{"id":6209,"date":"2025-11-24T15:27:26","date_gmt":"2025-11-24T21:27:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/?page_id=6209"},"modified":"2026-01-13T15:10:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T21:10:03","slug":"agenda-test","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Agenda"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”Hero Section” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(140,31,34,0.8) 0%|rgba(140,31,33,0) 60%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/petfood-pattern.jpg” background_size=”contain” background_position=”top_center” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”22px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||3px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||0px||false|false” background_color_tablet=”gcid-db5f5762-95a3-40d2-99a8-17d1da92927b” background_color_phone=”gcid-db5f5762-95a3-40d2-99a8-17d1da92927b” background_last_edited=”on|desktop” background_enable_color_tablet=”on” background_enable_color_phone=”on” use_background_color_gradient_tablet=”on” use_background_color_gradient_phone=”on” background_color_gradient_direction_tablet=”180deg” background_color_gradient_stops_tablet=”rgba(140,31,34,0.8) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0) 73%” background_color_gradient_stops_phone=”rgba(140,31,34,0.8) 0%|rgba(0,0,0,0) 83%” parallax_tablet=”off” parallax_phone=”off” background_size_tablet=”cover” background_size_phone=”contain” background_position_tablet=”top_center” background_position_phone=”top_center” background_horizontal_offset_tablet=”26%” background_horizontal_offset_phone=”0%” background_vertical_offset_tablet=”0%” background_vertical_offset_phone=”0%” background_enable_mask_style_tablet=”off” background_enable_mask_style_phone=”off” background_mask_transform_tablet=”flip_vertical|rotate_90_degree|flip_horizontal” background_mask_transform_phone=”rotate_90_degree|flip_horizontal|invert” background_mask_aspect_ratio_tablet=”square” background_mask_aspect_ratio_phone=”landscape” background_mask_size_phone=”stretch” background_mask_width_phone=”450px” background_mask_height_phone=”450px” background_mask_position_tablet=”center_left” background_mask_position_phone=”bottom_right” background_mask_horizontal_offset_phone=”90%” background_mask_vertical_offset_phone=”99%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-0ce76a54-c411-4d0a-a601-1efd9cb354b1%22:%91%22button_text_color%22,%22button_border_color__hover%22,%22button_bg_color__hover%22,%22button_border_color%22%93,%22gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e%22:%91%22button_bg_color%22,%22button_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_mask_color%22%93,%22gcid-bddfe36e-b358-4570-a851-1059a7f7643e%22:%91%22header_text_color%22%93,%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22background_mask_color%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-db5f5762-95a3-40d2-99a8-17d1da92927b%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-d80d7e09-9ab3-42a6-9158-59f4c898eef2%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}” background__hover_enabled=”off|hover”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”vertical-aligm” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”1600px” module_alignment=”center” min_height=”300px” custom_margin=”|191px||auto||” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding_tablet=”|10%||10%|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”|10%||10%|false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_free_form=”.selector {|| align-self: center;||}” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_font_size=”1em” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#ffd191″ header_font_size=”280%” header_letter_spacing=”0em” header_line_height=”0.95em” header_2_font=”|||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_2_font_size=”1.1em” header_2_letter_spacing=”-0.04em” header_2_line_height=”0.97em” min_height=”74.6px” custom_margin=”||-13px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” header_font_size_tablet=”2.4em” header_font_size_phone=”2em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-69d4942d-af8a-4144-a67b-98ccc3a4348f%22:%91%22border_color_left%22,%22border_color_left%22%93}”]<\/p>\n

Petfood Forum 2026<\/h2>\n

Agenda<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”gcid-0ce76a54-c411-4d0a-a601-1efd9cb354b1″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”4px” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”33%” module_alignment=”left” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true|false” custom_padding=”1em||1em||true|false” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-0ce76a54-c411-4d0a-a601-1efd9cb354b1%22:%91%22color%22%93}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”rgba(222,195,185,0.25)” background_enable_image=”off” background_blend=”color” background_enable_mask_style=”on” background_mask_style=”honeycomb” background_mask_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.35)” background_mask_transform=”rotate_90_degree|invert|flip_vertical” background_mask_aspect_ratio=”square” background_mask_size=”cover” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”|5%||5%|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”Agenda” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”100%” width_last_edited=”on|tablet” max_width=”1600px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||2em||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||1em||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” pac_drh_column_numbers_tablet=”pac_drh_tab_col_one” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-db5f5762-95a3-40d2-99a8-17d1da92927b%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-611a5e06-1945-46ed-921a-19456edf12f6%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text (Agenda Details)” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”|300|||||||” text_font_size=”1.2em” ul_text_color=”gcid-db5f5762-95a3-40d2-99a8-17d1da92927b” header_font=”|600||on|||||” header_font_size=”3em” header_letter_spacing=”0em” header_2_font=”|600||on|||||” header_2_text_align=”left” header_2_text_color=”#8c1f21″ header_2_font_size=”2.2em” header_2_letter_spacing=”-0.04em” header_2_line_height=”0.97em” custom_margin=”||27px|||” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-69d4942d-af8a-4144-a67b-98ccc3a4348f%22:%91%22border_color_left%22,%22border_color_left%22%93,%22gcid-db5f5762-95a3-40d2-99a8-17d1da92927b%22:%91%22ul_text_color%22%93}”]<\/p>\n

