Problems in Ukraine

The crisis in Ukraine had a direct impact on the pet supplies sector on 17 July 2014 when the internationally acknowledged ornamental fish expert Alex Ploeg, general secretary of the Ornamental Fish Industry (OFI), died along with members of his family on flight MH17, a Boeing 777 belonging to Malaysia Airlines that crashed in eastern Ukraine. It quickly became clear that the plane had been downed by a surface-to-air missile. Opposing groups are still blaming each other for shooting the plane down. The international aquatics industry has lost a progressive thinker and pioneer in Alex Ploeg.
At the same time, Ukraine is also the home of a number of manufacturers and pet store chains. In 2014, four of the exhibitors at Interzoo came from the troubled country, with six companies represented two years before that. One of the biggest importers and suppliers in Ukraine is NPP Suzirja Ltd, based in Kharkov. The company also owns the speciality chains Master-Zoo and Zoo-Land.

Plenty of question marks The German company Trixie works closely with NPP Suzirja Ltd. When asked by PET worldwide, the company stated that a big increase in sales had been recorded back in April, but that sales had since declined. "Our Ukrainian partners are very distressed and are very concerned about the future of their homeland," reports Boy Tadsen, the head of Trixie's export department. Enquiries made by PET worldwide directly to Ukrainian companies went unanswered.
The online news magazine PetfoodIndustry.com also focused on the dramatic developments in Ukraine: "By the end of 2014, Ukraine is likely to experience reduced sales of pet food, while the local market has already lost many of its growth prospects because of the ongoing political crisis and military conflict in the east of the country, according to local experts and market players." Many experts predict that sales of food for cats and dogs will decrease this year for the year in general by 10%, mostly due to a fall in the purchasing power of the population.