Pet Food Formulation & R&D Services
Turning your Vision into a Reality
The global pet food market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.79% between 2025 and 2030, reaching a total revenue of USD 158.42 billion by 2025. With evolving consumer attitudes, rising pet humanization, and modernization of retail channels, the market volume is expected to reach 62.84 billion kg by 2030, with an average volume per capita consumption of 6.9 kg in 2025.
As the industry grows, so does the demand for quality, specialization, and innovation. Manufacturers are increasingly launching premium pet products such as:premium soft treats (for joint health, digestion, calming), dental chews (oral care), freeze-dried snacks and raw-inspired diets; veterinary prescription diets, and the list could go on and on, and consumer demands for different pet styles and preferences, as well as health-based and nutritional needs.
At Food Research Lab, we align with the growth of this dynamic industry by offering Contract R&D, Pilot Manufacturing, Consulting, and Outsourcing Services. We specialize in:
What We Offer at FRL
Pet food Market Research & Trend Analysis: Trend mapping → longevity diets, human-grade meals, personalized nutrition; Consumer insights such as acceptance studies, price sensitivity and sustainability trends, competitive intelligence, and demand forecasting.
Pet Ingredients Safety and Efficacy Studies: Scientific validation of functional products and specialty products.
Core Formulation & Innovation
- Complete diets (dry, wet, semi-moist, freeze-dried, raw, fresh refrigerated).
- Functional diets (weight control, skin/coat, digestive, mobility, immune support).
- Therapeutic/veterinary diets (renal, hepatic, urinary, diabetes, hypoallergenic, GI, cardiac).
- Nutraceutical-infused treats (joint chews, calming bites, probiotic biscuits, omega oils).
- Novel protein formulations (insect, algae, plant-based, exotic meats).
- Reverse engineering & line extensions → flavor variants, format diversification, breed/life-stage specific.
Reverse Engineering & Benchmarking
- Competitive analysis of leading brands.
- Identifying cost-effective equivalents without compromising nutrition.
- Sensory & palatability trials.
Line Extensions & Variants
- New flavors, sizes, packaging formats.
- Breed/size/life-stage specific adaptations.
- Functional line extensions (e.g., grain-free, vegan, longevity formulas).
Technology & Processing Development
- Extrusion, baking, freeze-drying, HPP (High Pressure Processing), retort sterilization.
- Texture & palatability optimization (coatings, fats, flavor enhancers).
- Shelf-life extension strategies (preservatives, packaging innovation).
Manufacturing and Technology
- Pilot-Scale Manufacturing: For small-scale production targeting market testing or optimization of scale-up process.
- Pilot trials & scale-up → lab to commercial plant transition.
- Packaging innovation → pouches, cans, biodegradable packs, portion-controlled sachets.
- Shelf-life optimization → preservatives, packaging, stability testing.
Pet Food
Regulatory-compliant formulation
Identification and guidance for compliance with regulations by country (FSSAI – India; FDA, Center for Veterinary Medicine – USA; AAFCO, the Federal, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), GRAS – USA Key Standards; EU pet food regulations including Regulations (EC) No 767/2009, Ingredient regulations under regulations (EC) No 1831/2003 (additives in animal nutrition), FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation), DEFRA & Food Standard Agency (FSA)- United Kingdom;
Canadian Food Inspection Agency CFIA; PFIAA (Pet Food Industry Association of Australia), MPI (NZ Ministry for Primary Industries) and Pet food must comply with AS5812:2017 (Australian Standard for Manufacturing & Marketing of Pet Food) – Australia and New Zealand). Follow GSO (Gulf Standards Organization) standards + local authorities – Gulf Countries: Saudi, UAE etc. Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Affairs (MARA) regulates registration – China and Ministry of Environment & Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
- Testing and Validation
- Shelf-Life and Stability Testing: Product quality assurance and container durability under various storage environments.
- Palatability & digestibility studies (feeding trials).
- Nutritional adequacy testing (AAFCO feeding trials, FEDIAF guidelines).
- Safety testing → microbiology, toxins, contaminants.
- Sustainability integration (clean label, organic, recyclable packaging, carbon-neutral sourcing).
- Personalized nutrition solutions (custom diets, subscription meal kits, DNA-based formulations).
- Claims & labeling → nutrition adequacy statements, intended-use claims, veterinary diet restrictions.
- Export/import support → dossier preparation, NOC/FSSAI clearance, Codex references.
- Puppy / Kitten Nutrition
- Adult Maintenance Diets
- Senior Pet Support
At FRL, all our formulation meets AAFCO / FEDIAF nutritional profiles for that life stage.
- Small breed → high energy density, small kibble size.
- Large breed → controlled calcium/phosphorus to prevent bone disorders.
- Breed-focused → e.g., bulldogs (skin sensitivity), retrievers (joint care).
