U.S. and Canada: Page 77

French petfood companies to merge in US$23.4 million investment deal

French petfood manufacturer Continentale Nutrition confirmed that investment funds AgroInvest and India Invest will invest 19 million euros (US$23.4 million) to acquire a joint stake in the company, merging Villeneuve Petfood with Continentale Nutrition. Continentale Nutrition also announced that regional public property company Communauté d’Agglomération du Boulonnais will buy its logistics platform for 10 million euro (US$12.3 million).

Market Trends and Reports

Panelis offers cat food palatability testing in North America

Panelis, part of the Diana Pet Food division, is an independent team of trained animal technicians, behaviorists and statisticians that observe and measure the consumption and enjoyment of petfood by canine and feline expert panels. Its cat food palatability testing services are now available for customers in the US and Canada through the establishment of Panelis North America and its recently opened cattery in Hodges, South Carolina, USA.

Panelis North America's cattery is located in Hodges, South Carolina, USA.

Market Trends and Reports

US petfood distribution program ships 200th petfood truckload

Rescue Bank, a nationwide US petfood distribution program for animal rescue groups, recently shipped its 200th truck, delivering 27,000 pounds of dog food, cat food and treats to Angel's Arms, an affiliate in Mobile, Alabama, USA. The petfood shipment allowed Angel's Arms to help local rescuers with several recent puppy mill and hoarder raids, recovering hundreds of pets in dire need of better care and nutrition.

Pet Food Market

Treat sales, Latin America drive pet industry growth, Euromonitor says

Like other experts and analysts, Euromonitor International is bullish on the global pet industry. "Overall retail growth should be stronger than in 2011, with total sales approaching US$95 billion worldwide in 2012, writes Paula Flores, the firm's new global head of pet care research, in a blog. "This represents a year-on-year constant value gain of 2.5%."

US private-equity firm acquires UK pet treat manufacturer

US private-equity firm Swander Pace Capital has acquired UK pet treat manufacturer Pointer Pet Products Limited. Pointer Pet Products Limited is a manufacturer of branded and private-label baked dog treats.

WellPet unveils US$20 million dog food processing plant expansion

Petfood manufacturer WellPet recently unveiled the US$20 million expansion of its dry dog food processing plant in Mishawaka, Indiana, USA, according to a report. When the petfood plant expansion is complete, the company will add 45 jobs, as well as green technology and automated petfood packaging.

Research and Markets offers Latin America pet care market report

Research and Markets added a new pet industry report, "Latin American Pet Care: The Rise of Emerging Markets," to its offerings. The report from Euromonitor International says that the retail values in Latin America's pet care market are growing faster than any other region.

CDC confirms 22 people infected from dry dog food recalls

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now confirmed that a total of 22 people were infected with a strain of Salmonella infantis from the recent recalls of dry dog food made at Diamond Pet Foods' Gaston, South Carolina, USA, manufacturing plant. According to CDC: • Of the 22 people reported ill, 20 are from 13 USA states and two are from Canada

New Zealand eel exported to US for novel petfood protein

Researchers in New Zealand are calling for petfood companies to stop exporting eel to the United States to be used as a novel protein source in petfoods. One local petfood company, Addiction Foods, exports a range of gourmet petfoods to the US and other markets, marketing them as hypoallergenic or "earth-friendly."

AFIA to host Liquid Feed Symposium in September

The American Feed Industry Association’s Liquid Feed Committee will host the 42nd annual Liquid Feed Symposium, September 12-14, at the Grand Hyatt Denver in Colorado, USA. The program educates and promotes the agricultural liquid supplement industry, with speaker presentations, research funding, achievement recognition and the Liquid Feed Symposium Trade Show.

Mars Petcare, The Nutro Company build petfood innovation center

Mars Petcare and its subsidiary The Nutro Company recently began building a US$87-million North American Regional Innovation Center for petfood in Thompson's Station, Tennessee, USA. The four-building campus will serve as the companies' home base for creating future petfood innovations for the North American market and is expected to be complete in 2014.

Pet Food Safety

SGS offers pathogen testing services to petfood manufacturers

Due to recent dry dog food recalls in the US and Canada for Salmonella contamination, many petfood manufacturers may be looking to more-thoroughly test their petfood products to avoid causing illness to pet owners and their pets. SGS in Brookings, South Dakota, USA, offers the petfood industry a complete range of pathogen testing services, including Salmonella, E. Coli and Listeria.

Page 77 of 97