Muenster Milling Co., a manufacturer of freeze-dried and extruded pet food based in Denton, Texas, U.S., has launched a new product format that is designed to enable leading brands and retailers to address consumers' demand for high-nutrition pet food at an affordable price.
Muenster’s kibble plus offering combines the company’s three core manufacturing capabilities – including extruded kibble, freeze-dried proteins and blending – into one format to further fuel the freeze-dried and kibble plus category, one of the fastest-growing segments of pet food. According to the company, retail sales for the segment were US$1.2 billion in the 52 weeks ending July 2024, up 17% over the prior-year period.
“Given our unique capabilities to produce and blend both extruded product and freeze-dried inclusions, kibble plus became an obvious platform for us to address the needs of pet owners in this fast-growing segment," said Jim Holdrieth, CEO of Muenster. "As the leading provider of co-manufacturing and private label development in the freeze-dried category, our capabilities offer leading brands and retailers the ability to mix and match kibble and freeze-dried in a logistically cost-effective manner. Additionally, our investment into industry leading quality standards and procedures gives brands the peace of mind knowing that we are basic on all manufacturing of the finished product.”
Freeze-dried meals are an affordability challenge for millions of pet owners, with a retail price per pound averaging $36, compared to $2.50 for conventional kibble. Kibble plus creates a more affordable way for pet parents to provide the nutritional benefits of freeze-dried. Pet parents can affordably build a more nutritious bowl for their furry family members for a modest premium to regular kibble.
“We are excited to be a one-stop partner that can produce and blend kibble with freeze-dried inclusions for our customers,” said Dave DeLorenzo, Muenster’s VP of sales, marketing and commercialization. “Our new freeze-dried facility has an advanced blending system that can combine multiple freeze-dried inclusions with various innovative shapes of kibble that ensures well-distributed, gently mixed food. Combined with our high-speed packaging solutions from 1oz samples to large bags, our customers can deliver a freeze-dried feeding experience at an accessible price point, providing significant value to pet parents.”
In March, Muenster Milling opened a freeze-dried pet food facility in Denton. Leveraging Muenster’s existing kibble extrusion capabilities, the facility has automated mixing and blending equipment to produce kibble plus and freeze-dried plus product formats.
Founded in 1932, Muenster Milling is a manufacturer of freeze-dried pet food, treats and inclusions, as well as kibble. The company provides contract manufacturing and private label solutions for leading brands and retailers.
Adapted from a press release.
