As part of its international expansion efforts, Czech pet food maker Vafo Group has taken over Austria’s PetCo GmbH, adding a number of pet food brands to its growing portfolio.
“Vafo Group has acquired a majority stake in the Austrian company PetCo GmbH,” Tereza Alvarez Sone, the marketing manager of Vafo, told Petfood Industry. “With this acquisition, we are gaining new pet food brands such as Wow, Dog’s Love, and Cat’s Love, which already have a significant share of the Austrian market and great potential for further growth,”
Vafo Group said that PetCo Group is a leading producer of premium pet foods focused on the DACH region which comprises the German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland.
“The agreement brings together two successful family-owned businesses with a combined annual turnover exceeding 600 million euros” or around US$662.5 million which provides “a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the DACH region,” according to the Czech group.
The value of the latest acquisition was not disclosed.
At the same time, the Czech pet food business is expanding the group’s offer with the recent market launch of meaty pouches for dogs introduced under its Brit Premium by Nature brand.
The company said in a statement that the four variants it is introducing to the market include fillets in gravy chicken with green peas, fillets in gravy with lamb and green peas, fillets in gravy with beef and carrot, and fillets in gravy with turkey and carrot for puppies and juniors.
“Brit Premium by Nature premium pet food provides balanced nutrition for pets. In addition to dry foods, sausages, treats, and canned foods, this time the family is growing with meaty pouches for dogs,” the Czech business said in a statement.
“Each pouch contains 85% real meat fillets complemented by premium, locally-sourced vegetables. This high meat content ensures that your dog receives only the best, while the vegetables play a vital role in promoting a balanced diet, enhancing overall health and vitality,” according to Vafo Group.
VEGDOG Pops are light, low-fat treats for dogs.VEGDOG
German vegan pet food specialist expands product portfolio
German vegan pet food brand VEGDOG has rolled out a new product, VEGDOG Pops, which are light, low-fat treats for dogs.
In a statement provided to Petfood Industry, VEGDOG describes its new product as a “reward with less than one calorie per pop and have been specially developed to meet the needs of modern dogs. They are ideal as an efficient training snack and crunchy reward for between meals.”
“VEGDOG is positioning itself as the only supplier of potato-based dog popcorn in Germany, setting itself apart from its competitors, who mostly rely on rice,” noted the manufacturer. “The new snack underlines the company’s pioneering role in the market for vegan dog food. The Pops not only taste great, but also use far fewer resources in production, are easy to digest and are therefore also suitable for sensitive dog stomachs.”
The company says it produces VEGDOG Pops at a production facility located in northern Germany.
The treats “consist of just three ingredients, namely potato flour, pea starch and brewer’s yeast,” the business added. “With a fat content of less than 1% and less than one calorie per pop, the treats are perfect for training.”
VEGDOG Pops are priced at a price of €2.29 (US$2.53) for a package which contains 20 grams, according to data released by the German firm.
VEGDOG is based in Munich, in the country’s southern state of Bavaria. The firm’s product range is available for purchase online, but also through a pan-European network of retailers.