Agenda Details<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_tabs active_tab_background_color=”gcid-heading-color” inactive_tab_background_color=”gcid-d5e9010f-34b8-49e9-afee-48227f944f94″ active_tab_text_color=”#FFFFFF” admin_label=”Tabs” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” tab_text_color=”#FFFFFF” tab_font=”|600||on|||||” tab_font_size=”1.2em” background_enable_color=”off” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_tabs_controls=”background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);” custom_css_tab=”border-top-left-radius: 10px;||border-top-right-radius: 10px;||padding: 8px 12px;||margin: 2px;||display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;” border_width_all=”0px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22active_tab_background_color%22%93,%22gcid-bddfe36e-b358-4570-a851-1059a7f7643e%22:%91%22box_shadow_color%22%93,%22gcid-8d977fb9-3d36-485c-a990-5da96c320df2%22:%91%22border_color_all__hover%22%93,%22gcid-d5e9010f-34b8-49e9-afee-48227f944f94%22:%91%22inactive_tab_background_color%22%93,%22gcid-secondary-color%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_tab title=”Apr 27″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” tab_font=”|600||on|||||” background_color=”gcid-heading-color” background_enable_image=”off” background_blend=”multiply” background_enable_pattern_style=”on” background_pattern_style=”inverted-chevrons-2″ background_pattern_color=”rgba(122,11,31,0.45)” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_free_form=”#agenda table {|| border-collapse: collapse;|| width: 100%;||}||||@media all and (min-width: 981px) {|| #agenda .dateCol {|| width: 200px||}||}||||@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 980px) {||#agenda .dateCol {|| width: 29%;||}||}||||#agenda {|| font-size: 1em;|| font-weight:normal;||}||||#agenda #heading {|| font-size: 1.3em;|| color: white;|| background-color: #005F73;|| border: 1px solid #005F73;|| font-weight:600;|| text-transform: uppercase;||}||||#agenda .eventtitle {|| font-size: 1.2em;|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #8c1f21;||}||||#agenda .eventname {|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #005F73;||}||||#agenda .eventdescription {|| font-size: 0.9em;|| font-weight: 400;|| line-height: 1.6;|| color: #333;||}||||#agenda .eventdate {|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #005F73;|| text-transform: uppercase;||}||||#agenda .eventtime {|| font-size: 0.9em;|| font-weight: 400;|| line-height: 1.6;|| color: #005F73;|| text-transform: lowercase;||}||||#agenda .css-vsf5of {|| font-weight: normal;||} ||||#agenda td {|| padding: 20px;||}||||.entry-content ul li{|| margin-top: 20px;||}||||#agenda tr:nth-child(even) {background-color: #fdfaf8; border-left: 1px solid #fdfaf8; border-right: 1px solid #fdfaf8; border-bottom: none;}||#agenda tr:nth-child(odd) {background-color: #ffffff; border-left: 1px solid #ffffff; border-right: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: none;}||||.entry-content tr td {|| border-top: 1px solid #005F73;||}||||@media screen and (max-width:767px){||tr#heading {|| display: none;||}|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| padding-right: 0px;||}||#agenda tr td {|| min-width: 120px;||}||tr#heading {|| display: none !important;||}|| table#agenda tr {|| display: flex;|| flex-wrap: wrap;||}|| #agenda td {|| padding: 15px;||}|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| padding-top: 25px;|| padding-bottom: 3px;|| }|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| flex: 100%;||}|| #agenda tr td:last-child {|| padding-top: 0px;|| padding-bottom: 25px;||}|| #agenda tr:nth-child(even) td:last-child {|| border-bottom: 1px solid #005F73;||}|| .entry-content tr td {|| border-top: none;||}||}” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-bddfe36e-b358-4570-a851-1059a7f7643e%22:%91%22box_shadow_color%22%93,%22gcid-8d977fb9-3d36-485c-a990-5da96c320df2%22:%91%22border_color_all__hover%22%93}” sticky_enabled=”0″]
Date\/Time<\/td>Title<\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials registration\/check-in with light breakfast<\/div>
KCCC Lobby 2300<\/div>
Sponsored by<\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials opening session: Opportunities and challenges for pet food in today\u2019s global trade environment<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Dana Waters, director of international affairs, Pet Food Institute, explains how the U.S. federal government\u2019s commitment to reshape the global trading system through resetting trade balances and establishing reciprocal tariff rates on U.S. trading partners creates direct implications for the pet food industry. Stakeholders are examining whether these tariffs have led to trade agreements delivering tangible benefits to U.S. pet food manufacturers or whether they have introduced new barriers. Waters discusses how this evolving trade environment presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in relation to supply chain stability and the continued importation of critical ingredients necessary for pet food production. She provides understanding of how U.S. trade policies and tariffs affect global markets, help businesses be able to evaluate impacts on pet food supply chains and ingredient access, and develop strategies to manage risks and seize opportunities.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum exhibitor move-in<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum registration<\/div>
KCCC Lobby 2300<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
8:45 AM - 10:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: From nutritionist to operator: AI as your trusted copilot<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Carmen Sook, director of customer solutions, Bestmix Software, explores how AI can be a copilot that helps formulators and operators work together through shared, transparent insights. Despite advanced automation and formulation software, quality and efficiency often still depend on who happens to be on shift. This human factor, while valuable, introduces bias and variability that modern technology should help us overcome. Sook explains how AI can turn a company\u2019s own production data, a true goldmine of untapped knowledge, into actionable insights that reduce dependency on individuals and stabilize quality across shifts and recipes. She shares learnings from early implementations showing how AI-driven analytics detect and predict process deviations before they affect product quality, provide operators with real-time recommendations to optimize performance, feed production intelligence back into formulation to continuously improve recipes and build trust in data-driven decision-making while reducing \u201cformulator bias.\u201d The future of pet food manufacturing doesn\u2019t replace expertise but enhances it.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials coffee break<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215 foyer<\/div>
Sponsored by<\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: Addressing formulation quality and risk management in pet food<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Annette Lundeen, head of product, Datacor Animal Nutrition, discusses how to implement a quality control program to ensure quality and minimize risk of error using techniques and tools available to nutritionists within formulation software, addressing day-to-day realities such as variability of ingredient quality, disruptions in supply chains and difficulties in production. She introduces new technologies that formalize expert knowledge and automate the risk assessment process with the aim of increasing efficiency, reliability and accuracy, recognizing that inherent risks exist each time a new product is developed or a product\u2019s recipe is updated. Modern formulation systems help pet food companies cost-effectively manufacture the right products with the right quality in the right way, avoiding mistakes that carry risk of huge negative impact on animal health, company reputation and finances.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Supported by Midwest Labs<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials lunch<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>
Sponsored by<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: How ingredient partnerships power efficiency, innovation and food safety in pet food manufacturing<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Craig Grantham, director of business development; Jodi McCarthy, president; and Kyle Wiley, logistics and procurement manager, Pet Food Solutions, explain that efficiency doesn\u2019t just happen on the plant floor; it begins with partnership. When ingredient suppliers and pet food manufacturers move beyond a transactional mindset and work together as true partners, the results are measurable: reduced downtime, lower inventories, faster research and development cycles and more consistent product quality. These experts explore how collaboration between ingredient suppliers and manufacturers streamlines operations and sparks new ideas that benefit both businesses. In addition, it leads to faster testing and smarter ingredient use; supply chain efficiency through transparent forecasting and joint planning that minimize inventory strain; food safety as a shared mission through joint verification and traceability efforts; and mutual accountability through aligned KPIs.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Supported by ProMach<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
AAFCO SRIS Introductory Workshop<\/div>
KCCC Room 2502<\/div>

AAFCO invites participants to join us for a 2-hour workshop to discuss the new Scientific Review for Ingredient Submission (SRIS) pathway. The afternoon workshop will explore the new partnership with AAFCO and Kansas State University Olathe, and dive into the process to bring new feed ingredients to market through AAFCO.<\/p>

Separate registration required. <\/span>Learn more<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: The nexus of consistency and innovation in pet food manufacturing<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Gregory Daniel, strategic industry advisor for pet food\/treats and protein, Haskell Co., presents a practical framework for achieving both differentiation and consistency in pet food production, recognizing that delivering a truly unique and consistently high-quality pet food product requires understanding the physical and chemical transformations inherent in the process. Daniel explores frontier processing techniques for differentiation through lessons from adjacent industries that can be adapted to pet food, plus strategic facility design for product innovation through integrating innovation goals early in facility planning. Gain actionable insights for optimizing current operations and designing future-ready facilities capable of producing the next generation of high-performing, differentiated pet nutrition products.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Supported by Parker Freeze Dry<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: Group presentations<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials mixer<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215 foyer<\/div>
Sponsored by Parker Freeze Dry<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum and Petfood Essentials Opening reception<\/div>
KC Live! at Power & Light District<\/div>

Sponsored by Coperion, Extru-Tech,  Mountaire, MGB and Wenger<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/table>[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Apr 28″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-heading-color” background_enable_image=”off” background_blend=”multiply” background_enable_pattern_style=”on” background_pattern_style=”inverted-chevrons-2″ background_pattern_color=”rgba(122,11,31,0.45)” background_pattern_transform=”invert” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_free_form=”#agenda table {|| border-collapse: collapse;|| width: 100%;||}||||@media all and (min-width: 981px) {|| #agenda .dateCol {|| width: 200px||}||}||||@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 980px) {||#agenda .dateCol {|| width: 29%;||}||}||||#agenda {|| font-size: 1em;|| font-weight:normal;||}||||#agenda #heading {|| font-size: 1.3em;|| color: white;|| background-color: #005F73;|| border: 1px solid #005F73;|| font-weight:600;|| text-transform: uppercase;||}||||#agenda .eventtitle {|| font-size: 1.2em;|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #8c1f21;||}||||#agenda .eventname {|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #005F73;||}||||#agenda .eventdescription {|| font-size: 0.9em;|| font-weight: 400;|| line-height: 1.6;|| color: #333;||}||||#agenda .eventdate {|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #005F73;|| text-transform: uppercase;||}||||#agenda .eventtime {|| font-size: 0.9em;|| font-weight: 400;|| line-height: 1.6;|| color: #005F73;|| text-transform: lowercase;||}||||#agenda .css-vsf5of {|| font-weight: normal;||} ||||#agenda td {|| padding: 20px;||}||||.entry-content ul li{|| margin-top: 20px;||}||||#agenda tr:nth-child(even) {background-color: #fdfaf8; border-left: 1px solid #fdfaf8; border-right: 1px solid #fdfaf8; border-bottom: none;}||#agenda tr:nth-child(odd) {background-color: #ffffff; border-left: 1px solid #ffffff; border-right: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: none;}||||.entry-content tr td {|| border-top: 1px solid #005F73;||}||||@media screen and (max-width:767px){||tr#heading {|| display: none;||}|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| padding-right: 0px;||}||#agenda tr td {|| min-width: 120px;||}||tr#heading {|| display: none !important;||}|| table#agenda tr {|| display: flex;|| flex-wrap: wrap;||}|| #agenda td {|| padding: 15px;||}|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| padding-top: 25px;|| padding-bottom: 3px;|| }|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| flex: 100%;||}|| #agenda tr td:last-child {|| padding-top: 0px;|| padding-bottom: 25px;||}|| #agenda tr:nth-child(even) td:last-child {|| border-bottom: 1px solid #005F73;||}|| .entry-content tr td {|| border-top: none;||}||}” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-bddfe36e-b358-4570-a851-1059a7f7643e%22:%91%22box_shadow_color%22%93,%22gcid-8d977fb9-3d36-485c-a990-5da96c320df2%22:%91%22border_color_all__hover%22%93}” sticky_enabled=”0″]
Date\/Time<\/td>Title<\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Breakfast<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Sponsored by Symrise<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Registration<\/div>
KCCC Lobby 2300<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Welcome and opening keynote: Next-gen premium: The consumer trends rewriting pet food innovation<\/div>
KCCC Room 3501<\/div>
Kevin Ryan, Ph.D., CEO, Malachite Strategy and Research, covers the rapidly changing consumer trends that are redefining what \u201cpremium\u201d means in pet food and reshaping how innovation must respond. No longer defined by price or ingredient lists alone, premiumization now reflects shifting expectations around purpose, experience and culture. Ryan explores how forces from human food and wellness (from functional nutrition to values-driven storytelling) are reshaping what consumers want for their pets, and what innovation must look like in 2026 and beyond. Gain a fresh perspective on premiumization that extends beyond ingredients into emotion, experience and values; insight into the human food and wellness shifts most likely to cross over into the pet category; examples from beauty, beverage and luxury retail that can inspire the next wave of pet food innovation; and actionable ways to infuse the new rules of premium into your innovation pipeline.<\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Exhibit hall open<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

