Targeted Pet Treats

to manage risks,meet any new regulations, and allow for continuous improvement of its food safety programs Going forward Austin says that TPT intends to be the manufacturer of choice for the canine dental care market.“Dental care for dogs has been an issue for years, and we are seeing a lot of inter- est frommany brands in producing a dog dental treat,”Austin reports. In fact, some 76 percent of dogs suffer from some level of dental disease, and consumers are becoming increasingly aware that poor oral health in their dogs can be a sign of other, more significant, health issues.The dental products category is growing at double-digit rates yearly, and is expected to reach $1 billion by 2020.“It’s an issue for pet owners and a lot of brands out there are looking to solve it with a treat–either for their dog’s teeth or their breath,”Austin notes.“We’re making products to eliminate plaque and tartar as well as freshen breath.” “And we’re still pursuing cat treats,”he adds.“We have a customer that’s trying something a little bit different. Cat dental is still an issue and an un- tapped market that is sure to have the potential to help a lot of cat owners with their pets. Cats typically like to lickmore than they chew, so it may be that the chemical that we put in the product is what will effectively reduce the amount of plaque and tartar.We haven’t nailed it yet; it’s in develop- ment and we’re still working on that project.” Over the last two years,TPT has invested $7mil- GregoryAustin,President