Mars Petcare kicks off pet-friendly communities initiative

The initiative is designed to foster greater adoption of pet-friendly community policies and promote the benefits of pet ownership and pet adoption in the U.S. Initial programming in Nashville will include free adoption days with three area shelters, a $10,000 donation to the Nashville Parks Foundation and additional donations to 28 rescue shelters in Middle Tennessee.
"Mars Petcare is dedicated to making a better world for pets," said Mark Johnson, president of Mars Petcare North America. "There are countless studies documenting the physical and emotional benefits to pet ownership, particularly on promoting healthy, active lifestyles. We're excited to pilot this initiative in our hometown, and we know Nashville is a great role model for other communities looking to become more pet friendly."

People + pets = all kinds of good

Together with The  Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition – a leading scientific authority in pet nutrition and well-being founded by Mars more than 50 years ago – Mars Petcare has discovered that having a pet isn't just fun, it's actually really good for you. For example:

• Benefits to pet ownership include reducing the risk of heart disease and stress management, promoting healthy, active lifestyles, offering companionship and facilitating emotional connections.
• Dogs and other animals can also help children cope with a variety of ailments – depression, emotional disorders and even poor immune function, and can promote social skills.
• Pet owners are significantly more likely to meet new people in their neighborhoods than non-pet owners, with pets shown to facilitate friendships more often than in children's schools.

Nashville's pet-focused policies

Under Mayor Karl Dean's leadership, Nashville has become a more pet-friendly city by:

• Opening new dog parks
• Adding more than 4,500 acres of new parkland, 14 new parks and six park expansions in the past eight years, increasing parkland by 25 percent and increasing greenways by 50 percent, with 40 miles of new trails. Additionally, 21 water fountains have been added across the city, each featuring a dog bowl.
• Numerous health events – including 100 Miles with the Mayor, Mayor's Challenge 5K and Mayor's Field Day – have welcomed pets so that people can be active with their furry friends. The Mayor invited Metro's Animal Care and Control to participate in these events to increase adoption and to promote responsible pet ownership.

"I am proud of the strides we have made to become a more pet-friendly community," Dean said. "By investing in dog parks, improving the operations of our animal shelter and partnering with nonprofit shelters across the city, we have made Nashville a healthier city for residents and their pets. Thank you Mars for recognizing the commitment by our community to animal welfare. We appreciate your investment in dog parks through the Nashville Parks Foundation and look forward to many of our shelter dogs and cats finding forever homes through your free adoption program."

Clear out the shelters: free adoption days

On September 4 and 5, 2015, Mars Petcare will sponsor up to 300 adoptions at three Pedigree partner shelters – Metro Animal Care and Control (Davidson County), Williamson County Animal Shelter and Nashville Humane Association – in an effort to find all of these pets a forever home.
 Representatives from Banfield Pet Hospital – the largest privately owned veterinary practice in the U.S. – and the American Humane Association's "Red Star Rescue Rig," sponsored by Mars Petcare US, will also be on-site to hand out information, answer questions and provide additional support. The Red Star Rescue Rig is an 82-foot-long truck fully equipped to handle disasters and provide on-the-ground rescue services for animals.

Mars Pet Care taking steps toward sustainability

Mars Pet Care is leading the way when it comes to sustainability issues, according to a report.
In 2010, the company pledged to only buy fish from fisheries or fish farms that are certified as sustainable by third parties, and said it would replace all wild catch whole fish and fish fillet with byproducts or farmed fish. This is in effort to keep pet food sources from competing directly with sources for human food.
The challenge here is that pet owners increasingly are seeking to feed their pets the same way they feed themselves, with premium ingredients and food that resemble what humans eat.
“We are going to have to educate our consumers,” said Isabelle Alvoet, global sustainability director for Mars Pet Care. “It’s not easy.”
In the US, Mars has replaced all of its wild-caught fish supply with sources approved by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.
Other big pet food companies, like Nestle Purina and J.M. Smucker, also are taking steps toward sustainability.
Nestle Purina has published a 20-page report that said the company is reducing its energy and water use at selected plants. It says it also has “a traceability program … (that) focuses on issues such as deforestation, overfishing, human rights, child labor, water scarcity and animal welfare.”
J.M. Smucker says it regularly reviews its sustainability initiatives, but has not formalized its focus for its Big Heart Pet Brands.