View the floor plan<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Visiting pet charities<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM<\/div><\/td>
Coffee break<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

Sponsored by Mondi<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:20 AM - 12:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum Tech Talks<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage<\/div>

Stage sponsored by Symrise

View the full schedule here<\/a> & see who will be presenting\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:45 AM - 12:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum Student Program research presentations<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Future of Pet Food Pavilion<\/div>

Student Program sponsored by Coperion, Extru-Tech and Wenger<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Lunch<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
Sponsored by Peel Plastics<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
12:45 PM - 1:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Live Trending: Pet Food podcast interview<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage<\/div>

Join Lindsay Beaton, editor of Petfood Industry magazine and host of the popular industry podcast, Trending: Pet Food, as she conducts a live episode with experts on sustainability in pet food.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Alternative and sustainable pet foods: 1:30-2:35 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2503<\/div>
  • Flexible feeding: Alternative pet foods, feeding opportunities and value propositions<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Shannon Landry, research director for pet, Packaged Facts, provides consumer insights on the usage of alternative format pet foods such as fresh and freeze dried as \ufffd\ufffd\ufffdadd-ons\u201d or supplements to kibble or wet pet food. She features Packaged Facts data examining how pet owners use pricier formats to add interest and variety to traditional pet food diets, plus the meaning of value to pet food shoppers. Insights touch on pet food spending, pet owner attitudes about traditional pet food formats and novel proteins, and the pet\/owner dynamic, demonstrating how and why owners explore ways to introduce variety into their pets\u2019 standard diets and what factors impact pet food choice.<\/p>

    • Hidden inputs, real savings: Turning overlooked ingredients into margin-positive freeze-dried products<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

      Sean Jones, director of sales, Glacial Freeze Dry, introduces a comprehensive framework for the systematic reallocation of underutilized raw materials and nonstandard inputs embedded within existing supply chain infrastructures into premium freeze-dried pet food products. Extending beyond conventional examples such as organ meats and bone broths to emphasize broader, often untapped potential, the approach enhances product differentiation and nutritional value while contributing to improved margin performance and operational efficiency. It also addresses material identification and suitability, cost modeling for freeze-dried applications and a pilot-scale validation framework.<\/p>

      • Bridging batch and continuous operations in freeze dried pet food manufacturing<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Matt Graunke, freeze dry sales executive, Parker Freeze Dry, presents an in-depth approach to optimizing freeze-dried pet food manufacturing through automation, intelligent scheduling and advanced refrigeration design, as manufacturers face the challenge of integrating batch-based freeze-drying into production environments dominated by continuous operations. He offers actionable insights into designing and operating freeze-dried pet food facilities that balance batch processing precision with continuous production efficiency.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Pet food regulatory, safety and technology: 1:30-2:35 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2504<\/div>
  • The changing U.S. regulatory landscape for pet food<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

    Dana Brooks, former CEO and president, Pet Food Institute, examines the U.S. federal administration\u2019s Make America Healthy Again initiative and its expected significant ripple effects for pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers. Increased scrutiny of the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) review process raises questions about whether ingredient suppliers will be able to continue relying on self-GRAS determinations or GRAS notifications as pathways for product approval. The Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine\u2019s review of both the GRAS and food additive petition processes may be influenced by this initiative, potentially altering approval mechanisms and timelines that could ultimately impact the speed at which new pet food products and ingredients reach the marketplace.<\/p>

    • Natural antimicrobial strategies for fungal control and shelf-life extension in semi-moist kibble<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Charlie Connolly, business development manager, Videka, offers a novel approach to microbial control in pet food, evaluating the efficacy of a natural antimicrobial strategy applied to semi-moist kibbles in response to growing consumer demand for clean label and sustainable products. He explains microbial spoilage challenges in pet food and their impact on shelf-life and consumer trust, and assesses the impact of natural antimicrobials on pet food palatability through panel testing. The findings suggest such natural blends provide effective microbial control while maintaining product quality and consumer acceptance.<\/p>

      • Freeze-dried pet foods: Unique oxidation risks and mitigation approaches<\/span> in growing category<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Min Hu, Ph.D., technical fellow, Rangen, presents the unique oxidative stability challenges associated with freeze-dried pet food and treats, a rapidly growing category valued for high nutrient retention and clean-label positioning. Unlike traditional pet food processing methods, freeze drying is a low-temperature dehydration process that preserves sensitive nutrients but also retains oxidizable substrates, leaving products susceptible to lipid oxidation if not adequately protected. Effective oxidation prevention relies on proactive stabilization of raw materials through incorporating antioxidants at the raw material stage, strategic selection of antioxidants suited for low-fat, low-moisture environments and implementation of oxygen-limiting packaging technologies.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Pet nutrition and ingredient research: 1:30-2:35 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2505<\/div>
  • Calming canines naturally: A gut-brain axis approach using a <\/span>Lactobacillus<\/span><\/span> postbiotic<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Jeffrey Alix, global director of business development for pet food, and Erik Eckhardt, Ph.D., principal scientist, dsm-firmenich, share research on a dual Lactobacillus<\/span> postbiotic designed to reduce anxiety-related behaviors in dogs through gut-brain axis modulation. The ingredient, composed of heat-inactivated bacterial cells and fermentation metabolites from two proprietary microorganisms, contains GABA, a neurotransmitter associated with calming effects. Citing controlled studies, Alix and Eckhardt cover the science behind its benefits, formulation potential and market relevance as a natural calming solution.<\/p>

    • Real-world efficacy of a botanical blend for canine behavioral support in home settings<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

      Jessica Jarett, Ph.D., principal scientist for pet, Cargill, covers results of a study on the impact of a novel botanical blend administered as a daily soft chew on behavior in pet dogs living in home environments. In a controlled trial involving 75 healthy dogs, significant improvements were observed in dog-directed fear with additional trends toward improvement in stranger-directed aggression, aggression when food is taken away, inappropriate urination and excitability compared to placebo. The research provides new evidence for the application of botanical blends in pet supplement formulations for daily behavioral support and demonstrates the value of combining quantitative behavioral data with qualitative insights from pet owners.<\/p>

      • Vitamins and amino acids: Strategic insights into the pet food supply chain and potential disruption<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Lara Moody, executive director, Institute for Feed Education and Research, offers findings from a strategic assessment of vitamin and amino acid supply and demand, import and export, and impact on livestock and poultry production with implications for the pet food supply chain. An estimated 78% of total vitamin imports to the U.S. come directly from China, with some individual vitamins as high as 100%, and U.S. and European vitamin manufacturers often depend on key raw materials sourced from China. The same holds true for amino acids, creating overwhelming dependency on a single country for nutrients vital to the food supply and U.S. economy.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Today\u2019s pet food market: 1:30-2:35 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2502<\/div>
  • From table to bowl: How pet owners\u2019 eating habits influence what they feed their pets<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Tiffany Fiore, senior product manager, and Susan Gallager, senior regulatory analyst, McCormick\/FONA, share insights about how pet owners currently feed their pets and the links between feeding behavior and personal nutrition choices. Drawing from primary consumer research and McCormick\u2019s consumer segmentation framework, the presentation covers factors influencing pet food and treat purchases; attitudes toward formats like fresh food, raw food, toppers and supplements; and pet owners\u2019 understanding of nutrition labels and claims (balanced against existing regulations).<\/p>

    • The AI marketing advantage: Measure first, scale fast in pet food<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Jolanta Smulski, founder, Pet Pro Media, addresses the significant gap between AI adoption priority and implementation in pet food marketing. She provides a measurement-first framework solving three key barriers: the measurement gap preventing justification of AI expansion beyond experimental use, planning paralysis keeping businesses in evaluation mode and the scaling challenge limiting them to individual or small-team implementation. The framework establishes measurement infrastructure by defining core marketing metrics before adopting AI tools, deploys test-learn-scale cycles through structured deployment identifying high-impact applications and scales to organizational capability by converting measurement data into training curriculum and repeatable processes.<\/p>

      • What\u2019s next in cat trends? The future of feline food, treats and supplements<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Nicole Hill, vice president of strategy and innovation, MarketPlace, explores emerging and sustaining consumer trends influencing the future of cat food, treat and supplement segments through future-facing consumer data and market insights from Nextin Research. Grounded in new surveys of more than 1,000 cat owners, the presentation covers owner psychographics, core motivators and compelling need-states, demand-driving attributes and ingredients, product format opportunities and purchase influences, and retail channel behaviors. From protein sources and premiumization trends to product attributes and preferred formats, Hill spotlights where the category has room to grow and evolve, with insights for innovation and marketing strategies.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
2:35 PM - 3:10 PM<\/div><\/td>
Coffee break<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

Sponsored by Mondi<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Alternative and sustainable pet foods: 3:10-4:15 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2503<\/div>
  • Advancing shelf-life and safety in cooked and raw high-moisture pet foods with clean-label innovation<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

