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Day two of the 2nd Professional Pet Food Congress ranged from market conditions and e-commerce to assessing pet food recipes, production technology and corporate responsibility.

‘Grain-free’ isn’t always better

One of the talks most relevant to pet owners’ everyday choices was given by Dr Anna Budny-Walczak. She showed how differently a consumer and an animal nutritionist look at the same list of ingredients.

Claims such as ‘grain-free’, ‘chicken-free’, ‘single-protein’ or ‘rich in fresh meat’ can strongly sway buying decisions, but on their own they say little about a product’s value. What matters is the recipe as a whole, the quality and sources of its nutrients, digestibility, production methods and the real needs of the individual animal.

Business that can also do good

Szymon Kuźnik and Michał Kruczkowski of OLX, the online classifieds platform, told the Congress how sales and social responsibility can go hand in hand.

They set out both the opportunities the platform offers for reaching pet-sector customers and its work to keep the ‘Animals’ category safe, tackle puppy farming and support adoptions.

One example was the ‘Nakarm Psa’ (Feed a Dog) campaign. According to figures presented at the Congress, its latest edition drew in almost 3 million users in ten days, raised nearly PLN 200,000 for animal shelters and found new homes for 15 animals.

Yogi puts the spotlight on responsible pet care

One of the best-known guests at FUTURE PET FOOD was Yogi, an eight-year-old Samoyed famous for his ‘Yoginkowe przygody’ (Yogi’s Adventures) account, who came to the Expo Kielce Congress Centre with his owner, Joanna Łączka-Tórz.

Yogi has more than 150,000 followers on Instagram, but the meet-and-greet was about more than selfies with a canine influencer. It was also a chance to talk about owners’ growing awareness, proper nutrition and the responsibilities that come with caring for a dog day in, day out.

Knowledge, networking and prizes for taking part

Throughout both days, the Congress also ran a points challenge encouraging delegates to make full use of the programme, attend presentations and meet the event’s partners.

The talks and meetings at the Pet Food Congress paid off in more than just business terms: the most active delegates also went home with valuable prizes.

The prize-giving was one of the closing moments of the 2nd Professional Pet Food Congress, rounding off two packed days at the Expo Kielce Congress Centre.

The first edition is in the books. The organisers already have plans for the next

Looking back on the two days, the organisers highlight both the expert content and the business focus of the first FUTURE PET FOOD.

‘We feel we’ve done a really good job. It was a very stylish, very attractive event, with real substance and a strong business focus,’ says Małgorzata Ozdoba, FUTURE PET FOOD manager.

The organisers are already planning to expand the event. Next year, FUTURE PET FOOD is set to be combined with an international dog show, and the first talks on new partnerships began while this year’s edition was still under way.

The inaugural FUTURE PET FOOD event brought together manufacturers, suppliers of technology and ingredients, industry experts, retailers, and digital content creators at the Expo Kielce Congress Centre. Over the course of two days, the event showcased the industry’s entire ecosystem—from product formulation and manufacturing technology to communication with pet owners and the final product that ends up in their pets' bowls.

(BB)