Pet
Food
Review

Major UK Pet Food Brands - Who owns which?

There are many brands on the pet food shelves, but which companies own them? This might not matter to you, but some folk are fussy about who they buy from, particularly where they are against animal experimentation.

The list below may not be 100% accurate as takeovers are as much a part of the pet food industry as anywhere else. It is also not a comprehensive guide to all the brands available, but does cover between 70-80% of all the pet food sold in the UK, showing the power of the major brand owners!

The latest published figures about the UK pet food industry make for interesting reading:

Current trends

There are over 8,000 people directly employed in the manufacture of pet food including over 5,000 male employees and over 3,000 female employees.

Prepared pet food accounts only for approximately 60% of the dog's and 65% of the cat's regular calorific intake.

Dog Food Market

The prepared dog food market is valued at £1.13 million (2008), up 6% from 2007.

The dog food market is broken down as follows:

All wet food £464 million (2% growth on 2007)
Dry complete £432 million (8% growth on 2007)

Mixers £28 million (1% growth on 2007)
Dog treat market £203 million (up 11% from 2007)

Cat Food Market

The prepared cat food market was valued at £784 million (2008), up 6% from 2007.

The cat food market is broken down as follows:

Wet single-serve food - £436 million (10% growth on 2007)
Wet multi-serve food - £151 million (-5% decline on 2007)
Dry complete - £182 million (5% growth on 2007)

Cat treat market £15 million (10% growth estimated on 2007)

Small Animal Market

It should be noted that there is a higher degree of uncertainty in the figures for the small animal markets, due to the smaller proportion of the total market represented.

The small animal market is broken down as follows:

Rabbit food market - £43 million (15% growth on 2007)

Guinea pig food market - £12 million (13% growth on 2007)

Rodent food market - £9 million (14% growth on 2007)

Market Trends in 2008

The pet industry in the UK is continuing to grow, up in value by 7% in 2008 to stand at just under £2 billion and up in volume by 1%.

As was observed last year, around 43% of households own a pet, with fish, cats and dogs continuing to be the most preferred companions.

According to Michael Bellingham, Chief Executive of the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association “Health and nutrition is a key trend. Consumers are increasingly focusing on high quality, premium pet foods for their dogs, cats and other small pets. Health conscious consumers are aware that a good balanced diet can have a major impact on well being and this is equally relevant for their pets”.

A survey conducted by the PFMA showed that 90% of pet owners believe the food they feed their pet greatly affects it’s health and 92% of pet owners make sure they give their pet the best quality food.

Nestlé Purina has been particularly active in the last few years via a series of acquisitions, and as such Masterfoods and Nestlé Purina command around two thirds of the dog food market by value and nearer to 80% of the cat food market. If anything, the market has become more concentrated into the hands of the two leading players in the last few years. At the same time, however, the willingness of consumers to spend more on their pets has also allowed smaller brands to establish niche positioning in the market place.

UK Pet Food Companies

A brief description of some of the main UK pt food companies and their contact details, along with snippets from their websites to hint at what they are about:

Affinity Petcare UK
Products - Brekkies dry cat food and Advance Pet Nutrition dry dog food in the UK. Formerly known as Agrolimenand it is the third-largest supplier of dry pet food in Europe and the brand leader in Spain.

'Affinity Petcare is dedicated to ensuring your pet's well-being. And we know that if your pet is happy, you are too. At Affinity, we are committed to your well-being!
Our goal is for you to trust Affinity as the most reliable of all brands when it comes to caring for your pet's well-being.
To achieve this we are committed to the following values:
Imagination & Innovation. To be free to think the unthinkable.
Flexibility & Audacity. To achieve the impossible.
A scientific & systematic approach. To make sure we look at all possibilities.'

Head Office Affinity Petcare UK Ltd.
Lion House, Red Lions Street, London, WC1R 4GB
http://www.affinity-petcare.com/

Arden Grange Pet Foods
Based in West Sussex, Arden Grange has produced hypoallergenic dog and cat food since 1996.

'All the products in our range contain either fresh chicken, grade 'A' chicken meal, fresh salmon or lamb meal as the primary protein source. All Arden Grange diets are free from wheat, beef, soya and dairy products. They also contain added prebiotics MOS and FOS, which promote the growth of friendly gut bacteria that in turn reduce the build up of harmful bowel flora. All Arden Grange products are free from artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives and are naturally preserved using mixed tocopherols and rosemary extract. Our “Not Tested on Animals Guarantee” logo demonstrates our commitment to the welfare of animals. We have not and never will fund any invasive research projects conducted in relation to pet foods.'

Head Office Arden Grange Pet Foods, Arden Grange, London Road, Albourne, Nr Hassocks, West Sussex, BN6 9BJ
Website http://www.ardengrange.com/

Burns Pet Nutrition UK
Family owned, Burns produces holistic cat and dog complete foods, free from wheat, soya, beef and dairy products.

'The Burns natural holistic dog food and cat food recipes, developed by John Burns BVMS MRCVS were developed based on John's veterinary experience of pets with diet related health problems, and concerns about the ingredients used in many commercial pet foods.'