    Jasmine Kataria, Ph.D., senior scientist, Kerry, explains how high-moisture pet foods, particularly raw and cooked formats, represent one of the fastest expanding categories in today\u2019s pet food market, driven by consumer preference for fresh, minimally processed diets made with recognizable and transparent ingredients. However, these products present notable challenges due to their elevated water activity, highlighting the need for innovative preservation strategies that maintain safety and quality without compromising clean-label expectations. Kataria reports on a study evaluating ingredient systems combining vinegar-fermentate technology in both raw and cooked formats. <\/p>

    • Circular nutrition: Unlocking the value of upcycled ingredients in pet food<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Ann Marie D. Ocker, Ph.D., technical marketing and innovation director, International Ingredient Corp., examines how upcycled ingredients from food and agricultural sectors are repurposed into functional pet food ingredients that reduce environmental impact while offering nutritional benefits. Feeding trials and compositional analyses demonstrate improvements in palatability, digestibility and overall diet performance from these co-products, which contribute high-quality proteins, essential fatty acids and bioavailable micronutrients. Ocker explores formulation strategies and ingredient functionality, providing practical insights into how upcycled materials support product development, environmental goals and help meet consumer demands for transparency.<\/p>

      \u00b7 Case study: Utilizing alternative proteins from byproducts to support local food systems<\/span><\/p>

      Mark Kleinschmit, Ph.D., COO and CFO, Other Half Processing, presents a pioneering case study demonstrating how fashion brands have been able to support local food systems by sourcing hides from beef raised on regenerative farms. Other byproducts are also underutilized, disrupting the fundamental economics of regional slaughterhouses and leading to poor environmental outcomes. Kleinschmit provides practical insights into infrastructure, partnerships and aggregation models that make regional supply viable, plus a replicable framework for connecting regenerative agriculture with pet food manufacturing.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Pet food regulatory, safety and technology: 3:10-4:15 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2504<\/div>
  • Auditing the future: Digitalization and data analytics in pet food quality assurance<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Jennifer Lott, technical development director, SGS North America, explores how digitalization is transforming food safety auditing in pet food manufacturing and supply chains from reactive to proactive through digital platforms that enable real-time document exchange, remote verification and data analytics supporting continuous assurance and early risk detection. Drawing on field data from more than 300 remote and hybrid audits conducted between 2021 and 2024, her study evaluates measurable impact of digital tools on audit efficiency, accuracy and risk visibility, showing an average 25% reduction in total audit cycle time, improved traceability of corrective actions and enhanced consistency of findings.<\/p>

    • AI-powered analytics for pet food: Price elasticity, forecasting and decision-making in Latin America<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Iv\u00e1n Franco, founder and independent advisor, Triplethree International, introduces an applied framework using advanced analytics and AI to optimize pricing and forecast demand in the pet food market. Leveraging models of price elasticity, distributed lag effects and demand forecasting, he demonstrates how data transforms into actionable strategies for portfolio management and channel execution. Case studies from Latin America illustrate how predictive analytics uncovers hidden inefficiencies and improves profitability while reshaping competitive dynamics in pet food and offering a scalable blueprint for data-powered growth.<\/p>

      • Leveraging AI to predict pet food palatability<\/span>: Integrating recipe, analytical and pet data<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Ana Rita Monforte, Ph.D., global flavor and data sciences manager, AFB International, evaluates the use of AI to anticipate palatability outcomes of palatant systems prior to in vivo<\/span> (animal) exposure, enabling earlier failure identification and reduced trial burden. Palatability remains one of the strongest commercial differentiators in pet food, yet its prediction still relies predominantly on empirical, animal-based testing. Beyond trial reduction, this AI framework informs ingredient selection during formulation, constrains design of experiments search space and supports design of next-generation palatants tuned for specific recipe architectures and processing conditions. By converting historically siloed data into decision-quality signals, AI enables a shift from intuition-led iteration to evidence-assisted design.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Pet nutrition and ingredient research: 3:10-4:15 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2505<\/div>
  • Nutrition for senior pets: What do we really know?<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Emma Bermingham, Ph.D., founder and head consultant, Ember Pet Nutrition, explores research on the nutritional needs of aging cats and dogs, highlighting critical gaps in current knowledge and guidelines. Cats show physiological changes beginning at 8 years, while dogs\u2019 aging varies by size; yet no explicit nutritional guidelines exist for senior animals despite some pets living into their 30s. Many age-associated conditions such as cognitive decline and immune function decline respond to nutritional interventions in experimental settings, suggesting aging pets have specific nutrient requirements. Bermingham identifies urgent knowledge gaps and proposes key nutrients for developing improved nutritional guidelines for senior pet diets.<\/p>

    • How the microbiome-immune axis benefits multiple pet health areas that matter most to pet owners<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

      Ravi Sheth, Ph.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer, Kingdom, explains how supporting the microbiome-immune axis simultaneously impacts multiple pet health areas including skin health, digestive wellness, weight management and behavioral health \u2014 all ranked by pet owners as top concerns. He examines emerging science behind the microbiome-immune axis in pets and how it links to various biological processes throughout the body, then highlights real-world case studies on various industry ingredients, products and clinical literature, demonstrating how impacting the microbiome-immune axis translates into quantifiable pet health benefits.<\/p>

      • The power of postbiotics: Strain selection, efficacy and applications for pet health<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Lindsay Sumners, Ph.D., director of creation, design and development for pet and animal well-being, ADM, covers postbiotics as novel pet food ingredients offering microbiome benefits without the stability challenges associated with probiotics. She dives into the science behind microbial strain selection, clinical efficacy testing and stability validation in finished pet food formats, highlighting three case examples regarding development of postbiotics to support metabolic health, oral care and gut health in pets. Species-specific clinical research and application science studies demonstrate how certain postbiotic strains retain functionality through manufacturing processes such as baking, thermal extrusion and retort processing, making them suitable for multiple pet food and treat formats.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Today's pet food market: 3:10-4:15 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2502<\/div>
  • Panel discussion: The future of pet food retailing<\/span> \u2014 discuss trends, challenges and opportunities on the near and longer-term horizons. Panelists include:<\/li><\/ul>

    o Eleanor McGhee, senior vice president, merchandising and marketing, Hollywood Feed<\/p>

    o Teresa Miller, owner, Treats Unleashed<\/p>

    o Claire Obertin, research associate, Cleveland Research Co.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
4:15 PM - 6:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Exhibit Hall Happy Hour, including Women in Petfood Leadership networking<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

Sponsored by BW\/Symach, Coperion and Eurofins<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Student Program\/industry poster researchers meet and greet<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/table>[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”Apr 29″ _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”gcid-heading-color” background_enable_image=”off” background_blend=”multiply” background_enable_pattern_style=”on” background_pattern_style=”inverted-chevrons-2″ background_pattern_color=”rgba(122,11,31,0.45)” background_pattern_transform=”invert” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_free_form=”#agenda table {|| border-collapse: collapse;|| width: 100%;||}||||@media all and (min-width: 981px) {|| #agenda .dateCol {|| width: 200px||}||}||||@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 980px) {||#agenda .dateCol {|| width: 29%;||}||}||||#agenda {|| font-size: 1em;|| font-weight:normal;||}||||#agenda #heading {|| font-size: 1.3em;|| color: white;|| background-color: #005F73;|| border: 1px solid #005F73;|| font-weight:600;|| text-transform: uppercase;||}||||#agenda .eventtitle {|| font-size: 1.2em;|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #8c1f21;||}||||#agenda .eventname {|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #005F73;||}||||#agenda .eventdescription {|| font-size: 0.9em;|| font-weight: 400;|| line-height: 1.6;|| color: #333;||}||||#agenda .eventdate {|| font-weight: 600;|| color: #005F73;|| text-transform: uppercase;||}||||#agenda .eventtime {|| font-size: 0.9em;|| font-weight: 400;|| line-height: 1.6;|| color: #005F73;|| text-transform: lowercase;||}||||#agenda .css-vsf5of {|| font-weight: normal;||} ||||#agenda td {|| padding: 20px;||}||||.entry-content ul li{|| margin-top: 20px;||}||||#agenda tr:nth-child(even) {background-color: #fdfaf8; border-left: 1px solid #fdfaf8; border-right: 1px solid #fdfaf8; border-bottom: none;}||#agenda tr:nth-child(odd) {background-color: #ffffff; border-left: 1px solid #ffffff; border-right: 1px solid #ffffff; border-bottom: none;}||||.entry-content tr td {|| border-top: 1px solid #005F73;||}||||@media screen and (max-width:767px){||tr#heading {|| display: none;||}|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| padding-right: 0px;||}||#agenda tr td {|| min-width: 120px;||}||tr#heading {|| display: none !important;||}|| table#agenda tr {|| display: flex;|| flex-wrap: wrap;||}|| #agenda td {|| padding: 15px;||}|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| padding-top: 25px;|| padding-bottom: 3px;|| }|| #agenda tr td:first-child {|| flex: 100%;||}|| #agenda tr td:last-child {|| padding-top: 0px;|| padding-bottom: 25px;||}|| #agenda tr:nth-child(even) td:last-child {|| border-bottom: 1px solid #005F73;||}|| .entry-content tr td {|| border-top: none;||}||}” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-bddfe36e-b358-4570-a851-1059a7f7643e%22:%91%22box_shadow_color%22%93,%22gcid-8d977fb9-3d36-485c-a990-5da96c320df2%22:%91%22border_color_all__hover%22%93}” sticky_enabled=”0″]
Date\/Time<\/td>Title<\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Registration<\/div>
KCCC Lobby 2300<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
7:15 AM - 8:15 AM<\/div><\/td>
Breakfast<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Sponsored by Symrise<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
8:15 AM - 9:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Wednesday opening session: The art of standing out: Leveraging remarkable experiences and experimentation to create brand evangelism<\/div>
KCCC Room 3501<\/div>

