Animal Food Product Development

At Food Research Lab, we provide a range of tailored services for developing innovative animal and pet food products, from groundbreaking new creations to strategic line extensions and competitive “me too” products. Here’s how we support you in each area:

1. New-to-World Products: We assist in creating entirely unique animal and pet food products that introduce new concepts and innovations to the market. This could involve emerging technologies such as genetically modified ingredients (genetically modified salmon or other fish can be used as a sustainable protein source in pet foods, soy or corn offering enhanced nutritional profiles) , extrusion methods (Widely used in dry kibble productions) such as high-moisture extrusion, 3D printing can produce custom-shaped treats or personalized nutrition portions,, or the use of novel ingredients such as insect-based proteins, such as black solider fly larvae or crickets and algae and seaweed are also emerging as nutrient-rich ingredients. Our approach enables you to stand out in a competitive market with products that redefine industry standards.
2. Line Extension or Additions to Existing Product Lines: We support the extension of existing SKUs, allowing you to meet evolving consumer needs, expand market reach, or reposition products for different consumer segments. This may include modifying formulations to align with diet-related preferences, such as low-fat, high-fiber, reduced-salt, gluten-free, or dairy-free options. Additionally, we optimize packaging size, color, flavor, and health features to enhance product appeal and can help with cost reduction and repositioning of current products.
3. “Me Too” Products: We offer development for products that replicate established items in the market. This involves leveraging existing, proven processing methods and readily available ingredients, providing you with a streamlined approach to gaining a competitive presence.
4. Insights-Driven Product Development: Our team conducts in-depth industry analysis to uncover market trends and identify opportunities, ensuring your products gain a competitive edge and appeal to targeted consumer groups.

Types of Pet Foods We Develop:

We specialize in a variety of pet food types, including dry kibble (Dry, crunchy pellets or biscuits), wet/canned food (moist, canned food with higher water content), freeze-dried and dehydrated food, raw (BARF) diets (uncooked, raw ingredients, including meat, bones, fruits and vegetables), high-protein and high-performance diets, grain-free options, organic and natural foods, limited-ingredient diets, functional and therapeutic foods (targeting specific health issues, usually prescribed by veterinarians), and various treats and supplements. Our formulations meet diverse dietary requirements and cater to specific health goals, from digestive health to joint support, ensuring high-quality, palatable, and beneficial products for pets.

Our dedicated facility thrives in crafting an expansive spectrum of animal food products tailored to cater to the specific needs of a variety of animals. Our extensive range encompasses animals such as Rabbits, Bunnies, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Swine (starter, finisher, grower), Ruminants (Calves, dairy cattle, beef cattle), Poultry (Broilers, layers, Turkeys, others), and Dogs. Embracing a multifaceted approach, we meticulously create pellets, crumbles, and mash formulations utilizing a wide array of ingredients. These include cereals, oilseed meals, molasses, and an assortment of additives such as antibiotics, vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids, feed enzymes, and feed acidifiers. Our team's expertise is grounded in hands-on experience with a diverse range of popular pet food products, encompassing renowned brands like Royal Canin, Pedigree, Drools, Farmina N&D, Henlo, Smart Heart Chicken, Himalaya Chicken & Rice Healthy, JerHigh, Petstart, Kennel Kitchen, Cesar Sasmi, Orijen, BLEP, Arden Grande Ocean, Schesir, Fidele Purepet, Chappi, SuperCoat, Acana Classic, Taste of the Wild, and IAMS Proactive. Rest assured, our development prowess extends beyond mere product creation. We delve deep into understanding the distinctive dietary requirements of each animal category, resulting in tailored solutions that align with their nutritional needs and preferences. At our facility, the fusion of expertise, innovation, and compassion results in animal and pet food products that surpass expectations and nurture the well-being of beloved companions.

At Food Research Lab, we offer a comprehensive suite of clinical and sensory testing services specifically tailored for animal and pet food products. Our advanced methodologies and facilities support your New Product Development (NPD) and product validation efforts, ensuring that your formulations are rigorously assessed for health benefits, nutritional value, and sensory appeal. We collaborate with trusted third-party clinics, veterinary facilities, and research hospitals to conduct clinical trials and deliver robust, data-driven insights that strengthen your product’s market position.