Mars sued over Greenies ‘#1 Vet Recommended’ claim

Netherlands-based Paragon Pet Products Europe B.V. has filed a lawsuit accusing Mars Inc. of deceiving and misleading dog owners with a claim that its Greenies dental chews are the “#1 Vet Recommended Dental Chew.”
Paragon says the claim is unsubstantiated and false. A footnote on the back panel of the packaging suggests that Greenies is not, in fact, recommended by most or even a plurality of veterinarians.
On July 20, the judge hearing the case in the Southern District of New York – Paul A. Engelmayer – granted Paragon’s application for an order directing Mars to produce “all substantiation (e.g., documents, reports, studies, data, emails, and so forth” for the claim, “#1 Vet Recommended Dental Chew.” A hearing has been set for July 28 to consider next steps – including Paragon’s request for preliminary injunctive relief against Mars.
Paragon manufactures and sells Whimzees dental chews in competition with Greenies dental chews. Paragon’s complaint seeks an injunction requiring Mars to halt further use of the “#1 Vet Recommended Dental Chew” claim, to offer refunds to deceived purchasers of Greenies dental chews, and to correct and abate prior false advertising statements, including by correction or recall of Greenies retail packaging which contains the “#1 Vet Recommended Dental Chew” claim. Paragon is also seeking monetary relief.
 The complaint is Paragon Pet Products Europe B.V. vs. Mars Inc.

Mars to donate food to kitten rescued at plant

Mars Petcare will donate a one-year supply of Sheba, Iams and Temptations treats to the new adoptive owner of a kitten that was rescued after it hitched a ride under the truck that belongs to an employee of the Mars plant in Hackettstown, New Jersey, USA.
The orange and white tabby kitten reportedly traveled 28 miles inside the engine compartment of a pickup truck from East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania to the Mars chocolate plant when the truck’s owner went to work. The three-to-four-month-old kitten survived the ride without injury.
Police and employees of the Hackettstown Department of Public Works and Mars helped free the kitten, who ran a short distance before he was caught.
 If no one claims ownership of the kitten by July 10, it will be put up for adoption. Dozens of interested adopters have called the shelter where the kitten is being held.

Mars Petcare receives endorsement for Arkansas’ Tax Back Program

The Fort Smith, Arkansas, USA, board of directors has endorsed Mars Petcare for participation in its Tax Back Program for an expansion of the Mars Petcare facility there.

Mars Petcare is planning a US$81.7 million expansion of its facility, the second significant expansion of the plant in two years. The expansion will add an estimated 95 jobs, according to reports.
The Tax Back endorsement is a formality as part of an incentive program administered by the Arkansas Department of Economic Development. The program allows businesses to seek sales tax refunds from construction materials, new equipment and other qualifying expenses of investments that result in new jobs.
“This is how the city can move forward and help spur economic development in our city,” At-Large Director Kevin Settle said.

Mars acquires P&G petfood business in Australia, New Zealand

Mars Incorporated has completed its acquisition of the Iams and Eukanuba pet brands from The Procter & Gamble Company in Australia and New Zealand. This follows an agreement announced by the companies earlier in 2014 and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Mars has already acquired Procter & Gamble's petfood business in North America, Latin America and other select countries.
The Iams and Eukanuba brands will be part of Mars Petcare, joining brands Pedigree, Whiskas, My Dog, Dine, Optimum, Royal Canin, Nutro and Advance. The move is a strategic addition to the company's pet care portfolio that will enable Mars Petcare to meet the needs of more customers and pets in Australia and New Zealand, said the company. "Owning a pet is an important part of many people's lives in Australia and New Zealand—there are over 8.5 million pet cats and dogs," said Sylvia Burbery, general manager Australia, Mars Petcare. "Pets are an essential part of society and provide invaluable support in facilitating human interaction, social connections and providing companionship. Iams and Eukanuba are great products and are a welcome addition to our petfood offering. They complement our existing brands and will help us better meet the needs of our much loved pets."

