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Interviews

4 minutes of reading

5.0

25/01/2024

The interview - Juan Gomez-Basauri

1. Which challenges have you faced in your professional career? There are different and varied challenges during each stage of a professional career, from moving to a new place, or a new city, leaving old friends and colleagues, making new friends and colleagues, balan...

Interviews Interview to Zach Bearson- Cozzini Marketing Director

1+ MIN

5.0

29/12/2023

Interview to Zach Bearson- Cozzini Marketing Director

Zack Bearson took his time to introduce the company and equipments as well as its solutions for the pet food sector and producers, in Latin America. Cozzini has a geat reputation within the sector and are currently market leaders in pet food systems, badging and d...

Interviews

Interview to Vanni Antonello - Application Manager at GEA Group

3+ MIN

5.0

22/12/2023

Interview to Vanni Antonello - Application Manager at GEA Group

Interviews

5+ MIN

5.0

16/11/2023

The Interview – Lucas Cypriano

Interviews

Interview with Kimberly Nelson President of kemin Nutrisurance

1+ MIN

5.0

01/09/2023

Interview with Kimberly Nelson President of kemin Nutrisurance

Latest Interviews contents

Interview with Sebas Van Den Ende - General Manager of VICTAM

Interviews

5.0

7+ MIN

28/07/2023

Interview with Sebas Van Den Ende - General Manager of VICTAM

This issue's interviewee is Sebas Van Den Ende, General Manager at VICTAM. Let's meet the man that has launched one of the most important events of the pet food industry. He started his professional career at the Marketing Department of a Packaging company in the Netherlands, and later, at the same company, he changed his role as Export Manager for Latin America. In 2000, he made his first steps in the world of exhibitions as he started as Event Manager at Amsterdam RAI, the biggest exhibition organizer in the Netherlands, while he kept organizing events in Brazil and Mexico. How did you start with VICTAM? What's (or has been) your biggest challenge as the General Manager? After 5 years of working with events and exhibitions for a company, I moved to Brazil, where I launched the Latin American Branch of the RAI Group, but, unfortunately, just after the office was launched, a management switch changed strategic vision, and the Brazilian office was not needed anymore. By then, in 2006, I saw big opportunities in Brazil, so I decided to stay in Brazil and launched our own exhibition company. This was the right time at the right place, as Brazil was booming and got the attention because of attracting the World Cup 2014 and the Olympics 2016. In a short time, we built a portfolio of successful events and the developments in Brazil, drew the attention of international event organizers, and eventually, we sold our company to one of them. After the required management handover period, we decided to return to the Netherlands in the beginning of 2018. After some side steps, I felt like returning to the event industry, and exactly at that time, VICTAM came along. Even though the industries for animal nutrition and grain processing were completely new for me, organizing and developing events in these industries is not very different from any other B2B industry, and it gave me the advantage to see things with an open mind. When I started at VICTAM in 2018, the challenge was to get a more balanced portfolio and to have a better coverage of the world. In the process of developing our portfolio, having partnerships and joining existing events were key elements. The idea was to have more qualitative good VICTAM events, but not necessarily more events in the industry, creating a win-win for organizers and participants. In 2019, we signed three important partnerships to execute this strategy, but unfortunately, just after signing the contracts we faced the COVID-19 outbreak. This changed a lot, not only for our industry, but also it strongly influenced our partnerships and internal organization. The biggest challenge, so far, is very clear: to overcome the Coronavirus pandemic. And although the world has overcome it, the landscape in exhibition land is still misty and it will take time before everything is back to normal. When did you realize it was time to arrive in LatAm? What were the reasons that made you take the risk? When I lived in Brazil, we were always looking at new segments for our exhibition portfolio, and it was very clear that the agribusiness, like livestock, soy, sugar cane, corn and grain had a huge potential. We never touched these industries, as they have strong stakeholders, and we felt you need a well-established exhibition brand to convince them in this field. As soon as I started at VICTAM, it was obvious that Latin America was a continent that had our priority to research and after doing this it confirmed the potential we noticed before. As Latin America was a blind spot in our portfolio, the market showed potential and our exhibitors were positive about exhibiting in the region, we decided to launch an event in the continent. Latin America, of course, is much more than Brazil, so the question was where to launch VICTAM LatAm. Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are all very important markets for our exhibitors and we considered all of them as possibilities. We decided to launch our event in Sao Paulo, as Brazil is the biggest country in the continent and has Sao Paulo, a central and important hub. There are flight connections to all major cities in South America and there are good facilities to organize events. Of course, my knowledge and connections in Brazil were also factors in the decision as we could start the event in the third gear. After we had received market support from our founding companies (Andritz, CPM, Famsun, Wengerand Zheng Chang) and some national and international associations, we launched our first edition for October 2023, in September last year. Which are the plans for VICTAM in LatAm? Will it take place in different countries of the region? Which periodicity will it have? VICTAM is part of a foundation with the mission of benefiting the animal nutrition industry. For us, the result of the event for our participants is more important than the financial results. After all, the profit we make will go back to the industry by donations to projects and research. Our objective with our events is having bi-annual events in 4 regions (Asia, Europe, Latin America and Middle East/Africa) in the world. For our event VICTAM LatAm, as this will be a bi-annual event, the next edition will be in October 2025. Whether we stay in Sao Paulo or move the event to other countries is not decided yet and also will depend on the results of the event and the feedback from our participants. In the future, we hope that VICTAM will close partnerships and co-host with other events and strategic partners, so that it grows together with other events of the continent. The most important thing is that we answer according to the needs of the market: it's not only about what's convenient for us but rather about meeting our customers' needs. How do you see the growth of the pet food industry in the near future? The pet food industry is a rapidly growing sector, and it is expected to continue to expand in the near future. The increasing number of pet owners, combined with the growing awareness of the importance of pet nutrition, is driving the demand for high-quality and healthy pet food. As a result, the industry is likely to continue to transform and bring along new innovations that cater to the specific needs of pets. Some of these innovations include the use of precision nutrition, sustainable practices, nutrigenomics, alternative protein sources, automation and Blockchain. As a leading global animal feed event organization, we have to make sure to do continuous research to not lag behind and follow all the trends to maintain high-end knowledge by organizing the right conferences with the right topics and by the right people. Overall, the pet food industry is set to remain a key player in the global food industry, as pets continue to play an important role in the lives of millions of people around the world. Therefore, for VICTAM, the pet food segment is growing in importance. Pet food is now one of the main segments of the event, both at the exhibition as in the parallel conference program. What's your point of view, as VICTAM General Manager, regarding new needs, such as sustainability and circular economy? As the industry is expected to continue to focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly practices, consumers become more conscious of their impact on the planet. It is clear that if we want to live with so many people on earth, we must do this in a responsible way, so that the next generations will be proud of us instead of blaming us. I believe that the feed and grain processing industries have an important role to play in promoting sustainability and circular economy practices. There is a growing awareness among consumers and industry stakeholders about the need to reduce waste, conserve resources, and minimize the environmental impact of industrial processes. Thus, it is important for the industry to adopt sustainable practices that support the circular economy. This can be achieved through the implementation of these practices and promotion through different channels (online). As for the offline practices, promotion of sustainability through workshops, seminars and other sessions during the events. In our industry, these are important themes and we give it quite some attention. In our conference program there are several sessions about sustainability and exhibitors we always challenge to have innovations to stimulate this circular economy. We believe that an event like VICTAM, where so many people from different parts of the world come together can contribute to the environment goals. In your experience, what's the most important factor for a successful networking event? Obviously, the most important factor for a successful networking event is to meet the right people. Meeting people with the same interests, meeting people who can help you with a need, problem or question. The more of these contacts the better it is. If you can combine these meetings, with seeing the solutions, feeling a machine and listening to interesting sessions you have a successful networking event. What would you say to professionals, producers and manufacturers that are yet not participating in any networking event to encourage them? We believe that our event in Sao Paulo this October will be a big success. Around 150 companies already signed up, which exceeded our goals for this first event. This will be an event for the whole continent, and we already see quite some registrations from feed mills and pet food producers from several countries from South America. It will be a complete event where companies will meet potential and existing clients from the whole continent. To all feed mills, cooperatives, self-mixing farms and flour processing companies, please register on line and check out the event. Visiting the event will be a one stop experience where you see the latest technology from all over the world, innovative ingredients for nutrition and a very diverse conference program for all kinds of topics. By: Sebas Van Den Ende Source: VICTAM

