PURINA®, one of the world's largest manufacturers of cat and dog food, owned by Nestle, will launch more than 20 new products in the coming months to meet the growing needs for improved health and well-being of pets in our country, the company announced with the occasion of the International Animal Day.
PURINA® celebrates International Animal Day, a day dedicated to the more than 340 million pets in the European Union: 127 million cats, 104 million dogs and around 115 million other pet species. According to statistics, there are approximately 4.3 million cats and over 4 million dogs in Romania, to which the PURINA® team gives all their passion, offering them healthier and happier lives.
The PURINA® portfolio is diverse and provides optimal nutrition for dogs and cats with brands such as PRO PLAN®, PRO PLAN® Veterinary Diets, Cat & Dog CHOW®, Gourmet®, Felix®, ONE®, Friskies® and Darling®. For over 125 years, PURINA® has used its expertise to offer products adapted to specific nutritional needs based on size, age, or other medical characteristics. The PRO PLAN® Veterinary Diets range (details) helps to manage medical conditions, harnessing the power of science and the latest research in the field of nutrition to offer innovative formulas, such as the product addressed to neurological conditions in dogs, unique in Romania.
PURINA® is a reliable partner of professional associations and veterinary medicine faculties in the country, by supporting their activities and participating in scientific events and congresses. The company stands alongside veterinary professionals and offers academic resources, presented interactively and through the Vet Center® platform (details) that draw on PURINA® expertise in nutrition and scientific innovation.
PURINA® also contributes to the development and consolidation of the community of pet lovers in Romania. The PURINA® Better Together program provides support and resources to help pet owners provide adequate and healthy nutrition, promote physical activity, and encourage responsible pet adoption.
PURINA® meets the desire of families, especially children, to have a pet. Thus, the PURINA® Pet School educational project started in 2019, with which it obtained the Gold Award in Romania in the Community Index 2020. More than 30,000 primary school students and 60,000 family members have benefited from information and activities so far Pet School, aimed at promoting the responsible care of four-legged friends. PURINA® also supports communities by donating food and resources to animal shelters and promoting responsible adoptions.
The bond between pets and people is unique and knowing the benefits on an emotional level, Nestle Romania implemented the Pets at Work project in 2022, which offers employees the opportunity to bring their puppies with them to the office. PURINA® encourages any company that wishes to adopt this program and can provide the rules of the initiative (details).
"The local pet food market has been growing steadily at around 20% per annum in value for several years. The evolution of the market is also because animal lovers attach more and more importance to a healthy and balanced diet for their four-legged friends. PURINA® collaborates with experts in the field to offer products that ensure a balanced level of nutrients through scientifically proven benefits. Cats and dogs are important members of our families, that's why we continue to be actively involved in educational projects and thus, as many families in Romania as possible can enjoy healthy and happy pets. We will also focus on reducing single-use packaging with the ambition that by 2025 100% of our packaging will be recyclable or reusable", says Diana Bejan, Business Executive Officer Purina Southeast Market, Nestle.
PURINA® pays particular attention to balanced nutrition, the relationship between people and pets and, finally, the planet. PURINA® aims that by 2025, 20% of proteins from cereals and vegetables will be obtained from sources based on the method of regenerative agriculture and will reach 50% by 2030. These objectives are in the spirit of responsibility towards consumers and towards of the environment and aim to improve the quality of the soil and contribute to the reduction of the company's total carbon emissions.
Learn more about PURINA® Romania.
About PURINA®
PURINA® was founded in 1894 by William H. Danforth and was originally known as the Robinson-Danforth Company. Passionate and visionary, Danforth wanted to find a solution that would combine the purity of animal feed with the accessibility of its use. This is how "PURINA®" was born, a name that derives its origins from the company's then slogan: "Where purity is paramount". PURINA® pioneered nutrition studies. After 30 years, PURINA® opened its first pet care centre. This was when nutritional research began to perfect the products. After two years of studies, the first complete food for dogs and cats appears on the market. Passion for animals put PURINA® on top when the first pellet dog food appeared, the distinctive shape of which is obtained by pressing. In 1958, the first dry cat food appeared: Friskies. A few years later, PURINA® launches the first range of semi-moist cat food: Tendler Vittles. Enthusiasm for the initial achievements grew in 1973 when the first wet dog food (packaged in a can with single serving content) was launched. The first in innovation, PURINA® has successively released, in the years that followed, assortments containing non-dehydrated meat in food pellets (PRO PLAN®), the first recipe using hydrolysed protein or the first puppy food containing natural antibodies (PRO PLAN® Puppy with OPTISTART®). All these achievements have contributed to positioning PURINA® as one of the most important manufacturers recognized for the level of innovation it brings to the field of animal feed.
About Nestle
The Nestle group has been present in Romania since 1996, among the brands in its portfolio are NESCAFE, NESQUIK, Chocapic, KitKat®, Lion, JOE®, After Eight, MAGGI®, Purina, NAN®, GERBER®, Nespresso, Optifibre, etc. In Romania, Nestle also got involved in ecological and social responsibility initiatives. In the last 3 years, the company have planted 75,000 trees, which will contribute to achieving the goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2050.
Nestle global initiatives:
In 2017, Nestle took several steps to accelerate progress towards the 2030 goals, as part of actions to improve the quality of life and contribute to a better future. Among them are the consolidation of the "Nestle for Healthier Kids" program, the expansion of the "Nestle needs YOUth" initiative and the development of sustainable environmental performance management activities. Nestle maintains its position as a global leader in the food and beverage industry through its portfolio of healthy products accessible to consumers. The Access To Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) Global Index assesses the world's 25 largest food producers, focusing on their nutrition policies, practices and performance. Nestle's top position is recognition of its ongoing commitment to nutrition and health, as well as its commitment to help address the global challenges of obesity and undernutrition.
Nestle for Healthier Kids
The "Nestle for Healthier Kids" program was created to unite all Nestle efforts that support parents and guardians to raise healthier children, from research activities and product formulation to innovative education and nutrition services for a healthy lifestyle. In Romania, these efforts are found under the umbrella of the program "And I live healthy - SETS", initiated by the PRAIS Foundation, as well as "Traista cu Sanatate" under the guidance of the Healthy Traditions Foundation. The NutriPortion and VeggiePortion educational tools, as well as the Nestle for Healthier Kids recipe book, are part of the company's educational portfolio.
Nestle needs YOUth
Nestle's ambition for the global youth initiative "Nestle needs YOUth" is to help 10 million young people around the world gain access to career opportunities by 2030. This global initiative combines and coordinates all activities that support young people around world, including the efforts of the Alliance for YOUth.
Nestle for a Waste Free World
Nestle wants its products to be not only tastier and healthier, but also better for the environment. Nestle's ambition for 2030 is zero impact on the environment, focusing its efforts on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, biodiversity, and packaging management.
