Zesty Paws founders raise US$3M for Other Half; Partners Group to acquire MPM Products from 3i, and more

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Happy Friday!

Lots of good stuff this week: The founders of Zesty Paws raise US$3 million for pet wellness brand Other Half; Partners Group will acquire MPM Products from 3i; and the UK issues pet grooming standards.

Also, have you ever skipped a trip just to avoid those sad puppy eyes? A new survey says 56% of U.S. pet parents are traveling less because they can’t bear to leave their pets behind. In this week’s Spotlight, we look at how pet brands are turning this trend into a business opportunity.

We also interviewed the amazing Susan Groeneveld, Founder and CEO of Sylvester.ai, the Canadian startup behind cutting-edge AI that helps detect feline discomfort just by analysing your cat’s face. Read how this startup is addressing cat pain detection, a significantly underserved market.

IN TODAY’S EDITION

FROM OUR SPONSOR

🇺🇸 Zesty Paws founder raises US$3M for Other Half ● Zesty Paws founders AJ Patel and Mike Watts announced a US$3 million seed round for pet wellness brand Other Half. The round was led by Willow Growth, with participation from Habitat Partners and Off Leash Capital.

🇬🇧 Partners Group to acquire global pet food business MPM Products from 3i ● Acting on behalf of clients, private equity firm Partners Group will acquire UK-based MPM Products, which operates market leading premium wet cat food brands, including Applaws, Reveal, and Encore. 

🌿 The Groan Group and Aminola form partnership to advance sustainable plant-based supply chains ● Groan and Aminola have formed a strategic partnership to accelerate the global growth of sustainable, plant-based ingredients for the food, pet food, and aquafeed industries.

🇬🇧 UK launches new pet grooming standards ● The Canine & Feline Sector Group (CFSG), Pet Industry Federation (PIF) and the British Isles Grooming Association (BIGA) developed the Guidelines for Dog and Cat Groomers, which sets out guidelines to protect animal welfare.   

PRODUCT NEWS

🇺🇸 Petaluma introduces shelf-stable fresh dog food ● The shelf-stable formula features nutrient-dense ingredients like organic kale, spinach, and antioxidant-rich fruits that typically degrade with the heat processing used in traditional dry foods. 

🇺🇸 Nylabone launches Nubz Flavor Bursts chew treats ● Central Garden & Pet brand Nylabone has launched Nubz Flavor Bursts chew treats for dogs. Nubz Flavor Bursts chew treats are made with cheddar cheese and bacon flavor, as well as digestible potato starch. 

SPOTLIGHT: STAYING HOME WITH THE (FURRY) KIDS

A new survey from TrustedHousesitters reveals that 56% of U.S. pet parents now travel less because they can’t bear to leave their pets behind.

According to the survey of over 5,000 respondents:

• 16% of owners spent more on a vacation just so they could bring their pets along

• 54% say their travel is impacted because they worry that their pet thinks they’ve been abandoned

• 52% have been guilt-tripped by a “puppy stare” while packing.

These findings indicate significant opportunities for pet companies to facilitate travel with pets. Anything to avoid this face:

🌴 Pet-first holiday packages Pet-first travel is booming by making it easier to bring your pet along. Think collaborations with resorts, airlines, train services and cruises that offer dedicated pet menus, onboard toys or spa services. For example, Pawtrip is a booking engine that partners with over airlines and pet-friendly hotels.

🐕️ Experiential travel experiences with pets Increasingly, pet parents who travel are looking to share meaningful experiences with their pets, such as guided hikes, city tours and even kayaking trips. This offers significant opportunities for cross-collaboration between pet and travel brands. For example, Mars Petcare has partnered with TripAdvisor to launch AI-powered “pet-friendly” platforms that help pet parents find travel ideas together.

🚗 Collaborations with transport services Opportunities include partnering with car rentals, train and bus services, airlines and ferries. One example: pet gear brand Kurgo has partnered with Toyota to promote safe in-car pet travel.

😺 Anti-homesick pet tech The survey also found that 33% of pet parents spend a “significant portion” of their vacation on their phones, checking in on their pet or video-calling their sitter. Unsurprisingly, several companies already offer AI-powered tech to help pet parents communicate with their pets, and even pet entertainment (see our article here).

Bottom line: Making pet-focused travel easier for pet parents offers a strategic growth opportunity for brands ready to collaborate and innovate.

Luxury Pet Care News is a newsletter covering the latest trends trends, growth insights and success stories in the global pet industry.

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