Author: Nicole Kerwin

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) celebrated 73 graduates from its biennial Feed Industry Institute (FII) in Minneapolis on June 20. Graduates participated in a four-day educational program, learning about the industries of animal feed, pet food and ingredients. “We are excited that FII returned to an in-person format this year, which allowed for more engaging and interactive sessions,” said Paul Davis, Ph.D., director of quality, food safety. of animals and education at AFIA. “The excitement of reconnecting face-to-face and the dynamic exchange of knowledge truly enhanced the overall experience, marking a successful and memorable event for…

EAST LONGMEADOW, MASS. — WF Young, a family-owned pet company dedicated to improving animal health and wellness, recently earned accreditation with the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC). According to the company, the accreditation underscores its dedication to promoting sustainability throughout the pet industry.PSC is a non-profit organization that aims to accelerate environmental and social initiatives throughout the pet and pet nutrition industry. The organization provides accreditation to industry companies that demonstrate exceptional performance in sustainability metrics. WF Young’s accreditation highlights its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact, promote social responsibility and more. The company is committed to making its processes and…

BENTONVILLE, ARK. — Full-service pet care research, consulting and product innovation firm BSM Partners announced that Kait Wright joined the company as senior analyst for consumer insights on June 19. Wright comes to BSM Partners with extensive B2B and B2C experience in both management consulting and the food industry. Throughout his career, Wright has helped leading global brands in the foodservice, consumer packaged goods (CPG), hospitality and other sectors build their brands and connect with consumers on a local and international level. “Kait’s expertise and passion will greatly contribute to our clients’ success and drive the growth of BSM Partners’…

LOS ANGELES — Oh Norman!, a dog care brand co-founded by actress Kaley Cuoco, has begun the search for a dog to serve as the company’s chief taste officer. The CTO will work with the brand’s internal team on product development and testing.”As a pet parent and the co-founder of Oh Norman!, I always strive to create quality products that dogs love,” Cuoco said. “As we continue to develop the Oh Norman! team, it became clear that we needed to bring in an expert. By bringing in a dog to serve as our chief treatment officer, we ensure that every…

GHENT, BELGIUM — International pet food manufacturer United Petfood announced June 6 that it has acquired a production facility in Indiana, marking its first plant in the United States. Located in Mishawaka, Ind., the facility allows United Petfood to establish local production in the United States and represents a “major step” for the company in advancing its market presence. “We are excited to take our first steps into the US market with the acquisition of the Mishawaka facility,” said Elodie Fleury, vice president of the Americas at United Petfood. “This acquisition allows us to better serve our American customers with…

LONDON — KatKin, a fresh cat food brand, has announced the appointment of Lloyd Page as chief marketing officer. Page will lead KatKin’s integrated marketing team and play a key role in its next phase of growth.Prior to joining KatKin, Page served as chief marketing officer at Motorway, where he played a role in helping secure series B and C funding rounds. He also held senior roles at Moneysupermarket Group, where he helped support the brand through its successful relaunch, as well as Virgin Media and John Lewis. According to KatKin, Page’s appointment comes at an important moment of growth…

CHICAGO — On March 12, Shameless Pets, a brand dedicated to transforming upcycled ingredients into quality pet treats, announced its launch at Costco stores in the Texas region. The brand’s best-selling treat Bananas for Bacon is available at the retailer in 2-lb bags. As pet parents become more mindful of their pets’ pawprint, incorporating upcycled foods is gaining popularity in the pet nutrition space, touted for their role in reducing food waste. Sustainable, upcycled ingredients are at the forefront of Shameless Pets recipes, with the brand increasing its upcycled supply chain to help save more than 3 million lbs of…

CHAMPAIGN, ILL. — Following the proposal of the new Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2024 (PURR Act), the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) expressed their concerns with the new law, saying it would reduce state oversight and authority that review the marketing and labeling of pet foods. The legislation was introduced in the House on Feb. 15.The PURR Act, sponsored by the Pet Food Institute, seeks to modernize and streamline the current approach to how pet foods and foods are regulated. Under this new law, regulatory oversight will shift from a state-by-state basis to a federal…

SILVER SPRINGS, MD. — On March 8, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new regulations on animal drugs, aimed at providing animal drug sponsors with predictable requirements for labeling new prescriptions and over-the-counter (OTC) animal drugs, as well as those used in animal feed. According to the administration, the proposed regulations will not only benefit veterinarians, but also animal/pet owners and livestock producers by providing more consistent information on safe and effective use. of new drugs.According to the FDA, it has followed certain practices for reviewing animal drug labels in the past. However, these practices are not codified…

PORTO, PORTUGAL and STUTTGART, GERMANY — Recent research from scientists in Portugal and Germany, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, in-depth on two novel protein sources for use in pet food. According to the results of the study, squid meal and shrimp hydrolyzate show promise as sources of protein in dog food.With the global pet population on the rise, sustainability and environmental concerns continue to remain for consumers. Protein-rich marine byproducts can help address these concerns by reducing negative environmental impacts, reducing waste and improving economic efficiency.Research has examined two marine byproducts, squid meal and shrimp hydrolysate, as sources of…