pet industry and political leaders about the benefits of a healthy companion animal industry, educating others in support of animal welfare, and promoting the numerous benefits of the human-pet bond.
Heim also was instrumental bringing the industry together in the innovative Top2Top Conference, a gathering of leaders working to examine the state of the industry, future trends, economic forecasts, changing demographics, and legislative issues in support of the human and pet relationship. 
Central's CEO John Ranelli said: "Jim is a pillar and key leader in the pet industry. We are very proud to have him on the Central team. As president of business development, he works to enrich the environment of pets and people. I can think of no one more deserving than Jim to receive this lifetime achievement award."
Heim currently serves as the chairman of the American Pet Product Association and is a director of the Pet Food Institute.

Pet blog awards contest now accepting nominations

The fourth annual "Petties Awards" is now accepting nominations from the pet blogging community and their readers to recognize the best pet-related blogs of 2013.
Hosted by DogTime Media, the "Petties" is expected to exceed 2012's record of more than 20,000 nominations, and will accept nominations in 10 categories: Best Dog Blog, Best Cat Blog, Best Cause-Related Blog, Best Designed Blog, Best Individual Blog Post, Best Active-Living Blog, Funniest Blog or Blogger, Best Video Post, Best Pet Mobile Application and Best Overall Pet Blog.
The awards also give back to the animal community, allowing participants to choose a nonprofit animal shelter or rescue during the nomination process to receive a US$10,000 grant. The shelter with the most nominations will win the grant.
Nominations for the 2013 DogTime Pet Blog awards close June 28. The four bloggers with the most nominations in each category will be chosen as finalists. Voting for the finalists opens July 5 and closes July 31. Winners will be announced in an online ceremony in September. Each winning blogger will be awarded a US$1,000 donation to the animal shelter of their choice, along with a custom "Petties" award trophy, a "Petties Winner" badge for their blog site, a package of editorial coverage across the DogTime Media Network, and other social media traffic-driving opportunities.

Freshpet launches new American-made petfood ad campaign

Refrigerated petfood company Freshpet is launching a new campaign with commercials promoting its USA-sourced ingredients and American-made food.
The campaign includes posters featuring figures from American history, like Lincoln, with their pets. It also includes patriotic commercials with an American flag background, patriotic song and dogs with signs promoting the company's use of ingredients from the US, for example, "I want veggies from Virginia."
The estimated US$10 million campaign, which also includes online and print advertising, is by the Terri & Sandy Solution.
"TV is the main way to show that Freshpet is here to stay, and not some weird thing the neighbor down the street who's a dog kook is buying," said Scott Morris, president and founder of Freshpet.