Pet Industry News

Vet cautions pet owners about feeding petvfoods with novel ingredients

2012-01-27T08:56:00.001-06:00

A recent blog from a veterinarian on PetMD, a pet health website, cautions pet owners about following a new pet food trend of feeding pet foods that contain "novel" ingredients.

Dr. Jennifer Coates says pet food manufacturers have started to include "whacky ingredients" in their over-the-counter petfoods, such as buffalo or kangaroo. These novel ingredients in petfood may be helpful to pet owners looking to switch their pet's diet to address a special condition such as allergies. Previously, she says, a lamb and rice formula was popular for managing these special conditions, but became a less-effective treatment option after becoming widely available. Pet food companies saw the opportunity in this to bring petfoods with new ingredients to the market, making these novel ingredients available over the counter for the first time, Coates says. However, she cautions pet owners that feeding a limited or novel ingredient food for no reason may lead to problems in the future for pets that would develop a tolerance to these ingredients. She also says that pet owners should realize that if they try a novel ingredient food at home, but do not eliminate other potential causes for the pet's symptoms, the condition still may not improve and the will not know what ingredients to blame. "Don’t feed a novel ingredient food to your pet without a very good reason to do so," Coates says. "You should think of these products almost like you would an antibiotic. If we misuse them now, they may not be effective in the future."

Pet food brand Eukanuba, American Kennel Club host World Challenge

2012-01-26T08:36:00.000-06:00

Pet food brand Eukanuba's fifth Eukanuba World Challenge took place in Orlando, Florida, USA, in mid-December 2011, hosted by the 11th American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championships.

In the competition, 41 dogs represent countries around the world, competing in four geographically independent categories for the title of "Eukanuba World Challenge Champion 2011" and a US$10,000 prize.“AKC Grand Champion & Italian Champion Propwash Reckon,” a three-and-a-half year old Australian Shepherd representing the USA, won the “Eukanuba World Challenge Champion 2011” title. Second place went to the Toy Poodle “MultiCH. Smash JP Moon Walk” from Japan and the "Best in Show" winner in the FCI Section Asia. Third place and a prize of more than US$2,000 went to a Lhasa Apso named “CH. Zentarr Elizabeth,” representing the UK.

Jill Rappaport of ‘Today’ show awarded for pet industry contributions

2012-01-26T08:32:00.001-06:00

The American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association named “Today" show correspondent and animal advocate, Jill Rappaport, as the 2012 recipient of Global Pet Expo’s annual “Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award.”

Rappaport will personally accept the award on Thursday, March 1, at Global Pet Expo, in Orlando, Florida, USA, during a reception sponsored by Nestle Purina. The award recognizes individuals in the media who have the power to influence millions of people and use this to positively promote the joys and benefits of responsible pet ownership. Rappaport has been on “Today” for 20 years. She served as the entertainment correspondent for the first 17 years, but when her dog Jack got bone cancer, she began chronicling Jack's illness on the show, and she says she realized that animal welfare issues were her calling. In her "Bow To Wow" series, shelter dogs get a makeover and a second chance at life, and she also informs “Today” viewers informed about the latest health trends for pets. “We truly believe that this award was crafted especially for someone just like Ms. Rappaport and that her promotion of responsible pet ownership is directly inline with APPA’s mission,” said Bob Vetere, president of APPA. “Her dedication to improving the lives of pets and helping resolve animal welfare issues is evident and we could not be more thrilled to honor her with this year’s award.”

Petfood equipment manufacturer answers mixing, blending questions

2012-01-25T08:40:00.000-06:00

Pet food manufacturing machinery company Charles Ross & Son Co. have created a new online resource to answer mixing- and blending-related questions on its website.

Charles Ross & Son Co. answers mixing- and blending-related questions in the new online "Mixing Technology Insights."

The Ross "Mixing Technology Insights" provide tips and techniques for pet food manufacturers on dispersion, dry blending, emulsification, homogenization, particle size reduction, high viscosity mixing, sub-surface powder induction, sanitary mixing and other topics. Each two-page bulletin includes a sample application or mixer installation from various industries.

Dog food, cat food-related stories rank among magazine's top-read in 2011

2012-01-25T08:37:00.001-06:00

Pet Product News International published a list of its top 10 most-read pet industry stories of 2011 by online readers, which includes a number of pet food-related stories.

Readers were most interested in the magazine's articles about pet food recalls, with "Aflatoxin Prompts Third Dog Food Recall in a Week" cited as the most-read story. Another story that ranked among the top-read was "Consumer Reports Urges Pet Owners to Forgo Premium Pet Food, Shop for Vet Services," in which Consumer Reports advised pet owners to save money by not purchasing premium pet foods. Readers were also interested in "Pet Industry Spending Tops $48 Billion in 2010," an article on pet food manufacturer Natura Pet Products class-action lawsuit settlement, Petco's acquisition of Ohio, USA-based pet specialty retailer Complete Petmart, and an article on the top pet products from 2011 Global Pet Expo.

Founder of pet food company the Honest Kitchen discusses success

2012-01-24T08:40:00.000-06:00

Lucy Postins, founder of the pet food company the Honest Kitchen, was recently profiled in an article on FastCompany.com, discussing how she began her pet food company and the drivers of the Honest Kitchen's success in the pet food market.

Postins says she feels one of the reasons for her human-grade whole-food pet food company's success is "disruptive innovation." Postins says this means creating a product that changes the status quo and gives consumers a new option that they may not have realized they needed, based on an old product that may have seemed fine. The challenge in this, she says, is with communicating the need to consumers."I think one of the main tasks for the innovator is often the communication. Since you’re creating a product that meets a new need, there’s work involved in explaining exactly what you’ve created and how it’s better than what people are in the habit of using. The great thing with this task, of course, is that you’re telling a story that’s true and meaningful, as opposed to coming up with gimmicky messaging to try and differentiate yourself."With our products, once we put them to market, we found consumers were choosing to use them for a really wide array of reasons, so it’s been challenging to articulate our messaging in a way that’s concise but sufficiently explanatory, to every type of consumer who’s interested in the food," she says.When asked about competing against name-brand pet food manufacturers, Postins says: "It sounds strange to say, but when I look back I don’t feel we have really struggled hugely. From the outset, we didn’t have a major plan for aggressive growth; the Honest Kitchen has grown in an organic way and charted its own course on many levels so we’ve evolved without the pressure to be a certain size at a certain time. That means we have been able to stay true to our roots and allowed our values to thrive. In turn, that’s further fueled our growth because it’s deepened our connections with our customers who then feel inspired enough to tell others."The most notable challenges Postins says she has faced as an entrepreneur were regulatory challenges from the US Food and Drug Administration and from state departments of agriculture challenging the "human-grade" petfood claims. Postins says the company's human-grade status differentiates it from other petfood manufacturers in that the pet food is produced in a human food facility, on the same equipment used to produce various foods that people eat."We’re extremely selective when it comes to our suppliers, too. We’ve worked with many of the same producers since we began in 2002 and insist that all suppliers sign an annual 'Vendor Pledge' to provide assurance of the quality and integrity of the ingredients we buy. We won’t use GMO or irradiated ingredients, and don’t accept any ingredients from China," says Postins."I think 'pets before profits' is the most important value that sits at the core of our daily decision-making; it means thinking about what’s right for the animal who is going to eat the food, often at the expense of the bottom line," Postins says. "Switching to 100% free-range, antibiotic-free and humanely raised chicken in our food made no sense from a fiscal standpoint, but has ultimately been good for business because it’s healthier for the pets who eat it – as well as having a positive impact on the planet and on animal welfare as a whole.

Pet food manufacturer Hill's to expand veterinary visits

2012-01-23T08:20:00.000-06:00

Starting in April, pet food manufacturer Hill’s Pet Nutrition will make regular visits to more than 22,000 veterinary hospitals and clinics to help build support for and implement nutritional recommendations as the "5th Vital Assessment" in pet healthcare.

To achieve this goal, Hill’s will use an expanded network of national and regional selling agents who will more frequently reach out to veterinarian healthcare teams across the country, and will also increase the number of direct representatives in both the pet specialty and veterinary channels. The new Hill's representation includes more than 1,200 distributor representatives, territory managers, practice development veterinarians and customer service representatives. “This expansion will give us the ability to better partner with the profession,” said Kostas Kontopanos, president of Hill’s US. “We can get a better understanding of what individual veterinarians and their clients need, as well as provide nutritional education and support.”

Australian plums may extend cat food, dog food shelf life

2012-01-20T08:38:00.000-06:00

Australian scientists conducted tests that found new anti-microbial substances in two common native Australian plums that could help prolong the shelf life of pet food, according to a report.

Testing done by scientists from Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation and Queensland government revealed that when small amounts of the kakadu and Queensland Davidson plums are combined with organic acids, the plums develop promising new anti-microbial properties. These anti-microbial substances may extend the shelf life of processed kangaroo meat used as an ingredient in dog food and cat food, according to the scientists. This may allow the pet food industry to reduce its use of preservatives, such as sulphides, that can lead to thiamine deficiencies in dogs and cats.

Global pet food market growth from product innovation, report says

2012-01-19T08:54:00.000-06:00

The pet food industry has experienced much growth due to increased pet food market segmentation and pet product innovation, according to a new report on the global petfood industry from Global Industry Analysts Inc.

The research report, "Pet Foods: A Global Outlook," includes a collection of statistics, market briefs and research findings to provide an analysis of global pet food market trends and petfood market issues.

The report says factors like consumer receptiveness to premium foods, expanding health needs of aging pets, wide availability and exposure at retail, introduction of new products and increasing consumer preference for natural remedies over pharmaceuticals are all expected to drive pet food market sales in the future. Pet food market dynamics will change as pet food manufacturers focus on product innovations such as weight-loss foods, special diet and condition-specific functional petfoods, grain-free pet foods and innovative marketing schemes. In the past, market growth was driven by premium and super premium dry petfoods, the report says. The report also analyzes emerging markets, such as Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, where increased product availability across all price segments is expected to drive consumers to feed pets prepared foods. Growing disposable incomes in Brazil and China will make the shift to prepared pet food even greater in these countries, according to the report.

Hill's, 'Biggest Loser' host kick off Million Pound Pledge

2012-01-19T08:51:00.000-06:00

Hill's Pet Nutrition and NBC's "The Biggest Loser" host, Alison Sweeney, recently kicked-off the Million Pound Pledge, a program for pet owners to help their cats and dogs lose weight.

Pet owners who participate in the Million Pound Pledge will have access to a support system that includes two live video chat sessions with Sweeney on the Science Diet Facebook page, cat and dog weight loss tips, interactive body condition scoring to show the proper body shape of a cat or dog, rebates for Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet weight management foods, and more. Pet owners can also go online through March 30 and enter for a chance to meet Sweeney at "The Biggest Loser" live finale in May.

"Living a healthy lifestyle is important for my family and that includes my dog," said Alison Sweeney. "One out of every two pets is overweight, and my dog Winky was one of them. I started using Science Diet pet foods to help Winky lose weight and now I want to share my personal experience to inspire owners across America so they too can achieve the same success."

More than 1,200 pet product manufacturers to exhibit at Interzoo 2012

2012-01-18T08:44:00.000-06:00

The pet supplies exhibition Interzoo announced that more than 1,200 manufacturers are already registered to exhibit the latest petfood products and pet supplies at the 2012 show, which will take place May 17-20, in Nuremberg, Germany.

The exhibition's growth comes mainly from Europe, Asia and Australia, show organizers say. Applications for larger exhibition stands and new exhibitors have come from Europe, particularly from pet product manufacturers in the Netherlands, France, Poland and the Czech Republic. “It is already apparent that Interzoo 2012 will once again be the world’s biggest show for the pet industry and the meeting place for all players in the industry. Well over two-thirds of the companies registered until now come from abroad. We are also pleased about the appreciable growth in the space occupied and number of exhibitors from Germany,” said Norbert Holthenrich, president of the exhibition’s honorary sponsor, the German Pet Trade and Industry Association.

