News

Fressnapf launch in Poland The Fressnapf pet store chain has opened its first store in Poland. The outlet, which goes by the name of Maxi Zoo, as is usual for Fressnapf stores in non-German-speaking countries, is in the Leclerc shopping centre in the Warsaw suburb of Wlochy. It has a retail area of 600 m2 and has the new “Future Store” layout. Fressnapf aims to open three more stores in the Polish capital by the end of the year. Responsibility for the Polish subsidiary lies with Wojciech Kaminski, a native of Poland. Pets for health The European pet industry association FEDIAF was represented at the 40th anniversary of the Dutch Pet Food Association, where Dr Nienke Endenburg from the Faculty of Animal Health at Utrecht University presented the results of a study on the effects cats and dogs can have on human mental and physical health. Expansion at Qualipet The Swiss pet supplies chain Qualipet has opened two new stores in Switzerland in the canton of Bern. The new outlet in Heimberg has a retail area of 500 m², while the new store in Allmendingen extends over a retail area of 1 020 m². In addition, an 850 m² store is due to open in Payerne this year, along with a further outlet in Yverdon covering 560 m², according to Qualipet. The new stores will increase the number of Qualipet shops to 85. Japan Pet Fair The fourteenth Japan Pet Fair will be held from 28 to 31 March in Osaka. The first two days will be open only to professionals, while the other two days will be public days. The organiser JPPMA expects around 200 domestic and international exhibitors to attend the show. Last year 218 companies exhibited at the fair, covering a venue area of approximately 13 500 m2. Aller Petfood buys shares from IØ The Danish pet food manufacturer Aller Petfood has bought up the shares of the Investment Fund for Central and Eastern Europe (IØ) in its offshoot Aller Petfood Russia. Aller is now the sole proprietor of the Russian subsidiary, which was established in 2004. Aller Petfood Russia has been manufacturing private label products since then. In the last eight years it has secured a 50 per cent share of private label sales in Russia, according to Aller Petfood. Nestlé Purina launches a new investment in Argentina The global pet food manufacturer Nestlé Purina continues to strengthen its pet food brands worldwide with an investment of about CHF 15 mio (80 mio Argentine pesos) in its factory in Santo Tomé in Argentina. The investment, which has increased production…