Head Office Ferry Road, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, SA17 5EJ
Website http://www.burns-pet-nutrition.co.uk/

Butcher’s Pet Care Ltd
Based in Northamptonshire and established in 1982, Butcher’s Pet Care Ltd is privately owned, manufacturing pet food for the UK and European markets. Butcher’s dog foods are split into three divisions: Butcher’s, Butcher’s Choice and Butcher’s Puppy. The Butcher’s range covers canned wet foods for all dogs and a range of dry food and wet food in foil trays formulated for small dogs. All products are widely distributed to the major grocery multiples.

'The Butcher's brand is celebrating its 20th birthday in 2007, showing the heritage Butcher's has developed over the years, as well as the strength of the core natural nutrition values that lie at the heart of the brand. Butcher's' sub-brand, Butcher's Choice, specially formulated for small dogs and continuing Butcher's heritage and expertise, continues to go from strength to strength since its launch in 2003. This reflects the Butcher's tradition of following the consumer trends in the market.

Along with Butcher's and Butcher's Choice, Butcher's Pet Care also make the Olli and Classic brands of cat food, fulfilling our role as the provider of top quality pet food for all Britain's favourite pets. Olli is our newest brand, which continues the company belief of natural nutrition. As with our dog food, Olli contains no artificial colourings, flavourings or preservatives - providing natural goodness for Britain's cats. Olli has also been innovative in the market, with its peel, feed and dispose' pot providing the most convenient way to feed your cat. '

Head Office Weston Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR3 3SY
Website http://www.butcherspetcare.com/

Denes Natural Pet Care Ltd
Denes Natural Pet Care Ltd was founded in 1951 and offers a range of canned dog foods, in puppy, adult, senior and low calorie varieties, also a range of Select Single-serve trays and Options Complete Dry Foods. The company also offers a range of dry and wet cat foods also under the Select Single-serve name and Options Complete Dry Food.

'We offer a wide range of wet, dry and complementary foods, which are produced using high high quality natural ingredients with the benefit of added herbs. In addition we provide a range of herbal products including licensed veterinary herbal medicines and veterinary herbal supplements. For external use we provide a range of aromatherapy products based on essential oils.'

Head Office 2 Osmond Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 1BR
Website http://www.denes.com/

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Ltd
Hill’s Pet Nutrition Ltd (subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive) was established by the US veterinary surgeon Dr Mark L Morris in 1943, who invented the Prescription Diet, which was originally designed to manage kidney disease in dogs, with a similar product also developed for cats. The products are sold via veterinary surgeries as well as independent and multiple specialist pet food outlets.

'Hill's corporate mission is to help enrich and lengthen the special relationship between you and your pets by providing the best pet nutrition in the world.

Our staff of veterinarians and nutritionists work every day around the world to create new products and improve existing ones that will help your pet live a longer, healthier and fuller life. Hill's scientists author more than 50 research papers and textbook chapters each year and teach at leading schools of veterinary medicine all over the world so we can put our knowledge and expertise into every Hill's product for you. Our foods for dogs and cats are formulated for the optimal balance of nutrients and best taste. We know that the best nutrition for your pet not only meets nutritional needs, but also avoids excess nutrients, such as fat and salt, that can be harmful over time.'

Head Office Wingfield Court, Croxley Busines Park, Hatters Lane, Watford,Herts, WD18 8YL
Website http://www.hillspet.com/

Masterfoods, part of Mars UK Ltd (itself a subsidiary of Mars Inc of the US), was formed in January 2002 by the merger of Mars Confectionery and Pedigree Masterfoods. It is a major supplier of petcare products with brands such as Whiskas, Pedigree, Kitekat, Pal, Cesar, Katkins, Chappie and Sheba, which are produced at the company’s manufacturing plants in Melton Mowbray and Peterborough and researched at its Waltham pet food and nutrition centre which was opened 40 years ago.
In addition, Masterfoods now has a 55% shareholding in Crown Pet Foods, which markets the James Wellbeloved and Royal Canin ranges in the UK, following its acquisition of the French Royal Canin company from BNP Paribas in July 2001.
Masterfoods are currently following the market trends and trying to go a litte more upmarket with its Pedigree brand and Simply Cuts, and a move away from artificial to more natural ingredients.

'We live, love and celebrate all things canine. From the time and care we put into understanding dogs at the Pedigree Centre in Waltham, England to the design of the products we develop around the world, to the wagging tails that greet us when we get home at night. Keeping our focus firmly on what’s best for dogs helps us create the right foods, snacks and treats, and makes a strong connection with the dog lovers who purchase them.'

Head Office Dundee Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 4JX
Website http://www.mars.com/
Related Companies:
Four Square
Masterfoods USA Inc
Seeds of Change

Nestlé Purina is one of the world’s largest producers of dry dog and moist cat foods and is one of the two largest suppliers to the UK market with well-known brands such as Winalot, Felix, Friskies and Go-Cat. The company was founded in the US in 1893 as a breakfast cereal business, became known as Ralston Purina in 1902 and introduced dog food to its range in 1959.