Pet insurance provider Trupanion now covers theraputic pet food

2012-01-18T08:41:00.001-06:00

Pet insurance provider Trupanion is expanding coverage for a variety of previously excluded treatment options such as therapeutic pet food, pet supplements, mobility devices, alternative therapies, feline kidney transplants and special disorders associated with working pets.

Trupanion expanded its coverage for these treatment options, once considered unconventional, because of veterinary advancements making the treatments more common. “We always want to give the pet owner the freedom to pursue the best course of treatment for their pet.” said Darryl Rawlings, CEO at Trupanion. “So, we are happy to be able to expand our scope of coverage to include these new options that are becoming more commonplace.” Core Trupanion coverage now includes half the cost of therapeutic dog food and cat food purchased through a veterinarian to assist in care of a pet for two months, as well as nutritional supplements purchased through a veterinarian for treatment of an illness or injury. Previously, these foods and supplements were an out-of-pocket expense for pet owners, but Trupanion says its policyholders will now be able to recover these costs in their core coverage. “Working pets often provide a great service to their owners and these owners want to protect them as best they can,” said Rawlings. “We are happy to now be able to offer these pet owners the peace of mind that if their pet becomes sick or injured, their treatment is covered.”

FDA misses deadline for key Food Safety Modernization Act provisions

2012-01-17T08:28:00.000-06:00

January 2012 marks the one-year anniversary of President Obama signing into law the Food Safety Modernization Act, which aims to prevent pet food recalls and ensure a safe pet food supply.

One of the key implementation dates from the Act was January 4, after which date the following significant steps were to have been taken by the US Food and Drug Administration: guidance for very small business exemptions from HARPC requirements;guidance related to intentional adulteration of food and mitigation strategies; “National Agriculture and Food Defense Strategy” issued to Congress and public; study concerning unique identification numbers for food facilities and brokers; designation of “high-risk foods” for which additional recordkeeping would be required; designation of five “Food Safety Centers of Excellence” to respond to outbreaks; grocery store recall posting requirements; and regulations for a Foreign Supplier Verification Program.

Yet, according to FDAImports.com, the agency has missed the first set of missed benchmarks for 2012's anniversary deadline as none of these significant steps have been accomplished.

“Although it can feel frustrating to wait on an overstuffed federal agency to provide more details about how it will soon dramatically enhance its regulatory authority – I do not find it to be too frustrating”, said Ben England, founder and CEO of FDAImports.com. “In one sense, however, these are very complicated guidances and regulations FDA is expected to issue. It is better that it take longer and perhaps get it right.” The next major deadline in FSMA’s implementation timeline is July 4, when more guidance documents are due from FDA concerning traceability and tracking, consumer information reporting, a third-party auditing program and more. The final implementation dates for FSMA are January 4, 2013, and July 4, 2013.

Petfood Industry releases Android smartphone App

2012-01-17T08:26:00.001-06:00

A new Android app joins Petfood Industry's already offered iPhone and iPad apps, allowing users access to latest issues on the go.

Android smartphone users can now receive one-touch mobile access to Petfood Industry with a full-featured App, which joins the iPhone and iPad Apps already offered.

The Android App allows users to read current and past magazine issues, browse the latest news headlines, view petfood product information and more. Search for “Petfood Industry” in the Android Market.

Need on-the-go access from another mobile platform? You can view digital editions of Petfood Industry on the portable device of your choice. Download the App from iTunes for your favorite Apple device or bookmark www.petfoodindustry-digital.com on your mobile web browser now.

Petfood maker Purina, Jenny Craig help pets, owners lose weight

2012-01-16T08:43:00.000-06:00

Dog food and cat food manufacturer Nestle Purina is teaming up with Jenny Craig in a new online program that aims to help pet owners and their pets lose weight.

The program, "Project: Pet Slim Down," lets pet owners that sign up obtain tips for exercising with their pet, record exercise performed, track weight loss and share photos with other users.

The British Pet Health Council, an association of veterinary and medical professionals, in cooperation with Mars Petcare is offering a similar health and fitness program for pets and their owners under the name "Petsercise."

"The obesity epidemic is not limited to people," said Lisa Talamini, vice president of research and program innovation at Jenny Craig, in a statement. "Two-thirds of adults in the US are overweight or obese, and more than half of all pets in the country are also battling the bulge."

Petfood Forum China 2012 seeks abstract submissions

2012-01-16T08:41:00.000-06:00

The Petfood Forum China 2012 content advisory board is seeking abstracts for its noncommercial oral presentations at the pet food industry event.

Potential speakers may submit abstracts on topics including, but not limited to, the pet food market in China, Asia and around the world; nutrition and ingredients; packaging; safety and regulatory issues specific to China or export countries; processing and production; company profiles and case studies; and new product development. The deadline for submission is April 9. Abstracts, no longer than 300 words, should be submitted in English by email to dphillips@wattnet.net. Petfood Forum China 2012 will take place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, in conjunction with the 15th Pet Fair Asia, on October 12.

Pet chew maker Nylabone launches grain-free dog biscuits

2012-01-13T08:48:00.000-06:00

Nylabone, pet chew maker, launched new dog grain-free biscuits that will be made available to consumers in select US states through Costco Warehouse.

The grain-free biscuits are turkey-flavored and include ingredients such as peas, turkey meat, blueberries, cranberries and flaxseed, according to Nylabone. The company says the dog treats are also free of molasses, salt, wheat, corn, soy, rice and other grains, so they are ideal for pets with sensitive stomachs. The biscuits, which contain eight calories each, can be fed to both large and small dogs. The new products are available for a limited time at Costco Warehouse in North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, USA, and Puerto Rico. They are available in 4-pound “pantry packs.”

Joint-venture petfood deal gives Unicharm stake in Hartz

2012-01-13T08:44:00.000-06:00

Sumitomo Corp., Sumitomo Corp. of America and Japanese pet food manufacturer Unicharm closed a joint-venture deal on December 30, 2011. The deal gives Unicharm a significant stake in the common share of small animal food and pet treats manufacturer Hartz Mountain Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Corp.

"This new strategic partnership brings together the brand power, deep category expertise and existing market share of Hartz with Unicharm's proprietary technology and high-performing innovation," said Mr. Koichi Isohata, a representative at Sumitomo. "The alliance is intended to grow the Hartz business, maximizing the potential of the US pet care market and ideally build the business globally."

New all-natural dog food company ships petfood nationwide in US

2012-01-12T08:49:00.000-06:00

A new pet food company, DooD, recently entered into the pet industry with its all-natural dog food shipped right to the pet owner's home.Dood pet food, a combination of the words "dog" and "food," was formed by Alireza Niroomand and brother-in-law, Andrea Carrano, after struggling with managing the stomach and health issues of their own dogs. According to DooD, the food contains high-quality ingredients, including 85% lean ground turkey, 85% lean ground beef, all-natural chicken, whole grain brown rice and vegetables. The petfood company creates a custom diet for the dog, calculating its daily caloric intake by taking into consideration weight, breed and age.

DooD is available online, and can be hand delivered in both New York City, New York, USA, and Los Angeles, California, USA, but can also be shipped nationwide.

Horizon Pet Nutrition launches grain-free Pulsar pet food line

2012-01-11T08:22:00.002-06:00

Pet food manufacturer Horizon Pet Nutrition launched a new grain-free diet program, Pulsar, which will be sold at pet food stores beginning in January.

The company says its Pulsar line, available at a lower cost to consumers, incorporates pet food ingredients like peas and lentils as the key carbohydrate and fiber source."Our philosophy (at Horizon Pet Nutrition) is to seek new combinations of exceptional ingredients to optimize pet nutrition and push the boundaries of dietary evolution," said Jeff English, co-founder of Horizon Pet Nutrition. "This is an evolution we expect the pet food industry will follow, as it provides a high-quality, low GI grain-free diet, at an unparalleled price in the market."

Raw petfood manufacturer grows through investment, exports

2012-01-10T08:52:00.000-06:00

Mark Stewart invested more than $10 million in ZiwiPeak, a small New Zealand raw pet food manufacturing company with revenues of about US$1 million at that time, but has since grown the petfood company's revenue to more than US$15 million per year and is looking to its export business to raise revenues even higher, according to a report.

The company exports 97% of its petfood products to 25 countries, Stewart said, focusing on achieving profitiability for the pet food company with revenue growth of about 60% annually."We've built a US$15 million export business which could be US$50 million in the next couple of years quite easily. We think from a New Zealand Inc. perspective that's a pretty good thing," Stewart said.According to Stewart, he spends about a quarter of his time on ZiwiPeak and the rest on his other investments. He got into petfood because he wanted to invest in a food-related business, without dealing with supermarket chains. After two years of research, Stewart got into petfood because many independent stores will sell it. Since being introduced to ZiwiPeak founders, Peter and Kimberly Mitchell, Stewart has built a 45% stake.

Pet food pantry desperately needs dry dog, cat food donations

2012-01-09T08:45:00.001-06:00

This message was posted by Jennifer Stiles on the Petfood-Connection.com Facebook page:

Do you have programs that would help us? www.petpantrymi.org. We are almost out of kibble.

Pet Pantry of Michigan is a non-profit organization for pet suppies assistance: a free pet supply warehouse that has supplies for dogs, cats, kittens, puppies, gerbils, rabbits, fish and birds owned by people who are in financial hardship. Donations of kibble and new or gently used supplies are accepted to give out to people in need.

Halo survey: pet owners to buy higher quality petfood in 2012

2012-01-09T08:42:00.000-06:00

Pet food manufacturer Halo, Purely for Pets polled 1,045 pet owners in its "Pet Parents' New Year's Resolution Survey," which found that 69.4% of pet owners plan to purchase a higher quality pet food in 2012.

Pet owners (45.9%) surveyed also pledged to help their pets lose weight in 2012. Of pet owners pledging to help pets lose weight, 68.7% will do so by providing more exercise, 44.8% by feeding a higher-quality pet food, 35.1% by feeding less food, 34% by giving fewer treats to pets, 33% by giving more nutritious treats, and 10.9% by developing a pet weight-loss program with a veterinarian.Other findings in the pet owner survey include that nearly 95% of pet owners plan to help animals in need in 2012 and 86.8% of pet owners plan to groom their pet more regularly. The survey was conducted between December 21-23, 2011.

Japan pet suppliers show Interpets planned for August

2012-01-09T08:40:00.000-06:00

Interpets, the Japanese "pet event of the new era," will be held in Japan in August, open to pet food and pet supply industry suppliers as well as the public. This pet suppliers trade show will be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan, from August 23-26. The fair will feature new products for a better life with pets, including dogs, cats and small animals.

More information on registration and exhibitors is available online.

Pet food companies, pet owners to blame for pet obesity, vet says

2012-01-06T08:27:00.000-06:00

A Canadian veterinary pet nutrition specialist says pets are becoming more overweight not only because pet food is high in calories, but also because pet owners may also be overfeeding and under exercising their pets, according to lfpress.com.

Monica Snedden, a veterinary nutrition specialist and registered veterinary technician at Princess Animal Hospital in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, says pet owners are contributing to their pet's obesity by “feeding them the wrong thing, overfeeding them, just leaving the food down and leaving the bowl full all the time.” In addition, she says pet owners that feed their pet from the table also add to their pet's obesity.“It's different for pets. One little one-ounce cube of cheese is like three chocolate bars. It seems small to us, but for them it is a huge sum of calories for the day,” Snedden says.Pet food companies are also to blame for the pet obesity problem, according to Snedden, because much of the petfood on the market is very high in calories and fat. It is often difficult for pet owners to find the calorie content on a pet food ingredient label and sometimes difficult to obtain the information even by contacting the pet food manufacturer.“There are so many companies out there that are making so many foods and they come and go that it's hard for people to know what they are feeding any more,” she says. “Consumers don't know what they are buying and we can't keep up with what's hitting the shelves.” Snedden says pet owners can help prevent their pet from getting overweight in the first place by closely monitoring its weight and making a change in feeding or exercise, if necessary, to maintain a healthy weight.“Then we just try to keep them around there, judging how their body condition looks,” she says. “Once they are really obese you are fighting an uphill battle.”

