Nestle discovers slave labor used in its supply chains

Nestle S.A. says that, after a yearlong internal investigation, it has found that migrant workers in Thailand are sold or lured under false pretenses and forced to catch and process fish that ends up in its supply chains.
A July article in the New York Times chronicled the lives of several men forced into labor on fishing boats in the South China Sea, off the coast of Thailand. These boats catch fish that are later shipped to the US and other places to be used in pet food and livestock feed.
Some of the fish caught on these boats is sent to a cannery called the Songkla Canning Public Company, which is a subsidiary of Thai Union Frozen Products, Thailand’s largest seafood company. According to US customs documents, more than 28 million pounds of seafood-based cat and dog food in the past year for brands sold in the US, including Iams, Meow Mix and Fancy Feast.
Thai Union Frozen Products says it “will not tolerate any human trafficking or any human rights violation of any kind,” and that it regularly audits its canneries and boats in port to ensure against forced and child labor.
Nestle said at the time that it is working hard to ensure that forced labor is not used to produce its pet food. The company worked with non-governmental organization Verite to “to identify where and why forced labor and human rights abuses may be taking place” in Thailand and southeast Asia.
Nestle later was sued by consumers of Fancy Feast who would not have bought the product if they knew the fish was allegedly harvested using slave labor.
In September, more than 2,000 enslaved fishermen were reported rescued in 2015 as a result of an Associated Press investigation into forced labor on fishing boats in Asia. At that time, at least one multimillion-dollar Thai-Indonesian fishing business had been shut down, at least nine people arrested, and two fishing boats been seized.
The men saved from the forced labor came from Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos and have been identified or repatriated. Hundreds more have been quietly returned home, so the companies running the fishing businesses can avoid human trafficking allegations.

Nestle Purina to present National Dog Show once again

Nestle Purina will keep its sponsorship of the National Dog Show, which airs on NBC on Thanksgiving in the time frame between the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the NFL broadcast. The National Dog Show, hosted by the Kennel Club of Philadelphia, is viewed by more than 20 million people, making the company’s multimillion-dollar commitment worthwhile.
Purina claims the majority of the championship-winning dogs are fed Purina ProPlan.
In the lead-up to Thanksgiving, Purina has launched a social media campaign where dog owners can tell the world why they are thankful for their dog.
For every original post submitted on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram through November 29 that includes @Purina and the hashtag, #dogthanking, Purina will donate one dollar to the AKC Canine Health Foundation – up to $75,000 – to help further pet health research. Submitted videos, photos and posts may be shown during the National Dog Show.
Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir kicked off the campaign by thanking his dog Tema: “Tema is my little prince, and always there wagging his tail when I get home. He brings so much joy to my life, and I am so thankful for his companionship,” Weir said of his Japanese Chin. He and fellow Olympian, Tara Lipinski, will be on special assignment to lend their distinctive presence for the first time to The National Dog Show Presented by Purina.
“Watching the National Dog Show is a treasured Thanksgiving Day tradition for Tema and me, and I’m thrilled to have an opportunity to be a part of it this year,” Weir said. “Purina and I share the belief that when pets and people are together, life is truly better, and we think a great way to demonstrate this during the Thanksgiving season is to share why we’re all thankful for our furry friends.”
TV personality John O’Hurley and expert analyst David Frei, the voice of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show on USA network, will host the show as more than 180 breeds vie for “Best in Show” honors in the tradition-rich Kennel Club of Philadelphia competition.

