Tackling oxidation at the source with new nitrogen filling capabilities

The Fatory is one of Europe’s largest private label manufacturers of pet nutrition products and a member of the Bioriginal Group of Companies.

To strengthen its ability to protect oil-based formulations from oxidation, the company has introduced nitrogen filling capabilities on its liquid bottling line.

This advancement extends shelf life, improves product consistency and boosts confidence in finished product quality for pet nutrition brands.

Preventing oxidation

Oils are among the most nutritionally valuable ingredients in pet nutrition formulations, but they are highly susceptible to oxidation. When oxygen interacts with these compounds during filling, storage or transit, the result is rancidity, reduced bioavailability and shortened shelf life.

Traditional packaging approaches – antioxidants, opaque containers and refrigeration – help manage this risk, but they address oxidation after exposure has occurred rather than preventing it at the source.

Nitrogen filling line

The Fatory has invested in a nitrogen filling line that helps solve this issue by displacing oxygen throughout the entire bottling process.

During the process, oils are stored under a nitrogen blanket prior to filling; bottles are pre-flushed with nitrogen; filling occurs under nitrogen-assisted conditions to displace residual air; and a final nitrogen purge is applied before sealing.

The result is a measurable reduction in headspace oxygen – the primary driver of post-packaging oxidation – ensuring reliable protection from production through to end use.

“Oxidation is one of the most important factors impacting the quality and performance of oil-based products over time,” said Bjorn de Bruijn, Managing Director of The Fatory. “By integrating nitrogen throughout the filling process, we’re able to significantly reduce oxygen exposure and deliver products that maintain their freshness, stability and nutritional integrity from the moment of filling to the moment of use.”

Strategic value for pet food brands

These capabilities are particularly valuable for brands seeking reliable private label and turnkey manufacturing solutions where formulation quality, repeatability and scalability must be maintained across the supply chain. For premium and sensitive oil-based products, filling technology plays a direct role in achieving shelf life and performance.

The addition of nitrogen filling further strengthens The Fatory’s end-to-end private label offerings – from formulations through to finished product – enabling pet nutrition brands to deliver high-quality, stable products without adding unnecessary complexity for its customers.

For more information on its products and nitrogen filling capabilities, contact The Fatory at +31 (0)172-685138 or sales@thefatory.nl.