The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) concluded its Technical Congress and Annual General Meeting on June 25, bringing together over 60 participants from global pet food companies, regulatory authorities, and international organizations at the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort.
The three-day event, hosted by the Petfood Industry Association of Thailand, focused on the theme "Elevating Industry Growth through Commercial Diets, Safety, and Transparency." Technical sessions featured presentations from GAPFA leadership, major manufacturers and international organizations including the UN World Food Programme and the World Organization for Animal Health.
"This year's Congress was a milestone for GAPFA, underscoring our shared commitment to advancing pet food safety, sustainability and industry best practices through open dialogue and collaboration," said GAPFA president Loretta Hunter.
During the Annual General Meeting, delegates elected two new board members from corporate members: Jerry May of Freshpet and Sean McNear of Blue Buffalo Company. The assembly also re-elected officers for second one-year terms, including president Loretta Hunter of Nestlé Purina PetCare, vice president for member companies Carlos Gonzalez of Hill's Pet Nutrition, and vice president for member associations Ursula Huber of FEDIAF.
Hosted by the Petfood Industry Association of Thailand (PIA), the event brought together over 60 participants from around the world.Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA)
"We are delighted to welcome these highly qualified leaders to the board and to confirm our officers for the coming year," said Hunter. "Their commitment and leadership will help guide GAPFA's mission to advance the health and wellbeing of pets globally through access to safe, nutritious and sustainable pet food around the world."
The Congress program included workstream meetings on nutrition, food safety, trade facilitation, and communications, where members identified steps for continued global cooperation. Attendees also participated in networking events and cultural activities.
GAPFA announced that its 2026 Congress and Annual General Meeting will take place in Ottawa, Canada, from June 21-24, 2026, hosted by the Pet Food Association of Canada.