Pet owner unhappy with melamine-tainted petfood lawsuit settlement

2012-01-06T08:24:00.000-06:00

A woman whose cat died from eating tainted pet food is unhappy with the settlement pet owners received compared to the compensation lawyers received in a class-action lawsuit related to the 2007 melamine-tainted petfood imported from China, NBC reported.

Kathy Forcier's cat, who died from eating "Special Kitty" food purchased at Walmart, was one of as many as 50,000 dogs and cats sickened or killed by the 2007 melamine-tainted petfood incident, in which as many as 150 pet foods produced by Menu Foods were recalled. Forcier was part of a class-action lawsuit with more than 24,000 people against Menu Foods that settled for US$24 million. Yet, she says she received a settlement check for US$58.76, about half of the cost of her cat's vet bills, while attorneys in the case received US$7.4 million."It was an absolute insult," said Forcier. The lead law firm in the case, Wexler Wallace of Chicago, would not disclose a breakdown of payouts or the number of checks that were mailed to claimants in California, USA, where Forcier lives. "Every claimant has the right to expect privacy with respect to their individual claims and I am going to respect that," said attorney Kenneth Wexler, who handled the case. "The range of recovery is not relevant." "He didn't lose a pet," said Forcier. "He didn't lose a member of his family."

Chinese pet food found to be mislabeled by Taipei city officials

2012-01-05T10:30:00.002-06:00

The Taipei City Government yesterday ordered four pet food products to be taken off store shelves because of incorrect labeling, according to the Taipei Times.

City officials inspected 140 pet food products, of which four were found to be falsely labeled. According to city officials, Belicom’s tuna and beef cat food, Dobi’s beef, chicken and potato dog food; Ever Red’s beef dog food; and Maxwell’s beef dog food were improperly labeled because none of the products any trace of beef, a violation of the Commodity Labeling Act that is punishable by fines up to NT$300,000 (US$9,000). Yeh Ching-yuan, director of the city government’s Law and Regulation Commission, said petfood manufacturers would be told to make changes to the labels, and retailers would be asked to take the falsely labeled products off store shelves.

North Dakota seeks pet food manufacturer comments on feed law

2012-01-05T10:28:00.000-06:00

The Agriculture Department of North Dakota, USA, has scheduled public meetings around the state in January 2012 to gather comments and suggestions regarding the state's regulation of animal feed. Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says the department is reviewing its feed regulation program to determine if it meets the needs of today's industry, and welcomes comment from anyone from animal feed manufacturers to pet food manufacturers and retailers.

The afternoon meetings begin January 9, 2012, in Bismarck, North Dakota, USA, and end on January 17, 2012, in Valley City, North Dakota, USA. A full schedule can be found at online.

Canadian pet food producer works to lower production facility smell

2012-01-04T08:32:00.000-06:00

Canadian pet food manufacturer Champion Petfoods is working to reduce the smell from its plant in Morinville, Alberta, after local residents complained about the odors from the plant, the St. Albert Gazette reported.

According to president, Frank Burdzy, the company’s October air quality tests suggested the plant was operating at 50 odor units per cubic meter, a 15% to 20% reduction from the level in April. David Spink, an air quality consultant who specializes in industrial odors, says odor units are standardized measures of smell, where one unit is not considered to be harmful because it is undetectable to half of the population and barely noticeable to the other halfBurdzy says the smell problems began around 2007, when the company added more meat ingredients into its products. A US$500,000 plasma injection system was installed in 2010 to fix the problem, but failed to do so. A plan to install Venturi scrubbers to spin and soak the smell out of the air is being delayed until spring 2012 after a consultant found additional changes that needed to be made.The pet food manufacturer has since lowered the heat in its dryers, improved airflow in the plant and finalized plans for new stacks to be installed in spring, in an effort to reduce the smell to a maximum of five odor units. “There’s going to be some sense of odor from time to time, but the key thing is we want to remove the offensive nature of it,” Burdzy says.

Online petfood industry revenue of US$595.8 million by 2016, report projects

2012-01-03T14:19:00.000-06:00

IBISworld released a new report on the online petfood and pet supply sales industry, which expects rising pet ownership to drive demand and boost pet food sales to 2016.
The report estimates that slowly improving economic conditions will boost consumer spending, which will drive online petfood industry revenue to a projected US$595.8 million by 2016. Over the past five years, IBISWorld estimates that revenue in the online pet food industry has grown to $484.7 million. The report also attributes higher demand for premium pet foods and online animal pharmaceutical sales to this growth over the past five years.
"Rising pet ownership in the United States and growth across the e-commerce sector has caused the industry to experience overall growth, despite the recession," says IBISWorld analyst Kevin Culbert. "Niche players like 1-800-PetMeds and discount retailers like Walmart have rapidly gained market share within the industry."
However, the report found industry revenue declined marginally in 2009 as consumer spending fell, but increasing per capita disposable income is expected to cause revenue growth of 2.5% in 2011. Rising revenue is also driving up industry profit margins, which have risen over the past five years due to improvements in automation driving down wages as a portion of revenue. A full copy of the report can be purchased online.

Recent aflatoxin pet food recalls may increase safety regulations

2011-12-30T08:48:00.000-06:00

A series of recent recalls in the US for high aflatoxin levels in petfood is increasing the pressure to tighten government food safety rules in proposals that are currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration, according to a report from Reuters.

The act, signed into law this year, focuses on preventing pet food contamination, starting with pet food ingredients, rather than just responding to contamination. Grains, ingredients in many pet foods, are degraded by crop diseases, including the Aspergillus fungus on corn. In dry, hot growing seasons like 2011, toxins like aflatoxin are produced in high amounts, causing a series of recent petfood recalls by Cargill, Iams and Advanced Animal Nutrition."What's happening with the Food Safety Modernization Act is we're seeing an increase in incidents of reporting because there is more surveillance. With more surveillance we are going to get more positives," said Greg Aldrich, president of feed consultancy, Pet Food and Ingredient Technology. "Livestock feed, pet food and human food companies have already begun to implement everything that is going to be part of the law." "We stepped up our testing of aflatoxin especially looking at the dry conditions of the summer," said Mike Strain, commissioner of agriculture and forestry for Louisiana, USA. "When you look at food safety we continue to test. It shows why we need that traceability system so we can identify the product then go through the entire system and pull that product back."Crop specialists say the key to keeping aflatoxin out of the human and animal food chain is to test corn right from the field in high-risk years. However, tests are expensive at US$10 to US$15 per sample, and can be timely and sometimes produce a false negative result."Shortcuts get taken," said Charles Hurburgh, a grain quality specialist for Iowa State University. "With the Food Safety Modernization Act, if you have reason to believe you have an adulterated food, more than 20 parts is an adulterated food – you put it in the system, you're in big trouble."

Free 'Pets and Vets' report reviews 2011 retail pet sector

2011-12-30T08:46:00.000-06:00

The Wall Street Transcript published a free report, "Pets and Vets," offering a review of the 2011 retail pet sector and an analysis of successful pet retailers like PetSmart.

This pet market report contains expert industry commentary and in-depth interviews with public company CEOs, equity analysts and money managers about petfood trends, growth in pet retail, veterinary care and more. According to Peter Keith, senior research analyst for hardline retail and consumer products and a vice president at Piper Jaffray & Co., companies with specific sales and margin drivers and pricing power, such as PetSmart, will be able to grow business, regardless of the economic environment. The trend of consumers trading up to premium petfoods means they are buying more expensive, higher-margin petfood products, which is favorable to PetSmart. Inflationary trends also contribute to PetSmart's success, driving some sales and extra EPS growth in 2011 and 2012.

Petfood sales expected to remain strong, analyst says

2011-12-30T08:44:00.000-06:00

Pet product retail is expected to maintain its sales volumes during this time of slow economic growth, with petfood and pet treats resilient to trade-downs because of the pet owner's attachment to their animal companions, Daniel Hofkin, an analyst at William Blair & Company LLC, told TWST.com.

“People tend to spoil and dote on their pets. They will sometimes sacrifice their own eating or spending, but especially among older families or empty nesters, pets are often considered children. And people like to treat their pets as such, not just in terms of continuing to buy them the food that they are used to, but also in terms of other products,” Hofkin said.

Hofkin says pet retailer PetSmart Inc. is well-positioned in the industry from a long-term point of view, because petfood accounts for nearly half of the company’s inventory, with pet products making up the other half.

“We don’t currently have an ‘outperform’ rating on PetSmart, primarily because we are watching the impact high gas prices and input-cost inflation will have on the traffic, particularly in hard goods. But I would say that’s more of a temporary concern, and it doesn’t appear to have materially impacted PetSmart’s results so far,” Hofkin said.

FDA forms Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance

2011-12-30T08:42:00.000-06:00

The US Food and Drug Administration and the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health created the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance to develop training courses and materials on preventing contamination for both human and animal food, including pet food, during production. The materials to be developed by the alliance will help industry members, particularly small- and medium-size manufacturers, comply with new preventive control rules of the FSMA.

The alliance is composed of members from the FDA, local and state food protection agencies, the food industry and academia. It is funded by a one-year, US$1 million grant to the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Institute for Food Safety and Health.According to FDA, the alliance will: develop standardized hazard analysis and preventive controls training and distance education modules for food industry and regulatory personnel; design and deliver a distance learning training portal at the IIT IFSH Moffett Campus in Bedford Park, Illinois, USA; develop “train-the-trainer” materials and student education delivery systems; create a technical assistance network for small- and medium-sized food companies; develop commodity/industry sector-specific guidelines for preventive controls; assess knowledge gaps and research needs for further enhancement of preventive control measures; and identify and prioritize the need for, and compile, critical limits for widely used preventive controls.

RECALL: Arrow Brand dry dog food, Petrus dry dog food recalled for aflatoxin

2011-12-29T13:16:00.000-06:00

The US Food and Drug Administration posted an "updated" recall notice on its website with two additional pet food recalls and corrected pet food product lot numbers, all related to dog food with elevated aflatoxin levels.

These most recent recalls, for O'Neal's Feeders Supply's Arrow Brand dog food and dog food from Petrus Feed and Seed Stores Inc., come in addition to December recalls by Cargill, Proctor and Gamble's Iams, and Advanced Animal Nutrition dog food also for high aflatoxin levels. O'Neal's Feeders Supply of DeRidder, Louisiana, USA, recalled dry Arrow Brand dog food manufactured between December 1, 2010, and December 1, 2011, because it contains corn detected to have unacceptably high levels of aflatoxin.According to the company, the recall applies to dog food distributed in Louisiana and Texas, US, with lot numbers 4K0341 through 4K0365 and 04K1001 through 4K1325. Affected Arrow Brand products include: 21% Dog Chunks SKU #807 40 lb. bag; Super Proeaux dog food SKU #812 40 lb. bag; and Professional Formula dog food SKU #814 50 lb. bag. Consumers may return the recalled dog food, in opened or unopened packages, to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information contact +1.800.256.2769.Petrus Feed and Seed Stores of Alexandria, Louisiana, USA, recalled its dry dog food, manufactured by Cargill in LeCompte, Louisiana, USA, from December 1, 2010 through December 1, 2011, also for unacceptably high levels of aflatoxin. The product, 21% Protein Dog Food in 40 lb. Petrus Feed bags, has lot numbers 4K1011 through 4K1307 and updated lot numbers 4K1011 through 4K1335. Consumers may return the recalled dog food, in opened or unopened packages, to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information contact +1.318.443.2259.Both companies advised that pets that have consumed any of the recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

D.D. Williamson launches Expert Answers for petfood manufacturers

2011-12-29T08:40:00.003-06:00

D.D. Williamson launched a new online series to help food scientists, pet food manufacturers, chemists, professors, managers and others in the food and beverage industry to grow their business and expand into new markets.

