KIWI PET FOOD A GLOBAL HIT
Huge worldwide demand for premium natural pet food has prompted Mt Maunganui-based
pet food company Ziwi to expand into the South Island this month, with the opening of a new
manufacturing facility in Christchurch.
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A global leader in air-dried technology
and the largest New
Zealand exporter of premium
pet food, Ziwi is a rapidly growing
$40m export-focused business and
its first South Island operation will
be based at Burnham. Managing
director Richard Lawrence says the
new facility will double the company’s
capacity within the next year,
and employ more than 30 new people.
Ziwi’s slow and gently air-dried,
quality New Zealand free-range meat
and seafood has struck a chord with
pet owners around the world wanting
nurtrient-dense and digestible
food for their pets, he says. “With
increasing pet ownership and a
growing awareness of pet nutrition,
consumers are demanding quality,
nutritious meals for their pets and
this has resulted in massive growth
for Ziwi and the New Zealand petfood
industry as a whole,” Lawrence
says. “This investment in Christchurch
comes on the back of three
years of double-digit growth and
signals another exciting chapter for
the business.” Along with the South
Island expansion, Ziwi has partnered
with ANZCO Foods to form a new
joint venture operation producing
pet treats and oral health products.
The New Zealand Natural Chews
and Treats Company will also operate
out of the Burnham site, producing
a range of natural, premium
products for export markets. “This is
ANZCO’s first foray into the pet food
segment and it will be providing Ziwi
with access to large quantities of
premium quality, grass-fed products.
The development of these treats
and chews will enable the establishment
of new international markets,”
Lawrence says. “There is huge
potential for growth and we can do
it all with New Zealand-based, family
owned manufacturing operations
and the very best of New Zealand
suppliers.” Ziwi exports to more
than 20 countries, with its main
markets in the USA, Australia and a
rapidly growing China. New Zealand
pet food exports are valued at more
than $120m, and have been growing
at more than 10% compound annual
growth rate for the past five years.
Ziwi is well-positioned to be a global
leader in the industry, New Zealand
Trade and Enterprise chief executive
Peter Chrisp says. “Pet owners
all over the planet are increasingly
focusing on their pet’s health
and nutrition, and New Zealand’s
sustainable and authentic supply
chains can deliver these benefits,”
he says. “So this expansion by Ziwi
is not only good for New Zealand,
but is good for the world.” Some of
Ziwi’s biggest independent pet food
retailers from North America as well
as China’s largest pet e-commerce
site operator have already visited the
new facilities.
ZIWI’S
PRODUCTS
FOR DOGS
AND CATS:
• Are made of 100%
meat, seafood and
green mussels
sourced from New
Zealand
• Are air-dried,
with each piece
boasting 98%
fresh meat,
organs, bone and
seafood
• Provides a
minimum of 263
calories per scoop
• Have no grains,
corn, soy, wheat
or rice, no
rendered meat, no
GMOs, antibiotics
or growth
promotants.
INNOVATION
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