Mars Petcare, Qualipet recognized at International Pet Conference

A special prize for outstanding service to the pet industry was presented to Mars Petcare Germany, and "PET Personality of the Year 2014" went to founder and CEO of Qualipet Rolf Boffa. Both awards were presented by the specialist magazine PET worldwide at the International Pet Conference in Berlin, Germany.

Mars Petcare Germany has advocated the promotion of responsible pet ownership for over 50 years. Although in the early years the emphasis was more on providing information about the use and advantages of industrially manufactured petfood, the company has, since then, significantly contributed to greatly improving the relationship between humans and animals. This has not been just a result of advertising campaigns, but also due to research projects and through the support given to non-profit associations.
Qualipet AG, founded by Rolf Boffa, has been market leader in the Swiss pet retail trade for over 25 years. Today the company operates almost 90 pet retail stores in Switzerland, an online shop, a mail order company and a publishing group, the nucleus of the company. Thanks to Rolf Boffa’s tireless efforts and wealth of ideas, the quality of Qualipets’ specialist stores has constantly improved.
More than 150 visitors from 18 countries attended the conference.

Mars Petcare opens US innovation center

Mars Petcare has officially opened the doors of its new, state-of-the-art, Gold-LEED certified US$110 million Global Innovation Center in Thompson's Station, Tennessee. The new campus, designed to help the company make "A Better World for Pets" through petfood innovations, is the third Mars Petcare innovation center and first in the US. It will serve as the global center of excellence for the company's portfolio, according to the company.

The center will join with similar Mars Petcare Global Innovation Centers located in Verden, Germany and Aimargues, France, and will focus on dry cat and dog food in both the natural and mainstream petfood categories. "Everything about this campus is dedicated to helping pets live longer and happier lives," said Larry Allgaier, president of Mars Petcare North America. "Mars has been doing business in Tennessee for the past 35 years, employing nearly 1,700 Associates across our petcare, chocolate and Wrigley business segments. Our US$110 million Global Innovation Center marks the sixth Mars site in Tennessee and will employ more than 140 Associates."
Much of the activity at the Global Innovation Center will be focused on caring for the pets—up to 180 dogs and 120 cats when fully staffed—many of which will be adopted from area shelters and rescues. In accordance with the caring science approach developed by Mars' Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in the United Kingdom, each pet will be treated like a member of the family, regularly receiving grooming services, veterinary care, training and exercise. The campus also includes outdoor space designed for pets to relax and play with caretakers and their other furry friends, says Mars.
The center will include a product development center, pet feeding center and learning center. 

Mars acquires Procter & Gamble petfood business

Mars Incorporated has successfully completed its acquisition of the Iams, Eukanuba and Natura brands in North America, Latin America and other select countries from The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G). This follows an agreement announced by the companies in April 2014 and receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.

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Mars said it will exercise the option to purchase P&G’s petfood business in some parts of Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, including Australia, Japan and Singapore. This move reinforces the company’s strategic intent to build its presence in emerging markets and will enable Mars Petcare to meet the needs of more customers and pets around the world. Mars said it expects that the close for these additional businesses may take up to around a year, subject to regulatory approvals.
The Iams, Eukanuba and Natura brands will be part of Mars Petcare and are strategic additions that complement the company’s pet care portfolio. They join Pedigree, Whiskas, Royal Canin, Banfield and Nutro. “We are proud to welcome the Iams, Eukanuba and Natura brands and the new associates who are joining us today,” said Todd Lachman, president of Mars Petcare. “These brands are high quality and well respected by customers, vets and pet owners, and we believe they will thrive under our leadership. Together, we will be well positioned to take advantage of the fast growing pet care market, and satisfy the needs of more customers and pets around the world.”