The Expert Answers series answers questions and provides relevant regulatory and market information via video interviews, articles and transcripts from food and beverage industry experts both inside and outside DDW. A short video and upcoming article format lets viewers share interesting information with their colleagues, friends and students.

New petcast offers petfood advice, money saving tips for pet owners

2011-12-28T09:52:00.000-06:00

An on-demand petcast, Radio Beastro, was recently launched on WebTalkRadio.net, to provide pet owners with information and ways to save money.

The broadcasts feature pet expert guests and cover topics ranging from smart pet food product choices to winter preparation tips to environmental safety.“I hope that Radio Beastro will guide pet parents through the many decisions they face when it comes to taking care of their animals,” says creator, Kristen Levine. “My guests will help me provide expert tips and insight that will make our listeners’ lives and their pets’ lives that much happier, healthier and more rewarding.”

Trouw Nutrition donates to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation

2011-12-27T08:29:00.000-06:00

Ingredient supplier Trouw Nutrition is donating up to US$10,000 to Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation, an organization that saves dogs and cats that have run out of time at public shelters. The donations are being made in the name of some of Trouw's pet food manufacturing clients.

The company is also sending a gift bag of goodies to ARF for the pets to enjoy. The company says the donation is to honor Tony LaRussa after his retirement from managing the Major League Baseball team the St. Louis Cardinals.

Halo petfood, Freekibble.com donate meals to homeless dogs, cats

2011-12-22T09:14:00.000-06:00

Halo, the pet food company co-owned by Ellen Degeneres, is teaming up with Freekibble.com for the Holiday Koast-to-Koast Kibble Drop to provide 400,000 nutritious petfood meals to homeless dogs and cats for the holidays.

Two trucks are delivering the company's dog and cat food to more than 40 shelters and rescue centers across the US. The Koast-to-Koast tour has an interactive online map that shows where the trucks have already delivered the pet food and which stops they will be at next.

Pet food manufacturer Spring Naturals awarded for dog food

2011-12-22T09:10:00.000-06:00

Pet food manufacturer Spring Naturals was named the 2011 winner in the dog food category of the Pet Business' Industry Recognition Award.

Now in its 10th year, the awards program highlights the specialty pet industry's most innovative and functional products across a variety of pet care categories. All the brands that received the award were showcased in the magazine's December 2011 issue. "Speaking for the entire Spring Naturals team," said Rob Cadenhead, vice president of sales and marketing, "it's a real honor for us to be selected for this award. It's great having a national publication like Pet Business confirm that our new line is on target and on trend."

Mars Petcare to expand pet food production plant in South Carolina

2011-12-22T09:08:00.000-06:00

Pet food manufacturer Mars Petcare is increasing its pet treat production with a US$128.6 million expansion at its Columbia, South Carolina, USA, facility, which will create about 277 jobs over the next five years, The State reported.

The 290,000-square-foot expansion will more than triple the plant's payroll at Mars, according to the report. The expansion will help the company meet a growing demand for its pet food, company spokeswoman Julie Lawless said. The company received US$1.5 million in aid from South Carolina commerce officials and county property tax breaks.

Novelli Group builds new petfood production plant in Italy

2011-12-21T08:56:00.003-06:00

The Novelli Group of Italy is building a new pet food production plant with the help of consulting group Tebodin CCE.

The new plant will produce 15 tons of dog and cat food per hour for the Italian and international petfood markets. Tebodin helped the company construct the new plant, which houses the storage silos and process lines for dosing, flaking, grinding and mixing. "The lines are designed in such a way that the process can easily be applied to different final products. Production can take place just-in-time because of this flexibility and the large silo volumes. Smooth materials for floors, walls and roof ensure a working area clear of dirt and residues. This modern plant is able to produce the highest possible quality pet food," said Harm Klein, Tebodin project manager for the Novelli plant.

New report on Pet Care in Slovakia expects petfood market to grow

2011-12-21T08:54:00.000-06:00

ReportsnReports offers a new report on Pet Care in Slovakia, which forecasts that the pet care market in Slovakia will continue to grow.The Pet Care in Slovakia report found moderate growth in the pet food market from 2006-2011, with multinational pet food brands dominating the market over domestic brands. Dry petfood is preferred in this market, the report found, especially for dogs.

The report includes an overview as well as sales by category, pe tfood company market shares and market forecasts. A copy of the report may be purchased online.

Vet warns dog owners of China chicken jerky products in PetMD blog

2011-12-16T11:08:00.000-06:00

In a new blog post on PetMD, a Colorado, USA, veterinarian is warning pet owners about a possible link between chicken jerky products imported from China and illness in dogs.

At the end of 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration cautioned dog owners of a "potential association between development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats." However, even after testing for microbial and chemical contaminants in the products, FDA has been unable to identify a specific cause for the illnesses.
In November, FDA warned dog owners again of the potential link between illnesses reported in dogs and consumption of chicken jerky products from China, as cases of dog illness after consuming the jerky products are rising again.
The veterinarian says that dogs that have consumed the chicken jerky products from China and become sick often exhibit Fanconi syndrome-like symptoms, such as vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea (sometimes containing blood), lethargy, and increased thirst and urination. She also urges pet owners to file a report with FDA, which will help the agency in tracking the source of contamination.

Halo, Purely for Pets to create vegan cat and dog food lines

2011-12-16T11:04:00.000-06:00

Owner of petfood brand Halo, Purely for Pets, Ellen DeGeneres, and her wife, Portia de Rossi, are creating a range of vegan petfood, according to a report.

The Chicago Sun Times reported that, in addition to opening a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, California, USA, "the couple are also developing a line of vegan petfoods - after discovering a void in the market for people looking to feed their dogs and cats vegan vittles."
The couple follows a vegan diet, meaning followers of their diet consume no animal products at all, including butter, eggs or milk.
It is unknown when the petfood range will be available, or if the line will include treats for other animals as well.

Petfood Forum China industry conference to be held October 12, 2012

2011-12-16T11:00:00.003-06:00

Petfood Industry magazine is hosting a new petfood industry conference – Petfood Forum China – that will be located in Shanghai on October 12, 2012.

Petfood Forum China, a conference for petfood and pet treat professionals involved in all areas of the industry, will be co-located with the 15th annual Pet Fair Asia at the Shanghai World Exhibition & Convention Center. Petfood Forum conferences offer industry professionals the latest petfood ingredient, processing and packaging technologies, product development processes, and practical knowledge from industry-leading petfood consultants, manufacturers, academians and suppliers.

Petfood Forum China is the newest addition to the Petfood Forum portfolio of live conferences and exhibitions, and the first event of its kind to be held in China specifically addressing the needs of petfood and pet treat manufacturers. Petfood Forum China will feature educational sessions presented by petfood industry experts, networking opportunities and the chance to visit vendors at Pet Fair Asia.
“As a unique global information provider to petfood and pet treat manufacturers and their partners, and with brands serving print, digital and live event content needs, our team believes it is important to be the first to enter China with our ability to serve the market and their needs,” says Steve Akins, vice president and publisher of Petfood Industry. “We are excited to partner with Pet Fair Asia in bringing Petfood Forum China to this fast growing market.”
According to Euromonitor International, China is the seventh fastest-growing petfood market, with a projected 7.7% compound annual growth rate through 2015. Euromonitor projects the China petfood market will reach US$476 million in sales by 2015.
“An extremely small percentage of registered pets in China are currently being fed manufactured petfood, but with rapid urbanization in the country, demand for petfood is increasing dramatically,” Akins says.

For more information, please go to www.petfoodindustry.com/PFFChina2012.aspx and be sure to watch for Petfood Forum China's call for papers coming soon.

Purina donates to Arizona animal shelter for pet tales campaign

2011-12-13T15:13:00.000-06:00

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company and The Kroger Co. awarded US$155,894 to 17 animal welfare organizations across the country in the fourth annual "Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart" campaign.
The campaign, which celebrates the unique bond between people and their pets, invited pet lovers to share their favorite pet tales online and participate in a sweepstakes for the chance to win a year’s worth of groceries from their local Kroger store, a year’s supply of Purina pet food and to have a US$50,000 donation made in their honor to a participating animal welfare organization.
Nestlé Purina and Fry’s Food Stores, a division of The Kroger Co., presented a donation check for US$55,883 to the Animals Benefit Club of Arizona, an organization located near the hometown of the grand prize sweepstakes winner.
“Nestlé Purina and Kroger are proud to celebrate the Animals Benefit Club of Arizona and all of the participating animal welfare organizations across the country for their ongoing efforts to make a difference in the lives of homeless pets, while celebrating the joy that pets bring to our lives,” said Brendan McKelvey, shopper marketing manager, Nestlé Purina PetCare.
Each animal welfare organization will receive a US$5,883 donation, made up of US$5,000 for participating in the “Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart” campaign and an additional US$1 donation for every pet tale shared online, which was divided equally among the 17 organizations.

Purina One pet food launches QR code, Facebook promotions to feed pets

2011-12-13T15:09:00.000-06:00

Purina One pet food brand launched two new Shelter Pet Program initiatives, one in which QR codes will appear on pet food packaging and another one the Purina One Facebook page.
The company will now include QR code stickers on the front of its Purina One dry cat food packages and will donate US$1.00 to feed shelter pets, up to US$30,000, for every person who scans the QR code with their smartphone. Additionally, Purina One's Facebook page is hosting "Bowl-by-Bowl," which allows users to take simple, four-question quizzes that challenge negative perceptions of shelter pets and aims to inspire pet adoption. For each completed quiz, Purina One will donate one bowl of food to a shelter in need.
"Purina One is dedicated to helping shelter cats and dogs," said Lisa Luedde, brand manager, Purina One brand petfood. "We believe that the right nutrition can make a world of difference in a shelter pet's life, so we've made it easy for people to help. Scanning a QR code and taking a short quiz is all it takes to help us champion shelter pets."

China petfood may contain dangerous preservative levels, consumer group finds

2011-12-13T14:58:00.000-06:00

In a sampling of pet food, the Consumers' Foundation found some dog food sold in China may contain preservatives that could affect the health of dogs if too much is consumed, according to The China Post.
The foundation found that eight out 20 dry dog food and canned dog food products purchased from retailers in September 2010 were found to contain sorbic acid. The Consumers' Foundation said the report findings are for consumer reference only, because China does not currently have laws in place that limit the amount of preservatives allowed in pet food.
One of two companies whose petfood the foundation found to contain too many preservatives claimed it is difficult to avoid having a certain level of preservatives in its products because there are no standards to follow, while the other claimed its products are safe because it follows European standards.

Paw4mance Pet Products offers new holistic dog, cat food line

2011-12-13T14:56:00.000-06:00

Paw4mance Pet Products International Inc. added the new MOJO brand of pet food to its line of Paw4mance natural and holistic dog food, cat food and treats.
MOJO is specially formulated to meet Association of American Feed Control Officials guidelines for the United States and international markets, the company says. The line is available in three recipes: Original Dog recipe, chicken and rice formula; Platinum recipe, lamb and rice formula; and Elite recipe, fish and rice formula. The company says all of its formulas are free of wheat, wheat gluten and corn, and contain no artificial flavors, colors or chemical preservatives.

