Iams airing new commercial featuring therapy dog contest winner

Iams petfood brand is airing a new commercial in the US that features a story selected as the winner of the "Love Tails" contest. The commercial has been edited down from a long-form video on Facebook to a 30-second ad featuring the story of dog, Brooks, and owner Derek Underwood of Augusta, Georgia, USA. 
Brooks is a trained therapy dog who visits assisted-living homes. The commercial featuring Brooks' story will air on major US networks including CBS and NBC. 
Along with the new commercial, Iams is launching a Twitter campaign in which one bowl of petfood will be donated to pets in need for each use of #KeepLoveStrong hashtag, up to 10,000 bowls, through September 30. 
The "Love Tails" campaign ran from February 13-March 3 and received more than 500 entries from dog and cat owners. The campaign celebrated the love between people and their pets.

Vets Plus Inc. to sponsor SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights Summit

Animal health company Vets Plus Inc. will be a founding sponsor for the upcoming SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights Summit, which will be held November 13 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. The summit is a one-day workshop before the annual SupplySide West Expo & Conference with speakers from across the pet industry sharing their expertise on healthy, science-based ingredients used in petfood and other pet products.
Topics for the SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights Summit will include industry regulations, quality control, and market trends. Speakers will include:
David Sprinkle, research director, Packaged Facts
Dr. George Collings, president, Nutrition Solutions
Dr. George Burdock, president, Burdock Group
Karen Howard, president, National Animal Supplement Council
According to Vets Plus president and CEO, Raj Lall: "In 23 years of business, Vets Plus has always been committed to the science behind every one of our products, often drawing on my university research and experience in the human health industry to create nutritional solutions for pets. We are proud to support this summit in its inaugural year to promote the use of well-researched ingredients across the pet nutrition market." 

Joint petfood, feed meeting addresses upcoming FSMA preventive control rule

Petfood and feed industry experts speaking at the 2013 Feed and Pet Food Joint Conference September 24-26 discussed elements and challenges of the preventive control rule for feed soon to be released under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Participants in the conference, presented in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, by the Pet Food Institute and National Grain & Feed Association, also heard from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the rule.
While the rule is one of seven dictated by FSMA, it is one of the last to be released by FDA. A recent court order has mandated that the agency release it for industry comment by November 30. Dan McChesney, PhD, director of the Office of Surveillance and Compliance for FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said he expected the rule to be out before that deadline and that it will be similar to one already released for preventive controls in human food.
A panel of petfood and feed industry experts also addressed the upcoming rule and expressed concerns that it might be too prescriptive and restrictive, especially in its establishment of good manufacturing practices (GMPs) for feed and petfood. Human food has already been operating under GMPs for some time now, while that mandate will be entirely new for animal food products (except in the case of medicated feed).
McChesney said the feed preventive control GMPs will cover personnel, plants and grounds, sanitary operations, sanitary facilities and controls, processes and controls, equipment and utensils, warehousing and distribution. He also encouraged industry comment on the proposed GMPs once the rule is released. "We probably made them too stringent and need to back off some; we're looking for feedback from you for justification to back off,” he said during the conference, adding that FDA understands there is a wide spectrum of types of manufacturing facilities in the petfood and feed industries and, therefore, hazards and risks can vary greatly.
Industry professionals and organizations will have at least six months to comment on the proposed rule after its release date.

Texas A&M to host short course on feeds, petfood extrusion in January 2014

A one-week Practical Short Course on Feeds & Pet Food Extrusion will be presented January 19-24, 2014, at Texas A&M University by staff, industry representatives and consultants.
The program will cover information on designing new feed mills and selecting conveying, drying, grinding, conditioning and feed mixing equipment. Current practices for production of petfoods and preparing full-fat soy meal; recycling fisheries' by-products, raw animal products and secondary resources; extrusion of floating, sinking and high-fat feeds; spraying and coating fats, digests and preservatives; use of encapsulated ingredients and preparation of premixes; and least-cost formulation are reviewed. Practical demonstration of petfood, vacuum coating and more are demonstrated on four major types of extruders (dry, interrupted flights, single and twin screw), using various shaping dies.
For more information or to register, please contact Dr. Mian N. Riaz of the Food Protein R&D Center at Texas A&M at +1.979.845.2774 or email mnriaz@tamu.edu.