Mars to buy P&G petfood brands for US$2.9 billion

Mars Inc. is set to purchase Procter & Gamble's petfood brands, including Iams, Eukanuba and Natura, for US$2.9 billion, according to reports. P&G is leaving the pet care market to focus more on its core brands, and the transaction will solidify Mars as the world's biggest petfood company.

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Mars did not take on P&G's European business, but it has an option to buy operations in remaining markets in Asia and Africa, said P&G spokesman Paul Fox. The company plans to actively pursue the sale of its European pet care business, he said. 
"The announced deal is not a surprise in view of P&G’s declining share," said Paula Flores, head of Euromonitor International's Pet Care division. "P&G is the fourth global player with a global value share 3.6%, down from 4.2% in 2008. Despite the good position in the premium segment of the North American dog and cat food market, where it accounts for 19% of value sales in 2012, this figure stood at 24% as recently as 2008. The company faced two voluntary recalls for its superpremium Natura, Iams and Eukanuba brand during 2013. Moreover P&G has a weak performance in most emerging markets."
 The deal is expected to be complete in the second half of the year.

Mars Japan ranked among Japan's best workplaces

For the second year running, Mars Japan has been ranked among Japan's best workplaces by the consultancy and research company Great Place to Work Institute.

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Rising nine places since the previous year, Mars Japan is now ranked at number 16. In the past year Mars has also been recognized by 19 Great Place to Work lists, including Argentina (ranked 6), Austria (ranked 4), Belgium (5), Brazil (24), Central America (5), Chile (8), Denmark (14), Finland (8), France (3), Greece (5), Ireland (1), Italy (3), Japan (25), Korea, Poland (7), Portugal (7), Spain (10), Switzerland (9) and the USA (95).

Mars Petcare expands North Germany production plant

Mars Petcare has expanded its plant in Verden, North Germany. At the start of 2014, the company commissioned a new production line for single-serve pouches at the facility. In the last nine months €17.4 million (US$23.6 million) has been invested in expanding the plant.

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With new filling machines, high-bay systems and a new packing line, the plant expects to increase its capacity further in the future. "We are increasing our annual volume to over 50,000 metric tons in the single-serve portion segment," said Manfred Goetjes, production director at Mars Petcare. "That is an increase of 50%. We are thus responding to customers' wishes, as demand for single-serve packs is rising steadily." 

Mars Petcare focuses on pet health, nutrition in new marketing campaign

Mars Petcare is making health and nutrition a priority for its Pedigree, Whiskas, Cesar and Sheba petfood brands to  focus more on the emotional connection people feel with their pets. The petfood maker is hoping the plan will lead to advertising that sets the brands apart from traditional petfood marketing campaigns and compete more directly with P&G's Iams brand. 
The new marketing campaign includes the Cesar brand's first TV commercial in five years, which centers on the relationship between an old man and his dog, featuring the petfood as one of the ways an owner can repay their dog for its friendship. The campaign also features in-store, sampling and online activities that promote how the food can improve a dog's health.
The Cesar campaign runs throughout June alongside a new marketing strategy for the Pedigree brand. The "Brighter Futures" campaign aims to increase awareness of the needs of rescue dogs and the role that healthy, balanced meals play in their road to a new home. Pedigree has also pledged to donate 1 million meals to a network of animal shelters across the country as part of the campaign.
Mars is also increasing marketing for its Whiskas and Sheba cat food brands in response to shifting consumer trends towards healthier pet products to support the launch of several new products over the coming months. 

Mars Petcare to expand German petfood production facility

Petfood maker Mars Petcare's German subsidiary will invest €17.4 million (US$22.8 million) in its plant in Verden an der Aller, Germany. 
The company says the money will be spent to expand petfood production facilities that manufacture single-serve pouches. Investments will be made in new filling systems, autoclaves, high-bay storage systems and a new packing line. Capacity is expected to increase by more than 10 percent.
The expansion will also create 28 new jobs. The new facility is expected to be finished in January 2014. 

