Pet food experts from around the world will provide insights on the booming Chinese pet food market, novel pet food ingredients and other important topics during Petfood Forum China 2017. Scheduled for August 23 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, the conference, now in its sixth edition, is designed to deliver the latest research and information to Chinese pet food companies as they grow in this dynamic market.
Participants can also learn about new sensory tools for pet food, strategic marketing, innovations in pet food drying, top consumer perceptions of pet nutrition and freeze-dried pet food. In addition, the conference provides several networking opportunities with other pet food professionals and leading industry suppliers.
Petfood Forum China 2017 will be held in conjunction with Pet Fair Asia 2017, one of the largest pet trade shows in China (www.petfairasia.com), which will feature eight halls and at least 1,000 exhibitors. About 35 percent will be pet food companies and suppliers, including a New Zealand pet food pavilion.
Petfood Forum China program
10:00-10:15 Welcome
10:15-10:45 The Chinese food market: trends, categories and channels driving growth – Alfred Zhou, managing director of GfK Retail and Technology China, examines the trends, product segments, leading players and retail channels behind the fast-rising Chinese pet food market.
10:45-11:15 Converting non-edible biomass into pet food – Dejan Miladinovic, quality manager for Norwegian University of Life Sciences, explains why novel protein sources like biomass (microalgae, yeast, bacterial, insect meal) are needed to make pet food production policy resistant to the risk factors that challenge the world food supply.
11:15-11:45 Coffee break
11:45-12:15 Developing strategic, profitable global pet food marketing plans – Vicki Lynne Morgan, president of Animal Brands, focuses on three key fundamentals that serve as foundations for customized, goal-centered, strategic marketing plans that meet ever-changing challenges in the global pet food industry.
12:15-12:45 Latest trends in the global supply of marine ingredients – Meng Wang, China market analyst for IFFO, provides an update on the price dynamics and latest trends on the supply side of fishmeal and fish oil as pet food ingredients, plus developments that certify the responsible management of fish-based resources.
12:45-14:00 Lunch
14:00-14:30 A universal, unique and innovative sensory language for pet food market differentiation – Perrine Delime, PhD, research project manager for Diana Pet Food, explains an innovative tool to successfully compare the smell of Chinese, European and US dry and wet pet food products. The results highlight ways to help manufacturers stand out on the market.
14:30-15:00 Innovations in pet food drying systems – Will Henry, director of technology/R&D for Extru-Tech Inc., brings to light the many challenges that typical drying systems face in the fast-changing pet food market. Specific innovations, including a regimented set of validated performance analysis procedures, can help solve these challenges.
15:00-15:30 Coffee break
15:30-16:00 Top 5 dog and cat nutrition concepts from consumer insights studies – Jeff Alix, global marketing manager, pet nutrition, for DSM Nutritional Products, presents results of studies of pet food consumers in markets around the world to identify nutritional concepts that resonated and learn what messaging was understood, meaningful and attractive.
16:00-16:30 Freeze-dried pet food: is China the next big market? – Calvin Smith, director of Pet Nutrition NZ, describes strong evidence indicating that Asia may be the new hot spot for freeze-dried pet food, and also the many considerations required when developing and marketing these products.
Petfood Forum China updates
