Pets Food

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Pet food company opens new facility in Denton

A pet food manufacturer that gained internet fame in 2020 when a co-owner ate its products for 30 straight days has opened a new facility in Denton.

Muenster Milling Co. said the new facility integrates its raw meat processing, freeze-drying and retail packaging. It also gives the company room to expand at the 120,000-square-foot space at 2269 N. Masch Branch Rd.

A shot of some of the equipment inside the new facility complex
A shot of some of the equipment inside the new facility complex(Muenster Milling Company)

Muenster Milling was acquired by Dallas-based private equity firm Kainos Capital in 2021, a move that marked the first ownership outside its founding family, the Felderhoffs. Bringing on Kainos gave the family, now in its fourth generation of involvement with the company, the flexibility to expand operations and pay off debt.

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In 2020, Mitch Felderhoff drew some attention when he committed to eating nothing but the company’s dog food for 30 days, documenting the experience on social media as a way to raise awareness for what owners feed their pets.

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‘World First’ Cat Food Made With Cultivated Chicken Is Here

What’s thought to be the world’s first cans of cat food made from cultivated meat have already been made – and they could be on the market very soon.

The product is a collaboration between “pet” food specialists Omni and cultivated meat brand Meatly. This is Omni’s first venture into the cultivated space, as it previously sold purely plant-based food for cats and dogs.

The 150g tins of cultivated chicken cat food will cost £1 each. They are not available to buy yet, and still need regulatory approval from the government before they arrive in shops. According to the brand, Pets at Home looks set to be its first stockist once approval is granted, which could be in the next three months.

“It is incredibly exciting to see the first ever cans of cultivated pet food fly off the production line. “This is a major milestone for cultivated meat globally and shows that we are ready to sell products,” said Owen Ensor, Co-founder and CEO of Meatly, in a statement. He added that “cultivated meat gives pet parents an easy choice – high quality, tasty, nutritious, and sustainable pet food.”

What is cultivated meat?

Cultivated meat, also known as cultured

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Cell-based protein for your pup? Cultivated meat companies see large potential market in pet food

The pet food market is becoming a target for cultivated meat; a small number of lab meat producers are targeting the sector, attracted by its volume growth, and commercial potential.

Czech Republic-based Bene Meat Technologies is aiming to supply the EU pet food market, with it securing acceptance in the European Feed Materials Register​​ in November last year.

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Bene Meat is currently looking to run a long-term feeding trial to prove the safety credentials of its lab-grown meat. This will be conducted while it sets about building its first production facility, which it hopes to open by the end of the year. Daily output of several metric tons of cultivated meat per day is the goal.

Commercially, Bene Meat will be focusing initially on inclusion of its lab-meat in diets for cats and small dogs before scaling up to incorporation into formulas aimed at larger dogs and other pets.

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In autumn 2023, [Canada-based Cult Food Science] introduced Marina Cat, a blend of ocean snapper, cultivated by Singapore-based biotech startup, Umami Bioworks. In August 2023, Cult reported that a tie-up with

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Carnivore names seasoned pet food industry leader CEO

GREEN BAY, WIS. — Heather Govea, an established leader in the pet food manufacturing space, has joined Carnivore Meat Co. as chief executive officer, effective May 1. Govea will leverage her decades of industry experience to help accelerate growth for the freeze-dried raw pet food and treat processor.

Govea is replacing Lanny Viegut, who retired from his role as CEO of the company at the end of 2023. Viegut founded Carnivore Meat Co. in 2011 and will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors.

“We knew we needed a CEO with deep experience and a passion for the pet industry, together with the ambition and playbook to help us continue growing this business,” said Chris Tuffin, partner at Arbor Investments, which owns Carnivore Meat Co. “Heather brings the perfect skillset, having demonstrated success scaling several pet brands and organizations in her career along with the category insights and industry relationships to build strategic partnerships with retailers.”

Govea offers vast leadership experience in the pet food sector, having most recently served as chief strategy officer at Alphia Inc., a major US co-manufacturer of pet food and treats. Govea has held transformative positions with several brands, including Natural

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Hill’s Pet Nutrition reports net sales up, operating profit down

Hill’s Pet Nutritiona division of Colgate-Palmolive, recently released its financial results for the fourth quarter (Q4) ended December 31.

Net sales for Hill’s Pet Nutrition totaled $1.11 billion, up 5% from $1.06 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, the company reported. Operating profit was $231 million for the segment, down slightly from $233 million in fiscal 2022 in Q4.

Organic sales for the fiscal year demonstrated a robust growth of 10.5%, with pricing increasing by 11%.

Reported volume was down 4% reflecting the impact of lower private label volume, said the company. Organic sales exhibited a growth of 4.5%, with pricing rising by 8.5%. Organic volume, however, experienced a 4% decline during the quarter. The decrease in volume was attributed to lower private-label pet food volumes.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition’s operating profit represented 20.7% of net sales in the fourth quarter, down 130 basis points year-over-year.

The company noted the decrease in operating profit as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to significantly higher raw and packaging material costs, increased advertising investment and startup costs associated with a new manufacturing plant, partially offset by higher pricing and cost savings from the company’s funding-the-growth initiatives, noted the

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US pet-food maker Carnivore Meat hires Alphia exec as CEO

US’s pet food maker Carnivore Meat company appoints new CEO, Heather Govea /credit: Carnivore Meat/

US-based pet-food business Carnivore Meat has named sector veteran Heather Govea as its new CEO.

