All-time high at the Pet Conference

“The pet industry reinvents itself” was the motto of the two-day industry event. Presentations and discussion rounds featured various companies that have invested heavily in processes and personnel in recent years to create new growth opportunities and strengthen their market position. Among the speakers were representatives from prestigious companies such as Nestlé Purina, Fressnapf, Das Futterhaus, Zoo Royal and Curli.

A highlight of the pet conference was the presentation of the pet Best Newcomer 2023 and the pet Personality of the Year awards. The winners were determined by the result of an online vote among pet readers and visitors to the Pet Conference. The two polls each accounted for 50 per cent of the overall result. The award for the most innovative newcomer company went to Prombyx from Gießen, Germany. CEO Fabiola Neitzel accepted the award. The company specialises in sourcing and processing silkworm pupae as a source of protein for pet food production and beat off three other start-up companies that were also nominated for the award. The company Reset (“gs’hund”), which also qualified for Hamburg, withdrew its application a few weeks ago. 

Volker Haak, CEO of Europe’s leading pet accessories supplier Trixie, was honoured as pet Personality of the Year. The editors of the trade magazine pet chose him because Haak and his company from Tarp were particularly convincing in dealing with the numerous challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic and the period following the outbreak of the Ukraine war, thus exemplifying the innovative strength of the pet industry. In his acceptance speech, Haak explicitly dedicated the award to his Trixie team of around 600 employees.