Healthy treats from Switzerland

Utilising the by-products from meat production in a way that made environmental sense was the reason why Delipet AG was established by Dominik Stohler and Jakob Wenger. Dominik Stohler had already started producing chew products for dogs in his village butcher’s shop back in 1994. “We made the introduction of a new quality standard for chew products in the international pet supplies sector our objective,” recounts Jakob Wenger. Over 50 employees manufacture all products exclusively at the plant in Hölstein, south of Basle. Product development, acceptance tests and feeding recommendations are all monitored by an in-house veterinarian. On the export side, the Swiss company supplies major customers in around 15 countries, including several EU states as well as Japan, Australia and Russia. “The export success of the products is also due to typical Swiss attributes such as a high quality standard, product safety and reliability,” says Jakob Wenger confidently. Exports account for 45 per cent of sales and this figure is increasing. Products with added benefits When the two master butchers started producing and refining chew products on a grand scale, the typical range of chew products in pet stores still consisted primarily of unpackaged products, which were presented more or less openly on the counter and thus made a significant contribution to the “animal odour”. Big grocery chains also registered an interest in the lucrative business in healthy chew products combined with the requirement for attractive, hygienic and customer-friendly packaging along with private label marking. In Delipet the companies found a sympathetic ear: “Sales of packaged products have increased markedly in recent years, while the sales figures for loose goods are falling sharply,” says Jakob Wenger. To be able to satisfy the individual demands of the various retail customers, two lines have been developed at Delipet. The company’s “DeliBest” brand covers a premium range of natural chew treats manufactured using raw materials from Switzerland and accordingly designated “Swiss premium” products. “This line meets the expectations of customers who make higher demands in respect of product quality and product safety,” states Jakob Wenger. “Swiss raw materials derived from animals kept in conditions appropriate to the species ideally fulfil this requirement.” The second line comprises the “Natural Snacks” products. Raw materials and semi-finished products for this line are also bought in…