Pet Fair Asia draws more than 15,000 pet industry trade visitors

Pet Fair Asia attracted 15,173 trade visitors to the Chinese pet trade show, held in Shanghai at the end of August. 
Attendance to the pet industry show increased by 9.2 percent over the previous year, and with the exception of East China, the number of Chinese visitors increased by nearly 12.3 percent. 
The show's organizer says consumers visiting the show rose from 36,000 in 2012 to 40,000 in 2013. Nearly 602 international and domestic companies exhibited at the fair, covering an exhibition area of 37,000 square meters. Pet Fair Asia was held alongside Petfood Forum China, which took place August 23. 

AFIA announces change to third-party petfood safety certification programs

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) announced a change to several of AFIA's third-party certification programs. Starting in October, the administration of the Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program, Pet Food Manufacturing Facility Certification Program and Pet Food Ingredient Facility Certification Program will be handled by the Safe Quality Food Institute (SQFI).
AFIA and SQFI signed a joint program implementation and marketing agreement to bring these three AFIA third-party certification programs into the SQFI family of programs. The agreement will bring a number of benefits to program participants, including open access for the choice of multiple, approved certification bodies for an audit; exceeding independent credibility criteria required by consumers and regulators globally; use of SQFI's certification program to help reduce multi-program inconsistencies and associated costs of multiple audits; and making AFIA programs the "feed segment" of the total food chain.

Castor & Pollux petfood co., PetSmart donate $25,000 to support pediatric cancer research

Castor & Pollux petfood company recently presented CureSearch with a check for US$25,000 as part of the CureSearch for Children's Cancer partnership with PetSmart that began in 2012. As part of this partnership, proceeds from sales of Castor & Pollux Organix Large Breed Adult dry dog food were donated to CureSearch to support research in pediatric cancer.
The dog food bag's mascot, a Great Dane named Bentley, visited the 2013 CureSearch Walk for Children's Cancer in Chicago, Illinois, USA, where the check was presented. Children and families at the event had the chance to pet Bentley and ask questions about his role as a therapy dog, as well.

BarkBox subscription dog treat delivery service aims for 100,000 customers by end of 2013

BarkBox, an e-commerce and content site for dog owners, was started in December 2011 as a subscription-based pet product delivery service in the US and Canada. The company rebranded in April with the help of US$5 million in funding, now calling itself Bark & Co.
Founded by Matt Meeker, Carly Strife and Henrik Werdelin, Bark & Co. is now offering a mix of products: BarkBox, the subscription service; BarkPost, an online content site; and BarkCare, 24/7 vet care.
To date, the company has raised US$6.7 million and grown to a customer base of more than 35,000. The company aims to have 100,000 users by the end of 2013, driven by word-of-mouth, Facebook marketing and a strong product. Meeker says half of the company's new customers are referred by existing customers.
"The key driver in growth and overall awareness is that we're very careful about building a brand," says Meeker. "We thrive on creativity, brand and living the product."

FDA issues guidance to industry on preparation, submission of food additive petitions

The US Food and Drug Administration issued its guidance to industry for preparation and submission of food additive petitions. The FDA Guidance for Industry document 221 is titled, Recommendations for Preparation and Submission of Animal Food Additive Petitions. 
The document urges early and regular contact with FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, including pre-petition consultations and consultations to address issues related to target animal safety studies. It also recommends any Food Additive Petitions include a proposed regulation with information to ensure the additive's safety under all conditions of use.  

Vets remind owners of safe handling after recent petfood recalls for Salmonella

Veterinarians from BluePearl Veterinary Partners want to ensure pet owners feed safe food to their pets in the wake of a number of petfood recalls. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s website, there have been six petfood recalls due toSalmonella   since March, affecting several brands.
"We want to make sure that people are aware of these recalls and taking the information seriously," said Dr. Neil Shaw, chief medical officer of BluePearl Veterinary Partners. "One of the ways we intend to help is by educating the public and encouraging people to talk with their family veterinarians about the most recent recalls."  
BluePearl Veterinary Partners is reminding pet owners that Salmonella in contaminated products does not just affect animal health but also poses a risk to humans who handle contaminated pet products. This is especially true if consumers have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Common symptoms of Salmonella in pets include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, fever and abdominal discomfort.
"More importantly, any time you notice a medical problem or a significant change in your pet's behavior, you should take him or her to your family veterinarian or nearest emergency veterinary hospital as soon as possible," said Shaw. 