Interview with Juan Becher, General Manager of Symrise Pet Food in Mexico, about the role of the company in the industry

Interviews

5.0

7+ MIN

21/07/2023

Interview with Juan Becher, General Manager of Symrise Pet Food in Mexico, about the role of the company in the industry

Based on more than 40 years of experience, Symrise Pet Food has achieved comprehensive knowledge of pets, products and markets, which has allowed it to position itself as a global leader in pet food palatability through its SPF brand. In addition, Symrise Pet Food has extended its offer to pet nutrition solutions with its brand Nutrios, pet food protection solutions with the Videka brand. Symrise Pet Food's ambition is to give all pets a better life by being at the heart of every eating experience by 2030. For Symrise Pet Food, proximity to stakeholders is key, according to the motto: "The closer the better". For this reason, in this 2023 the company continues with its expansion –which already has 31 sites distributed in 4 global regions– and has begun to build a new plant in Mexico, which follows the latest construction standards and puts sustainability at the heart of the factory design and operations. We spoke with Juan Becher, General Manager of the Mexico subsidiary, to learn more about the characteristics of the new plant, the production of pet food in Mexico, the future of the market and the role of Symrise Pet Food in the industry as a global leader. Juan, can you tell us a little about yourself and Symrise Pet Food in Mexico? Symrise Pet Food began operating in Mexico in September 2004, and I joined the company in April 2005 as Production Manager. I remember that at that time we were really very few: barely 8 employees running the entire company. During the next 10 years, we had many challenges, but without a doubt there were many more satisfactions! In 2015, as the structure was similar to the current organization, I took the responsibility of leading the commercial management of Mexico and Central America; and in 2021, I assumed the position of General Manager of Mexico. For those of us who do not live in Mexico, could you briefly tell us what is the Mexican pet food market like and what is its current context? Back in 2004, Mexico was the seventh pet food producing country; today we can say that we are the fourth, with around 1,700,000 tons produced in 2022 and according to our internal estimates. We only have very large markets above us, such as the United States, Brazil and China. As in the other countries in the region, Mexico is a country dominated by dogs (small ones mostly), but with a remarkable growth in the cat population. The phenomenon of urbanization is not unknown to us, since almost 25% of the population in Mexico is concentrated in the 3 most important cities. The effects of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine forced all producers to reassess their strategies and adapt them to the "value for money" that is heard so often. Fortunately, the Mexican pet food industry is robust and has a lot of investment behind it, so each kibble produced has the value that pet owners seek when feeding their companions. What could you tell us about the new plant that you started to build? The new plant will be located in the city of Querétaro, very close to the current one. In 2021 we acquired a 2-hectare piece of land to build the offices and the production plant. In total, we are talking about 6,600 square meters and a total of 4 buildings. Like the new plants in Brazil and Colombia, our plant will have high standards in terms of infrastructure, process technologies and automation, thanks to which we will be able to continue manufacturing the environmentally responsible products that our customers choose and need. Industry and market knowledge Nobody ignores that Latin America is one of the regions that appreciates pets the most. In addition to being one of the regions with most pets per inhabitant, a recent statistic found that 67% of the people in Latin America prefer their pets to their friends. Symrise Pet Food works with the commitment to contribute not only to the benefit of the pet, but also to the close affective relationship between the pet owner and the pet, who in many cases, is considered as another member of the family. Juan, what could you tell us about Symrise Pet Food's contribution to the industry? Thanks to our commercial and productive network around the world, we have a comprehensive knowledge of the local manufacturer and its needs, but also of the pet owners and their pets, who are always looking for new and better products. These three, without a doubt, are the main players in the pet food industry and the ones that make the wheel of our industry turn. In our almost 20 years of presence in the Mexican market, we have always considered it important to listen to them and find solutions that meet their