- Weight management (low calorie, high fiber).
- Skin & coat health (omega-3, biotin, zinc).
- Joint health (glucosamine, chondroitin, collagen).
- Digestive health (prebiotics, probiotics, highly digestible proteins).
- Renal support (low phosphorus, controlled protein).
- Hepatic support (low copper, controlled fat).
- Urinary care (formulated to control struvite/oxalate crystals).
- Diabetes management (high protein, low carb).
- Hypoallergenic (novel protein or hydrolyzed protein).
- Gastrointestinal support (easily digestible, fiber-modified).
- Longevity/healthy ageing diets (brain health, mobility, immune support).
- Performance/working dog diets (high energy, high fat, amino acids for endurance).
- Recovery diets (convalescence: high digestibility, nutrient-dense).
- Stress & anxiety diets (L-theanine, tryptophan, omega-3 for calming).
- Grain-free & gluten-free (pea, potato, lentil bases).
- Novel proteins (insect, algae, plant-based, exotic meats).
- Raw & freeze-dried diets (BARF – Biologically Appropriate Raw Food).
- Vegan & vegetarian (still niche but growing in Europe/US).
- Personalized diets (DNA-based, health condition-specific subscription meals).
Pet Food Product Delivery Formats We Develop
At Food Research Lab, we develop evidence-based pet food formulation development and nutrition solutions for all on-animal nutrition requirements. Our R&D team utilizes quality ingredients, meats, grains, veggies, fruits, and supplements to develop functional pet food products in a variety of formats.
| Format | Description & FRL Support |
| Dry Diets (Kibble / Extruded) | Custom formulation, flavor optimization, extrusion setup, packaging trials |
| Semi-Moist Diet (25-35%) | Palatable, chewable textures, moisture control |
| Wet Diets (Canned / Pouched, Trays) Moist Foods | Retort processing, ingredient suspension, preservation |
| Fresh / Cooked Foods | Human-grade recipes, cook-and-chill process design |
| Freeze-Dried & Air-Dried Diets | HPP, freeze-drying trials, microbial safety validation |
| Raw/ Fresh Diets |
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| Digestive Health Products | Prebiotic/probiotic integration, gut health-targeted trials |
| Veterinary / Prescription Formats | Condition-specific recipes (renal, hepatic, joint) Often developed in multiple formats for compliance:
Example: Renal diet → dry + wet combo to improve acceptance. |
| Nutraceuticals | Chews, powders, capsules, liquids with functional actives |
| Functional Treats & Supplement | Formats developed:
Growing fastest in functional segments (longevity, mobility, gut health).
|
| Novel & Emerging Formats |
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Regulatory Support
Regulatory compliance is an essential component of the pet food development services we provide at Food Research Lab to help ensure safety and market access, as well as consumer confidence. In addition, FRL provides a set of regulatory support services including:
- Ingredient Compliance as approved feed ingredients or GRAS: We provide ingredient (animal protein, additives, novel ingredients) , additive and supplement compliance at the point of use. Follow country regulations like FDA + AAFCO in the USA, EFSA + FEDIAF in European Union, FDA/DEFRA in UK, CFIDA (Schedules IV & V of the feed regulations), Food Products Standards & Additives Regulations, 2011 (Amended 2018), AS5812:2017 standards, GSO guidelines in Saudi, UAE and GCC Countries.
- Governance & Claims Assistance: We will review your nutrition claims and other disclosures for compliance with the regulations at every jurisdictional level (local, regional, national, international).
- Dietary safety & QA: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) or other Quality assurance policies.
- Document Preparation & Certification Support: We can also help you with your regulatory submissions and certifications, including notice for approvals, regulatory dossier preparation, etc.
- Regulatory Updates & Advice: We keep clients informed of changing compliance requirements and standards.
When compliance matters are addressed at the preliminary stages – you can be assured that FRL’s approach to your formulation has led you to a safe, 100% compliant product, ready for the market.
Country-Specific Guidance India (FSSAI)
FRL advises and provides regulatory support in several markets, helping clients assess country-specific regulations and expectations of consumers:
- Guide clients in understanding, and complying with AAFCO mainly associated with nutritional adequacy, compliance with standards for formulation, and ingredient definitions.
- Provide guidance on labeling and functional claims and market authorization for commercial distribution of their products.
- Help clients with understanding and complying with FDA regulations related to safety of ingredients, human-grade handling of pet food, and standards for good manufacturing practices.
- Assist clients with understanding and complying with AAFCO predominately related to nutritional adequacy, compliance to formulation standards, and ingredient definitions.
- Assist with guidelines on labeling and functional claims and market authorization for the commercial distribution of their products.
- Ensure compliance with EU 183/2005 Pet Food Regulation associated with food safety and manufacturing standards, restrictions to and uses of additives, labeling standards, and nutritional claims.