Increasing popularity of raw petfood, impact on sustainability discussed in recent article

A recent article in The Vancouver Sun looks at the history of petfood and increasing popularity of raw petfood diets, as a recent report by Mintel points out that nine of 10 pet owners say they view their pet as "family members," and so, look to feed their pets the best diet possible.
"Anthropomorphism of pets has an increased effect on the dietary aspects of commercial petfoods including ingredient selection and nutritional composition," said animal science researcher, Kelly Swanson of the University of Illinois.
Swanson said that raw food has become increasingly popular because some pet owners do not want animal byproducts in their pet's food, demanding real meat instead. This also impacts sustainability because "petfoods compete now directly with human consumption."
Another change over the years is that companies are selling petfood products with a higher protein content, the article notes. Swanson said some diets contain 40-60 percent protein up to as much as nearly 90 percent.
"The raw food diet is fairly controversial. I have friends who feed their pets raw food and their pets are fine. But it's a tricky thing to do, and people forget about the issue of sustainability. They'll recycle their cans on one hand, but food shortages in some countries are not on their radar when they are dealing with their pets' food," said Swanson.
"Dogs are living longer, healthier lives because of how much healthier the dry kibble diets are now from reputable food manufacturers," said Dr. Rebecca Ledger, an animal behaviorist in Vancouver, Canada.

Honest Kitchen founder taste tests petfood ingredients, final product

Caters News Agency
Lucy Postins, founder of the The Honest Kitchen, taste tests the ingredients in her company's dog food.

Lucy Postins, founder of The Honest Kitchen petfood company, was recently featured in an article for not only sampling each ingredient that goes into the food, but also sampling the final product. 
Postins says she tests each of the petfood recipes for food for flavor, aroma and color. All her recipes are made in a a human food facility, rather than a petfood plant, and the ingredients are sourced from the human food chain, allowing the company to achieve a "human grade" rating from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The dog food she produces includes ingredients like free-range chicken, ranch-raised beef, sweet potatoes, eggs, bananas and dandelion greens. The ingredients are blended together, then the recipe is mixed with water by the consumer. 
According to Postins: "There are a lot of people who think their pets are inferior and don't deserve quality food. But so many people are becoming educated on conventional petfood ingredients and production that they want to make a move away from that.
"By actually tasting the food ourselves I think it's a sound way of walking our own talk and helping to assure people we actually mean what we say about product integrity and quality. Some of my friends think it's an odd thing to do, but most of them have pets they love as much as - or in some cases maybe even more than - their own children so can see where I'm coming from.
"A recent 2013 survey showed 74 percent of customers saw an improvement in the well-being and energy levels of their pets from eating the products. And 70 percent saw an improvement in their pet's skin and coat while 60 percent noticed an improvement in their pets' weight. The proof really is in the pudding and our foods are good enough to eat."

Biomin to open second premix facility in Vietnam

Animal health and nutrition company Biomin recently completed a new premix facility in Binh Duong, Vietnam. This second facility in Vietnam for Biomin is set to open on October 2.
In line with Biomin's "NutriEconomics - achieving sustainable yet profitable farming in animal nutrition" concept, the new facility incorporates sustainable features like solar panels and walls built of autoclaved, aerated concrete blocks to conserve energy.
The facility is fitted with a micro-dosing system and a laboratory with new technologies, including a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry system.
"This will enable Biomin to provide the highest possible level of nutritional and mycotoxin analytical services for its customers. On top of that, the LC-MS/MS will also support the Biomin Mycotoxin Survey Program, strengthening the position of Biomin as the market leader in this field," says Jan Vanbrabant, CEO Asia Pacific, Biomin.
According to Phuong Nguyen Quang, COO, BIOMIN Vietnam, the new facility will allow the company to export to other countries in the region, including Cambodia and Myanmar. The facility's fully automated production system has the capacity to produce 6.5 metric tons per hour. 

PetSpy.com compares ingredients in dog food to educate pet owners on nutrition

Homemade dog food website, http://petspy.com, examined commercial dog food companies and compared the ingredients to help educate pet owners about pet nutrition online.
The site says comparisons made through research have confirmed the varying levels of natural and refined ingredients that are placed into some petfoods sold in the U.S. "The words 'natural' and 'healthy' are not always accurate on petfood packages," said a source for the website. 
The website offers dog food reviews for natural sources and some store-bought specialty brands. The comparisons made on PetSpy.com have been placed into accessible content online that includes streaming videos, e-books and blogs. 