Mars petfood company profile report offered by Research and Markets

Research and Markets has added Euromonitor International's Mars Inc in Pet Care (World) company profile report to its offerings.
The profile examines petfood manufacturer Mars from 2007 to 2012. The report analyzes pet treat launches such as Pedigree Dentastix, re-launch of the Sheba brand, and opportunistic gains from acquisition. It also examines the petfood company's shares by region and sector, market and distribution strategies, challenges from competition and future opportunities.
The full Mars company profile report can be purchased online.

Mars Petcare invests in pet food facility in South Carolina, USA

Pet food maker Mars Petcare US is investing US$12.5 million over the next three years in its production facility in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA, which producers the company's Pedigree and Whiskas petfood brands.
The pet food company will purchase 3.75 acres of land adjacent to its current facility to expand the drop lot where trailers are unloaded and will install more equipment, according to Eudreon Curry, site manager. Approval was also given by local officials for an ordinance giving Mars certain economic incentives, including a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement and a special source revenue credit.

Mars sends animal rescue unit to Northeast US after Hurricane Sandy

Petfood manufacturer Mars Petcare has sent a mobile animal rescue unit toward the Northeast US coast to help with relief efforts after Hurricane Sandy makes landfall.
The 82-foot-long truck named “Lucy” will help with efforts to rescue animals that are expected to be displaced due to the hurricane's damage. Equipped with a mobile operating theater, satellite communication, water rescue vehicles and other emergency rescue equipment, the truck can accommodate 12 volunteers to assist with the rescue efforts.
Mars began sponsoring the truck in July along with the American Humane Association's US$200,000 sponsorship.

Petfood nutrition research leads to new pet feeding recommendations

At the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, northeast of London, 150 dogs and 300 cats participate in scientific research aimed at better understanding the nutritional and behavioral needs of pets.
The facility, owned by pet food manufacturer Mars, currently employs 200 veterinarians, nutrition experts and animal keepers. Since its opening in 1965, scientists here have helped to produce more than 1,700 scientific publications and made important contributions to what is currently known about pet nutrition, including the amount of taurine that is considered healthy in a cat's diet.
"We share all our results with the scientific community worldwide," said Jo Gale, a veterinarian at Waltham. "That taurine study has become the basis for all industrially-made cat food worldwide."
For the past two years, researchers have been looking into a new feeding approach for companion animals. Researchers found that dogs should be fed an average of 15 percent less than previously recommended, while cats should be fed 5 percent less.
Gale said that Mars' facility also shows the company's concern for the well-being of the pets there.
"Animal experiments are important but they often have negative connotations," Gale said. "I have dogs of my own – two Labradors – and I couldn’t work anywhere where they torture animals."
At Waltham, cats and dogs live in 24 houses, each with its own garden, with 30 to 40 animals per house. The houses are set up to resemble the homes in which companion animals would normally live. Each animal keeper looks after no more than five pets, each of which gets at least an hour of individual playtime per day. The facility is also surrounded by forests and fields the dogs get to run in. "City dogs can only dream of something like that," Gale said.  

Mars Petcare, The Nutro Company build pet food innovation center

Mars Petcare and its subsidiary The Nutro Company recently began building a US$87-million North American Regional Innovation Center for pet food in Thompson's Station, Tennessee, USA. The four-building campus will serve as the companies' home base for creating future petfood innovations for the North American market and is expected to be complete in 2014. 
"Pets and their owners in the North American market seek high-quality, cutting edge nutrition, and our new Regional Innovation Center will ensure Mars Petcare and Nutro products deliver on that promise in new and exciting formats," said David Macnair, global vice president of research and development, Mars Petcare.
The new center will support 144 jobs. Each building on the campus -- the Innovation Center, Product Development Center, Shared Services building and the Pet Health and Nutrition Center -- will serve a different purpose in the life-cycle of creating new and innovative petfood products.
The companies see the center as essential for global acceleration in developing and growing their pet food portfolio.

Mars Petcare to expand pet food production plant in South Carolina

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.