Ryan Estis, bestselling author, former Fortune 500 chief revenue officer and globally recognized sales and leadership expert, explains how the customer experience has been radically altered \u2014 and faces further transformation \u2014 as touchpoints, on-demand services, personalization and AI-enabled automation become more sophisticated. Today\u2019s customers expect an effortless, personalized experience and seek brands that can continuously adapt and consistently deliver exceptional experiences. Customer experience can be a strategic differentiator and a source of competitive advantage, and Estis helps you understand how by leveraging the principles of human-centered growth. He explores how category-leading companies have cracked the code to meet evolving customer expectations through people, aligning employees around a common purpose and empowering them to deliver the extraordinary. By inspiring new ideas about the dynamics of customer and employee relationships, Estis provides a fresh understanding of how putting your customer at the center of your growth strategy can profoundly impact your business.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Exhibit hall open<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

View the floor plan<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Visiting pet charities<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:20 AM - 12:05 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum Tech Talks<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage<\/div>

Stage sponsored by Symrise

View the full schedule <\/a>& see who will be presenting <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Coffee break<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum Student Program research presentations<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Future of Pet Food Pavilion<\/div>

Student Program sponsored by Coperion, Extru-Tech and Wenger<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM<\/div><\/td>
Announcement of Student Program research competition awards<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Future of Pet Food Pavilion<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Lunch<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
Sponsored by Peel Plastics<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Closing session: It\u2019s an experiment! Musings on leadership, creativity and careers<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage<\/div>

\u201cThe people who are happiest in their career path treat their careers as an experiment, not an identity.\u201d Within this statement lives a world of possibility to try new things, explore curious questions and continue to grow in a career that brings you joy and fulfillment. Bridget Meadows, owner of Bridget Meadows Coaching and a pet food industry veteran, examines the concept of experimental thinking within a career and how it can powerfully shift your mindset, build your resilience and open up new possibilities for happiness at work.  <\/span>A panel of professionals who have made such career pivots will share their experiences, including Sarah Andereck, pet account manager, IFF; <\/span>Brooke Eiler, sales manager, North America, IQI; and Brenda Knapp, director of nutrition, Simmons Pet Food.<\/p>

Organized by Women in Petfood Leadership, which is sponsored by AFB International, Balchem PetShure, Camlin Fine Sciences, Coperion, Extru-Tech, Heartland-Progan, Kerry, the Peterson Co., Simmons Pet Food, Wenger and Zinpro.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/table>[\/et_pb_tab][\/et_pb_tabs][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Registration CTA” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(140,31,33,0.7) 0%|rgba(140,31,33,0.7) 100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/petfood-pattern.jpg” background_size=”custom” background_image_width=”300px” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”|1em||1em|false|true” border_color_bottom=”gcid-d80d7e09-9ab3-42a6-9158-59f4c898eef2″ global_module=”2825″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-heading-color%22:%91%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-d80d7e09-9ab3-42a6-9158-59f4c898eef2%22:%91%22border_color_bottom%22%93}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_tablet=”90%” width_phone=”90%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”1600px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” pac_drh_column_numbers_tablet=”pac_drh_tab_col_two” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-db5f5762-95a3-40d2-99a8-17d1da92927b%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-611a5e06-1945-46ed-921a-19456edf12f6%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Join the global pet food industry” image_icon_background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” image=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/icon-ticket-cream.svg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100px” icon_placement_tablet=”left” icon_placement_phone=”top” icon_placement_last_edited=”on|phone” content_last_edited=”off|tablet” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h2″ header_font=”|600||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffd191″ header_font_size=”1.6em” header_letter_spacing=”-0.01em” header_line_height=”0.9em” image_icon_custom_margin=”-20px||||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_tablet=”-20px||||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_phone=”-20px||-20px||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” image_icon_custom_padding=”||||false|false” background_layout=”dark” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/exhibit-sponsor\/prospectus\/” header_font_size_tablet=”1.6em” header_font_size_phone=”1.6em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_radii_image=”on|8px|8px|8px|8px” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_blurb_title__hover_enabled=”off|hover” background__hover_enabled=”off|hover”]<\/p>\n

Get your ticket<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/PetfoodForum-Date-Image-Website.jpg” title_text=”PetfoodForum-Date-Image-Website” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Trend Exhibit Floor ARPAS Trio Section” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#f1f1f1″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” disabled=”on” global_module=”2439″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” admin_label=”CTA Details” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” width_tablet=”94%” width_phone=”90%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”1600px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”2.2em||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” scroll_vertical_motion=”0|50|50|100|4|0|0″ custom_css_free_form=”@media (max-width: 980px){||body.et-db selector.et_pb_row .et_pb_column{|| margin-bottom: -5px !important;||}||}” pac_drh_enable_stacking=”pac_drh_stack_row pac_drh_stack_tab_mob” pac_drh_column_numbers_tablet=”pac_drh_tab_col_one” pac_drh_column_numbers_phone=”pac_drh_phone_col_one” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” custom_width_px__hover=”1080px” custom_width_px__hover_enabled=”1080px” custom_width_percent__hover=”80%” custom_width_percent__hover_enabled=”80%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-db5f5762-95a3-40d2-99a8-17d1da92927b%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-611a5e06-1945-46ed-921a-19456edf12f6%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}” use_custom_width__hover=”off” use_custom_width__hover_enabled=”off” width_unit__hover=”on” width_unit__hover_enabled=”on” use_custom_gutter__hover=”off” use_custom_gutter__hover_enabled=”off” gutter_width__hover=”3″ gutter_width__hover_enabled=”3″ make_equal__hover=”off” make_equal__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_1__hover=”off” parallax_1__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_2__hover=”off” parallax_2__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_3__hover=”off” parallax_3__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_4__hover=”off” parallax_4__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_5__hover=”off” parallax_5__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_6__hover=”off” parallax_6__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method_1__hover=”on” parallax_method_1__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_2__hover=”on” parallax_method_2__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_3__hover=”on” parallax_method_3__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_4__hover=”on” parallax_method_4__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_5__hover=”on” parallax_method_5__hover_enabled=”on” parallax_method_6__hover=”on” parallax_method_6__hover_enabled=”on” box_shadow_style__hover=”none” box_shadow_style__hover_enabled=”none” box_shadow_color__hover=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” box_shadow_color__hover_enabled=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” use_background_color_gradient__hover=”off” use_background_color_gradient__hover_enabled=”off” background_color_gradient_start__hover=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_start__hover_enabled=”#2b87da” background_color_gradient_end__hover=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_end__hover_enabled=”#29c4a9″ background_color_gradient_type__hover=”linear” background_color_gradient_type__hover_enabled=”linear” background_color_gradient_direction__hover=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction__hover_enabled=”180deg” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover=”center” background_color_gradient_direction_radial__hover_enabled=”center” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover=”0%” background_color_gradient_start_position__hover_enabled=”0%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover=”100%” background_color_gradient_end_position__hover_enabled=”100%” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover=”off” background_color_gradient_overlays_image__hover_enabled=”off” parallax__hover=”off” parallax__hover_enabled=”off” parallax_method__hover=”on” parallax_method__hover_enabled=”on” background_size__hover=”cover” background_size__hover_enabled=”cover” background_position__hover=”center” background_position__hover_enabled=”center” background_repeat__hover=”no-repeat” background_repeat__hover_enabled=”no-repeat” background_blend__hover=”normal” background_blend__hover_enabled=”normal” allow_player_pause__hover=”off” allow_player_pause__hover_enabled=”off” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover=”on” background_video_pause_outside_viewport__hover_enabled=”on” make_fullwidth__hover=”off” make_fullwidth__hover_enabled=”off” border_radii__hover=”on||||” border_radii__hover_enabled=”on||||” filter_hue_rotate__hover=”0deg” filter_hue_rotate__hover_enabled=”0deg” filter_saturate__hover=”100%” filter_saturate__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_brightness__hover=”100%” filter_brightness__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_contrast__hover=”100%” filter_contrast__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_invert__hover=”0%” filter_invert__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_sepia__hover=”0%” filter_sepia__hover_enabled=”0%” filter_opacity__hover=”100%” filter_opacity__hover_enabled=”100%” filter_blur__hover=”0px” filter_blur__hover_enabled=”0px” mix_blend_mode__hover=”normal” mix_blend_mode__hover_enabled=”normal” animation_style__hover=”none” animation_style__hover_enabled=”none” animation_repeat__hover=”once” animation_repeat__hover_enabled=”once” animation_direction__hover=”center” animation_direction__hover_enabled=”center” animation_duration__hover=”1000ms” animation_duration__hover_enabled=”1000ms” animation_delay__hover=”0ms” animation_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” animation_intensity_slide__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_slide__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_zoom__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_flip__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_fold__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover=”50%” animation_intensity_roll__hover_enabled=”50%” animation_starting_opacity__hover=”0%” animation_starting_opacity__hover_enabled=”0%” animation_speed_curve__hover=”ease-in-out” animation_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease-in-out” hover_transition_duration__hover=”300ms” hover_transition_duration__hover_enabled=”300ms” hover_transition_delay__hover=”0ms” hover_transition_delay__hover_enabled=”0ms” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover=”ease” hover_transition_speed_curve__hover_enabled=”ease” background_color_gradient_stops__hover=”#2b87da 0%|#29c4a9 100%”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|2.2em|0px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|0px|2.2em|0px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”||0.5em||false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_slide=”25%” scroll_vertical_motion=”2|22|22|100|4|0|0″ scroll_horizontal_motion=”0|40|40|100|-5|0|0″ scroll_fade=”0|8|8|100|0|100|100″ custom_css_free_form=”selector {|| justify-content: space-between !important;||}” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-b1f044ee-1fcc-4b33-89bc-55a783a597d6%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-72cd8b22-ca72-44dc-81bd-f5e9d91c4680%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22%93,%22gcid-1a99ec8a-6212-4403-98b3-a3da5117e3eb%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22,%22background_color%22%93}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”Is Petfood Forum the event for you?” image_icon_background_color=”rgba(201,231,219,0.15)” image=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-trends.svg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100px” disabled_on=”on|on|on” admin_label=”Survey” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”1.2em” body_font=”|300|||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” body_font_size=”1em” body_line_height=”1.2em” background_color=”gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_repeat=”repeat” background_blend=”luminosity” background_enable_mask_style=”on” background_mask_style=”corner-lake” background_mask_color=”#003f5e” background_mask_transform=”flip_vertical|invert” background_mask_aspect_ratio=”square” background_mask_size=”cover” image_icon_custom_margin=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_tablet=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_phone=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” image_icon_custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” custom_margin=”10px|1em|10px|1em|true|true” custom_margin_tablet=”|1em||1em|false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|0.25em|0.5em|0.25em|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_font_size_tablet=”1.2em” header_font_size_phone=”1em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”1em” body_font_size_phone=”0.9em” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_free_form=”.selector .et_pb_module_header {|| margin-bottom: 10px;||}” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e” border_radii_image=”on|50%|50%|50%|50%” border_width_all_image=”4px” border_color_all_image=”gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ box_shadow_blur=”0px” global_module=”4901″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-0ce76a54-c411-4d0a-a601-1efd9cb354b1%22:%91%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22,%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22,%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22%93,%22gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22,%22background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22,%22background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22%93}” header_text_color__hover=”#c9e7db” header_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” body_text_color__hover=”#c9e7db” body_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” border_width_all__hover=”4px” border_width_all__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” border_color_all__hover=”#c9e7db” border_color_all__hover_enabled=”on|hover” border_color_all_image__hover=”#c9e7db” border_color_all_image__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” box_shadow_blur__hover=”24px” box_shadow_blur__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” box_shadow_spread_image__hover_enabled=”on|hover”]<\/p>\n

