The pet food industry in Australia is comprised of several large manufacturers, as well as many smaller and specialty producers.
Some of the largest pet food manufacturers in Australia include:
- Mars Petcare – The Australian division of Mars Petcare, one of the largest global manufacturers of pet food brands worldwide. You will find most brands of pet food sold in Australia to be made by Mars Petcare – Advance, Royal Canin, Optimum, Eukanuba, Iams, Nutro, Pedigree, Whiskas, My Dog, Good-O, Greenies, and more.
- Nestle Purina Petcare – The Australian division of Nestle Purina, a global manufacturer of most other pet food brands you’ll find on supermarket shelves. These include Purina One, Purina Pro Plan (and Pro Plan Veterinary Diets), Supercoat, Fancy Feast, Felix, Friskies, Lucky Dog, Bonnie, and more.
- Hill’s Pet Nutrition – A leading global manufacturer of veterinary-endorsed brands Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet.
- The Real Petfood Company / VIP Petfoods / Australian Pet Brands – A large manufacturer of commercial and private label brands. Commercial brands include Ivory Coat, Farmers Market, Billy + Margot, Doctor B’s BARF, Nature’s Gift, Nature’s Goodness, V.I.P., Trilogy, Fussy Cat, and more.
- Advanced Pet Care – A Western Australia manufacturer. Brands include Delicate Care, Cherish, Ausdog, and Vitality. Advanced Pet Care also manufacture private label brands.
- Ridley Corporation – A large Australian manufacturer of animal feed. In terms of dog foods they are the manufacturer of Cobber.
- CopRice – CopRice is the pet feed division of Ricegrowers Ltd, best known for their trading name SunRice.
- Riverina – The manufacturer behind Top Dog Natural and Top Dog Premium.
- Staughton Group / Murray River Pet Food – Manufacturer numerous brands including Balanced Life, Vets All Natural, Open Paddock, and Aussie Pet Health.
- Masterpet – Perhaps best known in Australia for Black Hawk, Masterpet is a subsidiary of New Zealand’s EBOS Group. Other brands include VitaPet, Aristopet, Yours Droolly, and more.
- Hypro Pet Food – Hypro make a number of commercial brands and a range of private label brands, some quite well known. Hypro brands include Pure Life, Dogpro, Catpro, Supervite, and Hypro Premium.
Other smaller Australian pet food manufacturers include:
- Natural Balance Pet Foods – The manufacturer behind LifeWise.
- Hamilton Pet Care – The manufacturer of Man’s Best and True Colours.
- Frontier Pets – The manufacturer of Frontier Pets.
An overview of the Australian pet food industry
The Australian pet food industry is governed by several regulatory bodies. These bodies should ensure the safety and quality of pet food products.
The primary regulatory body is the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. They are responsible for setting and enforcing national standards for pet food safety and quality. In 2018, this government body was involved in a Senate inquiry into the Safety of Pet Food, in which we made a submission.
In addition to government regulation, there are two main industry bodies who represent the interests of the pet food industry in Australia. These are the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA) and the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).
The PFIAA is a national industry body who represents pet food manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in Australia. The association provides information, advice, and advocacy on regulatory issues affecting the industry. The PFIAA control the standards of pet food manufacture in Australia, which means the standards are self-governed by the industry itself – a conflict of interest from a consumer standpoint. You can find information on the standards here.
The AVA is the peak professional body representing veterinarians in Australia. While not specifically focused on the pet food industry, the AVA is involved in promoting animal health and welfare, which includes advocating for safe and nutritious pet food.
Overall, these three organisations have the most significant involvement in the pet food industry of Australia.
Australian Standards for Pet Food Marketing and Manufacture
Australian Standard 5812:2017 – Manufacturing and marketing of pet food
AS 5812:2017 is a specific Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food. This standard outlines the minimum requirements for pet food manufacturers to ensure the safety and quality of pet food products in Australia. It covers various aspects of pet food manufacturing, including the sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing processes, packaging, labeling, and testing.
The standard references specific requirements for the nutrient content of pet food products, namely the The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards, to meet the nutritional needs of the animal.
The purpose of AS 5812:2017 is to ensure the safety and quality of pet food products in Australia, but if you read it you may question whether it benefits the manufacturer more than the consumer. Unfortunately, if you wish to read the standard you must pay over $100 for the privilege.
PISC 88 – Standard for the hygienic production of pet meat
PISC 88 is an Australian standard for the hygienic production of pet meat.
This standard outlines the minimum requirements for the production and processing of meat for use as pet food in Australia. The aim of the standard is to ensure pet meat is produced in a safe and hygienic manner.
The standard covers various aspects of pet meat production, including the sourcing and handling of raw materials, processing and packaging of pet meat, and the storage and transportation of pet meat products. It also includes guidelines for the cleaning and sanitation of production facilities and equipment.
PISC 88 is part of the broader regulatory framework for pet food safety in Australia and is enforced by the Australian government’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment.
This standard is free to download, and available from CSIRO.
