Nestle’s Purina brand is launching a line of pet food using insects, as the world’s biggest food group tests more environmentally sustainable protein sources.
The move addresses a trend of people seeking more eco-friendly or allergen – free diets for their pets, and puts Nestle into potential competition with smaller brands like Yora and Green Petfood’s insectDog.
‘We see increasing demand for diversified source of proteins for pet food products’, Bernard Meunier, head of Purina in Europe, told Reuters in an interview on Thursday.
He said limited planetary resources and decreasing meat consumption in Europe were incentives to explore new proteins.
The Purina Beyond’s Protein Line, which launches in Switzerland this month, will be available in two variations – one using chicken, fava beans and protein from black soldier fly larvae, and one using chicken, pig’s liver and millet.
Both will be available for dogs and cats at Swiss retailer Coop, which also sells insect-based snack and burgers for human consumption. Rollouts in more markets are planned starting next year, Meunier said.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic had strengthened the bond between people and their pets, pushing up demand for high – quality pet food and leading to market share gain for Purina.
Nestle’s petcare unit had sales of 13.6 billion Swiss francs ($14.96 billion) last year. It was the group’s fastest-growing category with 10.6% organic growth in the first nine months of 2020.
In April, Nestle bought U.K. – based natural pet food brand Lily’s Kitchen. Meunier said Purina’s European portfolio was now complete and the focus would be on organic growth.
In a blog post last year, the Biriths Veterian Association endorsed insect-based pet food, recommending it to owners who wanted a ‘lifestock-free’ diet for their pets.
One leading supplier of insect protein in Europe is Dutch company Protix, founded in 2009, which sells ingredients made from the black soldier fly, mealworms, crickets and locusts.
The Kremlin on Friday said it hoped ‘crazy’ calls to sanction Russian business people would not become a reality and that it was planning ways to best protect Russia’s interests, its citizens and businesses. The Kremlin said it was closely following media reports about a possible new round of U.S. sanctions.
Moscow will soon publish a list of U.S. citizens it will take measures against in response to sanctions imposed on Russians over the case of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, the TASS news agency cited the foreign ministry as saying on Friday. The Kremlin on Wednesday played down the impact of sanctions imposed by the United … More Russia Will Soon Publish Retaliatory Stop List Of U.S. Citizens – TASS Cites Foreign Ministry
The Saudi – led coalition fighting the Houthi group in Yemen said it had destroyed four explosive drones fired towards the Kingdom on Friday, with the Houthis claiming to have launched an attack into southern Saudi Arabia at dawn. The Iran – aligned Houthis have recently stepped up cross – border drone and missile attacks … More Saudi – Led Coalition Says It Downed Four Drones Fired By Houthis Towards Khamis Mushait
The Arab Coalition intercepted and destroyed an explosive – laden drone launched on Friday by Yemen’s Iran – backed Houthi Militia toward Saudi Arabia’s Khamis Mushait, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. Khamis Mushait is a southwestern city home to the King Khalid Air Base. Coalition Spokesperson Colonel Turki al – Maliki said, ‘the … More Arab Coalition Destroys Explosive – Laden Drone Targeting Saudi Arabia’s Khamis Mushait.
Kuwait will impose a 5 P.M. to 5 A.M. curfew from Sunday until April 8 as the government tries to stem of the rising coronavirus infections, state TV reported on Thursday. During non – curfew, people are not allowed to enter restaurants and coffee shops and orders are to be picked up through drive thrush … More Kuwait Imposes 12 Hour Curfew For A Month Amid Spike In COVID-19 Cases
Saudi Arabia’s authorities approved the start of receiving international flights at Prince Abdulmajeed bin Abdulaziz Airport in Al-Ula after the completion of its expansion project, the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said on Thursday. The airport, which was established in 2011, became the fifth largest airport in the Kingdom, with a total area … More Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ula Airport Opens To International Flights After Expansion
The United States called on Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to renounce its special and differential treatment in negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO), nothing the G20 member was designed as a high – income country by the World Bank. ‘Saudi Arabia is a wealthy and influential player in the global economy’, Washington said in … More U.S. Urges Saudi Arabia To Give Up Special Developing Nation Status At WTO
Saudi Arabia will provide coronavirus vaccines in pharmacies around the Kingdom for free, the country’s Minister of Health Dr. Tawfik al – Rabiah told Al Araiya on Wednesday. This comes as part of efforts to expand the ongoing inoculation campaign and facilitate access to vaccine sites, he added. Over 100 vaccine centers have opened around … More Saudi Arabia To Provide Free COVID-19 Vaccines In Pharmacies: Health Minister
‘One Night In Miami’ actor Kingsley Ben – Adir and ‘The Personal History of David Cooperfield’ actress Morfydd Clark are among this year’s nominees for the EE Rising Star Award, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) said on Wednesday. The list of five contenders, all British, also includes ‘Rocks’ actress Bukky Bakray, Conrad … More BAFTA Announces All British Nominees For EE Rising Star Award
The Saudi – led coalition fighting the Houthis Yemen said it had destroyed a drone launched by the Iran – aligned group towards the southern region of the kingdom, Saudi State TV reported on Wednesday. There was no immediate comment from the Houthis.
Saudi Arabia’s health ministry has ruled that only people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 will be allowed to attend the Haj this year, Saudi Newspaper Okaz on Monday. ‘The COVID-19 vaccine is mandatory for those willing to come to the haj and will be one of main conditions (for receiving a permit to come)’, … More Saudi Arabia Says COVID -19 Vaccination Required For 2021 Haj
Britain’s Prince Philip, the 99-year-old husband of Queen Elizabeth, was transferred to a different hospital in central London on Monday to have test for a pre-existing heart condition and receive treatment for an infection. Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was admitted to London’s private King Edward VII hospital two weeks ago for treatment for an … More UK’s Prince Philip, 99, Moves Hospital For Heart Tests