Rachel Ray donates $1 to pet rescue for Nutrish petfood Facebook 'likes'

2011-12-13T14:52:00.000-06:00

Chef and creator of the Nutrish petfood brand Rachel Ray is hosting a Facebook campaign, sponsored by Nutrish pet food manufacturer Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, in which she will donate US$1.00 to Rachel's Rescue for every "like" on the pet rescue's new page.
Pet lovers can log on to Facebook and "like" Rachel Ray's Nutrish Facebook page from now through March 31, 2012. For every "like" the page receives, US$1.00 will be donated to help pets in need, up to a maximum of US$10,000.

Packaging Conference 2012 open to petfood manufacturers

2011-12-13T14:50:00.000-06:00

The Packaging Conference will be held February 6-8, 2012, for pet food manufacturers and pet food industry professionals looking to learn about the latest packaging technology, materials and equipment.
The event will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, at ARIA Resort at CityCenter, with a focus on packaging in a post-recession economy. Speakers will include representatives from H.J. Heinz Co., Colgate-Palmolive, M&G Group, Amcor Rigid Plastics, Ball Corp., Albis Plastics, KHS, Husky Injection Molding, PPi Technologies Group, Beverage Marketing Corporation, Blaige & Co., Product Stewardship Institute and other packaging experts.
“The conference is designed to provide the latest information for those in the packaging supply chain. Attendees range from retailers and brand owners to resin suppliers, technology providers, equipment manufacturers and converters. Now, more than ever, a dialog between all supply chain participants is key to meeting packaging objectives,” said John Maddox, president, SBA-CCI.
Registration is US$2,100, but those registering prior to January 15, 2012, can take advantage of the discounted early registration rate of US$1,900. The fees include two nights deluxe room at ARIA Resort at CityCenter, conference sessions and proceedings, breaks, lunch and a networking reception.

Mexican Forum on Pet Food to be held May 24-25, 2012

2011-12-13T14:48:00.002-06:00

The Mexican Association of Feed Producers will host the second Mexican Forum on Pet Food on May 24-25, 2012, in Guadalajara, Mexico.
This educational and networking event for the Mexican and Latin American petfood industries will allow pet food manufacturers and industry professionals to gather to learn the latest technical, economic and manufacturing developments in petfood production.

RECALL: Dog Power Dog Food recalled due to aflatoxin

2011-12-13T14:25:00.000-06:00

Advanced Animal Nutrition is recalling dry Dog Power Dog Food due to aflatoxin levels above the acceptable limit.

The company is the third to recall food due to aflatoxin in the past week, following recalls from Procter & Gamble and Cargill.

The affected products were manufactured between Jan. 4, 2011, and Nov. 18, 2011, and include:

• Dog Power Adult Maintenance Formula 21-12 Dog Food, 50 lb. bags;

• Dog Power Hunters Formula 27-14 Dog Food, 50 lb. bags;

• Dog Power Hi-Pro Performance Formula 26-18 Dog Food, 50 lb. bags.

The recall applies to the above products with Packaging Date Codes [lot numbers] K0004 through K1322. The affected products were distributed in Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana. Retailers have been instructed to remove the affected brands and products from their shelves.

The company said consumers should return affected products, whether opened or unopened, to their place of purchase for a full refund. They can also call 1-866-648-7646 for more information.

Advanced Animal Nutrition said it implemented the recall as a precautionary measure, and no adverse health effects related to these products have been reported.

Pets that have consumed the affected product and are exhibiting symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian, the company said.

AFIA to host 2012 Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference

2011-12-13T09:07:00.000-06:00

The American Feed Industry Association will host its annual Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference for more than 450 buyers and sellers of animal feed and pet food ingredients, from March 14-16, 2012.

Pet food industry professionals interested in the current state of the animal feed industry are encouraged to attend the event, which will be held in Orlando, Florida, USA, at the Omni ChampionsGate.

Highlights of the program include tips on bar code data collection for managing productivity, inventory management and traceability; packaging and requirements; an overview of federal regulatory requirements for producing animal feed; and China's impact in the US animal feed industry.

AFIA's Nutrition Committee will also host a pre-conference seminar on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. The seminar is open to all conference attendees but requires an additional registration fee.

Australian petfood manufacturer asks to use culled animals in pet food

2011-12-13T09:04:00.000-06:00

Howard Springs Pet Meat Supplies, based in Australia's Northern Territory, wants to use culled animals from Australia's Kakadu National Park as ingredients in its pet food, according to reports.

The pet food manufacturer says it already collects feral animals from cattle stations and some other nationals parks run by the local government. The company's director, Peter Halse, says the culled animals are rotting in Kakadu National Park, but his recent application to use feral animals shot in Kakadu was denied.

"There's a huge amount that gets wasted and they're the animals that we're after that could be used," Halse said. "We put a proposal in the pay for these animals, pay royalties to the traditional owners, plus utilize the meat."

Trupanion pet insurance now covers veterinary therapeutic petfoods

2011-12-13T08:59:00.000-06:00

Pet insurance company Trupanion announced that its dog and cat insurance now includes benefits for veterinary therapeutic pet foods, including the full line of Hill’s Prescription Diet petfoods, and veterinary exclusive preventative nutrition, including Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Advantage petfood.
The pet insurance covers half of the cost of therapeutic pet foods for two months, followed by a discount on the monthly insurance premium for continued feeding of the therapeutic pet food, available exclusively through veterinary hospitals. Veterinary healthcare teams can find out more about the program through their Trupanion Territory Partner or by calling +1.800.569.7913.
“It makes sense for us to get the news out about Trupanion’s new coverage. This helps pet owners be in a better place to comply with a recommended veterinary therapeutic pet food and supports the healthcare team’s action plan when it comes to nutrition for every pet,” said Janet Donlin, D.V.M., chief veterinary officer at Hill’s.

Settlement reached in Del Monte petfood business sale lawsuit

2011-12-12T08:43:00.000-06:00

A Delaware, USA, judge recently accepted an October settlement involving Del Monte Foods' shareholders over a lawsuit that arose from the sale of the company's pet food business division in 2010 to Barclays Capital. The deal finalizes the US$89.4 million settlement arranged by the Delaware court that claims the two parties did not act properly in the sale of the pet food business to private-equity investors, led by KKR.

The shareholders sued Del Monte and Barclays, citing a potential conflict when the bank financed the debt needed for private-equity investors to buy the California, USA-based pet food maker for US$5.3 billion, while simultaneously acting as an advisor to the board on its sale negotiations. The shareholders claimed Del Monte's sale was organized to lessen bidding competition.
Earlier in the year, Delaware Chancery Court, Judge Travis Laster ruled in favor of plaintiffs citing Barclays' lack of disclosure, and most recently ruled that the US$89.4 million settlement "provides excellent consideration" to Del Monte shareholders, who will receive an additional 50 US cents to the company's buyout of US$19 per share. According to October filings with the Securities and Exchanges Commission, Barclays Capital and Del Monte Foods will split a US$89.4 million payment, sending US$23.7 million and US$65.7 million, respectively, to Del Monte's shareholders. Both Del Monte and Barclays denied any wrongdoing in the case.

Purina ad for probiotic petfood sprinkle features YouTube 'talking dog'

2011-12-12T08:41:00.000-06:00

According to pet food manufacturer Nestle Purina, the holidays can be a stressful time for dogs and their digestive systems, so the company created a new TV advertisement for its FortiFlora petfood sprinkle that helps manage gastrointestinal upset.

The FortiFlora ad features Mishka, an 8-year-old Siberian Husky and Internet sensation known as the "talking dog" from YouTube videos. In the ad, Mishka and other talking dogs bark "I love you" after getting the FortiFlora sprinkled into their food bowl. The ad was created by MDC Partners' Colle & McVoy.

FDA secures additional funds for food safety program

2011-12-12T08:39:00.000-06:00

After lobbying from an alliance of consumer advocates and industry groups, Congress increased the US Food and Drug Administration's funding by nearly 3% from last year’s level to US$3.8 billion, according to an article in the Washington Post. Of all the additional money FDA secured, the new food safety program received the largest amount of US$39 million.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association, the American Frozen Food Institute, the Snack Food Association and the Produce Marketing Association were among many food industry groups to support an advertisement sponsored by the Alliance for a Stronger FDA. The ad aimed to show why FDA should receive the additional funds, saying that “a science-based and predictable FDA” helps industry to innovate and create high-paying jobs, and that FDA-regulated products account for more than 20% of US consumer spending.
“We’re competing with manufacturers all over the world,” said Scott Faber, vice president of the Grocery Manufacturers Association. “Maintaining and burnishing FDA’s reputation helps us open doors in those markets.”
In response to a number of recalls, Congress adopted the Food Safety Modernization Act in late 2010, which gives FDA more power to prevent foodborne illnesses instead of just reacting to them. The Act mandates increased petfood processing plant inspections, among other things that will require more FDA hires and create the need for additional funding.
“You need to put controls in place, validate their effectiveness and monitor that they’re actually working over time,” said Mike Taylor, FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods. “That’s a system that’s evolved in the food industry but has been adopted piecemeal.”

Cesar Canine Cuisine partners with Pandora for holiday radio station

2011-12-09T08:40:00.000-06:00

Pet lovers can listen to CESAR's playlist of songs during the holidays on Pandora radio.

Pet food brand Cesar Canine Cuisine is partnering with Pandora for the holidays to create a branded radio station for people to celebrate the ones they love, including their pets.

Listeners can connect to the online radio station via www.pandora.com/cesar and via a QR code on promotional materials at pet retailers, as well as through the company's website, Facebook page and Twitter. The station will be available through January 1, 2012.

Cesar brand and Pandora worked together to choose a list of uplifting songs that exemplify the Cesar brand’s personality. Approximately a dozen of these songs were featured in previous Cesar Canine Cuisine television commercials, including tracks from artists like Jason Mraz, Train and Jewel.
“We’re thrilled to bring such an innovative option to the Cesar brand,” said Tierney Monaco, director, Cesar brand. “We thought a playlist of songs to enjoy with loved ones would be an exciting way to give back to our supportive consumers."

Silliker plans 2012 food safety short courses for petfood manufacturers

2011-12-09T08:37:00.000-06:00

Food safety and nutrition services company Silliker has planned a range of food and pet food safety short courses throughout 2012.
Pet food manufacturers may register for any of the company's 20 short courses planned from January through September 2012. Some topics include: Crisis Management and Food Defense in a Food Plant; BRC- How to Interpret the Global Standard for Food Safety Issue 6; Microbiological Concerns in Food Plant Sanitation; Advanced HACCP: Managing Your HACCP System; and Effective Environmental Monitoring Aseptic Techniques.

Those interested in attending can get more information on specific courses and dates, and can register on Silliker's website. Those who register before December 31 will receive a 10% discount with 2011 pricing, the company says.

European Pet Food Industry Federation promotes responsible pet ownership in schools

2011-12-08T08:49:00.000-06:00

The European Pet Food Industry Federation, FEDIAF, is promoting its Responsible Pet Ownership program with a new video trailer that explains the group's resources for teachers in educating young children about pet ownership.

The four-minute trailer shows cats and dogs, and their relationships and interactions with families and children. The intro is provided by the FEDIAF secretary general, and a teacher follows with testimony on the development and practical use of FEDIAF's educational materials for schools.
Teaching materials include "Fascinating Cats" and "Fascinating Dogs" for primary school children, and "Dogs and young children" for children over the age of 3. The school programs were developed by educational experts and are published in English on FEDIAF's website, with translations done by national petfood industry associations also posted.

The video trailer can be downloaded online from FEDIAF.

Bravo! adds new proteins to raw pet food diet offerings

2011-12-08T08:46:00.000-06:00

Bravo! added duck and lamb blends to its line of raw petfood burgers.

