The company began producing dog and cat food in the 1940s. In the years immediately following, the company remained quite small, selling its products in only three American states - Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. In 1985 "Pro Pac" was introduced as the company's super-premium pet food brand. About that time, the company also began developing the "Sportmix" brand into a fully fledged premium pet food line. These moves proved to be pivotal, as "Pro Pac" and "Sportmix" have since turned Midwestern Pet Foods into a rapidly growing pet food manufacturer that sells and markets its products around the United States and in 70 countries worldwide.
Today Midwestern Pet Foods operates three state-of-the-art, high-capacity dry pet food production facilities in the United States. It also operates an in-house laboratory and testing facility to foster innovation and to ensure product safety. Finally, the company produces no private label pet foods, preferring to focus entirely on the growth and branding of its own products.
Continuous product improvement
Midwestern recognizes that its success is primarily dependent upon product quality, safety and innovation. In recent years the "Pro Pac" and "Sportmix" formulas have undergone several significant nutritional improvements. Formulation enhancements have included the introduction of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, flax seed for increased levels of Omega-3, an improved blend of antioxidants, the elimination of wheat and the inclusion of beta-carotene, L-carnitine, DHA and sodium hexametaphosphate in selected formulas.
International sales and marketing
According to Midwestern Pet Foods, the "Pro Pac" and "Sportmix" lines continue to keep pace with demanding consumer preferences and changes. Today "Pro Pac" consists of 18 nutritionally specialised formulas and the "Sportmix" line includes 13 formulas for dogs and cats.
Company officials point to impressive international growth as an integral part of their overall strategy. According to Midwestern Pet Foods, international sales of "Pro Pac" and "Sportmix" have grown by an average of 25 per cent per year for more than a decade. At that pace, international sales double in size about every two and a half years, far exceeding industry averages. To achieve these results, Midwestern Pet Foods aims to utilise an effective mix of clever global strategies coupled with surprising flexibility at the local level, thus allowing its…