Interviews

4 minutes of reading

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
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1+ MIN

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
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3+ MIN

22/12/2023

Interview to Vanni Antonello - Application Manager at GEA Group
Interviews The Interview – Lucas Cypriano
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5+ MIN

16/11/2023

The Interview – Lucas Cypriano
Interviews Interview with Kimberly Nelson President of kemin Nutrisurance
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1+ MIN

01/09/2023

Interview with Kimberly Nelson President of kemin Nutrisurance

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Interview with Sebas Van Den Ende - General Manager of VICTAM
Interviews
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Interview with Qrill Pet and Pet Sustainability Coalition
Interviews
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1+ MIN

23/09/2022

Interview with Qrill Pet and Pet Sustainability Coalition

The PSC envisions a thriving and collaborative pet industry, creating positive impact for communities and environments globally. Together, QRILL Pet and the PSC are working to ensure happy and healthy pets by creating a more sustainable pet industry.
 
The All Pet Food Team met Anne Klein, Director of Member Services at PSC and Gunhild Yksnoy, Custumer Business Development Director of Qrill Pet at Interzoo 2022 to conduct an interview highlighting the position of both companies regarding Sustainability within the pet food sector. Enjoy it!! by All Pet Food
Interview with Emily Tarbagayre, General Manager of Symrise Pet Food Argentina
Interviews
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5+ MIN

07/09/2022

Interview with Emily Tarbagayre, General Manager of Symrise Pet Food Argentina

Dear Emilie, for us it´s a great honor you have granted us this interview, so could you give us a brief personal introduction? I was born and lived in France until 2006, at which time I came to Brazil in search of international experience. Regarding my studies, I'm an Agricultural Engineer specialized in food and I am currently studying an Executive MBA at Insper in São Paulo. The same year that I arrived to Brazil, I began my career within Symrise Pet Food as head of Quality & Environment for that country; In 2008 I assumed the responsibility of directing the Development and Technical Support  department (DST) for Latin America, being involved, among other things, in developing specific solutions for our clients and technically assisting them in the search for more palatable and specific diets. And now you have become the new general manager of Symrise Pet Food Argentina; Why that change? What are the challenges you will have in this new position? This change is framed in a significant structuring of the company; After several years of evolution and reorganization within the Symrise Group by (among others) the Diana group, at the beginning of March we announced worldwide the birth of Symrise Pet Food, a company with the experience and dimensions necessary to take on the challenges of the pet food industry of tomorrow. Thanks to the acquisition of companies such as ADF, Schaffelaarbos, or the recent Wing Pet Food in China, Symrise Pet Food required many people to take on new roles to answer these challenges. Without going any further we have Diego Maurizio, our former regional director as global director of the palatability business... a completely new and necessary position for these times. Regarding my new position I can tell you that I´m very excited because despite the current economic situation in Argentina, the pet food market continues to be very promising. Thanks to being the country with the highest rate of pet ownership in households (in 2021 and according to Euromonitor, 7 out of 10 households had at least one dog), the Argentine market is the third Latin American market according to sales volumes. Personally I think there is a lot to develop and fortunately the manufacturers know this and are working on it. My time in the regional management of DST allowed me to work closely with clients managing their daily challenges: new needs, increasingly complex raw material supply scenarios, an industrial production context with new technologies, processes and rapid expansion, among others. Having been in close contact with our clients for more than 10 years was one of the reasons why they entrusted me with this new position and which I hope to be able to develop to meet everyone's expectations. Based on Symrise Pet Food's global experience, could you tell us about your solutions and services to improve pet welfare and owner satisfaction? Symrise Pet Food acts in the market with the offer of 3 groups of solutions that address essential aspects of pet food: palatability, nutrition and food protection. SPF, our brand of liquid and powder palatants, has been present in the world market for more than 40 years, turning feeding moments into moments of shared happiness. Nutrios, for its part, seeks to provide, through natural ingredients, animal nutrition in accordance with the current high demands of pet parents. Finally, Videka, a joint venture with Kalsec, is responsible for creating the next generation of natural antioxidants for the entire range of pet food and snacks. Symrise Pet Food also owns Panelis, the leading expert measurement center providing reliable and innovative data on the eating behaviors and sensory preferences of dogs and cats, while setting the highest standards in terms of animal welfare. Thanks to this broad portfolio we can fully serve all producers who want to go one step further and develop the pet food of the future.
 