Bravo!, a maker of raw pet food diets added two new proteins to its product portfolio. Beginning in February 2012, both USA-made duck and New Zealand-made lamb blends will be available in the burger petfood format.

The petfood company says its duck and lamb formulations contain a blend of meat, organs, bones and vegetables, and contain no grains, fillers or preservatives. Each package contains 10 8-oz. burgers, which are individually-wrapped and packaged in a freezer-ready bag.
“The burger format has really caught on with consumers, especially those who are new to feeding raw and are coming into the category in droves,” said David Bogner, Bravo! co-founder. “Based on the success of our recently-released duck feet treats, and our New Zealand lamb products, the logical next step was to offer these proteins in a burger format.”
Bravo! will support the launch of the new offerings by including a free 8-oz. sample burger of either the duck or lamb in all of its current burger blend products, including chicken, turkey and beef, being distributed throughout February 2012 and March 2012. In addition to the free sample, each bag will include a US$5 off coupon good on the purchase of a full-sized package of either duck or lamb burgers.

RECALL: Cargill recalls River Run, Marksman dog food for high aflatoxin levels

2011-12-08T08:42:00.000-06:00

Cargill is voluntarily recalling dog food, sold under the River Run and Marksman brand names, due to high levels of aflatoxin.

The affected dog food was manufactured at the company's Lecompte, Louisiana, USA, plant from December 1, 2010, through December 1, 2011. The food was distributed in 13 American states and two American territories: Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Hawaii, Florida, California, and Guam and the US Virgin Islands.
"No illnesses have been reported in association with these products to date, and no other Cargill Animal Nutrition petfood products are involved in this recall," Cargill said in a statement.

The Co-operative relaunches petfood brand in UK market

2011-12-07T08:46:00.000-06:00

The Co-operative is relaunching its own brand of pet food to try and capture a larger share of the UK pet care market.

The range has been extended to include 11 new products and new-look packaging that displays details about The Co-operative’s new pet insurance scheme. The company says its own-brand petfood range is made with no added artificial colors or flavors. Some new products include The Co-operative Supreme Beef and Liver, The Co-operative Complete Tuna and Shrimp, and a special puppy food.

Cargill completes acquisition of animal nutrition company Provimi

2011-12-07T08:44:00.000-06:00

Cargill, a producer of food and agricultural products, completed its acquisition of animal nutrition company Provimi for around US$2.1 billion.

The company will mainly focus on feeds for cattle, poultry and swine producers, though Cargill does produce and market companion animal foods in the US, primarily through feed stores and other agricultural retailers under its Loyall petfood and River Run dog food brands. Cargill also markets bagged feed for horses, poultry, goats, rabbits and other animals under the Nutrena (US) and Purina (international) brands.
Ton van der Laan, previously chairman and group CEO of Provimi, will lead Cargill’s new animal business as corporate vice president, along with Joe Stone, Cargill’s animal nutrition business leader. The combined company will employ more than 16,000 people in 37 countries, according to Cargill.
Provimi sold its European petfood business to the private equity group Advent International earlier in 2011 for nearly US$240 million.

RECALL: Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dog food recalled for high aflatoxin levels

2011-12-07T08:41:00.000-06:00

Pet food manufacturer Procter & Gamble is voluntarily recalling select bags of Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food, due to aflatoxin levels detected higher than the accepted limit.

The recall is for 7-, 8-, and 17.5-pound bags of the Iams dog food, marked with expiration dates of February 5, 2013, and February 6, 2013. The affected bags were distributed in the following places in the US: Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Maine, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia.
The company said no illnesses have been reported yet as a result of the contaminated petfood, but the recall is being issued as a precautionary measure. Pets that consume the product and show signs of sluggishness or lethargy, reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tinted eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be taken to a veterinarian, the company says. Consumers who purchased the recalled food should stop using it immediately, throw it out and contact Iams for a replacement voucher.

petMD hosts Facebook contest for free petfood for a year

2011-12-06T08:53:00.000-06:00

Online pet health resource petMD is launching a contest on its Facebook page from now through December 16, to award one winning pet owner with a year's supply of pet food.

Pet owners can enter the sweepstakes on the petMD Facebook page, which offers resources for pet owners, such as a pet symptom checker, pet personality quiz, Pet of the Week contest, and expert tips and advice from petMD veterinarians. PetMD will award the sweepstakes on December 19.

Pet Food Manufacturers' Association offers tips on selecting dog food

2011-12-06T08:51:00.000-06:00

Pet parents need to consider their pet's age, size, health and activity level when selecting the appropriate pet food, according to Michael Bellingham, Pet Food Manufacturers' Association chief executive.

Bellingham said that different dog breeds require different nutrients, so it can be "very beneficial" to tailor an animal's diet to its needs. Bellingham noted that commercial dog food is specifically designed to be "nutritionally balanced" to meet a dog's health requirements, so it is also critical that pet owners do not feed their pet table scraps that lack these necessary nutrients.
"Pet owners may also want to consider other factors such as convenience of feeding - for example wet versus dry - the dog's enjoyment of a food and their own budget," Bellingham said.

Purina Dog Chow launches donation campaign for Facebook page 'likes'

2011-12-05T08:43:00.001-06:00

Purina Dog Chow brand dog food created a Facebook page to celebrate the launch of Paramount Pictures upcoming film, The Adventures of Tintin, and will make a monetary donation to three animal organizations for every consumer who "likes" the new page.

For each consumer who "likes" the Purina Dog Chow Facebook page, the brand will donate US$1, up to US$150,000, to be split equally between three service and therapy dog organizations featured on the page. Purina will donate an additional US$1 for each friend who visits the promotion page by clicking on the link in a shared Facebook message.

The program will run through January 3, 2012.

Global pettfood market to reach US$95.7 billion by 2017, report predicts

2011-12-05T08:39:00.000-06:00

Global Industry Analysts Inc. released a report on the global petfood market, which projects the market will reach US$95.7 billion by 2017, driven by macro regional economic conditions, pet population and consumer attitude.

The report, "Pet Foods: A Global Strategic Business Report," provides an overview of pet food industry trends, issues, strategic industry activities and profiles of major petfood manufacturers worldwide. It also provides market estimates and projections for the specific product segments of cat food, dog food and other petfood, including food for birds, fish and small animals) across geographic markets including the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the rest of the world.

The report says factors such as attitude changes towards pets combined with growing urbanization and increase in disposable incomes have contributed significantly to the increase in the number of households owning pets, driving up demand for petfoods. Some trends identified in the report are the increased popularity of organic petfoods, humanization of pets, and a greater interest in pet health and nutrition.
The report identifies Europe as the largest regional market, which is attributed to a health-oriented products, especially those meant for different ages and types of pets and pet treats, and identifies Asia-Pacific as the fastest growing regional market.
Dog food remains the largest and fastest growing market segment. Retail grocery chains dominate the distribution and marketing of petfood, while pet specialty stores and pet superstores also hold a moderate share, with the remainder accounted for by independent grocers, according to the report. Trends affecting the distribution of cat and dog foods include emergence of the new veterinarian/clinic distribution format, waning role of pet shops, and the rise of hypermarkets and supermarkets.
Major petfood manufacturers profiled in the report include C&D Foods Ltd., Del Monte Foods, Hartz Mountain Corporation, Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc., Mars Inc., Nestle Purina PetCare Company, Nutro Products Inc., and The Iams Company.

Banfield Pet Hospitals host pet food drive in December

2011-12-02T08:53:00.000-06:00

Veterinary professionals from across the United States are taking part in a national pet food drive, Season of Suppers, to help pet owners feed their hungry pets.

During November and December, Banfield Charitable Trust hopes to collect more than 70,000 pounds of petfood to provide 140,000 meals to the pets of homebound seniors, the unemployed and the disabled in 2012. Through December 31, pet owners may donate bags and cans of cat and dog food to any Banfield Pet Hospital, most of which are located inside PetSmart stores. Banfield Charitable Trust also hopes to raise more than US$100,000 in monetary donations on its website and at the pet hospitals in order to fund grants for more than 100 local Meals on Wheels pet food distribution programs after the food donations are depleted.

Plans for VICTAM, FIAAP Asia 2012 continue despite Thailand flooding

2011-12-02T08:50:00.000-06:00

Preparations for FIAAP, VICTAM & GRAPAS Asia 2012 continue to progress, despite recent flooding in parts of Thailand, including Bangkok, show organizers say.

The situation seems to be improving with flood levels going down throughout Bangkok and the country of Thailand. The majority of Bangkok is flood-free and much of the above-ground transportation system is operating, as well as the underground railway, the BTS Skytrain and Bangkok's International Suvarnabhumi Airport. Downtown Bangkok, where the majority of the city’s hotels are situated, and BITEC, the exhibition venue, have also remained flood-free.

Show organizers, Victam International, expect the event to draw senior trade executives from throughout the animal feed and grain processing industries of south and southeast Asia. The exhibition is already 25% larger than the last event in 2010, including larger exhibitions, more product launches and more technical seminars. Some of the conferences at the event include Petfood Forum Asia 2012, FIAAP Asia Conference 2012, Biomass - Pellets Update Asia, Aquafeed Horizons Asia 2012, the Thai Feed Conference, and a GMP+ seminar on feed safety and sustainability.

The shows and conferences will open at BITEC on February 15-17, 2012. To register as a visitor for free or to see a list of all conferences and exhibitors, visit Victam's show website.

New Zealand raw dog food manufacturer seeks investors

2011-12-01T09:03:00.000-06:00

New Zealand raw dog food manufacturer K9 Natural is seeking to raise US$2.5 million from new investors.

The Christchurch-based company says it has grown from a small business with US$650,000 in sales to US$5 million turnover and to 22 employees in the past three years through an export focus to main overseas markets in the United States, Canada, Japan and Hong Kong.
K9 says it was breaking even, and aims to raise sales and lower unit production costs to grow profitability. K9 says it would use a small portion of the US$2.5 million to invest in the factory, but most of the money would be used to drive sales by setting up a team in the North Island and in the US, developing the company's website, and probably employing a full-time social media staff member.
K9 Natural was formed almost five years ago by police dog handler, Geoff Bowers, and Bruce Mayhew. Bowers and Mayhew, along with chief executive, Calvin Smith, and chairman, Chris Stewart, currently each own a 25% share in the company.

AFIA to hold petfood conference at 2012 International Feed Expo

2011-12-01T09:01:00.000-06:00

The 2012 Pet food Conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, on Tuesday, January 24, at the International Feed Expo/International Poultry Expo, organized by the American Feed Industry Association and US Poultry & Egg Association.

The conference covers a variety of topics ranging from regulatory issues to the technical aspects of production, food safety, marketing and use of ingredients. Expert speakers will include: Svetlana Uduslivaia, Euromonitor International, addressing domestic and global petfood industry trends; Dr. Dale Hill, ADM Alliance Nutrition Inc., discussing ingredient variability; Douglas Marshall, Eurofins Scientific Inc., and Duarte Diaz, Novus International Inc., addressing petfood safety topics; a US Food and Drug Administration update on the one year anniversary of the Food Safety Modernization Act; and Leah Wilkinson, AFIA, covering third-party certification programs.
The conference will also feature a number of panels. The FDA/AAFCO panel will include officials who will deliver a regulatory update of ingredient approvals, unapproved animal drugs, calorie labeling and the future of GRAS listings in the AAFCO Official Publication. An ingredient supplier question-and-answer panel will offer insight into establishing supplier relationships and issues facing the pet food ingredient sector. The concluding panel will highlight the future of food and feed safety.

The day-long conference, which will be held from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., has an add-on registration fee of US$40, in addition to the initial IFE/IPE registration fee of US$40. After January 6, the rates for both increase to US$60 each. Those interested in attending may register online.