expectations. When we talk about food for our beloved pets, it is extremely important to provide confidence and safety at all times: from the moment before the reception of raw materials to the dispatch and delivery to the customer. The plant and our work teams support the pet food industry by offering the highest quality and food safety globally, to meet (and exceed) everyone's expectations. Through our Aplicalis team, we go beyond the simple delivery of products and provide our clients with more than 40 years of experience and leadership in the palatability market to improve both their production processes and the application of palatants. In short, we help them produce that food or treat that they thought of and want to launch on the market. The importance of sustainability Symrise Pet Food was born from the desire to value by-products, which is why from its origins it has included sustainable development in its strategy. Its roadmap is based on four pillars: Footprint (to minimize the environmental footprint throughout the value chain), Innovation (to maximize the social and environmental performance of products), Sourcing (to maximize the sustainability of the supply chain and raw materials) and Care (to improve the well-being of employees and the local community). Through them, the company seeks to improve its performance in various areas to achieve the goals set by the United Nations for 2030, with special attention to the challenge of reaching 2030 while being neutral with respect to the emission of greenhouse gases. We asked Juan Becher to elaborate on the value of sustainability and Symrise Pet Food's commitment in this regard. You mentioned responsibility with the environment before, something key in the current situation of the planet. How important do you think sustainability is today in the Mexican pet food market? In my opinion, in 2023 all companies in the industry should consider sustainability as an indispensable factor when planning their activities and processes. Although broadly speaking the pet food industry has its origins in the revalorization of by-products, technological advances and access to information have made it clear that the traditional ways of producing must change. At Symrise Pet Food we have a tool that has added a lot of value to our products and, consequently, to pet food and its industry: the Ecodesign Matrix. With it we measure the environmental impact of a product before and after its production; we measure the impact of our raw materials and ingredients, their transportation and later the impact of transporting our products to the customer. In this way, we can develop alternatives with the same palatability performance, but with a substantial improvement in environmental impacts. Currently, the big players are the millennials (generation Y) and, although they are not yet mature in terms of income, they are the biggest group of owners of pets and are very involved in caring for the environment. They seek to guide their consumption towards truly responsible brands that face the new challenges of industrial design. Now, answering your question, I think that the Mexican market is giving it the corresponding importance. Thanks to our close contact with almost all pet food producers, I know that they are working to develop more and better products that are ethical and environmentally responsible. According to Mintel, in 2018, 10% of the products launched in the Mexican market had one or more claims in the "Ethical and environmental" category, and in 2022 we were in the order of 21%. We are certainly going on the right path. How do you see the market in Mexico and our region 10 years from now? Since I started working in the industry, I have not ceased to be surprised by the growth and maturation that it experiences year after year. Our new plant is designed with the market of the next 10 years in mind; a much more robust, developed market with a greater offer of wet products and treats, both for dogs and cats. The idea of outstanding eating experiences, natural ingredients and functional foods that improve the lives of pets will be determining issues for their owners, as they have been for several years. Thank you very much Juan for your time. Would you like to add anything else to close? First of all, I want to thank our clients who trust us every day and know that we put all our effort into giving them the best solutions to their needs; without them we would not be the undisputed leaders in palatability. Secondly, and no less important, I would like to thank you for spreading the word about everything we do at Symrise Pet Food, as well as spreading what our colleagues and clients do. I think it is essential to do, but you also have to make it known. Developing the pet food industry and modifying the forms of production is everyone's work and commitment. By: Symrise Pet Food Source: All Pet Food Magazine