Take the short quiz to find out.
\nGet Started<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”3 Forces Reshaping Pet Food” image_icon_background_color=”rgba(201,231,219,0.15)” image=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-trends.svg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100px” image_icon_width_tablet=”60%” image_icon_width_phone=”80%” image_icon_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Petfood Trends” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”1.2em” body_font=”|300|||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” body_font_size=”1em” body_line_height=”1.2em” background_color=”gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_repeat=”repeat” background_blend=”luminosity” background_enable_mask_style=”on” background_mask_style=”corner-lake” background_mask_color=”#003f5e” background_mask_transform=”flip_vertical|invert” background_mask_aspect_ratio=”square” background_mask_size=”cover” image_icon_custom_margin=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_tablet=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_phone=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” image_icon_custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” custom_margin=”10px|1em|10px|1em|true|true” custom_margin_tablet=”|1em||1em|false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|0.25em|0.5em|0.25em|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” link_option_url=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/social-media-toolkit\/” header_font_size_tablet=”1.2em” header_font_size_phone=”1em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”1em” body_font_size_phone=”0.9em” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_free_form=”.selector .et_pb_module_header {|| margin-bottom: 10px;||}” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e” border_radii_image=”on|50%|50%|50%|50%” border_width_all_image=”4px” border_color_all_image=”gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e” box_shadow_style=”preset6″ box_shadow_blur=”0px” disabled=”on” global_module=”2456″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-0ce76a54-c411-4d0a-a601-1efd9cb354b1%22:%91%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22%93,%22gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22%93}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” box_shadow_spread_image__hover_enabled=”on|hover” box_shadow_spread_image__hover=”” border_color_all_image__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” border_color_all_image__hover=”#c9e7db” header_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” header_text_color__hover=”#c9e7db” body_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” body_text_color__hover=”#c9e7db” border_width_all__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” border_color_all__hover_enabled=”on|hover” box_shadow_blur__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” box_shadow_blur__hover=”24px” border_color_all__hover=”#c9e7db” border_width_all__hover=”4px”]<\/p>\n

See what trends will dominate pet food in 2026 & beyond. Is your brand on target?
Download PDF<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb title=”Petfood Forum Exhibition” image_icon_background_color=”gcid-d80d7e09-9ab3-42a6-9158-59f4c898eef2″ image=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/icon-floor-plan.svg” icon_placement=”left” image_icon_width=”100px” icon_placement_tablet=”left” icon_placement_phone=”top” icon_placement_last_edited=”on|phone” image_icon_width_tablet=”60%” image_icon_width_phone=”80%” image_icon_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”Exhibit Floor” _builder_version=”4.27.3″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”1.2em” body_font=”|300|||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” body_font_size=”1em” body_line_height=”1.2em” background_color=”#ba4228″ background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_repeat=”repeat” background_blend=”luminosity” background_enable_mask_style=”on” background_mask_style=”corner-square” background_mask_color=”#9e3a31″ background_mask_transform=”invert|flip_vertical” background_mask_aspect_ratio=”square” background_mask_size=”cover” image_icon_custom_margin=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_tablet=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_phone=”|1em|||false|false” image_icon_custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” image_icon_custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true” custom_margin=”10px|1em|10px|1em|true|true” custom_margin_tablet=”|1em||1em|false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|0.25em|0.5em|0.25em|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”3.2em|1.2em|3.2em|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_font_size_tablet=”1.2em” header_font_size_phone=”1em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”1em” body_font_size_phone=”0.9em” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_free_form=”.selector .et_pb_module_header {|| margin-bottom: 10px;||}” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”gcid-d80d7e09-9ab3-42a6-9158-59f4c898eef2″ border_color_all_last_edited=”off|desktop” border_radii_image=”on|50%|50%|50%|50%” border_width_all_image=”4px” border_color_all_image=”gcid-d80d7e09-9ab3-42a6-9158-59f4c898eef2″ box_shadow_style=”preset6″ box_shadow_blur=”0px” global_module=”2454″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-0ce76a54-c411-4d0a-a601-1efd9cb354b1%22:%91%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22,%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22,%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22,%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-301a62b1-f634-4832-a169-e2f81898759e%22:%91%22background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22,%22background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22,%22background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22,%22background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22%93,%22gcid-d80d7e09-9ab3-42a6-9158-59f4c898eef2%22:%91%22image_icon_background_color%22,%22border_color_all_image%22,%22border_color_all%22%93,%22gcid-bddfe36e-b358-4570-a851-1059a7f7643e%22:%91%22border_color_all_image__hover%22,%22header_text_color__hover%22,%22body_text_color__hover%22,%22border_color_all__hover%22%93}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” box_shadow_spread_image__hover_enabled=”on|hover” box_shadow_spread_image__hover=”” border_color_all_image__hover_enabled=”on|hover” border_color_all_image__hover=”#ffd191″ header_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” header_text_color__hover=”#ffd191″ body_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” body_text_color__hover=”#ffd191″ border_width_all__hover_enabled=”off|hover” border_color_all__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” box_shadow_blur__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” box_shadow_blur__hover=”24px” border_color_all__hover=”#ffd191″]<\/p>\n

