Natural treats for dogs

“We specialise in the production of puffed chew products with added honey extract”, says co-proprietor Romain Chevalier, who runs the company together with the Belgian food manufacturer IMP. “Thanks to our special manufacturing process, chew products not only look more appetizing and no longer have a strong odour, they are also guaranteed salmonella-free owing to a special irradiation technique.” Puffing also virtually doubles the volume of the chew product – and the stains, smell and dirt caused by animals consuming chew products in the home are a thing of the past.
The volume of puffed products is virtually double that of normal chew products.
The range of puffed chew products marketed by the firm, which is barely two years old, currently features seven items. Production takes place in three special drying ovens in a 1 700 m2 production plant, the production volume being controlled such that there is a complete turnover of the warehouse contents up to ten times a year. “Over 80 per cent of the products we sell are puffed, with only 20 per cent made in the old way”, states Romain Chevalier. Special product runs in the private label segment are also expanding considerably: “To a certain degree we can give puffed chew products any type of flavour.” “Natural” products without any additive can of course also be supplied. It goes without saying that the goods are packaged as specified by the private label client.
The company will be unveiling puffed products with added fluoride at Interzoo.
A workforce of 32 manufactures almost 5 mio articles a year in Pittem. Doggy Fun’s total sales are around 5 mio euro per annum, accounting for a share of 30 per cent of total sales of the parent company IMP, which specialises in the production of meat for human consumption. IMP has a 50 per cent interest in Doggy Fun, the other 50 per cent belonging to Romain Chevalier. The company supplies to wholesalers and retail chains throughout Europe, including the German market since November.  And demand is steadily on the increase, according to the proprietor: “At Interzoo we are launching puffed products with added fluoride. The result is a gleaming white colour”, Romain Chevalier comments.
          phg
In brief
Doggy Fun BVBAJoos de ter Beerstlaan, 31B-8740 Pittem
Tel. +32/51/46 67 88Fax +32/51/46 71 14