Dog treat made from cultivated meat on sale in UK in ‘world first'
A dog treat made from cultivated meat has gone on sale at Pets at Home in a move the retailer claims is a world first.
The treat, called Chick Bites, is made from plant-based ingredients combined with cultivated meat, which is produced by growing cells and does not require the raising or slaughter of animals.
Meatly said the chicken was produced from a single sample of cells taken from one chicken egg, from which enough cultivated meat could be produced to feed pets 'forever'.
It said the meat was 'just as tasty and nutritious as traditional chicken breast', and contained all the essential amino acids, critical fatty acids, minerals and vitamins needed for pet health.
In July, the UK became the first country in Europe to back cultivated meat for use in pet food, after chicken produced by the firm Meatly was approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of pet food and will be a game-changer for the industry
Anja Madsen, Pets at Home chief operating officer
Pets at Home said it believed it was the first company in the world to sell cultivated meat for pet food on sale.
A limited release of Chick Bites have gone on sale at Pets at Home in Brentford, London.
The retailer, which has invested in Meatly, said the snack was a nutritious, healthy and sustainable alternative to traditional dog treats.
Meatly said it planned to raise funds to expand production and make its chicken more broadly available in the next three to five years, with further collaborations planned with The Pack, which provided the plant-based ingredients, and Pets at Home.
Meatly founding chief executive Owen Ensor said: 'We're incredibly excited to introduce cultivated meat to the pet world.
'Just two years ago this felt like a moon shot. Today we take off. It's a giant leap forward, toward a significant market for meat which is healthy, sustainable and kind to our planet and other animals.'
Pets at Home chief operating officer Anja Madsen said: 'We are thrilled to be working with Owen and the team to provide cultivated meat pet food products to our customers for the first time in the world.
'This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of pet food and will be a game-changer for the industry.'
Damien Clarkson, chief executive of The Pack, said: 'The launch of our Chick Bites treats is a watershed moment for the pet food industry.
'Cultivated meat offers a tasty, low-carbon and healthy protein source which has the potential to eliminate farmed animals from the pet food industry.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
01-06-2025
- BBC News
Northampton retail park fire sees three arrested
Three people have been arrested after a major fire broke out inside a store at a retail emergency services were called to the Dunelm store at the St James Retail Park in Northampton off Towcester Road just after 15:00 BST on from social media showed the fire has spread into the next door Pets at Home store which had been evacuated of staff and animals. Det Ch Insp Andrew Tuff of Northamptonshire Police said the force believed the fire had been started deliberately with the three arrested on suspicion of arson. "At the present time, we believe this fire to have been started deliberately and throughout the day, have made a number of fast-paced enquiries which has led to these three arrests," he explained."However, I now want to appeal to the public for any information which could help our investigation. If you were in, or near, the Dunelm store this afternoon and saw anything suspicious, please contact us."I am particularly interested in speaking to a man who allegedly saw people setting fires in the Dunelm toilets a short time before the incident was reported." The officer added that the incident had "not only caused significant damage and disruption", but would have a "serious effect" on Dunelm staff and surrounding urged anyone with information to come Fire and Rescue Service said on Saturday night crews would remain at the scene throughout the night as they continued to tackle the Road remains closed in both directions from the St Peter's Way roundabout to the Shell Garage at the retail park are also expected to remain closed. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Pandemic boom in demand for puppies and kittens 'is over', says Pets at Home boss
The boss of Pets At Home has said that a pandemic boom in demand for puppies and kittens is over as the company warned weak demand is not expected to recover soon. Chief executive Lyssa McGowan pointed to 'normalising levels of new pet ownership' after a 'massive' Covid-driven increase faded. This 'feels like a real headwind' for the FTSE 250 business as puppy and kitten owners tend to 'spend a lot of money in retail in the first year,' McGowan added. The number of new cat and dog owners is not growing at such a rapid rate. 'We are lapping years of boom with – not quite bust – but much lower growth and stabilisation,' she said. Pets At Home reported revenues little changed at £1.48billion while profits rose 14 per cent to £121million, as it warned consumer confidence would continue to be 'subdued' this year. But McGowan said she was hopeful the group would be able to boost sales of products for ageing pets, such as salmon oil or supplements which help with aching joints. And a record number of owners signed up to its loyalty scheme, with members rising 5 per cent to 8.2million. Labour's Budget has also piled £18million in annual costs onto the business, contributing to an 11 per cent decline in its share price since the October statement. Higher costs include National Insurance Contributions and minimum wage increases, which McGowan described as 'significant and unexpected'. In response, the business is increasing its use of automation and artificial intelligence across its 450 stores and distribution hubs. McGowan would not be drawn on whether this would mean fewer jobs. And the chief executive warned that the looming threat of a cyber attack was now 'the new normal' after high-profile episodes involving retailers such as Marks and Spencer. 'Of course it concerns me, it would concern every retail chief executive in the UK and world right now,' she said. 'Clearly there has been a focus on this industry and we are extremely vigilant. I don't think it is going away.' Retail sales slumped 1.8 per cent to £1.3billion for the year to March 27. In contrast, its veterinary services division saw sales improve by 16.8 per cent to £175million. McGowan also admitted that the group faced 'ongoing uncertainty' from an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into the veterinary sector.
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Scotsman
Thames Water record 104.5m fine
From Thames Water's record fine and Pets at Home's vet division overtaking retail, to Willmott Dixon's profit rebound, falling retail confidence, and a warning from Britain's biggest bioethanol plant - here are today's top UK business stories. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Thames Water has been hit with a record £104.5 million fine for sewage failures, plus £18.2 million for breaking dividend rules. Regulator Ofwat says the penalty will be paid by the company and its investors - not customers. It follows Ofwat's biggest ever probe into how sewage works and networks are run. Pets at Home's vet division overtakes retail: More Business in Brief Pets at Home has posted flat revenue, with retail and vet services pulling in opposite directions. Retail profit fell 16.6 per cent to £72.9 million, while vet profit surged 23.3% to £75.9 million - overtaking retail for the first time. Vet revenue now makes up a third of the business. Retail sales dropped nearly two per cent, as weak footfall and consumer pressures continue to bite. Pets at Home has posted flat revenue, with retail and vet services pulling in opposite directions. | Getty Images Retailers across the board are bracing for tough times, with plans to raise prices, cut jobs and slash investment. A CBI survey shows sector confidence has dropped faster than at any point since the pandemic. Rising costs from tax hikes and a higher minimum wage are squeezing businesses. Willmott Dixon is back in profit, reporting £46.8 million before tax after a £14.4 million loss last year. The turnaround follows recoveries from cladding-related costs and a steady £1.2 billion turnover. The construction firm says it's entering the new financial year with strong momentum. The UK's biggest bioethanol plant says it could shut down due to the latest UK-US trade deal. Hull-based Vivergo Fuels warns the removal of a key tariff on US ethanol is the 'final blow'. It says British producers can't compete with subsidised US imports. Vivergo is urging the Government to step in and fix what it calls 'regulatory failures'. And Growth investor BGF has pledged £100 million to support Welsh businesses. It's part of a wider £3 billion UK commitment over the next five years. BGF has already invested £47 million in Wales since 2011. It's also backing female-led firms, with £300 million earmarked across the UK.
