U.S. and Canada: Page 78

BHJ USA Inc. acquires petfood meat blends supplier Protein Inc.

BHJ USA Inc. acquired Protein Inc., a supplier of fresh/chilled meat blends to the wet and dry petfood markets. Protein Inc. will continue its current operations as a subsidiary of BHJ USA Inc., maintaining its current name and independent profile.

Pet Food Market

Approval process for petfood ingredients not perfect, but it works

The process by which new petfood ingredients are approved and defined in the US is, well, complicated. But for the most part, the process has worked, based on cooperation between the Association of American Feed Control Officials and US Food and Drug Administration. Last week, the memorandum of understanding that underpins that collaborative process was extended.

U.S. and Canada

Grow pet ownership to grow the market

Ownership of dogs and cats in the US has continued to rise in the two decades that the American Pet Products Association (APPA) has been conducting its National Pet Owners Survey. That’s the good news.

Groups commend FDA, AAFCO for ingredient definition process extension

Five major US grain, animal feed, feed ingredient and petfood organizations commended the US Food and Drug Administration and the Association of American Feed Control Officials for extending the current Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties, entitled Memorandum of Understanding Between the US Food and Drug Administration and the Association of American Feed Control Officials. "This 12-month extension is vital to the continued success of the AAFCO ingredient review process.

FDA failing to protect pets from jerky treats, nonprofit claims

Food & Water Watch, a US nonprofit organization that works to ensure safe and sustainable food and water, issued a statement, in which the organization claims that the US Food and Drug Administration is failing to protect pets from potentially toxic chicken jerky treats made in China. According to Food & Water Watch executive director, Wenonah Hauter: "Since 2007, thousands of American dogs have fallen ill or died after eating jerky treats made in China.

Market Trends and Reports

PetFlow ships US$2.5 million in petfood, supplies in July

PetFlow.com, an online petfood retailer, set a record in July by shipping more than US$2.5 million in petfood and pet supplies, and the company projects it will generate more than US$30 million in sales by the end of the year. The online petfood retailer has seen much growth since its founding a little more than two years ago, now stocking more than 100 premium petfood brands, as well as a variety of other petfood brands and pet supplies.

All American Pet Company launches new protein dog treat line

All American Pet Company Inc. has launched a new super-premium protein treat for dogs called CHEWIES. The semi-moist 1/4-ounce chunks are of the same all-natural formula as the company's NutraBar.

CHEWIES are a line of super-premium protein treats for dogs, available in a variety of flavors.

PetSmart reports total sales of US$1.6 billion in second-quarter 2012

Petfood and pet supplies retailer PetSmart Inc. reported earnings of US$0.71 per share, up 31 percent compared to US$0.54 per share in the second quarter of 2011. Net income totaled US$79 million in the second quarter of 2012, compared to US$61 million in the second quarter of 2011.

FDA responds to letter from US animal feed, ingredient, grain groups

Three major US grain, animal feed and feed ingredient processing organizations commended the Food and Drug Administration for clarifying its enforcement policy for implementing several key sections of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which was signed into law in January 2011. Among other things, the Food Safety Modernization Act specifies a July 3 effective date for requirements that grain, feed, feed ingredient, grain processing, milling and other sectors of the commercial food and animal feed industry conduct hazard analyses and implement preventive controls.

Global petfood market to reach US$74.8 billion in 2017

The global petfood market will grow by 4.2 percent annually over the next six years, increasing from US$58.6 billion in 2011 to US$74.8 billion by 2017, according to a report published by Transparency Market Research of Albany, New York, USA. The report projects the US market for petfood sales will increase 3.2 percent in 2012, growing at an annual rate of 3.5 percent over the next six years, from US$21.7 billion in 2011 to US$26.6 billion in 2017.

SPF opens petfood palatability product manufacturing plant in Canada

SPF, a provider of petfood palatability enhancers, has opened a new manufacturing facility in Saint-Blaise, Quebec, Canada, to extend its production capabilities in North America. In 2011 the company acquired and upgraded a food processing plant in a location with good proximity to raw material suppliers and petfood manufacturers with easy access to the U.S.

AFIA submits comments to FDA on Food Safety Modernization Act

The American Feed Industry Association submitted comments to the docket to the US Food and Drug Administration regarding the agency’s information collection activities as related to upcoming Food Safety Modernization Act implementation. The comments explained that many American Feed Industry Association members consider their quality assurance programs and food safety plans as proprietary and confidential.

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