In 1997, Ralston Purina acquired the UK company Edward Baker Petfoods, giving it a strong foothold in the complete dry dog food through its Bakers Complete brand.In 2001. in 2001, the company merged with a Nestlé subsidiary to create the NestléPurina Petcare Company. NestléPurina closed its only Scottish canning plant in March 2004, in response to the trend awayfrom tinned wet food to dry variants. The company also expanded substantially in 1998 with the acquisition of Spillers Pet Foods from Dalgety, thus taking over brands such as Felix, Winalot and Arthurs. In 2001, Nestlé SA acquired Ralson Purina.

'At Nestle Purina PetCare, we're passionately committed to making pets' lives better. As the pace of change in pet care accelerates, our challenge is to lead with fresh, innovative approaches to making the lives of dogs and cats better. We are proud of our heritage, and we are constantly exploring new trends and ideas that define the future of pet care and of Nestle Purina.'

Head Office Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63164
Website http://www.purina.com/

Iams/ Eucanuba was founded in the US in 1946 and was acquired by the consumer, household and pharmaceutical goods giant Procter & Gamble in 1999.
The Eukanuba brand of dry foods covers the dog and cat food sectors with products differentiated according to size of breed and lifestage for dogs and by lifestage for cats. There are also specialist varieties such as weight control foods for both cats and dogs and hairball/indoor cat foods. Under the Iams brand, a full range of dry dog foods is offered for the different lifestages (puppy, adult, active maturity and senior), as well as a weight control option.In the cat food sector, both dry and wet foods are offered

'Like you, we adore dogs and cats, and have a very particular passion for their nutrition. We know that good nutrition can help make a difference to your pets' health and happiness. '

Head Office 7250 Poe Ave., Dayton, OH 45414
Website http://www.iams.com/
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Global Gillette , Braun GmbH , Duracell , Duracell UK , Gillette UK Ltd , Oral B Laboratories Ltd
Max Factor , Olay Company, Inc. , P&G-Clairol, Inc. , Procter & Gamble UK & Ireland , Procter & Gamble USA , Richardson-Vicks, Vidal Sassoon, Wella AG, Cosmopolitan Cosmetics GmbH

Nutro
The Nutro Choice brand of complete dog and cat food was formed in the US in 1926, and is distributed in England by Premium Pet Foods Ltd, and by Redcastle Animal Care in Scotland.

'For over 80 years, Nutro has created, tested, and produced the finest pet foods on the market. Our philosophy is simple: we constantly strive to provide better ingredients and better nutrition for better health, no matter what the cost.'

Premium Pet Foods Ltd, Premium House, Asheridge Rd, Asheridge Trading Estate, Chesham
HP5 2QG
http://www.nutro.co.uk/

Pascoe’s Ltd
Based in East Yorkshire Pascoe’s mainly sells dog food free of artificial or GM. Country Complete and Country Gold are formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of active working and sporting dogs. Natural Complete is a complete food that uses 100% organic ingredients, with Natural Complete Puppy providing the same benefits for puppies and Natural Complete for cats also using 100% organic ingredients.ingredients.

' Top quality raw materials from accredited farmers and growers are blended together to produce pure, highly palatable, nutritionally balanced foods containing the optimum level of proteins, fats, carbohydrates and minerals to help maintain your pet in peak condition.'

Head Office Kellythorpe Industrial Estate, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 9DJ
http://www.pascoes.co.uk

Town and Country Petfoods Ltd
Town and Country Petfoods launched the HiLife brand in the UK in 1987, a premium brand in both cat and dog food with products covering moist, dry and semi-moist products in cans, pouches and packets.

' Essentials from HiLife for Larger Dogs is pat of a range of high quality recipes that not only taste great but also provide all the nutrition your dog needs to live a full and satisfying life. Chicken & Turkey Dinner is made using high quality real meat ingredients cooked in their own pouch to ensure they're as fresh and delicious as possible. '

Head Office 26 Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE13 0HR
Website http://www.hilifepet.co.uk/

Vitalin Pet Food
Vitalin Pet Food is based in North Yorkshire and was introduced in the 1950s after Arthur Mills, founder of Kennel Nutrition Ltd, produced Vitalin Original – one of the first complete dry dog foods to be commercially produced in the UK.

'Quality, Palatability and Nutrition have always been to the forefront of our business, that's why Vitalin is continuously researching, developing and producing new and innovative varieties of pet food in conjunction with vets, nutritionists and breeders. '

Head Office Dallamires Lane, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1TT
Website http://www.vitalin-nutrition.co.uk/

Wagg Foods
Wagg Foods was established in North Yorkshire in 1923 as Page Feeds, a supplier of animal feed, but is now best known for its range of dry dog foods, having changed its name to Wagg Foods in 1990.

'At Wagg, we care passionately about the health of your pets so we only produce the highest quality complete dry dog food and other pet foods, using the finest ingredients at the best possible value. Our complete dry dog food, complete puppy food and small animal foods are packed full of vitamins, minerals and nutrients to keep your pets feeling fit as a fiddle.'

Head Office Dalton Airfield, Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, Y07 3HE
Website http://www.waggfoods.co.uk/

source: Mintel and pet company websites