Real Pet Food Company launches FreshLabs

Real Pet Food Company (RPF) has unveiled FreshLabs, a landmark research and development initiative positioned as the Asia-Pacific’s first programme dedicated solely to fresher pet nutrition. Backed by a AUD$ 500 mio (US$ 324 mio) investment over the next decade, FreshLabs is designed to drive change in the science, education and innovation underpinning modern pet diets, reinforcing RPF’s role as a pioneer of the fresh dog food category, according to a press release. 

‛Pets may be living longer, but research shows their healthspan – years lived in good health – is declining. Conditions such as obesity, allergies, gastrointestinal disease, and chronic illness are on the rise,’ said Germaine Chua, CEO of RPF, announcing the launch in Sydney. According to Chu, those health issues are increasingly linked to diet, with evidence suggesting that fresher, less processed food can help protect vitality, resilience and overall wellbeing. ‛Put simply, pets aren't eating enough fresh food. Fresh food for pets is less processed, freeze-dried, air-dried, gently cooked, or raw and has protective benefits for pets' vitality, resilience, and overall healthspan.’

FreshLabs is structured around five core initiatives, including the establishment of a world-leading independent advisory board of scientists, featuring experts from institutions such as the University of Helsinki and Massey University. The programme will also support the DogRisk project and the development of CatRisk, a new feline health research initiative, alongside a world-first study measuring pet healthspans across the Asia-Pacific region.