Pedigree responds to consumer complaint about chewy dog treat

2011-11-30T08:48:00.000-06:00

Pet food manufacturer Pedigree said claims made in a TV ad for the Jumbone chew treat are "mere puffery," after a dog owner complained to the Advertising Standards Authority that his dogs consumed the treats in seconds.

The TV ad features a small dog gnawing on the Jumbone and giving up after it could not finish what the commercial called a "long-lasting chewy treat." The dog owner complained to the ASA, claiming his dogs took "under one minute" to finish off the bones.
In its response to the complaint, Pedigree said the man should not have believed the claim of the "lighthearted" ad, saying it was "mere puffery". In Pedigree's view, "long lasting" meant "several minutes." The ASA weighed the evidence and dismissed the consumer complaint, siding with Pedigree that its chewy dog treats lasted an average of about "three minutes and 21 seconds," which it considered long lasting, in comparison to softer treats.

Petfood not necessarily to blame for US pet obesity epidemic

2011-11-30T08:46:00.000-06:00

A recent Chicago Tribune article focuses on the epidemic of overweight cats and dogs in the United States.

A 2011 survey, conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, found that more than half of the dogs and cats in the US are overweight or obese, which is defined as being at least 30% above normal body weight.

"It comes from the fact that they are beloved," says veterinarian Louise Murray, vice president of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital in New York, USA. "We see them as part of the family, and we feed them. (The obesity) comes from a good place because we love them. But we need to get it under control because it can cause health problems."
Many pet owners, however, do not see the problem of pet obesity. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has a chart to help pet owners determine whether or not their pet is overweight, though a veterinarian visit is still recommended.
"There are medical conditions that can cause obesity and weight gain," says Thomas Graves, a professor of veterinary clinical medicine at the University of Illinois' College of Veterinary Medicine. "So any animal with a weight problem needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. That way, a proper weight loss program can be designed by the veterinarian."
A good pet weight loss regiment usually involves a combination of diet and exercise. Graves does not recommend one brand over another, but advises consumers to select a premium-brand petfood, appropriate for the pet's lifestage, and check with a veterinarian for the appropriate feeding amount.
"The truth about petfood is that most pet foods are really good," Graves says. "The petfood companies spend lots of money researching proper nutrition. They want pets fed healthy food that keeps them alive a long time — and buying more food."
Murray says that most weight problems in dogs are the result of feeding too many leftovers, snacks and treats that are high in calories, not the dog's regular food.
In cats, Murray says weight problems come from a diet that is too high in carbohydrates. She recommends canned or moist cat foods.
"Cats are nature's pure carnivores," she says. "They were never meant to eat carbohydrates. Their bodies are not designed to handle them at all. Unfortunately, a lot of the cat foods on the market are high in carbs, especially dry foods. It's easy for us to leave a bowl out all day, but then they're snacking on carbohydrates all day."
Exercising your pet is another important part of keeping it at a healthy weight. For dogs, Murray suggests long walks, three or four times a day, or playing active games like fetch. For cats, she says exercise can consist of waving a simple toy around or getting the cat to chase a laser pointer.
"Any kind of exercise for them is good," Graves explains. "And it's really important that they get mental stimulation too. One way to keep dogs' brains in better shape as they age is to expose them to new things. Don't take them on the same route on the walk every day. Vary it. Go a different way. Let them use their brains more."

FDA says petfood Salmonella testing is 'routine'

2011-11-29T09:10:00.000-06:00

A spokeswoman for the US Food and Drug Administration says media coverage of a recent FDA announcement that it will sample pet food, pet treats and supplements for possible Salmonella contamination has been misleading to pet owners.

Laura Alvey, a spokeswoman in FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, said the focus on Salmonella in petfood was planned as a part of FDA's fiscal 2012 assignments.
“I'm afraid that what has been reported in the media on this topic has been a bit disingenuous,” Alvey said. “This is a routine surveillance sampling assignment that we have been doing since 2007.”
According to Alvey, the sampling surveys have been used every year, with the only change this year being the title of the survey, which she says may be a cause of the sudden media interest. The previous Salmonella surveys were entitled Nationwide Assignment to Collect and Analyze Samples of Direct-Human-Contact Feed from Interstate Commerce in the United States for Salmonella. “Direct-human-contact feed” includes petfoods, treats and supplements, as well as food for animals in petting zoos and agricultural fairs. The new Salmonella survey is titled Nationwide Assignment to Collect and Analyze Samples of Pet Foods, Pet Treats, and Supplements for Pets from Interstate Commerce in the United States for Salmonella.
Alvey said the FDA sampling is not in response to previous Salmonella outbreaks or to previous journal articles.
“Our goal here is to get an idea of how common Salmonella is in dry pet food, and then to determine which serotypes are most common and whether they are disease-causing pathogens,” she said. “There is no reason to believe petfood is unsafe.”
In this latest FDA survey, samples are being collected from nationwide outlets where pet food, treats or supplements are offered for sale or for consumption. Imported products and canned petfood are not included. The sampling was scheduled to begin in October 2011 and run through September 2012. The agency did not give a timetable for reporting results.

PetFoodDirect.com launches Rescue Tales Facebook Contest

2011-11-29T09:07:00.001-06:00

PetFoodDirect.com launched the Feeding Fido & Friends Rescue Tales Facebook Contest. The nationwide contest invites pet lovers to tell their rescue tales of inspirational pets and the rescues or shelters that helped them beat the odds.

Now through December 18, pet lovers can submit their rescue tales on PetFoodDirect.com’s Facebook page. A team of judges will select 10 finalists with the most moving stories and post them on Facebook in early January 2012. Facebook users may then vote for two weeks to select the winning, most inspirational rescue tale.

The winning rescue or shelter organization will receive US$5,000 in pet food and treats from the contest’s sponsors–Eukanuba, Fancy Feast, Greenies, Halo, Pounce and World’s Best Cat Litter. Each of the nine finalists will receive a US$100 gift certificate from PetFoodDirect.com.
“As a company built on providing food for our four-legged friends, it’s important to us that we do our part in caring for animals in need,” said Brock Weatherup, CEO of PetFoodDirect.com. “We launched this contest to help support the amazing work done by rescue and shelter organizations across the country. They’re giving pets a second chance each and every day.”

PetFlow.com founders launch successful pet food delivery site using marketing knowledge

2011-11-28T08:48:00.000-06:00

Just over a year ago the pet food delivery service PetFlow.com was launched, yet the pet food delivery service has been so successful that it now does more than US$1 million in business every month, according to a recent blog that tells the retailer's success story.

One reason PetFlow.com has been so successful is that the founders, Alex Zhardanovsky and Joe Speiser, found a niche in a market that is growing, despite a tough economy. Another reason for the success is that Zhardanovsky and Speiser already had a background in Internet marketing before starting the company. The two used a 40% share of their proceeds from the sale of their company, Azoogle, to start PetFlow.com. The use of marketing schemes like online petfood coupons, flyers, Facebook and search/banner marketing to advertise the pet food delivery service to the pet industry. Through the use of images of cute puppies, kittens and other animals, PetFlow created ad campaigns that appeal directly to its customers.

Chicken jerky treats from China may sicken dogs, FDA warns

2011-11-28T08:46:00.000-06:00

The US Food and Drug Administration is warning pet owners to be award of chicken jerky products from China that may be associated with reports of Fanconi-like syndrome in dogs.

In its alert to dog owners, FDA says chicken jerky products should not be substituted for a balanced diet and are only intended to be fed occasionally, in small quantities.

FDA advises consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products to monitor them closely for any or all of the following Fanconi-like symptoms that may occur within hours to days of feeding the products: decreased appetite; decreased activity; vomiting; diarrhea, sometimes with blood; and increased water consumption and/or increased urination. If the dog shows any of these signs, pet owners should stop feeding the chicken jerky product and consult a veterinarian if signs are severe or last for more than 24 hours. Although most dogs appear to recover, some reports have involved dogs that have died, according to FDA.

FDA and several US animal health diagnostic laboratories are working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs. FDA's Veterinary Laboratory Response Network is available to support these animal health diagnostic laboratories. To date, scientists have not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses. FDA continues extensive chemical and microbial testing but has not yet identified a contaminant. Veterinarians and consumers alike should report cases of animal illness associated with petfoods to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator in their state or go to www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.

Pet Food Manufacturers' Association executive recommends breed-specific dog food

2011-11-28T08:44:00.000-06:00

Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (UK) chief executive, Michael Bellingham, recently recommended that dogs should be provided with the correct food formulated specifically for their breed.

Certain breeds of dogs are prone to specific health problems, making it important they receive the proper diet, Bellingham said. Additionally, he said, size, energy requirements and health issues should all be considered in selecting a pet's food. According to PFMA, all dogs must have 37 "essential" nutrients in their food.
"We see variation in the nutritional needs of dogs depending on their characteristics," said Bellingham.
Petfood manufacturers offer a range of breed-specific dog foods, including Royal Canin Yorkshire Terrier dog food and Eukanuba German Shepherd dog food.

Canine health company receives nutrigenomics patent

2011-11-22T09:03:00.000-06:00

Canine health company Hemopet received its fourth patent for the company's nutrigenomics portfolio.

Hemopet says its business strategy calls for launching nutrigenomic pet food supplements in 2012, formulas which are currently being tested in Europe.
“Our intellectual property protects and confirms Hemopet as a leader in nutrigenomic petfoods. It validates our being at the forefront of petfood issues and further builds on our philosophy of individualized care for pets,” said Dr. Jean Dodds, president.

Provimi Pet Food renamed Partner in Pet Food

2011-11-22T09:01:00.000-06:00

The pet food manufacturer formerly known as Provimi Pet Food is renaming itself as Partner in Pet Food.

The decision to rebrand follows the sale of the business by Provimi Group to Advent International, a global private equity firm, the company says.

German pet product company Rondo Food buys Ireland pet treat manufacturer

2011-11-22T08:59:00.000-06:00

German pet product company Rondo Food GmbH & Co. KG bought Ireland-based Gaines Europe Ltd., a manufacturer of treats for dogs and cats.

Rondo Food will continue production in Ireland with approximately 70 employees on the present scale. The company belongs to both managing directors, Dirk Wellen and Thilo Kühne.
“With the acquisition of Gaines, we want to strengthen our activities outside Europe,” said managing director for sales, Thilo Kühne.

UK petfood manufacturer named regional finalist in HSBC Business Thinking Initiative

2011-11-22T08:57:00.000-06:00

UK pet food manufacturer MPM Products was recently featured in aUK Telegraph blog for being named a regional finalist in the HSBC Business Thinking initiative.

Set up in 2002, MPM Products is a premium-quality pet food manufacturer with two brands: Applaws and Encore. The business generates annual sales of £12 million (US$18.93 million), according to the blog, which represents an increase of 87% over the past three years.
Julian Bambridge, MPM Products managing director, said: “We have just opened an office in Atlanta and will be shipping products very soon, and this trip has confirmed our excitement about the opportunity that British companies have in the US. It has certainly given us more confidence that we are doing the right thing and with HSBC we have the right partners to do it. This trip has also given us the confidence that we can go beyond the US to explore the opportunity in other countries.
“I also think that we can take home with us the positive approach of the US markets. It’s tough out there but that doesn’t mean that we cannot achieve growth provided we make sure we target the right demographic.
“We have searched hard for the right international partners who have the same vision of growth as we do, and we will certainly do that again. Likewise, we will also make sure that we seek out and use expert local advisers in every market we choose to expand in.”

Wellness ranked top cat, dog food brand among Pet Sitters International members

2011-11-22T08:54:00.002-06:00

Pet Sitters International’s recent State of the Industry Survey polled more than 7,000 member businesses on several of the professional pet care industry’s product preferences, including cat and dog foods.