Taking into account the importance that pets have acquired within the family, and the demands of their parents when it comes to feeding them, how do you think the Pet Food market will look like in a few years?   In recent years the pet food market has grown faster than other industries; And not to mention during the pandemic where certain consumption behaviors by pet parents are here to stay. Double income and no kids (DINK), Social Networks and urbanization are three sociocultural factors that, in my opinion, orchestrate our industry and take it to a point of maturity that has only been seen (partially) in more developed markets. I believe that in a few years we'll have a much more robust, premiumized Latin American market, and, above all, much more committed to the environment and the new "green" standards of living. Failure to address this will be decisive when declaring the success or not of a product. As Symrise is a company committed to the environment, could you tell us how you respond to these challenges of generating more sustainable processes? Sustainability has been present in the DNA of Symrise Pet Food since its origins, valuing side-streams and turning them into products of the highest quality at a global level. Likewise, we developed an agenda that closely follows the sustainable objectives set by the UN and thanks to which we work to reduce our carbon footprint, water consumption, supply of raw materials, innovation, building and process improvements, year after year, as well as caring for both employees and local communities (among others). Regarding the innovation mentioned above, I can tell you that when formulating a new product we use our tool called the Eco-Design Matrix. With it we can measure 7 environmental impacts that occur in the production process. Did you know that pet food supplies generate about 80% of its environmental impacts? Thanks to the Eco-Design Matrix we can evaluate different alternatives to reach the same result with a significant decrease in environmental impacts and deliver to our client a product fully aligned with their sustainability strategies. In this way we are contributing in a pragmatic way to the reduction of the environmental footprint of our clients and the achievement of their sustainability goals. I would also like to tell you that in 2019 Symrise Pet Food decided, together with the beginning of the construction of its plant in Colombia, that all new plants will have LEED certification (certification for sustainable buildings, developed by The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) . For this very reason, the plants we are building in Brazil and Mexico will be part of the select group of LEED-certified green buildings that are the future of the industry.  Is there anything else you want to add? I would like to take advantage of this moment to invite all readers to visit us at our CIPAL booth; as well as the manufacturers who want to know more about our palatability solutions, and ofcourse suppliers who want to introduce us to new businesses to continue developing the pet food industry. The Symrise Pet Food team and I are very excited to be back at face-to-face events and meeting all of our customers. We are waiting for you!  by All Pet Food
The Interview - Vladmir Maganhoto
Interviews
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7+ MIN

