GHENT, BELGIUM — United Petfood announced Feb. 25 it has acquired Cambrian Pet Foods, a family-owned private label manufacturer of dry and wet pet food products based in the United Kingdom. The acquisition is expected to enhance United Petfood’s in-house private label capabilities.

"It is our goal to establish long-term relationships with our customers and be their preferred partner for the production of private label dry and wet pet food, biscuits and snacks,” stated United Petfood’s Board of Directors in a joint statement. “The acquisition of Cambrian Pet Foods allows us to extend our product range and be a one-stop solution for our customers. Rather than being merely a production partner, we want to guide our customers and work together to achieve success in their market by sharing our knowledge and creating high-quality products."

Cambrian Pet Foods was founded in 1982. Today, the company operates three production facilities in Llangadog, Pencader and Longridge, United Kingdom, and employs roughly 130 people. The company’s capabilities include dry and wet pet food, including both tray and can formats for wet.

Following the acquisition, United Petfoods’ total production footprint will grow to 17 facilities across eight European countries. Cambrian’s three facilities in the United Kingdom are also expected to expand on United Petfoods’ experience, capacity and technology.

"It has been a genuine pleasure partnering with our colleagues, customers and suppliers to help the company grow and develop within our communities and the UK pet trade,” stated Cambrian Pet Foods Ltd’s Board of Directors. “For four decades, Cambrian has demonstrated, time and again, its resilience and its ability to innovate and grow while delivering consistent quality and service to its customers, pets and pet parents alike… We cannot think of a better, more capable, safer and more potent home than within the United Petfood Family as the journey of growth, development and improvement are continued.”

United Petfood only recently entered the wet pet food market in 2019, opening a production plant for single-serve wet pet food pouches in Radom, Poland. Cambrian Pet Food’s Llangadog facility will become United Petfood’s second wet pet food facility, and expand the company’s offerings to trays and cans.

This news comes as the market for wet pet food grows globally. Chicago-based market research firm IRI reports wet dog food and wet cat food sales grew 7.7% and 7.2% respectively over the 52 weeks ending Aug. 9, 2020, compared to the previous 52 weeks, in the “US Multi-Outlet” channel, which includes grocery, drug, mass market, military, select clubs and dollar retailers.

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