Interview with Claudia Degrossi - World Social Communication Day

Interviews

5.0

3+ MIN

15/05/2023

Interview with Claudia Degrossi - World Social Communication Day

From All Pet Food we generate and share content created with research by our editorial team, clients, editors and colleagues from the pet food industry, backed by qualified sources, to provide technical-scientific articles, not only for reading as a hobby, but as a training resource. That is why we highlight a date that proposes to reflect on the responsibility that communicators assume, inviting them to become aware of their role and ethical conduct. And from All Pet Food to remain committed to this premise. Considering the important date and the importance of sharing information obtained from knowledge and research, what inspires you to play the role of disseminator? Among my values is learning... that connects me with personal improvement, with my view of myself as a process, being in permanent construction... And facilitating that process in other people is exciting and challenging for me. In this disseminator role I get in contact with people, I answer questions, I accompany others so they can learn the knowledge they need to solve their day-to-day issues... And those questions that they ask me lead me to rethink my role and myself, in this improvement cycle. On the other hand, and considering a subject as booming as controversial like Artificial Intelligence, what do you think about its use as a tool to create content? Perhaps I still dont have a formed opinion, it is rather reflections or feelings that are intermingled... There is a John Naisbitt phrase that I like, that reflects my way of looking at the future: "The most exciting revolutionary advances of the 21st century will not happen by technology, but by an expansive concept of what it means to be human"… And as human beings we are imperfect. I understand that this imperfection adds value to what we do. And in this act we build ourselves as authentic human beings, if we have the courage to let ourselves be seen. Maybe someone chooses to use that tool to start their job... Now, it's important for me to be seen in that content, and that happens when I get involved in writing... We know that writing texts has many benefits such as: generating neural connections, enriching vocabulary, improving fine motor skills, etc. What kind of impact can have using a tool that solves this task immediately? I understand that it could have a deep impact, at least on me, on the possibility of learning. I would be "delegating" something that I didn't even learn deeply about. How to grow if we skip that learning? Agility, a word that has a lot of presence today, but this doesn´t mean fast or immediate, rather it goes hand by hand with our adaptability. And that requires many skills such as flexibility, hierarchy, acceptance, detachment, among others, that we train while doing... And also, I don't want to miss the happiness and recognition of myself, when I do something that we value... In everything we write, we are ourselves... When I read someone else's text, emotions even arise, empathy appears... I don't know if that will continue to happen if the contents do not have a "human" author. Remembering the responsibility of communicators to create and disseminate articles generated from research and supported by true sources, what do you think about the reliability of the content creado with Artificial Intelligence? I imagine that this will be related to updating the information that feeds the system... Perhaps reliability doesn't have so much to do with updating, but with what makes it human. That "humanity" sometimes shows information that is far beyond "data" and is forceful... We invite you to add anything else you consider necessary to share with the pet food industry. I think that AI will have an impact in many aspects... It will be necessary to rethink the training proposals, professional skills, ways of working, etc... I strongly hope that we don't lose sight of its possible negative impact, if its use does not go hand in hand with a tracendental lokk, transcendental gaze, like the one that has at all of us connected. By: Claudia Degrossi Source: All Pet Food

Interview with Francisco Ríos - Director of Corporate Affairs at Mars Pet Nutrition, México

Interviews

5.0

8+ MIN

21/12/2022

Interview with Francisco Ríos - Director of Corporate Affairs at Mars Pet Nutrition, México

