Pet food recipe development: a Prodservis case study
· Olena Lobach · 6 min read
Prodservis case study | Recipe development, selection of functional ingredients and adaptation of technologies to production conditions.
Three areas of pet food recipe development: dry emulsified treats of various shapes, wet food in pouches and products for export markets.
Business challenge
Expanding the pet food range gives producers the opportunity to work in high-value-added categories. At the same time, each product format has its own requirements for raw materials, recipe, equipment, processing and the stability of the finished product.
In the projects carried out, the Prodservis team addressed producers' tasks related to the development of new products, the adaptation of technologies to production capacities and the preparation of recipes for export markets.
The work covered three areas, each of which required its own set of technological solutions.
01. Dry emulsified treats: one technological basis, different product shapes
Challenge
Making dry meat treats from a minced meat emulsion requires matching the properties of the raw material mass, the forming method and the drying modes.
The structure must allow products to be formed with a specified geometry, remain intact during processing and meet the characteristics of the finished product.
Adapting the technology to different equipment and raw material compositions is particularly challenging.
Technological solution
The Prodservis team developed recipe solutions using functional and flavour-and-aroma ingredients aimed at creating the required structure of the product.
The technological part involved coordinating a sequence of operations: raw material preparation, grinding, emulsifying, forming, drying and packaging.
The comprehensive solution uses a forming system designed for producing casing-free meat sticks, jerky and snacks.
Parameters are selected according to the recipe, the specified product shape and the characteristics of the production line.
Result
Technological solutions have been developed for dry meat treats of various form factors, with the possibility of adapting recipes and production processes to a specific enterprise.
Technological value: an expanded range of formed treats made using emulsified meat raw materials.
02. Wet food in pouches: controlling texture and stability
Challenge
Producing wet food requires a different approach to forming the structure compared with dry treats.
The key technological tasks cover the consistency of the product, the interaction of components, stability during heat treatment and the retention of the specified characteristics throughout the shelf life.
Additional technological requirements relate to product dosing, the airtightness of the pouches and the heat treatment modes.
Technological solution
Prodservis technologists developed wet food recipes with a selection of functional and flavour-and-aroma components.
The solutions involved working with texture and the technological characteristics of the raw materials, and adapting production processes to the clients' equipment.
Technological schemes and regulatory documentation were prepared for the relevant products.
Result
Recipe and technological solutions have been developed for producing wet food in pouches.
Value for the producer: the opportunity to expand the product portfolio with a wet food category, with technological support for development and implementation.
03. Export products: pet food recipe development in line with EU legislation
Challenge
Developing pet food for export to the European Union requires compliance with EU legislation on the safety of feed, raw materials, feed additives and the regulatory parameters of the finished product.
Restrictions on the use of certain types of raw materials and ingredients directly affect the composition of the recipe and the choice of production technology.
At the same time, changes in the recipe composition may affect the structure, taste characteristics and stability of the finished product.
Technological solution
The Prodservis team adapted the recipes taking into account the requirements for raw materials, permitted ingredients and the regulatory characteristics of the product.
The work included:
· analysis of the target market's product requirements
· selection of suitable functional and flavour-and-aroma ingredients
· adaptation of recipe solutions
· coordination of technological parameters
· development of technological documentation
Result
Recipe and technological solutions have been developed for export-oriented pet food products, taking into account the requirements for raw materials, ingredients and regulatory parameters.
Value for the producer: technological preparation of the product for entry into the target market, taking into account its specific requirements.
From recipe to industrial production
Every enterprise has its own technological conditions: raw material base, equipment configuration, production capacity and requirements for the finished product.
That is why, in Prodservis's work, the individual adaptation of solutions plays a central role.
The Prodservis comprehensive model combines ingredient expertise, R&D, engineering, development of regulatory documentation and production support.
Depending on the task, a producer can receive a solution for existing equipment, for upgrading a production line or for launching a new production facility.
Indicators of the comprehensive pet food recipe development solution
|
Indicator |
Prodservis data |
|
Time to market |
3–6 months |
|
Potential shelf life of certain stabilised products |
Up to 18 months |
|
Range of technological ingredients |
Over 400 |
|
Regulatory and technical documentation developed |
Over 30 sets of technical documentation |
|
Proprietary patents |
Over 15 |
Shelf life is determined by the specific recipe, technology, packaging and test results. The launch times given describe the comprehensive project implementation model.
The economic potential of pet food
The category of meat treats for pets creates opportunities to increase the added value of raw materials and to develop new product lines.
These products are available on the Ukrainian market in various price segments. In particular, the retail price of certain products reaches UAH 1,300/kg, as confirmed by open offers from Ukrainian sellers.
For the producer, this category opens up opportunities to create high-value-added products. Their actual profitability depends on the cost of raw materials, the yield of the finished product, and production, packaging and sales channel costs.
The use of mechanically deboned meat, offal and other permitted components opens up additional opportunities for managing the cost price, provided that the raw materials comply with the safety requirements and those of the target market.
Summary: three areas, a wide range of technological solutions
The projects carried out covered the development of dry emulsified treats, the adaptation of products to export requirements and the creation of wet food in pouches.
For the producers, recipe solutions were developed, functional ingredients were selected, technological schemes were worked out and technical specifications were prepared.
The main result of the pet food recipe development is a technological base for developing the pet food range, taking into account the specifics of individual production facilities.
Prodservis's experience makes it possible to work with different product categories, adapt technologies to existing equipment and support the producer at the stages of development and implementation.
Have a pet food production challenge?
Contact the Prodservis technologists. We will help you develop a new product, adapt a recipe to your equipment or prepare a technological solution for your target market.
