Petfood sales in Asia grew 4% in 2010, about the same growth rate as the global petfood market, according to Euromonitor International. While that rate represents a slowdown from previously robust increases, growth has been steady in Asia, no small feat after several years of a stagnant or declining global economy. In fact, Euromonitor projects three Asian markets—India, Thailand and China—to be among the 10 fastest growing for petfood sales between now and 2015.

You can find out more about this dynamic, growing industry along with other important information about the Asian petfood market at Petfood Forum Asia 2012, February 16 at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre in Thailand. Bangkok is open for business, so join your petfood industry colleagues and peers from throughout Asia and the world to hear experts share their latest research and insights on the best ways to make and market petfood.

You can also network with fellow petfood professionals and visit key industry suppliers within the exhibits at Victam Asia (see www.victam.com). Plus, if you register for Petfood Forum Asia by January 5, 2012 (www.petfoodindustry.com/PFFAsia2012.aspx), you will save more than 15%.

As of press time, the following speakers have been confirmed:

• David Whye Tye Ng, executive director and CEO of Pet Lovers Centre, a large pet store chain, shares consumer insights from his 16+ years in pet retailing in Singapore and Malaysia and what he has learned about selling petfood in these markets.
• Warangkana Anuwong, research analyst with Euromonitor International and based in Singapore, provides an overview of the global petfood market with a focus on the Asian market.
• Greg Tilford, CEO of Animals’ Apawthecary Co. and Animal Essentials Inc., USA, shares trends in natural and organic ingredients and supplements, including regulatory issues such as import, export, label and health claims, as well as a look at the most popular animal supplements coming soon to Asia.
• Dr. K.B. Kore, assistant professor, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Navsari Agricultural University, India, discusses prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics as functional foods for dogs.
• Galen Rokey, process manager for the Pet Food Applications Group, Wenger Manufacturing, USA, shares results of recent studies that may validate extrusion temperature as a critical control point in the petfood process.
• Laurence Callejon, dog platform manager, SPF, France, explains a systemic approach to dog palatability with research conducted in Asia on olfaction, coating, moisture and kibble texture.
• Robert W. Coppock, DVM, DABVT,  president of Toxicologist and Associates Ltd. and adjunct professor at the University of Alberta and Concordia University College-Edmonton, Canada, discusses how to handle some of the challenges in detecting and controlling mycotoxins in the Asian petfood industry.