Coverage of Total Pet Expo to be hosted live online September 20-22

Hosted by Chicago Pet Video and PetPR.com, coverage of 2013 Total Pet Expo will be available live on laptops and mobile devices via TPE TV. Total Pet Expo will take place September 20-22 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center near Chicago, Illinois, USA.  
Pet industry professionals Kristen Levine, Shawna Schuh and Jamie Damato Migdal will be on the show floor interviewing exhibitors, attendees and industry leaders. Live, interactive coverage runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, September 20 and Saturday, September 21, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, September 22.  
Those unable to attend the show will not only have the opportunity to experience product launches, show specials and breaking news in real time, but virtual visitors can also interact with TPE TV on Twitter using the hashtag #totalpetexpo.
"TPE TV is just one of the many innovative, new treats being served up for exhibitors and attendees of the new and improved show this year," said Kristen Levine, co-host of TPE TV and president of Fetching Communications and PetPR.com. "We've got a dream team of TV production professionals ready to broadcast real time interviews and feedback with manufacturers and key industry professionals. An added bonus is that we can feature breaking news and show promotions to buyers and distributors anywhere across the globe with our combination of live and recorded content."

Interpets 2013 draws 239 exhibitors of new petfood, treats, pet supplies

Interpets-International Fair for a Better Life with Pets-concluded its four-day event at the end of August. The fair, held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, drew 239 exhibitors from 13 countries and regions along with 47,579 visitors and their pets.
DoggyMan H. A. Co. Ltd,, a petfood and supply company which has been exhibiting since the show's first edition, expressed its satisfaction with the fair. Hiroyuki Sakamoto, of DoggyMan, said: "We had very good feedback regarding our newly introduced products from visitors. One of the fascinating points of the fair is that there are exhibitors and visitors from around the world and it is a very good opportunity for us to exchange information with them."
Interpets 2014 will take place July 24-27, 2014, at Tokyo Big Sight in Japan.

Registration open for Global Pets Forum 2014

Global Pets Forum has opened registration for the 2014 pet industry conference, which will focus on the theme of "Save your future!"
The 2014 conference will address shifts between global regions of the world, as the rapid growth of emerging markets has led to an increase in the demand for resources, with prices expected to rise. The conference will look at which areas to focus on, as well as new techniques, new marketing approaches and changes in the supply chain. Attendees will also have the chance to network with nearly 200 managers from 30 different countries.
Global Pets Forum will be held January 23-24, 2014, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Spring Naturals launching grain-free dinners for cats

Spring Naturals is launching a new line of grain-free dinners for cats. The new cat food will be available in five varieties, as well as 14 selections in 5.5-ounce and 3-ounce cans. 
Each dinner variety is made in the US with real poultry, fish or meat as the first ingredient, blended with eggs and whole chickpeas for protein, as well as berries. The foods are 100 percent grain free, and are also free of artificial preservatives, colors and flavors.
The brand's new cat food packaging features the bright appearance of the dog food packaging to help consumers recognize the products.

Merrick launches new ad campaign for Purrfect Bistro super-premium cat food brand

Merrick Pet Care has launched a new ad campaign for its Purrfect Bistro brand of super-premium cat food. Purrfect Bistro is a line of 21 products, available in cans and bags, which replaces Merrick's Before Grain brand.
The new ad campaign includes online and print ads, as well as marketing through social media such as blogs, Facebook, Klout and Twitter.  
The ads feature a cat food critic that is an Exotic Shorthair named W. (Mittens) Bloomfield. The campaign is centered on a website designed like a food blog, where the critical cat reviews his favorite meals.
The marketing campaign is aimed to appeal to the "passionate pet parent," says Pete Brace, vice president for communications and pet parent relations at Merrick. 
The campaign is being created by Carmichael Lynch Spong in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, part of the Carmichael Lynch division of the Interpublic Group of Companies. According to a report, the campaign has a budget estimated at nearly US$100,000, which is substantially more than the US$6,000 it spent on advertising in major media in 2012, US$2,000 spent in 2011 and US$7,000 spent in 2010, the report notes. 
The campaign's humor reflects how "Purrfect Bistro is intended to be a lot more fun and whimsical, and perhaps female in spirit, than the Merrick dog line," says Emily Buchanan, senior principal and chairwoman of brand marketing and social engagement at Carmichael Lynch Spong.

DSM to host open house at premix plant on September 19

DSM Nutritional Products will host an open house at its premix plant in Ames, Iowa, USA, on Thursday, September 19, beginning at 10 a.m.
The open house program features speakers on current animal nutrition topics and tours of the facility's new packaging unit, control room/charging area, and warehouse. The day will begin with a series of presentations from DSM staff focusing on industry innovation, vitamin product forms, premix technology and the Food Safety Modernization Act. After lunch, plant tours will be offered, giving attendees the chance to view new packaging equipment. 
The open house will be held at the premix plant located at 616 Dayton Ave. in Ames. To register, please contact your DSM account manager or email Dawn.Bracy@dsm.com.

ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge saves more than 36,000 shelter pets in first two months

ASPCA
Jax was one of the dogs adopted from the Lawrence, Kansas, USA, Humane Society as part of the ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) announced that 36,790 pets were adopted or reunited with their owners during the first two months of the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge. The three-month competition involves 49 animal shelters across the US that are working to increase adoptions and win some of the more than US$600,000 in ASPCA prize grants being awarded. 
During the first two months of the contest, many shelters continued to try new methods of driving traffic to their adoption centers, such as by holding big adoption events, unique promotions and discounts on adoption fees.
"Not only are both the shelters and animals winning, but so are the new families," said Bert Troughton, vice president of community outreach for ASPCA. "We've heard from hundreds of new adopters who have submitted entries to this year's photo contest, proudly showing off photos of their newly adopted family pets...Watching these pets leave the shelter and start their new lives with their new families is what this contest is all about."
The 49 contestants are working to save more animals during the months of June, July and August than they did over the same period in 2012. The 2012 competition's shelters saved more than 56,000 cats and dogs during the contest, an increase of 14,376 over the same period in 2011.

Tips for improving therapeutic petfood diet recommendations

An article in the September issue of Veterinary Economics offers tips to pet health and nutrition professionals to improve their therapeutic petfood diet recommendations. 
First, veterinarians should create a focus by selecting no more than two brands to recommend to clients, according to Brian Conrad, CVPM, practice manager for Meadow Hills Veterinary Center in Kennewick, Washington, USA. Then, all staff members should be trained on these products so that they are educated on the superiority and details of the diets. 
"Use the reps from these companies and have them meet with your staff in small groups," Conrad says. "The staff will feel more important and stay attentive in small groups. Then role-play what they will say to clients."
Conrad says it's important to practice practical conversations during training, so that clients are provided the information they want most - how and why the recommended food will help their pet live a long, healthy life.
He also notes that it is important that the products are carried at the clinic, rather than sending the client elsewhere to find the recommended product, as well as that samples are offered so that clients can see and touch the products. 
Finally, Conrad recommends that clinics provide clients with a 100 percent guarantee on the products, allowing them to bring the food back with no questions for a full refund. 

FIAAP, VICTAM to organize pavilion at Animal Farming Ukraine 2013

Victam will organize a FIAAP/VICTAM Pavilion within the Animal Farming Ukraine 2013 exhibition. Victam says it chose to support Animal Farming Ukraine again as the show presents the entire range of products in the field of animal farming and directly related businesses.
The key product areas for the FIAAP & VICTAM Ukraine Pavilion are technology; equipment, ingredients and additives for animal feed production; grain and raw material processing; and feed and grain storage. Animal Farming Ukraine will take place October 29-31 at the International Exhibition Center in Kiev, Ukraine. 

Women in the Pet Industry Network honors women entrepreneurs at recent conference

Women in the Pet Industry Network, an organization focused on women entrepreneurs who want to grow their pet businesses, announced the recipients of its first Woman of the Year Awards. The winners were named during a special ceremony at the group's The Start of Something Big! Conference & Awards Show in Portland, Oregon, USA, on August 24.
More than 60 nominations were submitted for the Woman of the Year Awards, which were designed to recognize the pet industry's leading businesswomen in five categories: Solopreneur, Entrepreneur, Corporation, Advocate and Rising Star. A panel of four independent judges selected one winner from each category and designated one category winner as the official Woman of the Year. 
"These five incredible females exemplify excellence and dedication to the pet industry through their passion, leadership and outstanding achievements," said Shawna Schuh, president. "All Woman of the Year winners are shining examples of women who are committed to improving the lives of all pets - dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses and exotics - and their parents."
The Woman of the Year Award winners include:
• Corporate: Patti Moran, Pet Sitters International
• Entrepreneur: Rose Hamilton, Pet 360
• Advocate: Darleen Wheelington, Waggin' Tales
• Rising Star: Jane Harrell, Petfinder.com/Nestle Purina Pet Care
• Solopreneur: Christina Massie, Club K-9 Doggy Daycare
Of the five category winners, Darleen Wheelington of Waggin' Tales was selected as the official "Woman of the Year." She received an award package worth thousands of dollars in training, treats and exposure.

RECALL: Joey's Jerky chicken jerky treats being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination

Joey's Jerky treats are being recalled for possible Salmonella contamination.

