German vegan pet food brand VEGDOG has announced that following its expansion in Austria and Switzerland last year, the company expects significant sales growth in the coming years and is strengthening its management team.
“VEGDOG is thus setting the course for further growth and increasing internationalization, which began last year with an increased presence in Austria and Switzerland,” the company said in a statement sent to Petfood Industry. “VEGDOG completed 2024 very successfully and is planning growth rates of up to 80% for the coming years.”
To support its expansion, VEGDOG appointed Kai Naujoks as managing partner earlier this year, joining co-founders and CEOs Tessa Zaune-Figlar and Valerie Henssen.
Naujoks, 35, brings with him extensive experience in business scaling. At his previous position at tonies GmbH, he was instrumental in building up the international business, most recently as vice president for global operations. Naujoks will assume the position of chief operating officer (COO) and will ensure the scaling of the operating business. He will play a key role in the further growth and internationalization of VEGDOG, noted the company.
“What VEGDOG has achieved since its foundation in a highly competitive market environment is impressive,” said Naujoks. “In the next phase, we are working on expanding our business into other European countries and continuing to implement our vision.”
Last year, the German company introduced its latest product, VEGDOG Pops, a light, low-fat treat for dogs.
“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,” the company said at that time. “The new snack underlines the company’s pioneering role in the market for vegan dog food.”
Founded in 2015, VEGDOG is headquartered in Munich, in Germany’s southern state of Bavaria. The company’s products are available online and through a pan-European network of retailers.
The company says it “offers the first vegan, gluten-free, and 100% complete dog food developed in collaboration with specialist vets.”
Turkey’s pet food exports on the rise
Turkey’s western Manisa province is driving the country’s increasing pet food production, as it reached a share of around 68% of the nation’s total pet food output last year, according to the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
“In 2024, the total cat and dog food production in Turkey stood at 268,616 tons, 181,713 tons of which were produced at production facilities in Manisa,” the ministry said in a statement.
The majority of the Turkish industry’s output is intended for foreign markets. Last year, around 50,000 tons of cat and dog food were exported by companies based in Manisa.
“Cat and dog food exports from Turkey have significantly increased over the past years. While exports stood at 23,000 tons in 2020, exports to 102 countries reached the level of 98,000 tons in 2024. In terms of their value, exports increased from $30 million to $145 million,” according to the Turkish ministry.
Metin Öztürk, the director of the province’s Agriculture and Forestry authority, said that new investments in ramping up local pet food manufacturing capacities are underway.
“Cat and dog food production is a rapidly growing sector worldwide and it is also developing rapidly in Turkey,” the official said. “The first cat and dog food factory was established in Manisa in 2009. In 2025, four factories will be operating and two cat and dog food facilities are in the installation phase.”