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The Denmark-based Vital Petfood Group will be the new licence holder for products for dogs and cats under the Techni-Cal brand. The products of Techni-Cal international AG will thus be manufactured, sold and marketed by the Vital Petfood Group. Paul van der Raad, the CEO of the Vital Petfood Group, hopes to continue work­ing closely with the current distributors in this venture. Paul van der Raad, CEO of the Vital Petfood Group.

The European pet food manufacturer PPF has reported sales growth of 6 per cent for 2013. Total group sales for the previous year were € 225 mio across the 28 markets in which the Budapest-based company operates. According to PPF, sales growth in 2013 was driven by significant increases in sales of new product formats, by entering new markets, increased sales of branded products and by more than doubling sales in the UK and France. The company significantly increased its presence in the key European markets. In November 2013, PPF signed an agreement to supply Tesco with own-label products for sale in the UK. This builds on the long-standing relationship PPF has with the retailer in central and eastern Europe.
New products accounted for 35 per cent of sales in 2013, demonstrating PPF's continued strength in innovation. Premium formats delivered strong growth, with pouch sales increasing 90 per cent and single-serve up 63 per cent. The company's branded products delivered sales growth of 25 per cent. The company forecasts that it will triple its UK sales in 2014, as well as doubling them in Germany and France.

H.H. Backer Associates Inc. has announced that it will cancel its spring trade show, scheduled for 9-11 April at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City. "We simply could not get enough exhibitor support this year to allow us to produce a quality spring trade show that people have come to expect," said Colette Fairchild, the show's director. H.H. Backer's flagship event, Backer's Total Pet Expo Fall (19-21 September, Chicago) will continue as an annual event, Fairchild added. Exhibitors that have contracted for the spring show will have their choice of receiving a full refund or applying their deposit to the autumn show.

The pet food manufacturer Mars Petcare believes its plant in Verden/North Germany, is optimally equipped to face the competition in the pet food market. At the start of…