The top-ranking dog food brand among PSI’s professional pet sitter members was Wellness. Purina ProPlan placed second and Science Diet ranked third. The preferred dog chew among PSI pet sitters was Nylabone, followed by Greenies and rawhide chews, of no particular brand. For cat foods, PSI members also preferred Wellness brand. Science Diet ranked second and Purina ranked third.
The majority of professional pet sitters said they shop for their pet products at a retail store, though online shopping continues to gain ground.

Global pet food industry worth $50 billion in 2010, Markets and Markets report estimates

2011-11-22T08:53:00.000-06:00

In 2010, the global pet market was estimated to be worth more than US$50 billion in 2010, according to Markets and Markets' petfood industry report, "Global Pet Food Market by Type, Animal, Geography Trends & Outlook 2011-2016."

The report says that North America dominates the global petfood market, with more than 40% of the total market share in 2010. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region, such as India and China, as well as Brazil are expected to be high-growth markets for petfood, according to the report. The report also includes trends in the global petfood market, such as the shift to organic and natural petfoods.

A copy of the report may be purchased online from Markets and Markets.

ACSI finds customer satisfaction with pet food down in 2011

2011-11-22T08:51:00.000-06:00

The third-quarter 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index found that customer satisfaction with pet food purchases has dropped for the second year in a row, down 1.2% to a satisfaction index ranking of 82 out of 100.

According to the ACSI report, the decline at the industry level is driven by a large drop for petfood manufacturer Mars Petcare as well as aggregate satisfaction declines for smaller petfood labels. The report also attributes price to the depressed satisfaction in pet food purchases.
In 2010, both Mars and the smaller petfood brands led the petfood category with a ranking of 85. However, small brands now tie the industry satisfaction average, following a 4% drop to 82, and Mars dropped 6% to last place with a score of 80. Hill’s Pet Nutrition gained 2% satisfaction, making the company the industry leader with a score of 84. Procter & Gamble’s Iams petfood brand gained 1% to a score of 81, while Del Monte's satisfaction ranking fell by 1% and Nestlé Purina PetCare's ranking remained unchanged, both with scores of 82.
“When there is little or no industry growth, the only way for many companies to expand is to take market share from competition,” said Claes Fornell, founder of ACSI. “In an anemic labor market with tight household budgets, this leads to more price competition, deflationary pressure and a further weakening of aggregate demand. The best defense a company can have against competitive efforts to take market share is to have satisfied customers.”

UK packaging company introduces single-serve cat food can

2011-11-22T08:48:00.000-06:00

To help petfood manufacturers meet the UK's growing demand for premium cat food, Crown Food Europe - Cans and Closures, a business unit of Crown Holdings Inc., introduced an 85-gram package that provides single-serve portions to consumers and shelf differentiation for manufacturers.

Crown says its 85-gram container helps manufacturers address consumer demands through features such as superior metal packaging barrier characteristics to protect the nutritional value of the cat food and extend its shelf life, while providing convenience to consumers through the smaller, single-serving sizes.
“Consumers are paying greater attention to the overall health and wellness of their families, and that mindset has extended to their beloved cats,” said Ana Neale, marketing director, Crown Food Europe. “This desire for cat food with higher nutritional value has led many brands to launch premium products, including lines that are natural or organic, focus on special diet needs or contain health-fortifying ingredients. Since consumers are often paying more for these products, it’s critical that the packaging delivers value on multiple levels. Along with protecting the quality and taste of these upscale products, it should also respond to consumer demands for convenience and environmentally friendly packaging.”
Additionally, Crown says the containers are compatible with its range of easy-open ends to ensure easy and safe opening for consumers. The can, 100% metal, is recyclable and is produced with more than half recycled materials.

Raw dog food manufacturer switches to 'green' flexible packaging

2011-11-21T08:47:00.000-06:00

Raw dog food manufacturer Steve’s Real Food has switched to using an environmentally friendly flexible packaging for its pet food products, which is constructed of renewable and compostable materials, printed and laminated with low-VOC, water-based inks and adhesives.

The Utah, USA-based dog food manufacturer chose Eagle Flexible Packaging's NVIRO because the company says it is committed to following strict environmental standards.

"I really wanted a solution that was green, not just one that sounded green,” said Nicole Lindsley, project manager at Steve’s.
NVIRO packaging is derived from corn and plant starches, allowing it to compost in a municipal composting environment. The packaging is produced using water-based inks, which Eagle says contain less than 5% volatile organic compounds. This makes NVIRO packaging "green from the zipper to the sealant,” according to Eagle.
Not only did Steve's consider environmental impact in selecting the packaging, but the company also took into consideration consumer convenience. The new package incorporates ZIP-PAK's Press-to-Close solution, made from the same compostable material as the pouch film, which makes it easier for the consumer to open and reclose the petfood packages.

Pet retailers not selling live animals may get recognition in San Francisco

2011-11-21T08:45:00.000-06:00

The San Francisco, California, USA, Commission of Animal Control and Welfare is looking into ways to highlight pet stores that do not actually sell live animals, one of which includes a special sign that would be displayed in the window of pet retailers that only sell pet food and accessories, The Examiner reported.

Animal commission director, Ryan Young, suggested the new initiative after a June 2011 recommendation to ban stores outright from selling pets made little progress with the city's Board of Supervisors, which would need to approve the ordinance.
Young suggested the city issue official signs to be placed in the storefronts of all pet stores in San Francisco that do not sell live animals, serving as a reminder to customers that these businesses have chosen not to engage in the practice of selling pets when so many are already in shelters.
“The idea would be to highlight and reward the pet stores who have chosen not to sell live animals,” Young said.
However, Michael Maddox, general counsel for the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, said that Young’s sign program would unfairly condemn all pet shops.
“This is making a blanket comment about pet stores that is not based on fact,” Maddox said. “This would essentially amount to a city-wide boycott, irrespective of the quality of care at pet stores.”
The commission will further discuss the animal sign program at its meeting on November 10.

Pet supplier to hold Thanksgiving weekend webcast sale

2011-11-21T08:42:00.002-06:00

Pet product supplier and pet treat company Drs. Foster & Smith will reward online shoppers with discounts, prizes and four hours of live video streaming to kick off the holiday shopping season over the Thanksgiving weekend.

The live webcast sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST on Friday, November 25, and Monday, November 28, broadcast at www.DrsFosterSmith.com.

Each four-hour webcast will feature expert guests, veterinarians answering viewer questions, pet care tips, and the chance to enter every 15 minutes for free prizes. Each sweepstakes will only run for that 15 minutes and winners will be notified immediately. Winners will receive a unique coupon code to enter on the site and also get an additional 10% off any other products in their orders with free ground shipping.
Viewers interested in having their questions answered on-air by one of the company’s staff veterinarians should visit the company’s Facebook or Twitter between now and Thanksgiving weekend.

Hill's names veterinary technician as second Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes winner

2011-11-18T09:01:00.000-06:00

Nakia Ritchie was selected as the second Smart Car winner in Hill's Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes.

Hill's Pet Nutrition's Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes selected the second of three national winners of a new Smart Car.

Nakia Ritchie of Saline County Animal Clinic in Benton, Arkansas, USA, was randomly selected as the recipient of a new Smart Car from 587,000 sweepstakes entries.
The Drive Nutrition Sweepstakes called for veterinary technicians to register and complete activities, such as attending a Hill's event or pet nutrition seminar, calling the Hill's Veterinary Consultation Service, posting photos of themselves with pets/clients and a "Drive Nutrition" flag to the online gallery or answering educational nutritional trivia questions.

Canidae pet food founders honored with entrepreneur award

2011-11-18T08:58:00.000-06:00

Canidae petfood founders John Gordon and Scott Whipple were presented the Inland Empire Spirit of the Entrepreneur award.

Canidae was recently named among recipients of the Inland Empire Spirit of the Entrepreneur award.

The natural pet food company was started by John Gordon and Scott Whipple as a way to keep their pet food store in business after a national petfood chain store moved into the neighborhood. Today, the company's products are sold by more than 7,000 pet food retailers worldwide.
The annual awards ceremony, organized by the Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship at Cal State San Bernardino in California, USA, recognized the top winners from a pool of 25 finalists and more than 140 nominees.
Mike Stull, Inland Empire Center director and founding organizer of the event, said the awards are a way to recognize inland California businesses and inspire others.
“It reinforces that we do have a good region,” Stull said. “In spite of the economic challenges, there are a lot of good things happening.”

UK small animal food manufacturer receives British Retail Consortium's 'A' grade

2011-11-18T08:55:00.002-06:00

UK-based Cranswick Pet Products, a manufacturer of wild bird food and small animal pet food, retained its "A" grade from the British Retail Consortium, following an inspection of its manufacturing facility.

To comply with BRC requirements, the company had to meet 10 key manufacturing requirements, covering everything from processes, to hygiene and safety, to traceability of the ingredients. For an "A" grade, companies are allowed up to nine non-conformances; Cranswick Pet Products says it received just one minor recommendation across the whole site.
“We are always looking for ways to improve our business practices, and to be recognized by the BRC for our commitment to quality is fantastic. We aim to maintain these high standards through continued investment in people and our facilities," said James Farnsworth of Cranswick Pet Products.

New Zealand raw petfood manufacturer named to Deloitte's Fast 50

2011-11-14T16:53:00.002-06:00

New Zealand petfood company K9 Natural Food was named among the top five fastest growing companies in Deloitte's Fast 50 ranking, which the petfood company attributes to huge export growth.

Christchurch, New Zealand-based K9 Natural was named the top manufacturer in New Zealand and top exporter in the Canterbury/upper South Island, New Zealand, region. The Deloitte Fast 50 is a ranking of the top 50 fastest growing companies in New Zealand.
K9 Natural Food CEO Calvin Smith said the company's annual export growth climbed 1,875% with increased sales in Japan, Canada, the US and Australia. Overall growth resulted in a 797% increase.
"Sales in the later part of this year have been stronger than the early part of the year. The sales growth has been driven by expanding the domestic distribution network and the launch of Feline Natural cat food. The sales growth for the next six months will be driven by launching the frozen product into North America and Australia," Smith said. "Exports are currently accounting for approximately 70% of total sales at the moment. Our huge export growth was due to the company focusing primarily on export sales. More recently we have looked at the domestic market and have doubled domestic sales in the last six months."

Petco to share petfood, pet product sales data with Nielsen

2011-11-14T16:52:00.000-06:00

Petfood and pet product retailer Petco named Nielsen as its provider of census-level sales information from Petco stores.

Petco will be among the first pet specialty retailers to join the consumer product goods industry’s information sharing model, adding to existing market information provided by many US food, drug, mass, convenience and dollar store retailers.
By sharing sales data with Nielsen, Petco will be able to gain a better understanding of consumer purchasing behavior, the company's competitive position in the marketplace, and new marketing and pricing strategies. For petfood manufacturers, Petco's cooperation with Nielsen will improve the level of available data and analytics in the growing pet specialty product market. Once available, manufacturers will have access to several levels of market intelligence and insight on both a regional and national level.
“We’re delighted to be working side-by-side with Petco as they enter the industry’s cooperative information-sharing model,” said John Lewis, president and CEO, Consumer North America, Nielsen. “With information from Petco stores, Nielsen is better able to meet the needs of our clients in the pet business and help them and Petco grow their businesses through better analytics and deeper insights into their core consumers.”

Australian petfood manufacturer undergoes strategic business review

2011-11-14T16:50:00.000-06:00

Privately owned Australian petfood manufacturer VIP Petfoods is undergoing a strategic review of its business, including a possible sale, according to Reuters.

Tim Miles of Miles Advisory Partners, the company advising VIP Petfoods on its strategic review, said the petfood manufacturer has been approached by private-equity firms and trade buyers in the past.
"We're looking at what the options are that are available to the family. We may make acquisitions or we may make a sale," Miles said.
Miles declined to comment on the value of the business or its revenues and a VIP spokesman declined to comment on the strategic review.