21/06/2022

The Interview - Vladmir Maganhoto

Dear Vladmir, it is a great honor for us to be able to interview you. As part of BRF, a company with more than 85 years of history and a great team of more than 90 thousand employees, could you give us a brief personal and company introduction? BRF is present in more than 117 countries. Its purpose is to offer quality food, increasingly tasty and practical, for people and their pets around the world, through the sustainable management of a long and complex living chain, which provides a better life for everyone, from farm to table. Owner of iconic brands such as Sadia, Perdigão, Qualy, Biofresh, Balance and GranPlus, the Company bases its actions on the fundamental commitments of safety, quality and integrity. The company bases its strategy on a long-term vision and aims to generate value for its more than 100,000 employees around the world, more than 350,000 customers and approximately 10,000 integrated producers in Brazil, all its shareholders and for society. The phrase "Better life" is the purpose that guides the company, we would like you to tell us what that precious motto means to you? Our purpose is to offer quality food, increasingly tasty and practical, for people all over the world. We do this through the sustainable management of a long and complex living chain that provides a better life for everyone, from farm to fork. Our story began 87 years ago. Since then much has changed in the world and we have also been changing to continue evolving and writing our history. We are part of a large ecosystem and we know that our role in the world only makes sense if we contribute to a better life for those who are also part of it. Regarding the market growth in your country, Brazil, how much do you think the demand for Pet Food ingredients will continue to grow? How do you think the Pet Food market will look like in a few years? The pet market has enormous growth potential. We estimate a double-digit increase per year, reaching retail sales of more than R$ 40 billion. Our expansion into Pet Food is one of the main growth paths of the Company's strategic plan, Vision 2030, to triple its size by 2030. Specifically in this segment, we are the 3rd largest player and we´re working to be one of the two big players by 2025. Adding the acquisitions of Mogiana Alimentos and Grupo Hercosul, BRF Pet reaches approximately 10% market share, according to data provided by ABINPET – Brazilian Association of the Pet Products Industry. BRF Ingredients states that "a better future will demand quality food", and in line with that belief there is a phenomenon of "humanization of pets"… what feeding trends do you think will prevail for our four-legged friends? What are the trends that could last over time? As mentioned in the question itself, there is indeed a greater connection between owners and their pets, and this close interaction between them is absolutely genuine. Through our brands, we are investing heavily in products with high nutritional value, which benefit the health and longevity of dogs and cats. A good example of a trend in the Pet Food segment is natural products. According to Mintel's 2021 report 'A year of innovation in pet food and products', Pet Parents are increasingly looking for more natural food options for their animals. In addition, according to the survey, the owners showed a preference for foods that contain safety and functional benefits for the animals. The survey also reflects consumer concerns about transparency regarding food ingredients used in production. In our portfolio, for example, we have the Guabi Natural and Biofresh brands, two benchmarks in the natural pet food market. The recipes are developed by experts in animal nutrition and add the most nutritious ingredients to each ingredient, without GMOs, artificial colors or flavors. In addition, BRF Pet has a robust portfolio of brands for a wide universe of owners and pets that includes the Balance, Faro and Herói brands, which are aimed at the supermarket channel, while Three Dogs, Three Cats, Primocão, Primogato, Apolo and Átila, Guabi Natural (market leader in the Super Premium Natural segment), GranPlus (deputy leader in the High Premium segment), are aimed at the largest sales channel in Brazil: specialized pet stores (pet shops and veterinary clinics). With this robust portfolio, we can offer quality, reliability and adequate nutrition for different profiles of Parents and their pets, in different sales channels in Brazil and in the world. As Director of BRF, could you tell us if you are developing any new products for the Pet Food industry? After completing the integration of operations with Hercosul and Mogiana Alimentos, earlier this year, we are now focused on expanding our Pet business. For the second half of the year we will work on the execution of our growth plans, such as: launching new natural products for dogs and cats; increase in production capacity; logistics optimization and factory automation. We are committed to our innovation plan and to meeting the needs of our customers and the market. With this move we will have a complete portfolio of brands and products, mainly in the premium and super premium segments, reinforcing our operations in the specialized channel. In addition, we will use all of BRF's robust platform to obtain relevant competitive advantages, such as obtaining grains at more competitive prices. We are committed to becoming one of the leaders in pet food in the country. Our Vision 2030 project is underway and we are focused on bringing the best products to this market, which has enormous growth potential. We are excited to take the next steps and consolidate our position as one of the main market players in Brazil and worldwide. BRF is also a company committed to the environment, could you tell us what actions you take to promote and develop sustainable management? Sustainability is in the BRF Culture, in our 2030 Vision, in the business strategy and in the day-to-day management of our activities. For BRF, sustainability is a journey that has not yet begun. We are committed to continuing and inspiring each person to be an agent of change. Our ambitions reflect the awareness of our responsibility. We know that it is always possible to do more to provide a better life for people and the planet, in line with our Purpose, and to increase our transparency and reinforce our ambitions, we have established global and transversal Commitments with ESG (Environment, Social and Governance). , connected with the Company's Growth Vision. We are ready for a sustainable growth journey, thanks to the consistency of our management, strategy and competitive advantages (brands, people, digital transformation and operational excellence in the integrated chain). We work on several fronts to improve our performance, including projects to reduce water in equipment, infrastructure modernization and application of the Lean philosophy (lean production) in factories, valuing waste control without prejudice to the sanitary field. Through actions such as the reuse of water (avoiding new extractions from the environment), the prioritization of surface catchment (with greater renewability of the resource), the treatment of wastewater for its release and the return of about 95% of the water captured from the environment. In addition, we also invest in green projects. The issuance of green bonds allowed the Company to increase its investment capacity in green projects, focusing on categories such as energy efficiency, renewable energies, sustainable forests, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, water management, packaging, reduction of the use of raw material or waste management. On the wake of pandemic, we have seen a growth in online sales. How did the company manage to adapt to this marketing trend? Does BRF consider it favorable, and do you think incorporating it in the future? The evolution of the e-commerce in the pet segment is a movement that has intensified in recent years, mainly with the acceleration of digital use since the start of the pandemic, but also with the entry of large players in the country on large platforms. usability, relevant investments and offering differentiated services. BRF Pet has been supporting these partner customers and investing to grow together and even exceed expectations in the pet food category. This is a favorable trend for Pet Parents, mainly due to the convenience and practicality generated by access to services such as delivery, pick-up and through subscription programs. It is also favorable for the industry, which ensures that its products are available and accessible with a click of the owner. As we were commenting before, and also as a significant change since confinement, as well as the demands of pet parents when it comes to feeding them. How do you think this benefited the Industry? Do you believe that companies are ready for this requirement? Pet Parents are increasingly demanding, they seek information and knowledge to choose the best food for their pets. As with human nutrition, they began to understand that good nutrition promotes a longer and healthier life, as well as helping to prevent diseases and improve the quality of life of dogs and cats. This trend, added to the great level of humanization existing in the relationship between owners and pets in Brazil, favors our industry, and in particular BRF, which has the same purpose of providing a high nutritional level and quality of life to pets. In addition, we have a solid portfolio of innovations, which seeks the best in technologies and ingredients, combined with extensive technical experience in animal nutrition to provide increasingly innovative foods with high nutritional value to meet the entire dog feeding process. and cats, including dry food and wet food and treats.   Source: All Pet Food
The Interview - Daniela Moreno
Interviews
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8+ MIN

