Animal nutrition products from Provimi saw a dip in sales the first quarter of 2009 in comparison to last year's first quarter, but petfood sales have increased, according to a company press release .

The company credited geographic extension and growing demand for private label for boosting petfood sales by nearly 10%.

Sales in animal nutrition decreased by 18.5 % compared to the same period in 2008. Provimi attributed the fall of sales to raw material prices and exchange rates.