Schedule

• 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Breakfast Buffet and registration

• 8:05 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Combating Turnover and Retaining Top Talent

The pet food and treat industry is highly competitive, which makes sourcing great talent difficult. By building a strong culture and investing in leadership training, you can reduce turnover and keep your workforce strong.

• 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Beyond the Bowl: Creating Pet Foods that Nourish and Delight

Today’s pet parents are looking for foods that provide both elevated nutrition and the most enjoyable mealtime experience for their pets. This session will explore how formulation, ingredient selection, and processing techniques impact not only nutritional value but also palatability, digestibility, and overall food enjoyment.

• 9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Coffee and Networking Break

• 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Prioritizing Food Safety, Quality and Compliance in Pet Food Processing

Keeping pet foods safe for its four-legged consumers is a top priority for all pet food processors. But how can food safety, quality and compliance work together to strengthen a pet food processing operation?

• 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Supply Chain Logistics and Industry Economics

The pet food supply chain is a complex network encompassing raw ingredient sourcing, manufacturing, quality control, logistics and distribution. Discover what economic factors are influencing the industry and how manufacturers can better navigate market fluctuations.

• 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Lunch and Networking

• 1:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Biotic Ingredients and Their Influence on Pet Wellness

Prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics are important emerging ingredients being incorporated into a range of pet foods and treats, offering benefits for digestion, skin health, mood, cognition, and overall well-being. Find out what makes these ingredients so important and how formulators are incorporating them into new pet products.

• 2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Under Pressure: HPP and Pet Food

With the rise of raw, frozen and freeze-dried pet foods, manufacturers are turning to advanced processing technologies to ensure product safety. High pressure processing (HPP) offers a proven solution, enhancing food safety while preserving quality and nutrition.

• 2:45 p.m.– 3:15 p.m.

Coffee and Networking Break

• 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

State of the Industry Panel: Key Challenges Facing Pet Food and Treat Producers

From labor shortages and immigration issues to food safety concerns and evolving ingredient and labeling regulations, a range of challenges are keeping pet food and treat manufacturers up at night. Join industry representatives as they share insights on these pressing issues in a dynamic panel discussion, followed by audience Q&A.

• 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Cocktail Reception