08/02/2022

The Interview - Daniela Moreno

Dear Daniela, for us it is a great honor that you have granted us this interview. Could you give us a brief personal introduction? Currently, I am the Director of R&D for Latin America in the dry food and treats segments at Mars Pet Nutrition and responsible for our regional pet research center. I have more than 15 years in the pet food industry in various roles, in the areas of research and development, innovation, consumer analysis and marketing for the brands of Pet Nutrition Latin America, among which PEDIGREE® and Whiskas® stand out. I am an engineer in Food Industries from the Tecnológico de Monterrey and I have a diploma in Innovation and a certification in Business Coaching. I am fortunate to work in a very interesting category and in an incredible company, with vision and values ​​that inspire me, because I contribute to improving the lives of pets and families, since I firmly believe that they make our lives better. I live this every day with Lucho, my own French bulldog.   1) Being Mars Petcare a family business in the field of Pet Food manufacturers, with long-term investment projects, we would like to take the opportunity to consult you, how do you think the Pet Food market will look in a few years? I believe that the relationship between pet parents will become closer and closer and in the coming years the concept of 'value for money' will continue to gain relevance. Companies must maintain diversity in our product portfolio, meeting the different needs of customers and their pets, while adapting to new shopping trends with innovative proposals that serve various types of consumers. A clear example of the changes in the market for the coming years is the vision of the new generations who are choosing to incorporate pets as one more member of their family, as well as looking for healthier alternatives according to their lifestyle. Another great opportunity is in the segment of cats in Mexico that grows above the category of dogs, because the pace of life and the spaces available to live in cities make it much easier to seek the company of a cat. According to the Pet Ownership Survey 2020, the presence of cats in homes reached 13 million vs. only 6 million in 2017. For all these reasons, we have a very positive view of the performance of the market, and our focus at Mars is to know in depth those responsible for pets, translate their needs into products that they, as well as their dogs and cats, love, always doing the right thing for our customers, consumers and their pets.   2) Regarding the growth of the market in your country of residence, Mexico, how much do you think the demand for Pet Food will continue to grow? What kind of food do you think will prevail? What are the current trends that could last over time? Mars Petcare Mexico's pet food business is the fourth most important for Mars Petcare globally, which continues to represent a scenario of great opportunities. In our country, the pet food category grew an average of 10% each year prior to the contingency. However, the market accelerated as more pets entered our homes. At Mars we are being very cautious recognizing the changes in the environment, but we believe that the category will continue to rise, closing the year with double-digit growth. One of the most important trends that will continue in the coming years is the relevance of animal welfare. Consumers are looking for more natural foods that offer nutritional balance and help pets lead healthier and happier lives. They understand that carefully processed food can bring great benefits to the health and quality of life of their pets, which translates into a positive impact for the industry. Consumers will continue to search for convenient distribution channels which will continue to cause the growth of digital commerce. We will also see more informed consumers who will seek to know who is behind the manufacture of the products they consume, the causes they support and their contribution to having a more sustainable planet.   3) As Director of R&D Dry and Care & Treats could you tell us if Mars is developing any new products for pets? In this last semester of the year we innovated and evolved our product portfolio in Mexico to reach the different market segments. In this sense, we launched two new varieties of our WHISKAS® brand: WHISKAS® sterilized cats and WHISKAS® protein mix, and we relaunched the complete portfolio of dry PEDIGREE® under the concept of 'Feed the good'. We also seek to satisfy the needs of pet owners interested in taking care of the nutrition of their dogs and cats, with accessible options prepared in accordance with the quality standards that characterize us, with two new brands: CHAMP® and KITEKAT® that provide an optimal balance. of nutrients at a very competitive price within its category. In addition, our PAL® brand renewed its image and strengthened its formula. We also redesigned some dog treats and added new formats and weights. Our innovation agenda for 2022 is ambitious and we are working to offer options for all consumers in our category, always under the endorsement of the Waltham Research Center that scientifically supports all the products we make. You will soon see in the market some of the surprises that we are cooking.   4) How important do you consider packaging to be? Do you think that the type of packaging can help define the choice of a product by the pet parent? As a global company with a diverse portfolio of food and pet care products, we know that packaging plays a very important role. Consumers are looking for a package that not only has an attractive design, but also ensures that the product was kept in optimal condition from the beginning of its manufacturing process until it reached their hands. Another very important factor is that consumers are looking for a product that represents the company's commitment to contribute to a healthier planet through sustainable packaging. That is why at Mars we are taking steps to redesign our packaging portfolio and continue advancing towards our sustainability goals, promoting solid initiatives that reduce and improve our impact on people, the planet and the communities where we operate, in order to fulfill our Purpose: In the world we want tomorrow, the planet is healthy.   5) From the pandemic we saw a growth in online sales. How do you think companies will adapt to this marketing trend? Does Mars consider it favorable? Without a doubt, D-Commerce was the big winner in terms of marketing channel trends as a result of the pandemic: it doubled in size in less than 3 months. We consider this extremely favorable given that we had record sales through this channel and we will continue to search for new spaces, strategic alliances and formats that meet the requirements of this way of doing business. We know that this is not a fad but a trend that is here to stay and that the pandemic has accelerated. Our consumers will continue to adopt this channel as their regular place to shop for years to come. Companies must learn to play in this channel from the way in which products are shown to consumers, to the development of efficient logistics models, forming strategic alliances with the main players of this same channel.   6) Another significant change from confinement is the importance that pets have acquired within the family nucleus and the requirement of pet parents when feeding them. How do you think this benefited the Industry? The impact has been very positive just because of the transformation of the role of pets. They enter fully into the family dynamics. According to the 'Better Cities for Pets' study, one in three pet managers surveyed added a pet to his family during the pandemic. 86% mentioned companionship as the main benefit and 78% said they reduce their stress or anxiety level thanks to them. Another important indicator of the relevance that they have taken is the increase in adoptions in shelters. Through our Pedigree Adóptame® web app, and in conjunction with the shelters that make up the program, we saw a greater rapprochement between people and shelters. We have achieved more than 1000 adoptions from April to date. This set of situations impacts because there are more pets to attend to and the supply of services grows. More specialized and diverse services will be needed such as: aesthetics, hotels for pets, toy libraries, accessories and others. That necessarily opens up opportunities for the entire industry and not just for the food industry. In our business, consumers are more aware, they look for proposals that are not only innovative, but also healthy, which promotes market growth.   7) Being Mars Petcare a company committed to the environment, what are the challenges that it intends to face in order to generate more sustainable processes? We know our responsibility to contribute to a healthy planet by being, precisely, a global company. We want to continue leading the category, grow above it, be much more profitable, leverage innovation and advance in meeting the goals that we have established in our One Generation Sustainability Plan. In this plan, we address key areas of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and include ambitious goals based on science and our Five Principles. We have tackled various environmental problems with different strategies. We choose materials that are easier to degrade and plan to increasingly reduce our carbon footprint from recipes with more sustainable sources of raw material. Likewise, we try to guide consumers about the recycling capabilities of our packaging. Some of our global goals for 2025, seek that 100% of our plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable, reduce 25% the use of virgin plastic, use 30% of recycled content in plastic packaging and maintain the elimination of PVC in our supply chain. All this without counting the other programs in other branches of Mars such as 'Por Amor al Cacao', 'Tejer el Futuro', the restoration of reefs with Oceanus A.C. or the program "Charco Bendito".   8) Anything else you want to add? At Mars we pride ourselves on being a family business that thinks long-term, the future of our people and the planet. We believe that the world we want tomorrow begins with the way we do business today. Our priority is to meet the nutritional requirements of companion animals by offering innovative products that help them have a longer and healthier life, so we will continue working based on our Five Principles to improve the well-being of families, their pets and contribute so that the keeping of companion animals is increasingly responsible, sustainable and simple to crystallize our vision of making a Better World for Pets.   Fuente: All Pet Food
Interview with Klaus Rudolf, GEA Development Manager
Interviews
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2+ MIN

