This pet food story comes from the PetAge.com via Susan Thrixton of truthaboutpetfood.com – thanks. A large pet food distribution company in the USA, Pet Food Experts, has made an important “strategic decision” to end the distribution of products manufactured by Nestlé Purina Pet Care in New York and in New England. Therefore this is a limited reduction in respect of their distribution relationship with Nestlé Purina.
The big question is why they have decided to amend their working relationsip with Nestlé Purina Pet Care.
The only thing we have to go on is in the statement put out by Pet Food Experts. Their president, Michael Baker, says that their sole focus is helping independent pet retailers win. He also says that:
“being independently owned, we have to be diligent in maximising resources and I’m confident this decision will only make a stronger.”
Susan Thrixton believes that their decision may be based upon the fact that they are now paying attention to the quality of pet food. She writes,
“Are major players in pet food (distributors ARE major players in pet food) paying attention that feed grade ingredient pet foods are not actually food?”
That would imply that Pet Food Experts are making an ethical decision. That may be the case but if so it appears to be about supporting independent retailers. Normally businesses make decisions based upon maximising financial profits. That said Pet Food Experts appears to be a private company meaning it does not have shareholders to please. That gives them more freedom to make ethical decisions.
They want to help independent pet retailers, they say. Distributors contract between the manufacturers above them and the retailers below them in the food chain. They seem to have been forced to make a decision between the manufacturers and retailers and have favored the retailers.
It may be the case that they feel that their relationship with Purina Nestlé is jeopardising their relationship with pet retailers in New York and New England. Perhaps Purina Nestlé were putting some sort of financial pressure upon the retailers in this area and the distributor, Pet Food Experts, in working with Purina Nestlé were indirectly working against their clients, the independent retailers. The may be a food quality element as well. Purina have been involved in some well-known quality problems: one – two – and animal testing. See all search results for “Purina” on PoC.
In disconnecting from Nestlé Purina in New York and in New England they are strengthening their relationship with their clients, the retailers in that area and supporting them. That may be one reason and it is just a guess.
However, it does hint at one thing which is totally clear to me, namely that the big pet food manufacturers are probably quite brutal or at least tough in their quest for profit. The squeeze the maximum out of everything. And it could be argued they are unethical because their pet food is so often criticized by thinking, caring and concerned pet guardians.
Source: Pet Food Distributor Drops Purina | Truth about Pet Food. And my thanks to Sandy for telling about this.
I think you mean “PetAge.com”
Thanks Sandy. The ‘e’ is quite near the ‘a’ 😉 .
Michael,
I tend to believe Susan Thixton. She does incredible research and work to keep people up to date with the latest information about pet food, and helping people to make wise decisions about what they feed their pets.
I agree. Thrixton is a very capable and good for us all including the manufacturers. They need to raise their standards in some areas.