Please, tell us a little about your professional career. For more than 15 years, I have been in the areas of Communication, Institutional Relations, and Public Policy and, since 2017, I have been part of Mars in the Mars Pet Nutrition Mexico division, as Director of Corporate Affairs. Before joining Mars, I was in charge of the Directorate of Government Relations and Public Policy for Latin America at Kellogg Company. I have been part of different councils, chambers, and associations, as well as foundations that support social causes related to child malnutrition and food banks, and now I work very closely with those that promote animal welfare. I like that, through my work, I promote the business leveraged by the purpose of MARS Petcare to make A Better World for Pets, as well as manage and influence allies in key spaces for it to continue operating successfully. Can you give us a small presentation of the company? What is its mission in the market? Mars Petcare is one division of the company, a family business with more than a century of history and a presence in 80 countries. We are world leaders in pets' health and nutritional needs. Through our brands: PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, CHAMP®, PAL®, and SHEBA®, and the expert care of BANFIELD® veterinary hospitals, we work to offer a whole portfolio of options, seeking to grow our brands through our inspiring purpose "A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS." For this reason, we make healthy, safe, and nutritious products, offering different options tailored to the characteristics and needs of dogs and cats, which are now present in 7 out of 10 homes. Today, Mars Petcare Mexico is the 4th market for the company globally. In our country, in the pet food division, we have 4 manufacturing plants located in Queretaro and Jalisco to satisfy local demand and those from other regions. What are the main challenges for the company to continue improving and growing? What is the growth focus for 2023? What do you think is essential to focus your efforts on? The first great opportunity is to take advantage of caloric conversion, which, in Mexico, being less than 50%, represents a great potential to keep growing. In other words, this means that our portfolio of complete and balanced foods is a great alternative for the adequate nutrition of dogs and cats (compared to those who give them homemade food) because today, relationships with pets have evolved, and they will continue that way. They occupy a closer place in our house and are part of our family. This closer relationship and genuine interest in improving their lives have led consumers to be more aware of the importance of balanced meals to take care of their health and, therefore, their diet. We see the pet food category continue with double-digit growth driven by the transformation of the role of dogs and cats within the family dynamic. One of our main focuses is also to keep promoting the wet food market for pets since it is growing faster than the category. We also have a great opportunity in two other sectors, one is everything related to cats since the dynamics of this pet in cities with smaller living spaces makes it a great companion that can stay alone at home. Another important trend is the search for more natural foods that provide nutritional balance and help pets lead healthier and happier lives. We will keep working to assist more pets worldwide, offering complete and balanced foods through our different brands and variety of products. Some of our most recent proposals are, for example, WHISKAS® Balance of Nature and CHAMP® in the dog food category, both products without dyes and with the essential nutrients they need, thus contributing to their quality of life and providing a healthy balance in your diet. As a company, our goal is that there are no more animals living on the streets. For 14 years, we have been working with strategic allies, such as shelters, associations, and even clients, to promote the adoption of pets and responsible ownership while promoting our purpose. Some of our initiatives are focused precisely on supporting, through the shelters of our PEDIGREE® Adopt Me program and other key allies, sterilization campaigns, and enabling more pet-friendly spaces that allow pets and their guardians to strengthen the bond. For example, we work with shopping centers to provide guidance on the right infrastructure and amenities to enable pet-friendly spaces, always prioritizing animal welfare. What innovative proposals are approaching the market? We, at Mars Petcare, as industry leaders, seek that the nutritional proposal of our brands has the scientific support of the Waltham Research Center, in addition to always prioritizing quality as one of our Five Principles. In particular, we were pioneers in the proposal of wet food for pets in different formats such as pâté and fillets, while in oral health, we also have a great product: PEDIGREE® Dentastix, which due to its exclusive shape and active ingredients help reduce plaque formation and dental tartar. As a business, a large part of our innovation proposals is anchored in the importance of linking our operation with our purpose. We have set ourselves the objective of promoting initiatives that ensure there are no more dogs on the streets, promote responsible adoption, and encourage pet-friendly culture to be part of our society. For example, our PEDIGREE® Adopt Me Web App seeks to take advantage of digital tools to bring those individuals or families interested in adopting a new member to their family closer together so that now they can do so more easily. In 2021 we inaugurated