15/10/2021

Interview with Klaus Rudolf, GEA Development Manager

Klaus Rudolf; GEA Development Manager, agreed to an interview conducted by All Pet Food team to discuss a bit about the company, its leadership worldwide and The Pet Food Technology Day, an online event to be held in just a few days !!! Iván Marquetti was in charge of the interview, which focused on GEA's technology, as well as the pet food areas involved. Starting from a brief introduction to the company and its world-class patented cutting edge technology, Klaus referenced the history of the company, focusing into GEA's patented technology and its flexibility in the Pet Food production. Klaus covered from equipments that can perform different functions  in a dry food extrusion line, to one machine that can perform many of these functions by itself, revealing the oustanding flexibility of its technology. ent for pet food plants in the region. He also emphasized on GEA's presence in Latin America with the acquisition of GEA-Pavan in 2017, and the subsequent sale of equipment for pet food plants in the region. Finally, the interview focused  on the pet food production boom worldwide on the wake of the pandemic, its trends and new ways of feeding our four-legged friends, until reaching The Pet Food Technology Day, an online event organized by GEA, which will be held on October 26th, with an important line up of speakers, the current production issues , new trends and solutions for pet food. Undoubtedly an interview nobody can miss, which also contributes to the modern pet food production If you want to register in The Pet Food Technology Day and stay updated, just Click HERE. by All Pet Food
Interview with Mr. Ed de Souza, Extrusion Systems Process Director of Wenger Manufacturing
Interviews
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5+ MIN

10/09/2020

Interview with Mr. Ed de Souza, Extrusion Systems Process Director of Wenger Manufacturing