Clinical Sensory Trials and Testing for Pet Foods : FRL offers extensive clinical trial support designed to validate sensory and health benefits in animal and pet food products by following AAFCO, which has published minimum testing protocols for adult maintenance, growth, and gestation/ lactation. Our range of testing options is tailored to provide actionable insights for product optimization and market success. Here’s an overview of our specialized services:

Types of Clinical Testing

• Digestibility and Absorption Studies:
  
  • Purpose: Evaluates the nutrient absorption efficiency and digestibility of pet food formulations.
  • Example: Trials to measure the uptake of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in dogs and cats, providing insights into overall product efficacy and nutritional adequacy.
• Palatability and Preference Trials:
  
  • Purpose: Assesses animals' preferences, ensuring the product is both appealing and nutritionally balanced.
  • Example: Comparison of different flavors, textures, or ingredient blends to identify preferences among targeted animal demographics, such as puppies, adult dogs, or cats.
• Nutritional and Health Impact Assessments :
  
  • Purpose: Verifies health claims related to skin health, coat condition, joint support, or immune function.
  • Example: Testing food formulations enriched with omega-3 fatty acids for their effects on coat shine and skin health.
• Allergenicity and Sensitivity Testing :
  
  • Purpose: Ensures that food products meet specific dietary needs and minimize adverse reactions.
  • Example: Testing hypoallergenic formulas designed for pets with sensitivities, such as grain-free or limited-ingredient diets.
• Probiotic and Microbiome Studies :
  
  • Purpose: Evaluates the impact of probiotics or postbiotics on gut health and microbiome balance.
  • Example: Clinical trials on formulations containing Bifidobacterium strains to assess gut health and immunity.
• Quantitative Sensory Trials: Through rigorous quantitative analysis, our clinical trials reveal essential insights into the sensory impact and effectiveness of your pet food products. By focusing on attributes like taste, texture, and aroma, we ensure that products align with the behavioral preferences of pets and the nutritional standards valued by pet owners.
• Sensory Trials and Methodologies
  FRL conducts a variety of sensory trials to evaluate the attributes that matter most to animals and their owners. Our sensory testing includes:
  • Quantitative Sensory Analysis
    
    • Purpose: Provides measurable insights into sensory characteristics such as taste, smell, and texture.
    • Example: Measuring the chewiness of treats or crunchiness of kibble to optimize pet satisfaction.
  • Descriptive Sensory Panels and Observation Studies
    
    • Purpose: Trained sensory panels and veterinary professionals conduct detailed evaluations to understand flavor, texture, and aroma preferences.
    • Example: Observational studies conducted in controlled environments, where animal behavior in response to different flavors or textures is closely monitored and recorded.
  • Acceptance and Feeding Trials
    
    • Purpose: Assess general acceptance and consumption behaviors in real-life scenarios, often through in-home testing placements.
    • Example: Dogs and cats are given new products in home environments to determine overall product acceptance and ease of consumption.
  • Aroma and Visual Appeal Tests:
    
