News & Newsletters: Page 668

Central Garden & Pet reports fourth-quarter fiscal 2013 financial results

Central Garden & Pet Company has reported financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. The company reported net sales of US$368.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2013, a 7 percent decrease over the 14-week comparable fiscal 2012 period.

Brand Insights

Simplify Pet Food Labeling: Strategies for Navigating Global Regulations

Esko

Learn how regulatory complexity is impacting the pet food industry and how brands will meet the challenge using the right digital tools

Simplify Pet Food Labeling: Strategies for Navigating Global Regulations

Halo, Freekibble.com partner for 2013 Holiday Kibble Drop 'Inspire Tour'

For the third year in a row, Freekibble.com and Ellen DeGeneres' natural petfood company, Halo, Purely for Pets, are teaming up to help homeless dogs and cats across the US this holiday season. During the 2013 Holiday Kibble Drop "Inspire Tour," Halo and Freekibble.com will deliver more than 500,000 meals to pets in need.

Wellness Pet Food launches holiday giving Facebook campaign

Through January 16, 2014, Wellness Pet Food is hosting a holiday giving campaign, "You Click, We Donate." The petfood brand's campaign will benefit The Cat House on the Kings Cat Sanctuary & Adoption Center and the Green Chimneys Farm & Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, nonprofits that both support animal causes.

Wellness' 'You Click, We Donate' Facebook campaign will benefit two nonprofits that support animal causes.

Market Trends and Reports

MPM Products sells 100 millionth unit of wet cat food

MPM Products, manufacturer of the Applaws and Encore petfood brands, is celebrating after selling its 100 millionth unit of wet cat food worldwide. The Manchester, England-based company is seeing sales of its brands continue to grow and is on track to reach its target of £24 million (US$39.1 million) turnover by the end of 2013.

Barry-Wehmiller acquires French packaging supplier Arcil SA

Barry-Wehmiller Companies Inc. recently acquired Arcil SA, a Paris-based supplier of packaging technology for the fresh dairy and food industry. The purchase expands the firm’s packaging platform to six separate operating companies.

Flint River Ranch marks 20th anniversary with new petfood, supplements

In October, Flint River Ranch marked its 20th anniversary, and the company is celebrating by launching some new varieties of all-natural, holistic dog and cat foods and supplements. Flint River Ranch, established in 1993, says the company was among the first to feature the "natural, oven-baked freshness" foundation to all of its formulas and the first company to offer home delivery of pet products throughout America.

Flint River Ranch is launching a line of new pet supplements.

Wenger to present petfood processing safety seminar April 29-May 2, 2014

Wenger Manufacturing's Corporate Project Services division will host a Food Safety Seminar Focused on Pet Food Processing on April 29-May 2, 2014. The petfood processing safety seminar will take place at the Hyatt Place Hotel-Kansas City Airport in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

HH Backer announces changes to Total Pet Expo Spring

H.H. Backer Associates announced significant changes to its biennial spring show, Backer’s Total Pet Expo Spring, to be held April 9-11, 2014, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. The changes are designed to increase buyer attendance, highlight innovative new exhibitors, and focus on education and networking.

Webinar on controlling cross-contamination in petfood plants to be held December 12

ExtruTech and MAC Process will sponsor a webinar, presented by WATT Global Media, on “Control Strategies for Cross-Contamination in Pet Food Plants” on Thursday, December 12 at 9 a.m. CT. This webinar will cover sources, points of cross-contamination and re-contamination of Salmonella in petfood processing environments, as well as introduce Advanced Oxidation Technology, a novel strategy, as a part of an integrated approach to control this bacterium in petfood manufacturing facilities.

ExtruTech and MAC Process will sponsor a webinar, presented by WATT Global Media, on 'Control Strategies for Cross-Contamination in Pet Food Plants' on Thursday, December 12.

BarkBox subscribers to receive alligator treats in January 2014

Dog owners who subscribe to BarkBox, the monthly subscription treats and toys box for dogs, will include alligator treats by Delca Corporation in January 2014. The companies have teamed up to deliver a package of think!dog Louisiana Alligator Treats in the January 2014 mailing.

Louisiana Alligator Treats will ship in the January 2014 BarkBox.

Diana Pet Food, Opertech Bio to collaborate on taste science research

Diana and Opertech Bio Inc. announced the companies entered into an agreement to collaborate in the area of taste science. The companies will use Opertech Bio’s high-throughput taste evaluation technology known as the Microtiter Operant Gustometer (MOG) to evaluate the degree of relevance of using rats as surrogate taste testers.

Three tips for petfood manufacturers to prevent contamination

According to the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, more than 48 million Americans are stricken with food borne illness every year. The US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) attempts to help control this; but, companies may be rushing to meet the deadlines, says Polymer Solutions International, and gaps leave companies still not fully prepared to respond to and prevent the risk of contamination.

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