Ed de Souza graduated with a degree in Agribusiness at Fort Hays University in Kansas, USA in 1995. He also obtained a master's degree in Business Administration, with a focus on business management at Fundação Getúlio Vargas. Mr de Souza was hired by Wenger Manufacturing Inc in late 1995. Working at Wenger for the past 24 years, he has developed an extensive know-how in food extrusion processing. He has worked in food extrusion research at the Wenger Technical Centre in Sabetha, Kansas, and has knowledge also as a field service technician working with equipment start-ups, process troubleshooting and providing lectures and training. How did you come to be involved in this industry? After graduating with a degree in Agribusiness at Fort Hays University in Kansas, USA, I was interviewing with two multinationals in the commodities business, paperwork related to work visas halted these processes. By chance, I went to visit Sabetha, Kansas, the headquarters for Wenger Manufacturing, Inc., with a college friend, before I returned to Brazil, my home country. At a local high school football game, I met with the service manager for South America and the rest is history. I landed in this business by chance and I believe it was meant to be, as I fell in love with extrusion processing right away. What has been your proudest achievement, whilst working at Wenger? Has the company expanded greatly since you have been part of the team? In 2000, my US work visa expired, and I had to make the decision to move to a different country. Brazil was, at the time, a great market and at full expansion for pet food and aquatic feeds. Our customers needed local support and parts, so I was proud to help starting Wenger conduct business in Brazil. Firstly, our Brazilian office served as a service office and soon after we moved in manufacturing parts and then equipment, before evolving into a full blown modern manufacturing plant in 2013. It is an honour being a founder of Wenger within Brazil and representing Wenger Manufacturing, Inc. I consider this to be a great achievement in my career and, yes, the company has expanded greatly since I have been part of this proud team at this honourable company and I have so much to be thankful for. What are the biggest challenges for your industry, and how do Wenger combat and resolve these issues? The extrusion industry faces challenges that are often overlooked. Most extruded aquafeed manufacturers focus too much on cost accounting, and there is a fine life between being cost effective and losing throughput and product quality. If these areas were focused on, as they are key for product improvement and financial gain, then manufacturers could process better products in larger quantities, using a lot less resources: Raw Materials: Investing a small percentage in formulation cost to provide extrusion friendly ingredients, such as better starch sources and functional proteins, can possibly double the throughput of an extrusion line, using essentially the same fixed assets and fixed cost. Hardware: Reduced capital investment for inferior standard and or inappropriately engineered and configured grinding, extrusion and drying equipment can result in a continued higher processing cost and lower throughput for the life of the equipment, resulting in higher use of resources due to inefficiency.  The lack of proper asset maintenance, which is preventive as opposed to corrective, is a major road block for efficiency and output quality on an extrusion line. Proper preventive maintenance is the very essence of asset preservation: it prolongs the life of productive equipment at a minimum cost, as well as preserving the output quality and ensures reliability. Asset maintenance, especially with extrusion cooking equipment, should not be considered as a lump sum that needs to be reduced in the budget of next year, rather it needs to be viewed as crucial key performance indicator and analysed as cost-per-tonne. In most cases, a planned preventive maintenance programme will represent less than two percent of the total production cost but, if neglected, it can result in throughput loss, product quality decline and loss of clientele. The third topic that serves as a challenge for the industry is control of the processing system. When the two prior points are well managed, process personnel need to be able to precisely control the process for ensuring high quality output on an extrusion line. Processing software has the ability to offer user friendly process tools that ensures a smoother extrusion process and the highest quality product, as well as the ability to provide data for managers to assess and carry out corrective decisions. Wenger has developed and continues to improve its processing equipment, namely extruders and dryers, to provide a user friendly and durable state-of-the-art solution, and modern processing tools overcome ingredient variations and other potential hurdles. Through years of know-how and process engineering, Wenger offers a comprehensive and precise process control automation by our one and only Automated Process Control system (APM™).  Wenger values what is best for our clients. You recently took part in the Aqua Feed Extrusion Conference and gave a great presentation concerning operational excellence leadership. How do Wenger incorporate these leadership techniques to ensure your company remain at the peak of the processing industry? Wenger focus on providing all-inclusive process support, in addition to advanced extrusion equipment and modern processing control tools. One of our most appraised support systems, Wenger CARE™, improves our customer´s operations, generating more quality products with the least resources spent. What do you see as a possible challenge that the industry may face over the next five years, and how will your company play a part in prevention or solving it? The COVID-19 pandemic presents interesting opportunities. I believe we will see an increased consumption of cultivated fish, due to its minimised impact on the environment and increased number of people adopting pets, as well as extruded plant protein derivatives as an alternative nutrition for humans. We are ready with superior technology for the three area we specialise in: State-of-the-art and advanced extrusion equipment for pet food, aquatic feeds and human food. Has COVID-19 affected business in any way for Wenger? How has the company overcome these challenges? We have seen challenges, primarily brought about through the limitations on travelling, but, on other hand, we have developed new and improved tools for remote access for client interaction, equipment commissioning and client support. What makes your company stand out from its competitors? Do you have any projects or plans that we should look out for over the coming year from you and your company? What we focus on is the customers' best interests. Our vision is simply to be the best partner our clients can attain. This vision represents our commitment to state-of-the-art and advanced extrusion solutions and innovative processes utilised via expert support. We are also very focussed on research and development. We are, just now, renovating and substantially improving our 55-year old extrusion research centre in Sabetha, Kansas, refining it in terms of both size and technology, making sure our customer stands out from the competition, right from day one and use just the minimum of the earth´s resources. by Perendale Publishers
 
Interview with Constance Cullman, CEO and President of AFIA
Interviews
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7+ MIN