See booth locations of the expanded 2025 Exhibit Hall show floor.
View Floor Plan<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ module_class=”vertical-align” _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|0px|2.2em|0px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|0px|2.2em|0px|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”||0.5em||false|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”right” animation_intensity_slide=”25%” scroll_vertical_motion=”12|32|32|100|4|0|0″ scroll_horizontal_motion=”0|40|40|100|-5|0|0″ scroll_fade=”0|12|12|100|0|100|100″ scroll_scaling=”0|40|40|100|85%|100|100″ border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-611a5e06-1945-46ed-921a-19456edf12f6%22:%91%22icon_color%22%93}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_blurb title=”ARPAS Accredited” image_icon_background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” image=”https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ARPAS-_-CEU-Seal-_-ARPAS-Green-with-white-border-150×150-1.png” image_icon_width_tablet=”60%” image_icon_width_phone=”80%” image_icon_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”ARPAS” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”1.2em” body_font=”|300|||||||” body_text_align=”left” body_text_color=”#FFFFFF” body_font_size=”1em” body_line_height=”1.4em” background_color=”#336835″ background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”contain” background_repeat=”repeat” background_enable_pattern_style=”on” background_pattern_style=”diamonds” background_pattern_color=”#37713a” background_pattern_transform=”invert” background_pattern_size=”custom” background_pattern_width=”32px” custom_margin=”10px|1em|10px|1em|true|true” custom_margin_tablet=”|1em||1em|false|true” custom_margin_phone=”|0.25em|0.5em|0.25em|false|true” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”50px|1.2em|50px|1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”|1.2em||1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”|1.2em||1.2em|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” header_font_size_tablet=”1.2em” header_font_size_phone=”1em” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” body_font_size_tablet=”1em” body_font_size_phone=”0.9em” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_css_free_form=”.selector .et_pb_module_header {|| margin-bottom: 10px;||}” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” border_width_all=”4px” border_color_all=”#336835″ box_shadow_style=”preset6″ box_shadow_blur=”0px” global_module=”2406″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-611a5e06-1945-46ed-921a-19456edf12f6%22:%91%22icon_color%22%93}” custom_padding__hover=”|||” header_text_color__hover=”#c9e7db” header_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” body_text_color__hover=”#c9e7db” body_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” border_width_all__hover_enabled=”off|hover” border_color_all__hover_enabled=”on|hover” border_color_all_image__hover=”#c9e7db” border_color_all_image__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” box_shadow_blur__hover=”24px” box_shadow_blur__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” box_shadow_spread_image__hover=”” box_shadow_spread_image__hover_enabled=”on|hover” border_color_all__hover=”#41a346″]<\/p>\n

Petfood Forum is the only ARPAS-credentialed event for eligible professionals in pet food. ARPAS members receive credits for attending Petfood Forum and Petfood Essentials. Credit details will be released in February 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Petfood Forum 2026 AgendaAgenda Details
Date\/Time<\/td>Title<\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials registration\/check-in with light breakfast<\/div>
KCCC Lobby 2300<\/div>
Sponsored by<\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials opening session: Opportunities and challenges for pet food in today\u2019s global trade environment<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Dana Waters, director of international affairs, Pet Food Institute, explains how the U.S. federal government\u2019s commitment to reshape the global trading system through resetting trade balances and establishing reciprocal tariff rates on U.S. trading partners creates direct implications for the pet food industry. Stakeholders are examining whether these tariffs have led to trade agreements delivering tangible benefits to U.S. pet food manufacturers or whether they have introduced new barriers. Waters discusses how this evolving trade environment presents both opportunities and challenges, particularly in relation to supply chain stability and the continued importation of critical ingredients necessary for pet food production. She provides understanding of how U.S. trade policies and tariffs affect global markets, help businesses be able to evaluate impacts on pet food supply chains and ingredient access, and develop strategies to manage risks and seize opportunities.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum exhibitor move-in<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum registration<\/div>
KCCC Lobby 2300<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
8:45 AM - 10:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: From nutritionist to operator: AI as your trusted copilot<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Carmen Sook, director of customer solutions, Bestmix Software, explores how AI can be a copilot that helps formulators and operators work together through shared, transparent insights. Despite advanced automation and formulation software, quality and efficiency often still depend on who happens to be on shift. This human factor, while valuable, introduces bias and variability that modern technology should help us overcome. Sook explains how AI can turn a company\u2019s own production data, a true goldmine of untapped knowledge, into actionable insights that reduce dependency on individuals and stabilize quality across shifts and recipes. She shares learnings from early implementations showing how AI-driven analytics detect and predict process deviations before they affect product quality, provide operators with real-time recommendations to optimize performance, feed production intelligence back into formulation to continuously improve recipes and build trust in data-driven decision-making while reducing \u201cformulator bias.\u201d The future of pet food manufacturing doesn\u2019t replace expertise but enhances it.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials coffee break<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215 foyer<\/div>
Sponsored by<\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
10:30 AM - 11:45 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: Addressing formulation quality and risk management in pet food<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Annette Lundeen, head of product, Datacor Animal Nutrition, discusses how to implement a quality control program to ensure quality and minimize risk of error using techniques and tools available to nutritionists within formulation software, addressing day-to-day realities such as variability of ingredient quality, disruptions in supply chains and difficulties in production. She introduces new technologies that formalize expert knowledge and automate the risk assessment process with the aim of increasing efficiency, reliability and accuracy, recognizing that inherent risks exist each time a new product is developed or a product\u2019s recipe is updated. Modern formulation systems help pet food companies cost-effectively manufacture the right products with the right quality in the right way, avoiding mistakes that carry risk of huge negative impact on animal health, company reputation and finances.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Supported by Midwest Labs<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials lunch<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>
Sponsored by<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
12:45 PM - 2:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: How ingredient partnerships power efficiency, innovation and food safety in pet food manufacturing<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Craig Grantham, director of business development; Jodi McCarthy, president; and Kyle Wiley, logistics and procurement manager, Pet Food Solutions, explain that efficiency doesn\u2019t just happen on the plant floor; it begins with partnership. When ingredient suppliers and pet food manufacturers move beyond a transactional mindset and work together as true partners, the results are measurable: reduced downtime, lower inventories, faster research and development cycles and more consistent product quality. These experts explore how collaboration between ingredient suppliers and manufacturers streamlines operations and sparks new ideas that benefit both businesses. In addition, it leads to faster testing and smarter ingredient use; supply chain efficiency through transparent forecasting and joint planning that minimize inventory strain; food safety as a shared mission through joint verification and traceability efforts; and mutual accountability through aligned KPIs.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Supported by ProMach<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
AAFCO SRIS Introductory Workshop<\/div>
KCCC Room 2502<\/div>

AAFCO invites participants to join us for a 2-hour workshop to discuss the new Scientific Review for Ingredient Submission (SRIS) pathway. The afternoon workshop will explore the new partnership with AAFCO and Kansas State University Olathe, and dive into the process to bring new feed ingredients to market through AAFCO.<\/p>

Separate registration required. <\/span>Learn more<\/span><\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
2:00 PM - 3:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: The nexus of consistency and innovation in pet food manufacturing<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Gregory Daniel, strategic industry advisor for pet food\/treats and protein, Haskell Co., presents a practical framework for achieving both differentiation and consistency in pet food production, recognizing that delivering a truly unique and consistently high-quality pet food product requires understanding the physical and chemical transformations inherent in the process. Daniel explores frontier processing techniques for differentiation through lessons from adjacent industries that can be adapted to pet food, plus strategic facility design for product innovation through integrating innovation goals early in facility planning. Gain actionable insights for optimizing current operations and designing future-ready facilities capable of producing the next generation of high-performing, differentiated pet nutrition products.<\/p>

 <\/p>

Supported by Parker Freeze Dry<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Mon Apr 27<\/div>
3:15 PM - 3:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials: Group presentations<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
3:30 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Essentials mixer<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215 foyer<\/div>
Sponsored by Parker Freeze Dry<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Mon Apr 27<\/div>
4:30 PM - 6:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum and Petfood Essentials Opening reception<\/div>
KC Live! at Power & Light District<\/div>

Sponsored by Coperion, Extru-Tech,  Mountaire, MGB and Wenger<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/table>
Date\/Time<\/td>Title<\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Breakfast<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Sponsored by Symrise<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Registration<\/div>
KCCC Lobby 2300<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Welcome and opening keynote: Next-gen premium: The consumer trends rewriting pet food innovation<\/div>
KCCC Room 3501<\/div>
Kevin Ryan, Ph.D., CEO, Malachite Strategy and Research, covers the rapidly changing consumer trends that are redefining what \u201cpremium\u201d means in pet food and reshaping how innovation must respond. No longer defined by price or ingredient lists alone, premiumization now reflects shifting expectations around purpose, experience and culture. Ryan explores how forces from human food and wellness (from functional nutrition to values-driven storytelling) are reshaping what consumers want for their pets, and what innovation must look like in 2026 and beyond. Gain a fresh perspective on premiumization that extends beyond ingredients into emotion, experience and values; insight into the human food and wellness shifts most likely to cross over into the pet category; examples from beauty, beverage and luxury retail that can inspire the next wave of pet food innovation; and actionable ways to infuse the new rules of premium into your innovation pipeline.<\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Exhibit hall open<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

