Pet Subjects

… PET SUBJECTS … PET SUBJECTS… PET SUBJECTS … PET SUBJECTS … The PFMA Welcomes New Chairman…

At its AGM on 11 June, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) welcomed in its new Chairman, Greg Van Praagh, Managing Director of Benyfit Natural, part of RPFC UK producing commercial raw pet food for dogs. Greg has taken over from Tony Parkinson, Managing Director of Town & Country Pet Foods. Tony will continue to play a role as PFMA Past Chairman and Nicola Fox, Spectrum Brands General Manager Pet UK & Ireland, joins the team as PFMA Vice Chair.

PFMA continues to play a strong role in FEDIAF, the European Pet Food Federation. In addition to his role as PFMA Chairman, Greg Van Praagh will also take a seat on the FEDIAF Executive Committee. FEDIAF represents national pet food associations from 18 European countries. Nicole Paley of PFMA continues her role as Co-Chair of the FEDIAF Communications Working Group.

On his new appointments Mr Van Praagh said “I have represented the commercial raw pet food sector within PFMA membership at the Executive Committee for a number of years now. I am excited and honoured to take up this role shaping the way forward for the industry. Being able to share our work and experiences of the UK raw pet food sector with our colleagues in Europe, is a fantastic new opportunity. Tony will be a tough act to follow but we have a strong Chair team and we will continue to work together.”

… and Celebrates its 50th Birthday

The PFMA was founded in 1970 by four pioneering pet food companies who saw the need for a single body to act as an industry voice, provide guidance to smaller companies and to join important discussions on legislation and animal welfare.

Fast forward fifty years and the world is a very different place, however PFMA’s guiding principal to ‘place pets at the heart of everything they do’ is as relevant today as it was then.

PFMA’s member companies feed over 90% of the UK pet population across almost half of UK households.

Nicole Paley, PFMA’s Deputy Chief Executive commented: “The plans for celebrating our 50th birthday this year were quite different but given the challenges we have faced I have never been prouder of the Association and our members. Throughout turbulent times we have continued to supply the nation’s pets with their favourite foods.”

MiAlgae Secures £1 Million to Drive Commercialisation and Scale Up

Edinburgh-based biotech startup MiAlgae has received an investment of £1 million to focus on the commercialisation of its revolutionary microalgae product, targeting the rapidly growing global aquaculture and pet food industries.

The biotech business uses co-products from the whisky distillation process to produce microalgae, which is high in omega 3 and other nutrients. The algae can be used to sustainably feed fish and create animal food. MiAlgae estimates that one tonne of its algae saves up to 30 tonnes of wild fish.

MiAlgae will use the investment to double the size of its business premises, commission a demonstrator plant in East Lothian and make five new appointments in the next 12 months.

The investment comes from previous investors in MiAlgae – Equity Gap, Scottish Investment Bank and Old College Capital, alongside Hillhouse Group, a new investor in the business.

Andrew Vernon of Hillhouse Group said: “MiAlgae has essentially taken a by-product from one industry and turned it into a solution for another industry. Through the application of biotechnology, MiAlgae is finding solutions to feed the world’s population, and with the global aquaculture industry set to double in size in the next ten years, this is a very promising business indeed.”

According to Fraser Lusty, Investment Director at Equity Gap: “Since our last investment in MiAlgae 18 months ago, the business has achieved a great deal, designing and building its pilot plant, making its first sales to a premium dog food company, and beginning production with its first large scale tank.

“The business now turns its focus to commercialisation and scaling up. The global pet food market is worth $100 billion and growing at around 5%. MiAlgae plans to supply customers in both the pet food market and the aquacultural industry in the next 12 months. This is an exciting business, and one to watch over the next couple of years.”

MiAlgae was founded by Douglas Martin in 2016 while studying Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh. He is supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University’s commercialisation service, which also manages Old College Capital, the University’s venture fund.

Douglas said: “I am really pleased that with this investment we can turn our attention to growing the business. We plan to target the pet food and aquaculture industries with our sustainable, ocean-friendly, algae-derived omega 3.

“I am proud that we operate as part of the circular economy where, by using a low value co-product from the whisky industry, we are creating a valuable supply of nutrients for the animal and fish food industries, thereby using the planet’s resources more efficiently. There is no doubt we will see a rapidly growing market for our product.”

The global aquaculture market is valued at $70 billion and set to increase by 100% by 2030.