Purina showcases relationship between pets, people

From a child development expert whose pet-centric curriculum is helping rehabilitate troubled adolescents to the founder of New York City’s first cat café, Purina’s third Better With Pets Summit showcased how the relationship between pets and people enhances overall emotional wellness.
The daylong summit, which was hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian and writer, Josh Gondelman, took place at the Brooklyn Expo Center in New York City on November 3, 2015, and featured three panel discussions that examined the emotional relationship between pets and people, including the reciprocal effects both have on one another. Keynote speeches were presented by Purina senior research nutritionist Arleigh Reynolds, who has researched the dog and human bond for many years in Alaska and supports of The Frank Attla Youth Program; and author and reality television personality Carole Radziwill, who shared how pet ownership has shaped her life experiences.
The first panel at the Better With Pets Summit examined how millennials are changing the relationship between pet owners and cats. Purina revealed results at the summit from a recent survey that showed that nearly half of the 1,000 millennials surveyed own a cat and that 88 percent of cat owners consider themselves similar to their pets. The second panel provided an in-depth look at pets’ environments and the impact it may have on their stress levels, and the third panel focused on the benefits of raising pets and kids together and how it brings unique benefits that extend beyond a typical human-animal bond.
“The Purina Better With Pets Summit has become a platform where the best and the brightest in the industry meet and discuss how pets and people are better together,” said Nina Leigh Krueger, chief marketing officer for Nestlé Purina PetCare. “This year, we not only explored emotional wellness across three expert panels, but attendees had access to one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits where they experienced first-hand ways to improve pet wellness.”
New to the Better With Pets Summit this year were five educational zones which featured interactive exhibits for attendees to engage, as well as see Purina’s vast expertise in the pet wellness space and connect with Purina experts. The exhibits featured educational touchscreen displays, a dedicated room showcasing healthy environments for cats, a play lab for agility dogs with wearable technology that monitored their activity as they played, and an area where attendees can see how nutrition impacts cognition and emotional wellness in pets.
“It’s incredible to see the kind of work people are doing to enhance and strengthen the bond between pets and their owners,” Radziwill said. “As someone who has experienced the benefits of pet ownership throughout my life, I’m happy to see that Purina is leading these conversations through the Better With Pets Summit to create a better world for our pets.”
The 10 panelists included Heather Lewis, an animal arts architect who is paving the way for pet wellness through pet-centric design and architecture; Jayne Vitale, a child development expert and director of the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum, a social and emotional learning (SEL) program designed to teach empathy as a skill to adolescents; Christina Ha, the founder of Meow Parlour, the first permanent cat cafe in New York City; and Dr. Tony Buffington, a cat stress expert who has spent the majority of his career examining stress in pets and the impact it can have on health.
Purina also announced at the summit that it will donate $50,000 to The Frank Attla Youth Program, which was developed to help at-risk youth in rural Alaska gain confidence and self-esteem by adding dogs into the school curriculum and giving them an opportunity to create a unique bond with dogs, and teaching students how to care for them. The donation is part of Purina’s broader support of more than 900 pet welfare organizations each year.

Nestle sued over fish allegedly caught using slave labor

Four consumers of Fancy Feast cat food have sued Nestle S.A. over claims that the food contains fish from a Thai supplier that uses slave labor.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles federal court, seeks to represent all California buyers of Fancy Feast who would not have bought the product if they knew the fish was allegedly harvested using slave labor.
“By hiding this from public view, Nestle has effectively tricked millions of consumers into supporting and encouraging slave labor on floating prisons,” Steve Berman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said in a statement. “It’s a fact that the thousands of purchasers of its top selling pet food products would not have bought this brand had they known the truth — that hundreds of individuals are enslaved, beaten or even murdered in the production of its pet food.”
Nestle has declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said forced labor “has no place in our supply chain.” The company said it is working with non-governmental organization Verite to “to identify where and why forced labor and human rights abuses may be taking place” in Thailand and southeast Asia.
A July article in the New York Times chronicled the lives of several men forced into labor on fishing boats in the South China Sea, off the coast of Thailand. These boats catch fish that are later shipped to the US and other places to be used in pet food and livestock feed.
Some of the fish caught on these boats is sent to a cannery called the Songkla Canning Public Company, which is a subsidiary of Thai Union Frozen Products, Thailand’s largest seafood company. According to US customs documents, more than 28 million pounds of seafood-based cat and dog food in the past year for brands sold in the US, including Iams, Meow Mix and Fancy Feast.