the first stadium with a 100% pet-friendly space in the world in Querétaro, just 2 hours from Mexico City, the Corregidora stadium. This pet-friendly space, like many others we support, arises to continue strengthening the bond between people and pets for all the benefits they bring to our lives. Finally, another example is the podcasts Ciudad para las mascotas, available on digital platforms, in which pet managers can learn more about how caring for their dogs and cats and welcoming them as part of the family helps us be more connected, healthy, and happy. What is the expansion projection for 2023? At the beginning of this year, we announced a total investment of 100 million dollars (2,100 million pesos) over the next three years, which will allow us to double the production capacity of our wet pet food plant located in Queretaro. This project is generating 600 temporary jobs and will welcome more than 100 new Associates. The expansion will be ready in the third quarter of 2023 (an 18-month project), and will allow us to double our production capacity by installing 12 production lines to manufacture an additional 40,000 tons per year, allowing 70,000 tons of product annually. This represents more than 55 million Envelopes® of wet food per month for the PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, CESAR®, AND SHEBA® brands. In relation to the trends in the industry, such as the high humanization of pets or changes in food, what changes have you made in your production process, technologies, or products? Our product's innovation and evolution is essential for us. That's why we are constantly strengthening our product portfolio to offer the best nutrition to dogs and cats, focusing on different types of food, textures, benefits, and experiences to satisfy the needs of those responsible for pets and also those of companion animals. We strive to have the correct presentation (size and price) in the different distribution points where our consumers want to find us. For example, we recently renewed the PEDIGREE® portfolio, including our Biscrock snacks, in addition to launching the PEDIGREE® High Protein variety in its dry and wet technology, the new Dentastix® Meat, we launched two new varieties of our cat food, with WHISKAS® sterilized cats and WHISKAS® protein mix, as well as our WHISKAS® Premium snacks, always under the scientific support of the WALTHAM® research center, the world authority in pet nutrition research that defines the nutritional, quality, and food safety standards for all MARS brands. What policies has the company adopted in terms of circular economy and sustainability? We believe that the world we want tomorrow begins with the way we do business today. That's why, at the heart of our strategy, is our "Sustainability in a Generation Plan," where the planet is healthy, people and pets thrive, and society is inclusive. Based on this plan, we managed to bring to life initiatives that address key areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and that include ambitious purposes based on scientific data. We have the goal of reducing our water use by 50% by 2025 to achieve a water balance in all our plants in Mexico. This commitment will allow us to contribute to the recovery of more than 42,000m3 of water in all our plants in the country. We are proud to join three projects hand in hand with strategic associations focused on water recovery to achieve a significant impact: Metropolitan Environmental Fund of Monterrey A.C., for the restoration of the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park, promoted by our two candy and confectionery plants located precisely in Nuevo León. Our pet food plants in Queretaro, Jalisco, and the chocolate plant in the State of Mexico join 'El Fondo de Agua Cauce Bajío' in collaboration with Nuup and the Secretary of Agri-food and Rural Development of Guanajuato. The Jalisco plant joined the Charco Bendito project in 2021 for comprehensive restoration of water care in a section of the Arroyo Grande micro-basin. What do you consider to be the main current challenges for the growth of the industry? In Mexico, the pet food market is the fourth most important market, for us at Mars, this continues to represent a scenario of great opportunities. In the coming years, the concept of "value for money" will continue to gain relevance, companies must maintain diversity in their product portfolio, covering the different needs of customers and their pets while adapting to new purchasing trends with innovative proposals. A clear example of the changes in the market for the coming years is the new generations who will continue to be relevant to the industry. In addition, according to our study "Homeless Pets Index (IMSH)", 62% of those surveyed expressed interest in adopting a cat and 77% a dog, so we need to be ready. We are positive about the category's performance, thanks to a mix of factors, including the market, business decisions, and doing the right thing for pets and their guardians, our customers, and our company. Any comment or information you want to add is more than welcome! At Mars, we are proud to be a family-owned business with the ability to invest long-term in the future of our business, our people, and the planet, all guided by our Five Principles. We believe that the world we want tomorrow begins with the way we do business today. We will continue to work to improve the well-being of families and their pets around the world, and we will continue to share our research and innovations to create a better world for pets, so every day we are a little closer to the world we want tomorrow. Source: Mars Pet Nutrition