The New Hampshire, USA, Department of Health and Human Services announced a voluntary recall of Joey's Jerky chicken jerky treats due to possible Salmonella  contamination. Joey's Jerky is produced in New Hampshire by Kritter's Kitchen Kreations LLC.
The pet treat recall was initiated as a result of 21 people in New Hampshire's Merrimack and Hillsborough counties having been identified with the same strain of the illness, but no deaths have been reported. Confirmation through laboratory testing of the jerky is pending at the New Hampshire Public Health Labs.
Joey's Jerky was sold at the following six stores in New Hampshire:
America's Pet in Hudson
Blue Seal in Bow
K9 Kaos in Dover
Osborne's Agway in Concord
Sandy's Pet Food Center in Concord
The Yellow Dogs Barn in Barrington
Consumers who have purchased these treats should discard them. For more information on Salmonella, contact the Department of Health and Human Services' Bureau of Infections Disease Control at +1.603.271.4496. 

Freshpet teaming up with veterinarian for National Pet Obesity Month in October

Freshpet is teaming up with TV and radio personality and veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson to educate pet owners during National Pet Obesity Month in October.
Dr. Nelson will join Freshpet to educate owners about the importance of feeding fresh food to their pet and regularly exercising their pet.
"Freshpet has become my go-to food for my two dogs because of the high-quality meats and veggies used to make their nutritious meals. When you read the label, the ingredients are familiar and sound like the ones you'd find on your own grocery list - chicken, peas, carrots and brown rice. I'm excited to join Freshpet in spreading the word that eating fresh, less processed food can really make a difference in the quality of your pet's life," says Dr. Nelson.
To demonstrate how important fresh food is to both people and pets, Freshpet is challenging Dr. Nelson and her family to live without their refrigerator for seven days, beginning September 9. Freshpet will also be kicking off a consumer contest in mid-September, in which one winner will receive a Freshpet fridge and a year's supply of Freshpet food. 

SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights offers free report on animal nutrition market

SupplySide Animal Nutrition Insights offers a free report, Animal Nutrition Market Poised for Growth, which details how ingredient suppliers and petfood and feed manufacturers have been trying to stay ahead of the changing market.
Among highlights, the report notes companies like Prinova, which acquired Crest Feed Flavors in 2009 and committed to manufacturing palatability-enhancement compounds for the livestock, equine and pet markets. Other companies noted include Kemin, DuPont and Novus International.
According to Melinda Culver, Ph.D., DVM, scientific affairs manager of biosciences, Abitec Corp., pet owners are applying lessons learned from their own health to their pets, mirroring the human supplement/nutrition market.
Paul Dijkstra, CEO of InterHealth Nutraceuticals, sees growth in joint health; while Ingmar Middelbos, companion animal research manager at Stratum Nutrition, suggested urinary tract health and skin and coat conditions are prevalent conditions to address. Additionally, Guy Miller, Ph.D., president of BioMatrix International, says he does a lot of business with prebiotics, but said the future will be probiotics, omega-3s and products containing a mixture of ingredients with a synergistic effect.
Despite the market growth, experts acknowledge limitations, including regulatory guidelines and raw material availability. 

Vote online for winner in Purina One, Good 'Picturing Pets' Challenge through September 17

Good, a social network website for social good, and Purina One petfood brand have selected 15 former shelter pets as finalists in the "Picturing Pets" Challenge. The photos of the 15 rescued dogs are up for vote online until September 17 at 12 p.m. PT. 
The contest asked pet owners to submit an inspiring story and photo that celebrates how pets make the world a better place. The competition aims to change the perception of shelter pets and show how every pet changes lives. 
The winner will have the chance to donate to two animal shelters and win a year's supply of Purina One petfood. 

Next FSMA Friday from SafetyChain Software to be held September 27

SafetyChain Software's continues to host its FSMA Fridays series with Dr. David Acheson and his team, which most recently focused on the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals and Proposed Rule on Accreditation of Third Party Auditors on August 23. 
Due to the high level of interest and information surrounding these two important topics, the discussion will continue during FSMA Fridays' next session on September 27.
"Our goal with FSMA Fridays is to provide ongoing insight on FSMA and how to prepare for compliance. Our monthly 30-minute format continues to be well-received by the industry because we focus each session on the latest FDA-announced Food Safety Modernization Act rules, discuss news surrounding this important topic, and give our participants opportunity to ask questions," said Barbara Levin, senior vice president and co-founder of SafetyChain Software. 