Nestle sales down from last year, meet expectations

Nestle announced lower revenue growth in the first half of 2015, compared with last year.
Sales for the first half were CHF42.8 billion (US$43.8 billion), with 4.5% organic growth and 1.7% internal growth.
“The first half results were in line with our expectations, broad-based across categories and geographies, solid even in difficult circumstances, and consistent with our strong performance over time. … This allows us to confirm the outlook for the full year,” said Paul Bulcke, CEO.
In North America, the company’s pet care segment showed good growth, in spite of the negative effects of the Beneful case. Among the drivers were Fancy Feast cat food, the Pro Plan platform for dog food, and cat litter.
The company said pet care continued to be a growth driver for Latin America and will benefit from new production capacity in Argentina and Mexico. Growth in Eastern Europe was strong, driven by pet care and other product lines.
For the first half of the year, Nestle’s pet care segment saw sales of CHF5,465 million (US$5,594 million).
In February 2015, a California man filed a class action lawsuit against Nestle Purina Petcare Co., alleging unsafe petfood manufacturing and distribution. The plaintiff claimed that Purina’s Beneful dog food injured his three dogs. He claimed Purina added propylene glycol, an automotive antifreeze component, to Beneful. Lucido says two of his dogs suffered and one of his dogs died after ingesting Beneful beginning January 15, 2015. Nestle has called the lawsuit baseless.

Nestle Purina PetCare to purchase Merrick

Merrick Pet Care has signed an agreement for Nestle Purina PetCare Co. to purchase the company from its private equity owner, Swander Pace Capital. Terms were not disclosed.
With SuperZoo as the back drop, Merrick Founder Garth Merrick said, “I believe Nestlé Purina is the right company to take what I, along with others, have built to the next level. I’m proud my name will continue to be on the door as we remain committed to making the best food for the best pets ever.”
Merrick is one of the fastest-growing natural and organic pet food companies in the industry, and will continue to operate as an independent business with no planned changes to its management or operations.
Merrick has more than 350 employees located primarily in Hereford, Texas, USA; Amarillo, Texas, USA; and Evanston, Illinois, USA.
With this agreement, which is expected to close over the next several months, Merrick will be able to further build upon its record of providing pets with industry leading nutrition, quality and food safety, while taking advantage of new global resources and innovations.
“The Merrick team has built an extremely strong portfolio of natural and organic pet food and treat brands that are helping millions of pets thrive,” said Joe Sivewright, CEO of Nestlé Purina PetCare. “We admire Merrick and what the team is doing to provide pets with nutritious, quality and safe food and are excited about how the Merrick brands will broaden the Purina portfolios.
Merrick offers a wide variety of USA-made dry and wet foods, as well as treats, that are available nationally at independent pet specialty stores, Petco, and online via select retailers. In April 2012, Merrick Pet Care Inc. acquired Castor & Pollux and its ORGANIX branded portfolio. These brands are available at PetSmart, natural grocery, and online via select retailers.
Merrick’s manufacturing facilities are Safe Quality Food Level III certified and in 2012, Merrick’s facilities became the world’s only known organic certified manufacturer for dry and canned food for pets under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP).

Purina ONE to host Cat Camp pop-up event

Purina ONE has found the way to improve the active, energetic fun of summer camp: add cats. The first-ever Cat Camp will include camp-themed activities designed to bring cat lovers together to experience what whole body health means for cats.
While cat health is revealed from the inside out, Purina ONE is bringing the outside in with this indoor Cat Camp in the heart of New York City. Through Cat Camp, Purina ONE hopes campers leave feeling empowered that they know how to help support their cats' health and happiness every day and for a lifetime.
The Openhouse event space at 201 Mulberry in New York's SoHo neighborhood will undergo a cat-approved transformation for Cat Camp, July 31-August 1, 2015, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. During the pop-up event, Cat Camp counselors will guide members of the public through a series of activities that reflect a healthy cat's routine:
Campfire – Just as a campfire is the heart of any campground, nutrition is at the heart of whole body health. At the center of Cat Camp, a campfire made of Purina ONE kibble will be a gathering place for campers and cats while a Purina Veterinarian (Deborah S. Greco, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVIM) shows how to check your cat for signs of whole body health.

