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There is a lot going on at once at Expo Kielce. Speakers are taking to the stage, the 2nd Professional Pet Food Congress is under way in the conference rooms, and out on the stands visitors can talk face to face with pet food makers, nutritionists, and ingredient and technology suppliers. There are demonstrations of production technology, an Influencer Zone, nutrition experts and people on hand with advice on how to look after a dog's or cat's everyday needs.

Meal kits – for dogs

At FUTURE PET FOOD you can see for yourself that the meal-kit model, so familiar from human diets, has now reached the animal world too.

PsiBufet cooks meals for dogs and delivers them to the door on a subscription basis. Before anything goes in the bowl, owners can book a nutrition consultation.

‘We work out the dog's calorie needs, take any allergies or health problems into account and tailor the portions accordingly,’ explains Michał Jarmundowicz of PsiBufet.

There is a choice of recipes, including lamb, beef and pork. The company also offers trial packs for owners who want to see first how their dog takes to a new diet.

The influencer who's only the boss on paper – the dog really runs the show ;)

On another stand, the real boss – according to company legend, at least – is a dog.

The Psiurwa brand grew out of the adventures of Michał Boruszczak, known online as Borysek, and his four-legged sidekick.

‘We have a running joke that I'm not the boss – my dog is. I'm only the boss on paper, to keep things above board, because sadly a dog can't set up a company in Poland,’ says Boruszczak.

Psiurwa sells natural treats and wet food, but much of what it does happens on social media. The brand supports animal shelters, highlights what they need and promotes dogs looking for new homes.

And there are more online creators to come today. Still on the way to Expo Kielce is Yogi of ‘Yoginkowe przygody’ [Yogi's Adventures] – a white Samoyed with more than 150,000 followers on @yoginkowe_przygody. Psiurwa and Yoginkowe przygody both feature in the programme as part of the Influencer Zone.

Smelly rumen?  For a dog, that's the whole point

One of the most memorable products on show is ‘Apetyzer’ – powdered beef tripe designed as a topper for dogs that turn their noses up at their food.

‘A dog lives through its nose. Anything with a really strong smell is irresistible to it,’ explains Marta Maksara, a nutritionist at Barf LLC

The company is also showing natural chews and raw food in various forms – from easy-to-portion products to bigger pieces that take a dog a long time to get through.

A chew can be more than just a snack. It keeps a dog busy, satisfies its natural urge to chew and makes it eat more slowly. A bit like a meal served so that it can't be wolfed down in seconds.

Not just what to feed – but how to care

FUTURE PET FOOD is about more than finding the next thing to put in the bowl.

The Animalia Foundation for Animals is talking to visitors about preventive care, animal welfare and helping homeless animals.

‘Don't underestimate prevention – animals very often have illnesses or conditions that aren't visible yet,’ stresses Agata Spławska, the foundation's president and a volunteer.

She highlights, among other things, regular check-ups and dental health. Even if you can't adopt, you can still help the foundation – through virtual adoption, donating supplies or volunteering.

So what actually goes into pet food?

The fair also offers a peek behind the scenes of the products that end up on shop shelves.

Ingredient suppliers are showcasing the raw materials that go into functional pet products. On the Sabinsa stand you'll find standardised extracts of turmeric, ashwagandha and Boswellia (Indian frankincense), among others.

It is a good example of where the industry is heading: ingredients once associated mainly with human supplements are now turning up in pet products too.

Alongside the ingredients, there is packaging, printing, automation and production technology for pet food. That means you can follow practically the whole process – from idea and recipe to the finished product on the shelf.

Congress, stage, technology – and face-to-face conversations

Running alongside FUTURE PET FOOD all day is the 2nd Professional Pet Food Congress. Topics on the agenda include labelling, product safety, animal nutrition, ingredients, production and market trends.

At 4.15 pm the Omega hall will host a gala ceremony at which the Smak Jakości (Taste of Quality) and Pet Choice Award prizes will be presented.

On top of that there are industry meetings, the Influencer Zone and the chance to talk directly to the people who develop pet food recipes, choose the ingredients, design the packaging and build the production lines.

So if you have a dog or a cat and want to know not just what goes into its bowl but where it comes from, how it is made and what to ask the manufacturer, Expo Kielce is the place to get a look behind the scenes today.

(BB)