Carnivore Meat, owned by private-equity firm Arbor Investments, said Govea has “decades of pet food experience”.

She joined Carnivore Meat after almost eight years at first CJ Foods and then Alphia. The merger of CJ Foods and American Nutrition formed Alphia in 2020.

Govea’s career also includes 14 years at Natural Balance Foods, another US pet-food group, from 2001 to 2015.

“Joining Carnivore as CEO at this stage of the company’s trajectory is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Govea said.

Arbor invested in Carnivore Meat, a producer of freeze-dried and frozen pet food, snacks and treats, in 2021.

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Understanding AAFCO’s New Model Pet Food Regulations | Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Industry proposals make pet food packaging look a lot like human food packaging and include new advertising standards

With a history spanning more than a century, the industry organization Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has been leading the charge on setting ingredient definitions, labeling standards, and laboratory standards for animal feed and feed ingredients. This includes pet food and ingredients. And for the better part of a decade, AAFCO has been engaged in the Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) project aimed at updating AAFCO’s model regulations setting forth the requirements for pet food labeling.

That’s likely why when AAFCO launched its revised Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food (2023 Model Pet Food Regulations) in July 2023, there was no surprise and not much of an improvement from the industry or regulators. Instead, the 2023 Model Pet Food Regulations have received unanimous support from heads of state departments of agriculture and generally have industry support. This is important because it is the individual states that must now adopt and implement the 2023 Model Pet Food Regulations to give them the force and effect of law. And that won’t happen without industry and regulator buy-in.

Pet Food

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European pet food producers invest in, expand brands

France’s pet food maker Natura Plus Ultra Pet Food managed to expand its sales to €55.6 million (US$61.1 million) in 2023, up around 43% compared with a year earlier. The business hopes to further raise its revenues in 2024 and is readying to introduce a number of new pet food products, according to a senior company representative.

Matthieu Wincker, the president and founder of Natura Plus Ultra Pet Food, told Petfoodindustry.com in a statement the company’s brand, Ultra Premium Direct, will roll out a new natural recipe that will expand its grain-free range this February.

This product will be made with the “use of super-ingredients, natural fruit and vegetables, recognized for their health benefits,” he said. They will be “made without grain, recipes made without cereals to respect your dog’s carnivorous diet.”

Other upcoming additions to the direct-to-consumer firm’s portfolio include pest-repellent pipettes for cats to be also introduced this February, foam for sterilized cats to be launched in March 2024, a new range of food supplements in the form of gummies to be introduced this May, as well as a new fresh meat recipe for cats to be rolled out this September, Wincker said.

Natura Plus Ultra Pet Food

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BARK gives new meaning to ‘breakfast of champions’ for dogs

NEW YORK — On March 1, BARK introduced a new line of dog treats inspired by popular breakfast cereals of the 80s and 90s. The Snack Pack collection includes seven recipes, each branded by a colorful, corresponding mascot with a unique name and backstory. To complete the nostalgia, each box features interactive activities on the back and a special prize inside for pups and their owners.

The new dog treat line includes several varieties spanning meat- and allergy-friendly formulas and crunchy and soft-chew textures. All recipes are free from corn, soy and artificial preservatives, according to BARK.

The Snack Pack recipes include:

  • Frosted Socks, a crunchy treat featuring real fruit and yogurt
  • Fruity Toot Loops, a crunchy treat with real fruit and grains
  • Go Nuttys, a soft-baked treat with honey, peanuts and grains
  • Lucky Duckies, a protein-packed, turducken-inspired soft chew
  • Clucky Nuggy Yums, a soft chew reminiscent of chicken nuggets
  • Beefy Meat Hunks, a beefy soft chew recipe with protein and grains
  • Porky Meat Hunks, a soft chew featuring pork protein and grains
BARK introduces The Snack Pack cereal-inspired dog treatsSource: BARK

“We’re thrilled to dive deeper into consumables with The Snack Pack launch, which will build on our growing consumables footprint in both retail and direct-to-consumer

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Meal delivery service launches ButcherBox For Pets

ButcherBox, a direct-to-consumer meat and seafood brand, has announced its move into the pet space through their ButcherBox For Pets line of dry food, treats, and hip and joint supplements for dogs.

Mike Salguero, founder and CEO of ButcherBox said the ButcherBox For Pets line was developed within the clinical vet environment with the same high-quality standards as ButcherBox by sourcing humanely raised, sustainably sourced beef and chicken that is never given antibiotics or added hormones.

“What we’ve learned in this process, is that most food or meat companies do not want to put their branding on the label of the pet food, or treats, they are selling,” said Salguero. “We are proud of the work we’ve put into sourcing high-quality, humanely raised meat for this line of products and we want consumers to know that by seeing our brand front and center on the package means they can trust where and how it was sourced.”

While ButcherBox For Pets treats and hip and joint supplements have been available exclusively to ButcherBox customers for the last year, with sales for those products reaching $750,000, this rollout marks the complete line as well as a new way to purchase on the

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