• Climbing – Campers can traverse an indoor climbing wall and learn why cats seek high places.
• Stretching – Cat Camp counselors will demonstrate stretches inspired by cats, which is part of their whole body health you can see every day.
• Purposeful Play – Campers can play with cats while a Purina Behaviorist (Sandra Lyn, PhD) educates about the importance of physical activity and mental stimulation in a cat's routine.
• Arts & Crafts – Campers can make DIY puzzle feeders to take home to their cats.

"Purina ONE's Cat Camp is a fun way for cat lovers to experience all the things that feed into whole body health for cats," said Brian Williams, brand manager for Purina ONE. "We had such a great response to last year's Cat Cafe, so this year we wanted to provide activities that would help educate people on whole body health, and there isn't a better way to do that this summer than a camp-like experience."
Adoptable cats from a Petfinder partner shelter will roam the "campgrounds" to interact with campers and show how Purina ONE provides all the nutrition your cat needs for each life stage.

Purina pushes for more pets at work

More than 17 years ago, Nestlé Purina started encouraging its associates to bring their pets to work, and the program has provided many benefits for employees and their pets through the years. This year, the company celebrated national Take Your Dog to Work Day by encouraging other companies to join them in this movement and start their own pets-at-work policies.
“At Purina, we believe that pets and people are better together – whether at home or at work,” said Dr. Kurt Venator, a Purina veterinarian. “As pet lovers and owners, we are passionate about the Pets at Work movement and encourage our associates to bring their pets to work every day so they can experience the benefits, including exercise from a dog walk during lunch break or having a calming companion nearby during stressful times. This is why we see hundreds of pets at our St. Louis campus every week.”
Studies show that employees who bring pets to work have fewer signs of stress. To get a better understanding of how people felt about pets in the workplace, Purina partnered with the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine to conduct a U.S. survey in June 2015 and found among 750 respondents:

• Almost two out of three employees agree pets should be allowed in the workplace if there is a general consensus among employees
• 85% of employees of companies with pets in the office say that pets-at-work policies are beneficial
• 72% of employees said their jobs do not allow pets in the workplace
• More than half of those who want pets allowed in the office are willing to spearhead efforts to make their workplaces pet friendly 

The 750 respondents include pet owners and non-pet owners, as well as people who can take their pets to work and those who cannot.
“The relationship humans and animals share is dynamic and, over the years, it has been shown that the bond can be beneficial to the well-being of both,” said Dr. Sharon Fooshee Grace, clinical professor at the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine. “Through this survey, we now have a real opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the human-animal bond and how to maximize the potential of the special relationships shared between people and pets.”
Purina is calling for other employers to join the Pets at Work movement by asking companies to pledge their intent to implement their own pets at work program. The company has developed resources to help other companies become more pet friendly, including an Employer Toolkit with tips and documents to help employers implement a pets at work program. The toolkit includes an etiquette guide, office checklist and an authorization and release form, among other helpful resources.
Purina has also provided pet lovers with their own Employee Toolkit to help encourage facility managers and employers to embrace pets in the workplace and recognize the positive impacts it can have on employees and the overall business. Employees can get access to tips, articles, printable guidelines and a petition to help make their workplace pet friendly.
 “Having pets walking through our offices every day makes for a warmer, friendlier environment at Purina, and we believe it helps with our productivity,” Dr. Venator said. “We realize it won’t work for every company and every pet owner, but we encourage other companies to try it and see for themselves how bringing pets to work can be a real benefit – for pets and their owners.”    