    • Purpose: Evaluates the product's scent and appearance, as these factors influence the animal’s initial interest and long-term engagement.
    • Example: Testing kibble appearance and scent to ensure it meets both pet owner expectations and animal interest.
• Specialized Descriptive Panels and Observational Testing: Our team of trained sensory experts conducts detailed evaluations of the sensory attributes of animal and pet food formulations. Using controlled settings and observational techniques, we assess factors such as palatability, digestibility, and overall animal acceptance, providing a data-backed foundation for product improvement.
• Customizable Testing Environments: We offer flexibility in our clinical sensory trials, with testing conducted in on-site labs, off-site locations, or through in-home placements. This adaptability enables us to replicate real-world consumption conditions, enhancing the relevance and accuracy of test results.
• Targeted Feedback from Animal Enthusiasts: FRL’s extensive database of animal and pet enthusiasts allows precise targeting of specific demographic segments, making it easy to gather feedback tailored to your target audience. This approach ensures that clinical trial results are directly applicable to your market, aiding in product refinement and positioning.
• Clinical Testing and Sensory Trials for Pet Foods: FRL’s clinical testing capabilities extend across a variety of assessments designed to validate both the health benefits and sensory appeal of animal and pet food products.
• Collaborating with Veterinary Clinics and Hospitals: To deliver reliable and scientifically robust results, FRL partners with reputable third-party veterinary clinics, hospitals, and research facilities. This collaboration allows us to conduct specialized clinical trials and ensures that each study meets regulatory and scientific standards for accuracy and transparency.
• Validating Quality and Nutritional Claims: With our expertise in clinical testing and sensory analysis, FRL substantiates quality, palatability, and nutritional claims related to nutritional value, digestive health, skin and coat care, and more, we provide data-backed insights to help your products succeed in a competitive market through scientifically validated trials. By rigorously assessing sensory attributes and health benefits, we provide empirical evidence to support your product's positioning and regulatory compliance.

Explore FRL’s Animal Food Clinical Testing and Pet Food Sensory Trials for scientifically sound insights that drive product success.

FRL Global Contract Research, Development, Consulting & Manufacturing Lab proudly offers an extensive range of specialized pet food testing facilities and expertise, all geared towards ensuring the highest standards of product quality and safety for animal and pet foods.

Our comprehensive offerings include:

With our unwavering commitment to excellence, FRL Global Contract Research, Development, Consulting & Manufacturing Lab ensures that your animal and pet food products meet the highest industry standards. Our specialized expertise in the realm of animal and pet foods guarantees product quality and safety across all aspects of testing and analysis.

In today's evolving landscape, pet food trends are increasingly converging with those in the human food industry, driven by pet owners' growing demand for the finest for their beloved animals. Ensuring that pet food packaging meets exacting standards is paramount, regardless of whether the product requires chilled, frozen, or ambient stable conditions. The packaging must endure the rigors of the supply chain while also offering the convenience that pet owners seek.

Within this context, FRL Global Contract Research, Development, Consulting & Manufacturing Lab offers an extensive spectrum of services tailored to pet food packaging:

FRL Global Contract Research, Development, Consulting & Manufacturing Lab extends its expertise to animal and pet foods, ensuring that your pet food products are impeccably packaged. Our services are designed to harmonize with the evolving trends in pet food while adhering to the highest standards of performance, convenience, and sustainability.

Once the recipes have been meticulously established, the process of scaling up and manufacturing the pet food product is a crucial phase. Our well-equipped process halls serve as the ideal setting to execute this, allowing us to establish, validate, and fine-tune the production process. During this phase, we manufacture and trial the product, creating prototype samples that can be showcased to customers or subjected to chemical and microbial testing for thorough validation. We offer a comprehensive range of services for scaling up and pet food processing trials, including:

With FRL Global Contract Research, Development, Consulting & Manufacturing Lab, you can confidently transition from recipe development to large-scale manufacturing and processing trials. Our commitment to excellence guarantees that your pet food products are produced, validated, and perfected with precision, adhering to industry-leading standards at every step of the way.

Given that pet food manufacturing and distribution share similarities with their human food counterparts, it's notable that legislative regulations encompassing both areas exhibit certain parallels. However, it's imperative to recognize that the specifics of these requirements do indeed diverge.

At FRL Global Contract Research, Development, Consulting & Manufacturing Lab, we provide a comprehensive advisory service aimed at offering expert guidance on legislative compliance. Our assistance is dedicated to ensuring that your pet food products, as well as their accompanying labels, adhere to the intricate web of regulations governing this sector. While some aspects align with human food regulations, our specialization ensures that we address the unique intricacies that pertain to pet food.

With our advisory service, you can navigate the regulatory landscape with confidence, knowing that your pet products are meticulously evaluated for compliance and conformity. Our commitment is to provide you with the assurance that your offerings meet all the legal requirements, providing peace of mind as you introduce your pet food products to the market.