Premium chews

“The products are all made of premium quality rawhide,” says Lion Houkes, product manager for this brand, “and are manufactured in Argentina, one of the most important countries for supplying rawhide bones and chips of this quality.” Because there are different types and sizes of dogs, the assortment contains different shapes and sizes of bones, from ‘simple’ chips up to retriever rolls and turkey legs. Different flavours like honey, chicken and bacon are also used. And certain products contain extra calcium for strong bones, or vitamins and omega oils for a shiny and healthy coat. Chewing on “Laika” chews prevents the build up of plaque and tartar, eliminating the need for expensive dental treatment at the vet. It keeps the dog’s breath clean, stimulates the dog’s natural need to gnaw and gives it a lot of activity and entertainment.
Dutch company Lenersan Poortman owns the “Laika” brand, which is now sold in Norway, Denmark, Germany, France and the Czech Republic via different national distributors. “We are now starting up in Finland”, continues Lion Houkes. “`Laika´ chews are popular especially in Scandinavia”. The name Laika derives from the first dog ever sent into space and still enjoys a high level of brand recognition and consumer awareness. To prevent the bones from “being lost” somewhere in the store, a special display was developed. The display contains all 39 different product types and ensures optimum presentation in the stores.
Production line for “Laika” chews: following degreasing in large wooden drums, the hides are tied by hand and placed in the oven. Flavouring is then added and they are finally shrink-wrapped in film.
“The production process for `Laika´ chews is amazing”, says Lion Houkes. “All rawhide is processed within 72 hours of slaughter. The guaranteed protein content is close to 90 per cent, with an average moisture content of 13 per cent. No bleaching residue remains in the product”. Split hides of uniform thickness arrive at the factory from the tannery. In the first processing stage, the split hide is run through a splitting machine where it is degreased. The lower portion of split hide is sold for use in the manufacture of gelatin. Only the “top split” hide is used to produce rawhide bones. This top split hide is cleaned and partially degreased in large wooden drums using special detergents and degreasers. A drum contains about 3,000 kg of hide, but also 3,000 kg of water. The rawhide is kept in the fluid for approximately 13…