Blue Buffalo responds to Purina statement on ingredients

Blue Buffalo has responded to a press release that Purina issued May 7, 2015, after Blue Buffalo told a court that that a “substantial” and “material” portion of Blue Buffalo pet food sold to consumers contained poultry byproduct meal, despite advertising claims to the contrary.
The letter to Blue Buffalo’s customers, posted on its website, reads, in full:
“Dear Pet Parents:
“We fully understand your concern with this topic, but you should know that the recent press release by Nestle Purina is simply the latest attack in their year-long smear campaign against Blue Buffalo.
“In October of last year, we informed you that a supplier of ingredients to us and many other well-known brands of pet foods had sent chicken meal to some of their customers that contained poultry by-product meal. We said at the time that, as a result, some of our food could include this mislabeled ingredient, that we had stopped buying ingredients from this facility and that we had reached out to the FDA.
“Just recently, this former supplier made additional disclosures in legal proceedings that showed that a substantial proportion of its shipments to our contract manufacturing facilities prior to May 2014 were, in fact, mislabeled.
“In view of this new information, this past Wednesday, May 6, 2015, we informed the Court of our conclusion that a material amount of our dry foods manufactured with mislabeled ingredients shipped prior to May 2014 had been impacted, and requested permission to bring a claim against this former supplier and others involved for intentionally mislabeling ingredients and unjustly enriching themselves. The Court immediately granted our request.”
On May 6, 2014, Purina filed a lawsuit against Blue Buffalo for false advertising after testing revealed the presence of poultry byproduct meal in some of Blue Buffalo’s top-selling pet foods. Blue Buffalo’s CEO responded by immediately claiming the testing was “voodoo science” and assuring its customers that “Blue Buffalo does not use chicken byproduct meal or poultry byproduct meal in any of our products.”

Pet Food Experts ends Nestle Purina products distribution

Pet Food Experts has decided to end its 10-year distribution relationship with Nestle Purina PetCare in New York and New England. Phillips Pet Food & Supplies will acquire the distribution rights in that region.
“This important strategic decision demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our company mission,” said Michael Baker, president of Pet Food Experts. “Helping independent pet retailers win is our sole focus. Being independently owned, we have to be diligent in maximizing our resources and I’m confident this decision will only make us stronger. Nestlé Purina is an extremely professional organization and played an important role in our company’s history over the past decade. We wish them all the best in the future.”
 Pet Food Experts will make its last deliveries of Nestle Purina products on May 15 in New York and May 29 in New England. Phillips will begin servicing the New England market June 1 from its Taunton, Massachusetts, USA, distribution center and the New York metro market from its Easton, Pennsylvania, USA, distribution center starting May 18.

New Purina pet food promotes older dogs’ mental sharpness

Nestle Purina PetCare has introduced Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+ dog food, with enhanced botanical oils shown to promote alertness and mental sharpness in dogs age 7 and up, with visible results within 30 days.

Around age seven, a dog’s glucose metabolism in the brain begins to change, which can affect memory, learning, awareness or decision-making.
After years of research, Purina experts have discovered that fatty acids derived from botanical oils, called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), can be used in addition to glucose as an energy source for the brain. As part of an older dog's total nutrition, MCTs have been shown to promote alertness and mental sharpness in older dogs age 7 and up.
When added to the daily diet of dogs age 7 and older, MCTs promoted memory, attention and trainability. Owners who feed a Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind formula may notice differences in owner-dog interaction, interest in play and the ability to adapt and cope with change.
The food features high-quality protein, including chicken as the first ingredient; enhanced botanical oils shown to promote alertness and mental sharpness in dogs age 7 and up within 30 days; EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, and glucosamine help support joint health and mobility; vitamin A and linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, for healthy skin and coat; and natural prebiotic fiber, sourced from wheat bran, to help promote digestive health.
Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+ Chicken & Rice Formula and Large Breed Formula are available at pet specialty retailers nationwide.

