Pet News

The pet food sector is undergoing a transformation, driven by an insatiable demand for novel and superior products. Pioneering ingredients, such as proteins derived from insects and repurposed marine vegetation, are redefining what's possible in pet nutrition. Yet, transitioning these innovative laboratory creations into scalable industrial realities often encounters formidable obstacles, particularly within the critical drying phase. Here, advanced drying methodologies emerge as pivotal, enabling manufacturers to surmount technical challenges and bring groundbreaking pet food concepts to fruition with precision and efficiency.

Pioneering Pet Food Ingredients Through Innovative Drying

The contemporary pet food market thrives on innovation, with manufacturers continually exploring new avenues, from alternative protein sources like insects to sustainable practices utilizing upcycled materials and the creation of premium treats. A significant hurdle in this innovative journey is often the drying process, as conventional drying systems frequently fall short of the specific quality and energy demands of these cutting-edge products. Harter's Test Center, situated in Southern Germany and guided by food technologist Fabian Baur, stands as a crucial hub for innovation. It allows manufacturers to thoroughly test novel formulations and mitigate investment risks by establishing the viability of their concepts prior to full-scale system deployment.

Harter utilizes heat pump-driven condensation drying, a method honed over three decades and implemented in more than 2,000 installations, to facilitate the transition of companies from conceptualization to industrial-scale production. This advanced technology has been instrumental in addressing distinct product challenges across various manufacturers. For instance, an Italian firm developing a product from Black Soldier Fly larvae required precise drying at low temperatures to achieve a 96% dry matter content without clumping. Initial tests with chamber dryers were unsuccessful, but subsequent experiments using continuous and barrel dryers with varied airflows led to optimal results in a closed barrel with horizontal air routing, ensuring uniform dryness and preventing clumping.

Overcoming Manufacturing Hurdles with Specialized Drying Solutions

Another compelling example involves a Scandinavian company's endeavor to transform seaweed waste from cosmetic and pharmaceutical production into a mineral-rich pet food ingredient. The inherent slick and slimy nature of seaweed leaves posed a considerable drying challenge, necessitating single-layer drying and continuous processing. After initial trials, a belt dryer equipped with a plastic belt proved to be the ideal solution. Harter then engineered a sophisticated five-belt system, significantly reducing drying time to two hours and minimizing the machinery's footprint. This optimization increased throughput by 40% even before the final machine was constructed, showcasing the power of tailored drying solutions.

Innovation also extends to modernizing existing products. A dog snack producer sought to replace an energy-intensive gas dryer with a more sustainable alternative while maintaining their product's exact texture and appearance. By conducting tests at the Test Center with their own extrusion equipment, the team identified 40°C as the optimal drying temperature in a chamber dryer. This new heat pump-based system, featuring a closed air circuit, eliminated the need for fresh air intake and odor release, ensuring independence from climatic conditions and substantial energy savings. The manufacturer achieved a daily capacity of 3,210 kg, upholding the premium quality their customers expected. These case studies underscore how Harter's specialized drying technologies are not just supporting, but actively driving, the evolution of the pet food industry, making complex innovations a reality.

Strategic Expansion Propels Pet Service Holding to New Financial Heights

Navigating Regulatory Changes and Boosting Revenue Streams

In the fiscal year concluding December 31, 2025, the Dutch pet care enterprise, Pet Service Holding (PSH), registered an impressive €13.6 million ($16M) in revenue, marking a 7.7% surge from the previous year. The first half of 2025 was particularly robust, contributing €7 million ($8.2M), a 14% uplift compared to the same period in 2024. This growth was spurred by the success of its online consumer platforms and its sales efforts targeting professionals. However, the latter half of 2025 saw a more tempered increase, with revenues reaching €6.5 million ($7.6M), reflecting a 3% rise over the prior year.

Adapting to Regulatory Frameworks and Mitigating Revenue Impact

PSH confronted a significant challenge last year when the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) mandated that certain prescription-only veterinary medicines could not be sold online in other EU member states. In compliance, PSH ceased these specific sales outside the Netherlands in the final quarter of 2025, leading to an estimated €1 million ($1.2 million) revenue shortfall during that period. To counteract these losses, the company is intensifying its focus on expanding its range of over-the-counter (OTC) veterinary products, pet accessories, and supplies, alongside investing further in its digital platforms.

Strategic Acquisition of Petlux Fuels Future Growth

August 2025 marked a pivotal moment for PSH with the acquisition of Petlux, a pet product manufacturer and distributor situated in Woerden, near Amsterdam. PSH's CEO, Ron van Veldhoven, indicated that Petlux's performance aligns with expectations, with integration efforts taking precedence to pave the way for future expansion. While Petlux's financial contribution in 2025 was modest due to the timing of the acquisition, it is anticipated to be a significant growth driver from 2026 onwards, bolstered by its strong product portfolio and existing European distribution network. This acquisition also plays a crucial role in PSH's strategy to diversify its revenue streams and reduce its reliance on activities sensitive to regulatory changes, aligning with its broader goal of shifting towards scalable, less regulation-dependent product categories.

Elevated Market Presence Through Stock Exchange Advancement

On July 28, 2025, PSH's shares transitioned from the Euronext Access+ index to the more prominent Euronext Growth Paris index on the Paris Stock Exchange. This move signifies PSH's evolution from a small-to-medium-sized enterprise (SME) to a larger entity with increased capital. Euronext acknowledged PSH's robust, integrated business model—encompassing veterinary pharmacies, wholesalers, online shops, and digital platforms—positioning it well within the expanding European pet market. While this upgrade necessitated additional costs to meet stringent listing requirements, including audited financial reporting, the enhanced visibility and access to a broader, international investor base are seen as substantial strategic advantages, according to Ron van Veldhoven.