The Interview - Dana Brooks - CEO at Pet Food Institue

Interviews

5.0

4+ MIN

01/11/2022

The Interview - Dana Brooks - CEO at Pet Food Institue

Good science is needed - not disruptors What does the Pet Food Institute do in the industry? What could you say about its mission? The Pet Food Institute's goal is to support the industry as the voice of U.S. pet food and treat makers. PFI is the industry's representative before Congress and state legislatures, as well as state and federal agencies; a public education and media relations resource; an organizer of seminars and educational programs; and a liaison to other organizations. Is there any current research in the industry that you consider a disruptive factor in its growth? I don't think there's research that is a disruption. Good science is needed - not disruptors. PFI's research group focuses mostly on food safety. How do you think the post pandemic pet food industry will keep on developing? Our members' goal is always to provide safe products that provide complete and balanced nutrition to dogs and cats. That goal will not change. One thing that we have seen is that post-pandemic, more American households than ever have a pet – about 70% now. This rapid growth, in addition to the sourcing issues due to renewable diesel mandates and trucking issues, will continue to create supply chain issues moving forward. PFI continues to advocate for solutions to improve supply chain issues and support the needs of pet lovers and their pets. How do you think that people's trends and habits impact their pet ownership? One big area we see this in is the increasing concern over pet obesity. Over 50% of American pets are currently overweight or obese. This, unfortunately, leads to a host of health issues for the animal including diabetes, joint, and heart issues. Studies show that a dog at a healthy weight can live up to 2.5 years longer than one that is overweight. During the pandemic, more Americans were home with their pets, and pets were being fed more treats and toys filled with peanut butter to keep the pets calm while people worked. Since less than 10% of a pet's daily caloric intake should come from treats, this created an unhealthy situation. That's why Pet Food Institute launched the Your Pet's Healthy Weight campaign to educate consumers on the dangers of pet obesity and encourage them to work with their vets to attain a healthy weight. Sustainability is one of the most important initiative nowadays. What do you think of it? How is the company embracing it? The pet food industry is embracing ideas that will make its operations more sustainable. Some of those efforts are hindered by regulatory challenges like the length of time it takes to get approval on new ingredients. PFI members take several different steps to support continued sustainability in the manufacturing of pet food. This can include steps such as investing in packaging advancements to minimize waste and maximize recycling to reducing water and energy use at manufacturing sites and avoiding competing with the human food supply. From responsible ingredient sourcing to on-site manufacturing and packaging, PFI members are finding multiple ways to advance the sustainable production of pet food. That's why the Pet Food Institute is working with the Pet Sustainability Coalition and we have created a Sustainability Working Group – to proactively search for ways to become more sustainable. The Pet Sustainability Coalition's Earth Day campaign is one example of how the industry is coming together to be more sustainable. During Earth Day 2022, pet industry professionals came together to complete over 10,000 earth-friendly actions. What challenges could you say are the most difficult to overcome for the industry nowadays? One of the biggest challenges are supply chain issues partially caused by mandates and incentives for renewable diesel use. In an effort to address climate change, the government is providing incentives to farmers to use animal and plant oils traditionally used in pet food and for human consumption to be used in the creation of renewable diesel. This is causing unintended consequences in the supply chain in the form of ingredient shortages and drastically increased ingredient costs for pet food makers. The lengthy, time consuming and expensive process of getting new and innovative ingredients approved for use in pet food. This process can take upwards of 5 years making it difficult for pet food makers to implement new research and sustainable practices to provide the best nutrition possible for pets. A key example of this is the use of insect proteins. Currently, there is tentative approval to use only one ingredient – black soldier fly larvae - in dog food. However, there are other high-quality insect proteins that could be used in pet foods if the approval process were more efficient and harmonized. This delays bringing highly sustainable ingredients to market at a time when the government is seeking to reduce carbon emissions. Source: Pet Food Institute

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