Class action alleges Purina’s Beneful harmful, deadly to dogs

A California man has filed a class action lawsuit against Nestle Purina Petcare Co., alleging unsafe petfood manufacturing and distribution. The suit was filed February 4, 2015.

The plaintiff, Frank Lucido claims that Purina’s Beneful dog food injured his three dogs. He claims Purina added propylene glycol, an automotive antifreeze component, to Beneful. Lucido says two of his dogs suffered and one of his dogs died after ingesting Beneful beginning January 15, 2015.
The class action claims that the defendants have received more than 3,000 online complaints about their food making dogs sick throughout the past four years. In some cases, the dogs reportedly suffered internal bleeding, weight loss, dehydration and other symptoms. The suit alleges negligence, misrepresentation, product liability and unfair business practices. The plaintiff is seeking more than $5 million in damages, plus costs and fees.

Fire damages UK Nestle Purina factory

A Nestle Purina factory in Sudbury, Suffolk, UK, was damaged in a fire on February 15, 2015. Fifty workers were inside at the time, but no one was injured, according to reports. The fire affected three of the building’s five levels.

The fire involved four 30,000-liter tanks of animal fat, and there was concern that the blaze could spread to another 30,000-liter tank of phosphoric acid nearby.
“The fire had the potential in the early stages to affect the whole factory,” said Carl Francis, area commander for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, in a report. “It started in the tank farm where there is raw soya and animal fat product. Four of the eight tanks were affected but not a tank which had the acid.
“The fire did then break into the building. It is a large commercial building and we were aware that the fire involved flammable product, an oil-based product and pockets of fire were elsewhere in the building.”
Two volunteer firefighters, who also work at the plant, are credited with largely helping to control the fire.
“Their early action saved the fire from developing throughout the building because of their knowledge of the site,” Francis said. “They were able to tell us how to get into and around the building. Within a couple of hours, we were quite confident that we had dealt with the fire and contained it and it was not going to developer further.”
The factory will be closed February 16 while the fire is investigated.
The factory produces petfood brands like Bakers, Winalot, Felix, Bonio and Go-Cat.

Purina educates pet owners in China on petfood, health, safety

Nestle Purina petfood has been in the China market since 2003. Gloria Xu, marketing manager for Purina in China, says China’s pet population is the second largest in the world, behind the US. However, she said, commercial petfood coverage is the lowest in the world.

Retail sales of petfood in China increased more than 31% by value from 2012 to 2013, reaching $4.3 billion, according to Mintel, a research firm.
Xu, in an interview with Ad Age, said only 5% of dogs and 6% of cats are eating commercial petfood, because many dog owners cook for their dogs. She said some people mix commercial dog food with human food to feed to their dogs.
In China, Xu said Purina uses social media and its web presence to educate the population about pet ownership and how to care for their animals. Purina Online Academy sends its subscribers information, for example, the importance of giving dogs more water in warm weather, and how to keep pets safe at Chinese New Year celebrations when fireworks are used.
Purina’s Homeless but Not Worthless campaign works to prevent abandonment and encourage adoption. China’s large cities see a lot of stray dogs and cats, and this campaign hopes to change that.

Employees rate Nestle Purina PetCare among best places to work

Nestle Purina PetCare ranked third among large companies on Glassdoor.com's 2015 Best Places to Work, an annual list compiled from reviews submitted by employees from companies across the US. 
"I have been with the company for 38 years and I still enjoy coming to work every day," wrote one Nestle Purina PetCare employee.
Glassdoor is an online community for job searching and career development. In the reviews, employees were asked to rate overall job satisfaction, work-life balance, compensation, benefits and career advancement opportunities.