Petco to carry CANIDAE Life Stages, Grain Free PURE petfood formulas in US

CANIDAE Natural Pet Food Company announced today that as of October 1, its Life Stages and Grain Free PURE petfood formulas will be available at all US Petco and Unleashed by Petco stores online, making Petco the first and only national retailer to carry the line.
"We're proud to partner with a company that shares our core values and beliefs in caring for pets' overall well-being," said Frank Hon, vice president of global sales for CANIDAE. "Making our products available at Petco will provide widespread and convenient access to our customers and give us the ability to direct more funding to continued nutritional advances, new product launches and more consumer discounts. We're excited about this new partnership and we remain strongly committed to the pet specialty retail market."
"We're thrilled to add CANIDAE to Petco's industry-leading assortment of natural petfood brands," said John Sturm, Petco's vice president of merchandising for food and treats. "Like Petco, we know CANIDAE is committed to providing pet parents with high-quality, natural products to keep pets healthy and happy." 

Market Report: Pet Care Packaging Market in Hong Kong to 2017 now available

MarketResearchReports.biz offers a new market report, Pet Care Packaging Market in Hong Kong to 2017. This data-only report provides detailed time-series consumption data on primary and outer packaging in the pet care market.
Quantitative data on retail pet care packaging covers key market segments like pack material and type, closure material and type, and outer information for the latest financial year and extreme ends of the historical and forecast periods. Charts and tables provide a breakdown of packaging consumption to establish market trends and growth areas. 

RECALL: Purina ONE Beyond White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult dry dog food

Purina ONE Beyond White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult dry dog food is being recalled for Salmonella contamination.

Nestlé Purina PetCare is recalling one production run of Purina ONE Beyond White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult dry dog food because a bag of the petfood was found to contain Salmonella.
The recall applies to 3.5-lb. bags of Purina ONE Beyond White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult dry dog food, marked with best-by date of October 2014, production code: 31071083 and UPC code: 17800 12679. The products were distributed to retail customers in the US.
For more information or to obtain a product refund, please contact the company at +1.800.473.8546, 24 hours a day, seven days a week

Euromonitor to host webinar on global pet care on October 2

On October 2, Euromonitor International will host a market research webinar on "Global Pet Care in an Age of Economic Uncertainty" at 9 a.m. CST. 
According to Euromonitor, economic recovery is still uncertain in 2013, with global GDP expected to grow by 3.5 percent but countries such as the US and Japan still struggling with high unemployment and recession. Although pet care remained resilient, challenges still loom. Pet humanization is driving pet owners to treat their pets, but the post-recession consumer is more price sensitive. 
The webinar will look at the development of the pet care industry, identifying emerging geographies, categories, leading trends and successful new products. It will also analyze different channels to help new strategy development in retailing, packaging, petfood, and health and wellness. It will feature Paula Flores, global head of pet care research, and Dr. Deborah Cross, food industry research analyst.
The presentation will provide: 

• Market prospects for pet spcialist retailers and Internet sales
• The gravitation from metal food cans to flexible pouches
• Opportunities for organic, fortifed/functional food
Register online to attend. 

Kemin opens new US$16.7 million Molecular Advancement Center

Kemin Industries recently dedicated its new, state-of-the-art, research-and-development facility at its corporate headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. The US$16.7 million, 46,300-square-foot Molecular Advancement Center includes two general labs, six shared labs, three pilot labs, a sensory lab, a test kitchen and a personal care application research lab. 
The Molecular Advancement Center features an open-concept layout and 1,215 feet of linear research bench space as requested by the company's scientists and researchers. The center is already occupied by approximately 60 scientists, researching and developing products for the feed and food industries, as well as the health, nutrition and beauty markets. The company's existing Innovation Center continues to operate at full capacity with scientists focused on discovery research and petfood.


The 46,300-square-foot Molecular Advancement Center is located in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, at the company's headquarters.

Plans for the center were first announced in October 2010. At that time, Kemin committed to adding 98 new positions and has already exceeded that number, to date hiring 137 new, full-time employees. 

PetSmart reports 5.3 percent increase in sales in second-quarter 2013

Petfood and supplies retailer PetSmart increased its sales by 5.3 percent in the second quarter of 2013 to US$1.7 billion.
Comparable store sales, or sales in stores open at least a year, grew by 3.4 percent. Services sales, which are included in total sales, grew by 7.3 percent to US$205 million. Carrie Teffner, senior vice president and chief financial officer, anticipates comparable store sales growth of 3-4 percent for fiscal 2013.

