Pet industry sees major investments in nutrition and veterinary solutions

The pet industry is focused on delivering quality solutions for pet parents, from nutritional food to pharmaceutical advancements. GlobalPETS reviews the latest funding developments in the pet product manufacturing sector.

Elanco’s monoclonal platform expansion

Elanco Animal Health, an American pharmaceutical company, is investing $130 million (€117.7M) into expanding its biologics manufacturing facility in Elwood, Kansas, by 25,000 square feet.

The facility’s primary product is the Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody (CPMA) used to treat canine parvovirus, which is estimated to affect more than 330,000 puppies a year.

Additionally, the investment will double production capacity, establish a new pilot plant, create a quality control laboratory and add support spaces.

This investment will enhance Elanco’s monoclonal antibody platform, which is key to delivering veterinary solutions. “Elanco is one of only two companies within our industry that have monoclonals on the market today. We believe that it is a key path to deliver these new, high-impact innovations,” says Dr. Ellen de Brabander, Executive Vice President of Research & Development at Elanco.

The expansion will also support the development of a potential canine dermatology product.

€40 million wet pet food facility in Croatia

MHP, a Ukrainian agrotech group, is investing €40 million ($44.1M) into establishing a new wet pet food production plant in Croatia. The facility is set to launch in 2026, creating 200 jobs.

Initially, the plant will produce 20,000 tons of wet pet food for cats and small dogs, increasing its capacity to 35,000 tons by 2028.

“Products will be supplied to the European Union and neighboring markets,” Oleksii Bezuglyi, MHP’s Director of Pet Food Business, confirms to GlobalPETS. Bezuglyi also confirms that MHP is exploring potential partnerships.

MHP had invested €44.5 million ($49.1M) in Croatia since 2019, when it entered the market with the acquisitions of Slovenian poultry producers Perutnina Ptuj and Pipo Čakovec.

The new plant is located near Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. The facility will be close to Perutnina Ptuj’s existing factories, which will supply chicken and turkey meat for pet food processing.

The company remains committed to further investments in the country to strengthen domestic food production.

MHP sees significant growth potential in wet pet food production globally and views this investment as part of its strategy to increase vertical integration.

Currently, MHP produces over 11,000 tons of high-quality chicken meal and fat for dry pet food production, making it a major supplier of raw materials in the pet food industry.