News & Newsletters: Page 738

Seating 80 percent sold for Global PETS Forum

Organizers of Global PETS Forum have announced that 80 percent of seating has been sold for the show, which will take place January 24-25, 2013, in Prague, Czech Republic. The event offers opportunities for networking with other industry members, professional speakers from inside and outside the pet industry, and more.

Halo petfood brand, Freekibble.com donate petfood to charities

Ellen DeGeneres’ petfood brand Halo, Freekibble.com and retailer Pet Supplies Plus recently donated 40,000 pounds of petfood to charities through its Holiday Kibble Drop. The Holiday Kibble Drop, a 14-stop tour across the US, donated 500,000 meals to animal shelters and rescues.

US, China extend agreement for animal feed safety

The US Food and Drug Administration renewed an agreement with the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China to further cooperation between the US and China on food and animal feed safety. Originally signed in November 2008, the US and China have extended the agreement for five more years.

Central Garden & Pet reports strong pet segment in fiscal 2012

Central Garden & Pet Company reported financial results for the 14- and 53-week periods ended September 29, 2012, posting net sales of US$397.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2012, a 5 percent increase over the same period in fiscal 2011. Net sales rose thanks to strength in the company's pet segment, as well as an extra week in the quarter compared to 2011.

Chef Michael's petfood brand launches dog food truck sweepstakes

After the earlier launch of a food truck for dogs, Chef Michael’s petfood brand is launching a national sweepstakes to support building a dog-friendly food truck community. Food truck patrons can also enter the sweepstakes for a chance to win a US$500 cash prize or coupon redeemable for free Chef Michael’s product.

Friskies cat food brand launches 'Catify Yourself' app

Friskies has launched a new "Catify Yourself" application that allows users to create, post and share photos of their friends and family as cats. The free "Catify Yourself" iPhone app lets users send photo messages to friends from their cat-like self.

Hill's Pet Nutrition to launch new petfood to fight pet obesity

Colgate-Palmolive, whose subsidiary Hill’s Pet Nutrition sells many petfoods to help pet owners manage clinical conditions like obesity, allergies, intestinal problems and more, is launching a new strategy, with new petfood lines, to save pets from the rising problem of obesity. As part of this strategy with health-focused foods and higher prices, the company is launching a petfood label made from natural ingredients, Science Diet Dry, at the end of 2012.

Key nutrients in a pet's diet may boost immune system effectiveness

In a recent blog on petMD.com, Jennifer Coates, DVM, shares her knowledge in the field of immunonutrition, which deals with supplementing a pet’s diet with certain nutrients’ to boost the immune system’s effectiveness. The veterinarian says that the gastrointestinal tract is home to more than 65 percent of the body’s immune cells, which means optimal nutrition and a well-functioning immune system are important.

Claudia's Canine Cuisine recalls Hound Cakes for possible mold

Claudia’s Canine Cuisine is voluntarily recalling a lot of its Dogcandy brand of Holiday Hound Cake and Blueberry Hound Cake products because of the possibility of mold. The recall applies to a single production run of 7.5-ounce Hound Cake products, marked with a best-by date of 08-2015, which has the potential to become moldy.

AFIA hosts seminar on petfood ingredient trade requirements

The American Feed Industry Association recently hosted its Import/Export Seminar, in Arlington, Virginia, USA, which provides opportunity for discussion and education on trade requirements for feed, petfood and ingredients. Key speaker Suzanne Heinen, administrator of the US Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, delivered an overview of the Foreign Agricultural Service, whose strategy, according to Heinen, is comprised of four criteria: trade policy, market development and export assistance, market intelligence and analysis, and international development.

New distribution concept for Iams, Eukanuba petfood brands in Germany

Petfood manufacturer Procter & Gamble will introduce a new sales and distribution concept in Germany for its Eukanuba and Iams petfood brands, beginning January 1, 2013. Procter & Gamble will assume responsibility for the order, shipping and billing function and for key account management.

Petfood market in China shows potential for growth

The Chinese pet care market, valued at US$1.3 billion in 2012, shows potential for the global petfood industry, with petfood sales accounting for just 37 percent of the provisional pet care market total, according to a blogfrom Euromonitor International’s head of pet care research, Paula Flores. China is home to one of the world’s highest pet populations, Flores says, with 27.4 million dogs and more than 11 million cats in 2012.

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