Partner for the pet food industry

A family-owned, independent group of companies now run by the fourth generation of the Rettenmaier family, JRS employs over 3 000 people worldwide. With its functional, organic fibres derived from renewable raw plant materials, JRS has positioned itself in many business segments as a problem solver, system and technology partner for industry. The corporate group operates over 80 production and distribution locations in all parts of the world.Litter and bedding products for cats and small mammals have a "quantitatively high value" in the group of companies. The strongest sales markets are the German-speaking countries and France. In other European countries in which JRS is represented for the most part by its own distribution organisation, the company's litter products occupy an important position in the market. JRS is also one of the top players in the private label business, even outside Europe.

Nearly six years ago, JRS acquired American litter supplier Healthy Pet (previously Absorption Corp.), thereby strengthening its position outside of Europe too. This consolidation applies not only to North America, but also to Latin America and Asia, where JRS has grown significantly in recent years with its pet products.
The dynamic development of the group of companies in the pet supplies segment has been boosted by growing customer demand for sustainable, naturally produced litter. Products in the Cat's Best line consist of natural fibres and can be disposed of easily with organic waste after use. Silica litter, on the other hand, has an increasingly negative environmental impact due to the manufacturing process employed and long transport distances.

The group's global orientation has resulted in its structures becoming increasingly decentralised in order to gain maximum proximity to the customer. Following JRS's acquisition of the pet bedding business of Swiss company Zoosano a few years ago, the production of JRS hay and straw products was relocated to a dedicated plant in the Eifel region. Cat litter for the German-speaking market is manufactured at the company's headquarters in Rosenberg-Holzmühle and now also in other factories in Germany and France. For example, another production plant for cat litter was built in Brenil, France in 2016. This has a target capacity of 60 000 tonnes and is one of the most modern facilities in Europe.
In sales and marketing JRS has continued to pursue a successful policy of expansion. The…