FDA warns Nestle Purina plant about 'significant violations'

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent a warning letter to a Nestle Purina PetCare manufacturing facility in Allentown, Pennsylvania, after an inspection in September 2014 revealed "significant deviations from the LACF (acidified and low-acid canned foods) regulations, Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 108 and 113 (21 CFR Parts 108 and 113)."

Violations include:

• failure to process each low-acid canned food in conformity with at least the scheduled process filed with FDA
• failure to identify, from a processor chack or otherwise, deviations from the scheduled process of critical factors which are out of control and failure to record these deviations in a separate log
• failure to chlorinate or otherwise sanitize cooling water as necessary for cooling canals and recirculated water supplies
• failure to establish a system for product traffic control in the retort room to prevent un-retorted product from bypassing the retort process
• failure to install the mercury-in-glass thermometers in a location where they can be accurately and easily read
• failure to have records of all processing and production signed or initialed by a representative of plant management who is qualified by suitable training or experience
Keith Schopp, a spokesman for Nestle Purina, said the company is confident there are no food safety issues or risks to pet health with the company's products. Schopp said officials are in the process of providing FDA with measures it intends to take to correct the production errors.
The FDA said it requires a written response addressing the alleged violations, and that "failure to take appropriate corrective action may subject your firm and products to further actions, such as emergency permit control, injunction or seizure."

Purina offers 'just right' personalized dog food

Nestlé Purina has launched a personalized dog food product, Just Right petfood, that will allow pet owners to order food specifically tailored to their pet's needs.

"We believe the best nutrition is personalized," says Purina. "That's why we want to work with you to deliver food tailored to your dog's unique profile. By combining your firsthand knowledge with Purina's expertise, we can work together to help keep your dog happy and healthy at each life stage."
Pet owners create an online profile that includes everything from basic information (age, breed size) to traits (activity level, coat condition, stool firmness). The profile can be modified at any time as the dog's needs change, and a 24/7 support team is available via phone, email or online chat to assist customers. Once a profile is completed, the food is made and shipped to the customer. Auto-reminders ensure that customers never run out of food.

Nestlé Purina holds 2014 Better with Pets Summit

Nestlé Purina PetCare Co.’s second Better With Pets Summit, held in New York on Oct. 14, 2014, emphasized how technology and scientific advances are leading to a brighter future for pets. Speakers included 15 experts, including animal behaviorists, researchers and entrepreneurs.

"As a leader in the pet care industry, we believe it’s very important to bring together these remarkable speakers to share their knowledge of how pets deeply impact our own behaviors,” said Steve Crimmins, chief marketing officer for Nestlé Purina PetCare. "From a rocket scientist to a 14-year-old inventor, we've brought together some of the most amazing thinkers and storytellers from across cultures to showcase the many ways pets and people are better together—both today and tomorrow.” 

Nestlé Purina Australia upgrades PetCare factory

Nestlé Purina Australia has upgraded its PetCare factory in Blayney, and the $65 million in improvements will create 117 jobs in the area, according to reports.

The new facility will produce 100,000 metric tons of wet petfood each year. The latest upgrades include the installation of top production equipment, a 5,400-square-meter warehouse and an upgrade to the research and development facility. According to Vice President of Operations Suleman Khan, the upgrades will help ensure future success. "It's important that manufacturing facilities remain competitive to ensure future investment within the region," he said.
The company has invested nearly $100 million into the facility since 2011. Petfood produced there will be sold in pouches in Australia and exported to countries such as Japan, China and ASEAN markets. More than 80% of the raw materials used at the factory are sourced domestically, including meat, grains and packaging, with a focus on buying ingredients from within the local region.

Grain explosion at Nestle Purina plant injures four

A grain-dust explosion at a Flagstaff, Arizona Nestlé Purina plant injured four people on September 14, 2014.

The four contractors were doing welding work when the dust ignited, and the explosion blew out several metal doors and burned the contractors. All four were sent to the hospital, one with severe burns, according to reports. About 250 people work at the 70,000-square-foot plant.