GA Pet Food Partners (United Kingdom)

Partnership

More private label pet food brands work with GA than any other pet food manufacturer because it saves significant time and cost as GA’s partners are offered comprehensive brand services from concept to launch with ongoing quality control, stock management and logistics. GA is also able to help partners wishing to move into new geographical markets by often introducing them to prospective distributors.

Service

A customer’s journey with GA starts with GA’s team of qualified pet nutritionists who can choose from a range of 700 raw materials, to be trialled on one of GA’s 4 extruders. These extruders have the ability to produce batches from 3,000 to 200,000 kg. Then GA’s packing specialists develop the ideal packaging for the brand (or a customer can supply their own if preferred) which best meets the marketing strategy and product needs. The products can be packed on one of GA’s 14 packing lines.

By using GA’s storage and distribution, customers are able to operate a lean business keeping overheads low and often do not see their product until it is on their shelf. GA has the ability to ship one bag to one full container anywhere in the world.

With regards to storage, GA has a dedicated 18,600 sqm distribution centre with 14,000 pallet spaces and a fully computerised traceability warehouse management system. Many brands integrate their own websites and IT systems with GA to ensure they have complete visibility of their stock availability and orders.

All of these services are available to GA customers worldwide regardless of their size. GA has always had a strong European export business, but in recent years Russia and the Far East have become important markets which are seeing strong year on year growth.  

Historical milestones

• 1992 Golden Acres started processing cereals on a tractor-driven extruder.
• 1995 First Wenger extruder for cereal extrusions for pet food.
• 1998 Second extruder – twin screw Wenger TX144.
• 2000 Third Wenger extruder – 185 Optima, takes total capacity to 100 million kg of dry food.
• 2005 GA Direct concept launched – Private label for pet shops.
• 2007 First BRC Grade A awarded. Meat kitchens installed.
• 2008 Golden Acres rebranded to GA Pet Food Partners. No-Carb dry pet foods developed. 2011 Dedicated 18,600 sqm pet food distribution centre.
• 2012 Wastewater and air treatment facilities built as part of GA’s sustainability mission.
• 2012 Installed Wenger Thermal Twin 3630 to develop products without the use of dry meat meals know as ‘freshtrusion’.
• 2014 The opening of the new microbiological laboratory.
• 2015 GA will take delivery of an optical sorter.

Innovation

GA has recently invested in the world’s first thermal twin extruder allowing GA to include up to 80% fresh meat in super premium dry pet foods and remove the need to use dry meat meals. This concept, known as ‘freshtrusion’ is exclusive to GA. These ‘freshtrusion’ diets are then further enhanced by the use of a new vacuum coater to evenly distribute fats, oils and palatants throughout kibbles.

Safety standards

GA is audited to the same rigorous food safety standards as the human food industry. This standard is upheld throughout the entire business ensuring every incoming raw material and outgoing pet food is meticulously tested. The opening of the new microbiological laboratory provides zero tolerance on Salmonella, Ecoli and Campylobacter.

The onsite laboratory also reduces the testing time from three days to a few hours, ensuring premium quality is achieved quicker. At GA this testing is routine, carried out on every batch, every day and products are only released for sale after real quality controlled scrutiny of results.

In 2015 GA will take delivery of an optical sorter to visually inspect kibbles using a combination of three lasers and a high- resolution camera. This will detect colour or size variations as well as structure, shape and chemical characteristics. By means of compressed air ejectors, the sorter is able to remove kibbles instantly from production that do not match the correct specification. The optical sorter will help to achieve 100% quality products.

Sustainability

This year will also see increased investment into the environment with the delivery of two air filtration units to enhance the sustainability of this eco-friendly manufacturer.

Overall, making it as easy and achievable as possible for anyone to launch their own brand of dry pet food is at the heart of everything GA does. GA’s future investments and innovations will continue to be focused on delivering market leading quality, flexibility and peace of mind for its pet food partners.