05/04/2020

Interview with Constance Cullman, CEO and President of AFIA

Ms Constance Cullman, who is the CEO and President of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), taking up her position in October 2019, started her career working in academia supporting farmers, helping them with livestock forecasts and understanding how markets might look for the year ahead. She's an ag-economist by training, and this often informs the approach she takes towards industry issues. Following this, she worked directly for a farming organisation in the late 1990s, at a time when the industry first started talking about sustainability issues; an interesting time for issues that were challenging farmers on trade and the environment.  After this experience, Ms Cullman moved to the US government's Foreign Agricultural Service to work alongside the country's major trading partners before joining the corn refining industry where she carried out advocacy work for a major agri-business in the area of technology - pesticides and biotechnology - as its head of a government affairs program. Milling and Grain and All Extruded caught up with Ms Cullman on the AFIA booth at the recent IPPE 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA held in late January 2020.
You've recently taken over the mantle of president and CEO of the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA); what were some of your first impressions of the feed industry?   My first impression of the animal food industry is that it's a dynamic industry, where innovation is playing a key role in turning animal nutrition and feed into a solution for some of the challenges we're facing in today's world. The animal food industry sits at the hub of things when it comes to food-producing animals and pets because we purchase many of our ingredients, such as corn and soy, from farmers and eventually sell our products back to farmers and ranchers. We're very much a part of that system, which is an exciting place to be, especially when you look at the innovation that's taking place. What brought you to your current position in the feed industry? I joke that my background has been all over the place. I started out in academia working with farmers, developing livestock forecasts to help them understand what the markets might look like for the next year. I'm an agricultural economist by training, so that often informs the approach I take with the industry. After that, I started working directly for a farmer organisation. This was in the late nineties, a time when the industry first started talking about sustainability. That was an interesting time to be working directly for farmers and the issues that were challenging them on trade, sustainability and the environment. I next worked for the U.S. government at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, and I worked closely with our trading partners. With the change in administration, I went to work in the corn refining industry for a brief time. I ended up advocating for a major agri-business in the area of technology (pesticides and biotechnology) as the head of a U.S. government affairs program. I took a break from advocacy when I went to work at the Farm Foundation for three years, which was a tremendous opportunity to take a step back and look at things from a neutral position and inform policy discussions. I learned that I loved advocating for the industry and playing a part in how decisions evolve that affect the sector, which is one of the reasons why I was so excited to join AFIA. How does your current role play out internationally?  You can't talk about the domestic industry without putting it into the context of what's happening globally. A lot of my graduate training was in international trade, so I've spent a lot of time focusing on how our domestic sector fits into the global picture. Looking forward, it is one of the key priority areas I'm looking at with AFIA. We have recently added new trade expertise to our staff so it's a wonderful match with my interests. I currently serve on the board of the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the board of the Global Feed LCA Institute, which is taking a look at metrics for measuring LCAs for the feed ingredients used in livestock and poultry rations on a regional and global basis. We have a robust agenda for trade at AFIA. Is the current trade war between the USA and China affecting feed production?  It has definitely affected the industry. We source a lot of ingredients from China, and China is an important export market for many AFIA members. The biggest problem we have faced is the unpredictability the trade tensions have brought to business planning as companies look at how they are going to position themselves. We couldn't have been happier with the outcome of the phase one trade agreement as it addressed many of our concerns. The first being the registration of facilities to be able to export to China, which has been delayed for nearly a decade for some facilities. We now have a predictable process where Chinese authorities will be working with U.S. authorities on registering facilities that have already met the high standards the Chinese authorities have been looking for.  The second major priority was removing the ban on ruminant ingredients. We are also very excited to see the ban on poultry ingredients lifted.  Negotiations were difficult, but implementation will also be challenging. We will remain engaged with U.S. authorities to make sure they put into place a plan that's workable so we can interact with the Chinese authorities.  How do concerns about antibiotics, GMOs, animal welfare and food safety remain important issues, and how are these concerns being impacted by environmental concerns? In many ways, they are all directly related. The use of antibiotics is critical to animal welfare, while at the same time, we are introducing more rigorous stewardship protocols governing the responsible use of antibiotics. Animal welfare, GMOs and the use of antibiotics are all directly related to our sustainability model for all of agriculture. When we talk about the environment, we can't just talk about one issue in isolation as they are all related. Our approach is to keep all these concerns in the forefront, but to keep them in context.  I'm excited about the conversation on the environment as I think the feed industry is part of the solution. One of the things that we want to do is help people understand that there are consequences to all diet options. For example, if everyone in the U.S. went vegan, it would only reduce global greenhouse emissions by 2.5 percent. Is that worth the loss of nutritive value in people's diets? Moreover, it does not take into consideration all of the other parts of animals that are used in other sectors of the economy. People rush to find a silver bullet solution without really understanding the consequences.  How do we get that message out to the general public?  We need to begin to talk about what we do and what our systems look like. I'm not trying to defend the industry; I'm trying to explain what's happening and what our value propositions are. There are a lot of experts out there and the more we can highlight rigorous science that demonstrates these things, the better off we'll be. We also have to be transparent about how we do business and how what we're doing reflects the public's values. We need to let people know what we're doing and then prove it. My long-term vision is to increase our engagement with the international community: how we work and trade with different parts of the world, how we meet the nutritive needs of different parts of the world and to make sure the trading rules and standards under which we operate are supportive of innovation and good science.  A large portion of the world population is not being well served by animal agriculture and the feed industry is at the heart of that. Do you see developed countries helping more when it comes to how we provide food to the developing world? I believe it's important that the developing world has access to some of the same technologies that we have proven work well and effectively, and those technologies are size neutral. That is the beauty of the feed industry—it is very much a size-neutral technology. As a member of IFIF, we do a lot of capacity building and outreach and we're very supportive of those initiatives. We want developing countries to recognise that there are a lot of benefits to their citizens through reaching out and establishing freedom to operate for their entrepreneurs in the animal food sector. The more we produce with less, the lower environmental impact we have. It's not a small problem and we cannot solve it overnight. But we are offering a different vision of where we are.  Any final thoughts? I'm an incredible optimist. I think we face a lot of challenges, but I'm very optimistic that we can face those challenges; whether it's for the industry, for society, or the environment and I see a strong connection between all three. by Perendale Publishers
Interview with Karren Peters, Senior Director of Marketing for Pet Brands at Tyson Foods
Interviews
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3+ MIN

