Versele-Laga acquires Spanish bird food player Psittacus

Versele-Laga acquires Spanish bird food player Psittacus

The Belgian bird food manufacturer aims to strengthen its position as bird food leader in Europe.

Pet food manufacturer Versele-Laga has acquired Barcelona-headquartered bird food company Psittacus Catalonia. The pair will operate separately, with Psittacus becoming a subsidiary of the Belgian company.

The new partnership is expected to strengthen the companies as they seek to fill a gap in tailor-made avian nutrition. The Spanish firm will gain more access to a global market, and the Belgian company will gain dietary expertise.

Expanding offerings

“There will only be more innovations coming that we can develop together,” Versele-Laga’s Brand Manager Sarah Lanckman tells GlobalPETS.

Headquartered in Deinze, 15 km from Belgium’s third-largest city, Ghent, Versele-Laga sells food for birds, small animals, dogs, cats and horses. The pet food producer is present in 75 countries and manages 11 facilities worldwide.

Now, it’s expanding its avian nutrition portfolio with the addition of the Spanish seed maker. Psittacus’ brands target various wild and domestic bird owners who prioritize nutrition for their feathered friends.

The takeover of Psittacus also includes the company’s breeding center for African grey parrots.

A beneficial acquisition

Birds are often grouped as a single category, but the diverse range of species kept as pets comes with equally diverse needs.

This makes them a uniquely challenging group when it comes to meeting their dietary needs compared to dogs, cats and other pets.

On the other hand, premium food designed for specific bird species can be complex to develop and manufacture at a profitable scale.