Petfood Forum China brings knowledge, networking to Chinese petfood industry

More than 100 petfood professionals from China and other countries networked and learned from industry experts during Petfood Forum China 2013, held August 23 in Shanghai. It was the second edition of this exclusive conference for the Chinese petfood industry, held in conjunction with Pet Fair Asia.
Speakers such as Clarissa Nicklaus, senior research analyst with Euromonitor International, addressed the rapidly growing Chinese pet market, which comprises 290 million pets and is projected to reach over US$1 billion in sales in 2013, Nicklaus said. She reported that many of the pets owned in China fall into the "other" category (species other than cats and dogs); only 7% of Chinese households own dogs and only 2% own cats. In addition, less than 10% of those cats and dogs eat prepared petfood, so the potential for Chinese petfood sales to continue to grow is significant. Dog food sales have grown more than 10% a year since 2008, Nicklaus said, while cat food sales have increased more than 8% annually.
Other Petfood Forum China speakers presented research on pet nutrition, palatability and ingredients, along with ways to determine how pet owners make purchasing decisions, save energy and money on petfood drying and establish a microbiological control system in a petfood plant.
During the conference, attendees, who came from petfood manufacturers in Thailand, Korea and other countries in addition to China, were able to network with one another as well as sponsors including Extru-Tech Inc., K-Tron, Mac Process, Thiele Technologies and Wenger.
The third annual Petfood Forum China is scheduled for August 22, 2014, again at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai during Pet Fair Asia.

Pet journalist Steve Dale announced as opening keynote for Petfood Forum 2014

Popular pet journalist Steve Dale will open Petfood Forum 2014 with his keynote address.

Steve Dale, a leading pet journalist, has been announced as the opening keynote speaker for Petfood Forum 2014. He will kick off the 22nd edition of this exclusive conference for the global petfood industry on April 1, 2014, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA.
Dale, who is also a certified animal behavior consultant, reaches more pet owners than any other pet journalist in America, with a twice-weekly syndicated newspaper column through Tribune Media Services and as the host of two nationally syndicated radio shows,Steve Dale's Pet World andThe Pet Minute (together heard on more than 100 radio stations, via syndicated Black Dog Radio Productions).
Dale is also a contributing editor with USA Weekend and the blog Petphoria and a special contributor and program host for Steve Dale's Pet World on WGN Radio in Chicago. In addition, Dale is a columnist and special correspondent for Cat Fancy magazine and a blogger for the Chicago Tribune and other websites, including for behaviorist Victoria Stilwell.
Dale has authored two e-books, Good Dog! and Good Cat! (Chicago Tribune, 2011), as well as DogGone Chicago and American Zoos. He also edited Decoding Your Dog, written by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (due out in 2014). On TV, he has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, National Geographic Explorer, Pets Part of the Family, PBS, various Animal Planet shows and many others. Currently, he's a contributor to syndicated HouseSmarts TV.
Dale is a founder and former board member of the CATalyst Council, a board member of the Winn Feline Foundation and the Tree House Humane Society in Chicago and a national ambassador of the American Humane Association. He also serves on the advisory board for national animal-assisted therapy organization Angel on A Leash and for BlogPaws, as well as part of an AVMA/AAHA initiative to encourage preventive care veterinary visits, called Partners for Health Pets.
At Petfood Forum 2014, scheduled for March 31-April 2, Dale will describe how a dog changed his life, how he embarked on his career and what he has learned throughout it from pet owners, including their perceptions (and misperceptions) about petfood and pet nutrition.

Petfoods with plant-derived proteins may contain more mycotoxins, researcher says

Petfoods with plant-derived proteins may also contain more harmful toxins than petfoods with traditional fish and meat proteins, according to new research from the University of Guelph.
"A shift in petfood ingredients is on," says animal and poultry science professor, Trevor Smith, who has spent 35 years researching mycotoxins at Guelph. "Instead of worrying about bacteria spoilage or disease contamination, like we have in the past, we now have to focus on removing mycotoxins."
Smith says pet owners can minimize the risk of mycotoxins by avoiding cheaper petfoods that are more likely to contain vegetable cereals and corn or wheat fillers, and specifically, those with large amounts of rice bran.
"That's the ingredient that's often contaminated," he says. "Although we have no exact numbers, we can estimate that when half of the food is of vegetable origin, there will almost always be some degree of contamination. If the food is mainly of animal origins, the chances of contamination are greatly reduced."
According to Smith, one common mycotoxin found in some grain-based dog and cat foods is deoxynivalenol, which sometimes changes structure when modified by plant enzymes.
He found that adding a specific type of acid to the original enzyme screening can allow manufacturers to detect hidden deoxynivalenol compounds and remove contamination. Smith also says adding yeast to petfood can also help detect mycotoxins because the yeast's fiber binds to the toxins, blocking deoxynivalenol from the pet's blood stream to prevent negative symptoms.
Smith's research is being funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Alltech Canada Inc. of Guelph.