The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has decided to end its opposition to vegan diets for dogs as long as they are “nutritionally sound.” U.K. vegan pet food manufacturers have said they welcome the latest policy shift, hoping it will spur additional demand for their products.
One of the businesses is Omni, a U.K.-based vegan pet food maker. It has reported a positive sales dynamic over the past year, according to a senior company representative.
“Year-to-date our business is already achieving over 100% growth on seven-figure sales, driven by a high volume of both new and returning loyal customers,” said Guy Sandelowsky, Omni’s co-founder. “We’re compounding growth at 10% to 15% every month with many customers discovering the benefits of Omni through word of mouth as our community expands across the UK.
“It is hugely encouraging that BVA has publicly revised its prior opposition to novel protein diets for pets — accepting that there are significant health and environmental benefits these can potentially bring,” he continued.
Omni was jointly established by two business partners with different professional backgrounds. Sandelowsky is a veterinary surgeon, and Shiv Sivakumar is a former investment banker.
In its statement on diet options for dogs and cats, BVA recognized that pet owners are demonstrating an increasing interest in non-traditional diets for their cats and dogs. “Our latest BVA Voice of the Veterinary Profession research showed 94% of companion animal vets have clients who feed a raw diet, 42% have clients who feed meat-free diets and 29% have clients who feed insect-protein in place of meat,” the association said.
“All animals must be fed a diet which meets their nutritional needs, to be protected from any pain, suffering, injury or disease that may result from being fed an inappropriate diet. However, with a range of factors to consider, including nutrition, safety and sustainability, choosing the most suitable pet food can be complex,” according to BVA.
Pet food producer expands in western Poland
Polish pet food specialist John Dog Group has signed a lease deal for about 4,100 square meters (44,100 square feet) of warehouse space at the MLP Poznań West logistics center. Increasing the company’s logistics capacities in the country’s western region is part of John Dog Group’s expansion plans.
“We are very pleased to have secured new warehouse space at the MLP Poznań West logistics centre,” said Renata Haraj, the president of the John Dog Group, quoted in a statement released by MLP Group, the logistics center’s operator. “This decision is a strategic step for the further development of our company. The new space will allow us to expand our offerings, better serve our customers and manage our growing order volume more efficiently.
“In the fast-growing e-commerce industry, where demands for speed and quality of service are constantly increasing, the new warehouse space will enable us to meet these challenges and further improve our logistics processes,” she continued.
Under the plan, the pet food business will move into its newly leased space at MLP Poznań West between the third and fourth quarter of this year, according to the statement. To provide its tenants with access to renewable energy, the facility’s operator has fitted the roof of the logistics center with photovoltaic panels.
The value of the investment was not disclosed in the statement.
Esablished in 2016, John Dog Group offers a wide range of dry and wet pet food for dogs and cats, vitamin supplements, as well as treats and accessories, according to information from the Polish company. The pet food business is headquartered in Komorniki, in close proximity to the country’s capital, Warsaw.
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