- Assistance to clients on veterinary diets, specialized formulations and functional treats to meet specifications set by the European market.
- Advisory services (various global markets; Asia-Pacific, Middle East and South America) to meet with local regulations, import requirements, and quality standards set by the market.
FRL’s market-specific advice allows brands to enter the global market with confidence, reducing regulatory risk, to enable market entry of their pet food products.
How We Do It – FRL Methodology
Market Research & Concept Development
Analyze consumer preferences, competitor products, and industry trends (e.g., clean-label, sustainability) to ensure market relevance.
Benchmarking & Reverse Engineering
Study existing products for ingredient functions, texture, digestibility, and perform a SWOT analysis to identify opportunities for differentiation.
Ingredient Selection & Sourcing
Select sustainable, clean-label ingredients (e.g., plant-based, insect proteins) that meet species-specific and health condition requirements.
Recipe Development & Formulation
Create species- and life stage-specific formulations that comply with AAFCO/FEDIAF nutrient profiles and regulatory standards.
Testing & Evaluation
Produce prototypes, evaluate texture, digestibility, stability, and conduct safety and efficacy testing via trials and sensory panels.
Production, Compliance, & Market Launch
Scale up for pilot production, ensure regulatory compliance, and support commercial launch with technical and marketing documentation.
Pet Food
Why Choose FRL
Food Research Lab delivers end-to-end pet food R&D and pilot manufacturing solutions, covering everything from concept to commercialization.
- Science-driven innovation: Evidence-based formulation for complete diets, functional diets, therapeutic veterinary diets, and nutraceutical-infused treats.
- Quality ingredient sourcing: Access to proteins (animal, plant, novel), specialty additives (probiotics, glucosamine, omega-3), and clean-label sustainable ingredients.
- Regulatory expertise: Global compliance with AAFCO (USA), FEDIAF/EFSA (EU), FSSAI (India), CFIA (Canada), PFIAA (Australia), and GCC/MARA (China).
- Integrated product development: From reverse engineering, prototype testing, palatability & digestibility trials, shelf-life validation, and packaging studies to pilot scale production.
- Commercial readiness: Support for scale-up, labeling & claims substantiation, import/export dossiers, and technical marketing.
With FRL, brands can be confident in designing and launching safe, compliant, innovative, and high-performing pet foods that meet market trends (longevity, sustainability, clean label, grain-free, novel proteins, personalized nutrition).
Ingredient Types We Can Work With
- Animal-based: Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Turkey, Fish (Tuna, Salmon, Whitefish), Duck, Venison, Rabbit, Eggs.
- Plant-based & Novel Proteins: Pea protein, Soy protein isolate, Lentils, Chickpeas, Quinoa.
- Alternative Proteins: Insect protein (black soldier fly, mealworm), Algae protein.
- Cereal sources: Corn, Rice, Oats, Barley.
- Root crops: Potatoes, Sweet potatoes.
- Vegetables & fiber: Carrots, Pumpkin, Peas, Beet pulp, Chicory root (prebiotic).
- Animal fats: Chicken fat, Fish oil.
- Plant-based oils: Flaxseed oil, Safflower oil, Sunflower oil, Coconut oil, Canola oil.
- Specialty oils: MCT oil (brain health/longevity).
- Vitamins: A, B-complex, C, D, E, K.
- Minerals: Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Iodine.
- Essential amino sulfonic acid: Taurine (critical for cats).
- Joint health: Glucosamine, Chondroitin, Collagen, MSM.
- Digestive health: Probiotics (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus), Prebiotics (FOS, MOS, Inulin).
- Immune & longevity: Omega-3 DHA/EPA, L-carnitine, CoQ10, Antioxidants (polyphenols, selenium, Vitamin E).
- Herbal & botanical extracts: Turmeric, Green tea, Chamomile, Ashwagandha.
- Flavor enhancers: Liver digest, yeast extract.
- Enzymes: Protease, Amylase, Lipase.
- Natural preservatives: Mixed tocopherols, Ascorbic acid, Rosemary extract.
- Natural colorants: Beet powder, Caramel, Paprika oleoresin.
- Binders & texturizers: Gums (xanthan, guar), Gelatin, Agar, Carrageenan, Modified starches.
- Sustainable proteins: Insect meal, single-cell proteins, algae-based proteins.
- Plant-based & vegan alternatives for niche markets.
- Functional fibers: Psyllium husk, resistant starch, retrograded starch.
- Advanced nutraceuticals: Postbiotics, synbiotics, bioactive peptides.
- Clean-label solutions: Organic-certified ingredients, non-GMO, allergen-free options.
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Food Research Lab strives for excellence in new Food, Beverage and Nutraceutical Product Research and Development by offering cutting edge scientific analysis and expertise.