01/08/2019

Interview with Karren Peters, Senior Director of Marketing for Pet Brands at Tyson Foods

The interview with Karren Peters, senior director of marketing for pet brands at Tyson Foods, was intended to learn how the company is taking a personal approach to pet trends How does Tyson Pet Products meet the needs of the pet specialty channel, particularly independent pet stores? We have a focused brand channel strategy, with True Chews pet treats targeted specifically to the pet specialty channel. Our research shows pet parents who shop pet specialty look for high quality treats that are USA sourced and made because they want only the best for their furry family members. We are pet parents too and take seriously our role in delivering the best treating experience. What is Tyson Pet Products' philosophy regarding treats and the pet-human bond? We have been inspired and driven by enhancing the bond between pet and parent by improving the treating experience. We consistently apply insights and design products with preferred ingredients and product attributes that exceed expectations of pet and parent. Our strategic approach leverages our established innovation pillars to curate a selection of products that move beyond traditional treating. The True Chews brand features real chicken, beef, pork, turkey, duck or fish as the first ingredient and indulges both pet and pet parent with delicious aromas and meaty textures for the look and feel of human food. Plus, our simple recipes contain wholesome ingredients, so that each treating moment enhances the journey and bond with your pet. What are some recent trends that have influenced Tyson Pet Product's approach to food and treats? We leverage our broader expertise of human trends through Tyson Foods to better understand product, ingredient and nutrition trends as we know these trends translate into the pet parent desire to feed their pets like members of the family. As one of the leading food companies in the world, Tyson Foods' position, purpose and scale drives our competitive advantage in the space. At the same time, we recognize that our pets have distinctive needs and are careful to deliver only treats that are specifically tested and developed to maintain the health of the animal for which they are developed. Some examples of recent human food trends that are transferable to pet treats include the evolution of health and wellness, the power of protein and experiential appeal. For evolution of health and wellness, we created True Chews Everyday Wellness dog treats, a product line of five dog treat varieties, each specifically designed to support a different wellness need such as brain health, bone and joint health or immune health. Based on the human food trend of the power of protein, we focus our treats on premium cuts of protein as the No. 1 ingredient. Pet parents can offer an exciting variety such as our True Chews Premium Jerky Treats for dogs and True Chews Chewy Chicken Recipe for cats. Lastly, Tyson Pet Products serves to enhance experiences for pets and humans alike by making the occasion less transactional and more engaging. What upcoming product launches by Tyson Pet Products have been inspired by recent pet trends? We are excited to continue to build a portfolio of premium products. As a result, we are strategically expanding into adjacent treating segments such as biscuits and chews to further meet the needs of the pet specialty channel with True Chews product offerings that delight pet and pet parents across multiple treating occasions. In addition, we have rolled out our True Chews Meal Makers meal toppers, which are made with real USA-sourced chicken or beef and a wholesome blend of 100 percent natural ingredients. These meal toppers can be mixed with dogs' food to add variety and excitement to everyday meals for one more way to give our dogs the best experiences every day. Also this summer, we are launching new True Chews Cat Treats to give cats the same True Chews Brand premium treating experience that dogs already know and love. by Pet Age
Interview with Carlos Bacal at Expo Pet Food Brasil
Interviews
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1+ MIN

04/06/2019

Interview with Carlos Bacal at Expo Pet Food Brasil

Carlos Bacal, specialist from Kemin in pet and animal nutrition, gave All Extruded his vision on the industry of Ingredients for pet and its additives He highlighted the kemin milestone by touching more than half of the planet with its additives and advanced its objectives for the next 20 years, as well as new projects, plants and products for the growing pet industry in the Latin American region.
    by All Extruded

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