View the floor plan<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Visiting pet charities<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:15 AM - 9:45 AM<\/div><\/td>
Coffee break<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

Sponsored by Mondi<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:20 AM - 12:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum Tech Talks<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage<\/div>

Stage sponsored by Symrise

View the full schedule here<\/a> & see who will be presenting\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
9:45 AM - 12:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum Student Program research presentations<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Future of Pet Food Pavilion<\/div>

Student Program sponsored by Coperion, Extru-Tech and Wenger<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
12:15 PM - 1:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Lunch<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
Sponsored by Peel Plastics<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Tue Apr 28<\/div>
12:45 PM - 1:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Live Trending: Pet Food podcast interview<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage<\/div>

Join Lindsay Beaton, editor of Petfood Industry magazine and host of the popular industry podcast, Trending: Pet Food, as she conducts a live episode with experts on sustainability in pet food.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Alternative and sustainable pet foods: 1:30-2:35 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2503<\/div>
  • Flexible feeding: Alternative pet foods, feeding opportunities and value propositions<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Shannon Landry, research director for pet, Packaged Facts, provides consumer insights on the usage of alternative format pet foods such as fresh and freeze dried as \ufffd\ufffd\ufffdadd-ons\u201d or supplements to kibble or wet pet food. She features Packaged Facts data examining how pet owners use pricier formats to add interest and variety to traditional pet food diets, plus the meaning of value to pet food shoppers. Insights touch on pet food spending, pet owner attitudes about traditional pet food formats and novel proteins, and the pet\/owner dynamic, demonstrating how and why owners explore ways to introduce variety into their pets\u2019 standard diets and what factors impact pet food choice.<\/p>

    • Hidden inputs, real savings: Turning overlooked ingredients into margin-positive freeze-dried products<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

      Sean Jones, director of sales, Glacial Freeze Dry, introduces a comprehensive framework for the systematic reallocation of underutilized raw materials and nonstandard inputs embedded within existing supply chain infrastructures into premium freeze-dried pet food products. Extending beyond conventional examples such as organ meats and bone broths to emphasize broader, often untapped potential, the approach enhances product differentiation and nutritional value while contributing to improved margin performance and operational efficiency. It also addresses material identification and suitability, cost modeling for freeze-dried applications and a pilot-scale validation framework.<\/p>

      • Bridging batch and continuous operations in freeze dried pet food manufacturing<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Matt Graunke, freeze dry sales executive, Parker Freeze Dry, presents an in-depth approach to optimizing freeze-dried pet food manufacturing through automation, intelligent scheduling and advanced refrigeration design, as manufacturers face the challenge of integrating batch-based freeze-drying into production environments dominated by continuous operations. He offers actionable insights into designing and operating freeze-dried pet food facilities that balance batch processing precision with continuous production efficiency.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Pet food regulatory, safety and technology: 1:30-2:35 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2504<\/div>
  • The changing U.S. regulatory landscape for pet food<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

    Dana Brooks, former CEO and president, Pet Food Institute, examines the U.S. federal administration\u2019s Make America Healthy Again initiative and its expected significant ripple effects for pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers. Increased scrutiny of the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) review process raises questions about whether ingredient suppliers will be able to continue relying on self-GRAS determinations or GRAS notifications as pathways for product approval. The Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine\u2019s review of both the GRAS and food additive petition processes may be influenced by this initiative, potentially altering approval mechanisms and timelines that could ultimately impact the speed at which new pet food products and ingredients reach the marketplace.<\/p>

    • Natural antimicrobial strategies for fungal control and shelf-life extension in semi-moist kibble<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Charlie Connolly, business development manager, Videka, offers a novel approach to microbial control in pet food, evaluating the efficacy of a natural antimicrobial strategy applied to semi-moist kibbles in response to growing consumer demand for clean label and sustainable products. He explains microbial spoilage challenges in pet food and their impact on shelf-life and consumer trust, and assesses the impact of natural antimicrobials on pet food palatability through panel testing. The findings suggest such natural blends provide effective microbial control while maintaining product quality and consumer acceptance.<\/p>

      • Freeze-dried pet foods: Unique oxidation risks and mitigation approaches<\/span> in growing category<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Min Hu, Ph.D., technical fellow, Rangen, presents the unique oxidative stability challenges associated with freeze-dried pet food and treats, a rapidly growing category valued for high nutrient retention and clean-label positioning. Unlike traditional pet food processing methods, freeze drying is a low-temperature dehydration process that preserves sensitive nutrients but also retains oxidizable substrates, leaving products susceptible to lipid oxidation if not adequately protected. Effective oxidation prevention relies on proactive stabilization of raw materials through incorporating antioxidants at the raw material stage, strategic selection of antioxidants suited for low-fat, low-moisture environments and implementation of oxygen-limiting packaging technologies.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Pet nutrition and ingredient research: 1:30-2:35 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2505<\/div>
  • Calming canines naturally: A gut-brain axis approach using a <\/span>Lactobacillus<\/span><\/span> postbiotic<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Jeffrey Alix, global director of business development for pet food, and Erik Eckhardt, Ph.D., principal scientist, dsm-firmenich, share research on a dual Lactobacillus<\/span> postbiotic designed to reduce anxiety-related behaviors in dogs through gut-brain axis modulation. The ingredient, composed of heat-inactivated bacterial cells and fermentation metabolites from two proprietary microorganisms, contains GABA, a neurotransmitter associated with calming effects. Citing controlled studies, Alix and Eckhardt cover the science behind its benefits, formulation potential and market relevance as a natural calming solution.<\/p>

    • Real-world efficacy of a botanical blend for canine behavioral support in home settings<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

      Jessica Jarett, Ph.D., principal scientist for pet, Cargill, covers results of a study on the impact of a novel botanical blend administered as a daily soft chew on behavior in pet dogs living in home environments. In a controlled trial involving 75 healthy dogs, significant improvements were observed in dog-directed fear with additional trends toward improvement in stranger-directed aggression, aggression when food is taken away, inappropriate urination and excitability compared to placebo. The research provides new evidence for the application of botanical blends in pet supplement formulations for daily behavioral support and demonstrates the value of combining quantitative behavioral data with qualitative insights from pet owners.<\/p>

      • Vitamins and amino acids: Strategic insights into the pet food supply chain and potential disruption<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Lara Moody, executive director, Institute for Feed Education and Research, offers findings from a strategic assessment of vitamin and amino acid supply and demand, import and export, and impact on livestock and poultry production with implications for the pet food supply chain. An estimated 78% of total vitamin imports to the U.S. come directly from China, with some individual vitamins as high as 100%, and U.S. and European vitamin manufacturers often depend on key raw materials sourced from China. The same holds true for amino acids, creating overwhelming dependency on a single country for nutrients vital to the food supply and U.S. economy.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
1:30 PM - 2:35 PM<\/div><\/td>
Today\u2019s pet food market: 1:30-2:35 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2502<\/div>
  • From table to bowl: How pet owners\u2019 eating habits influence what they feed their pets<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Tiffany Fiore, senior product manager, and Susan Gallager, senior regulatory analyst, McCormick\/FONA, share insights about how pet owners currently feed their pets and the links between feeding behavior and personal nutrition choices. Drawing from primary consumer research and McCormick\u2019s consumer segmentation framework, the presentation covers factors influencing pet food and treat purchases; attitudes toward formats like fresh food, raw food, toppers and supplements; and pet owners\u2019 understanding of nutrition labels and claims (balanced against existing regulations).<\/p>

    • The AI marketing advantage: Measure first, scale fast in pet food<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Jolanta Smulski, founder, Pet Pro Media, addresses the significant gap between AI adoption priority and implementation in pet food marketing. She provides a measurement-first framework solving three key barriers: the measurement gap preventing justification of AI expansion beyond experimental use, planning paralysis keeping businesses in evaluation mode and the scaling challenge limiting them to individual or small-team implementation. The framework establishes measurement infrastructure by defining core marketing metrics before adopting AI tools, deploys test-learn-scale cycles through structured deployment identifying high-impact applications and scales to organizational capability by converting measurement data into training curriculum and repeatable processes.<\/p>

      • What\u2019s next in cat trends? The future of feline food, treats and supplements<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Nicole Hill, vice president of strategy and innovation, MarketPlace, explores emerging and sustaining consumer trends influencing the future of cat food, treat and supplement segments through future-facing consumer data and market insights from Nextin Research. Grounded in new surveys of more than 1,000 cat owners, the presentation covers owner psychographics, core motivators and compelling need-states, demand-driving attributes and ingredients, product format opportunities and purchase influences, and retail channel behaviors. From protein sources and premiumization trends to product attributes and preferred formats, Hill spotlights where the category has room to grow and evolve, with insights for innovation and marketing strategies.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
2:35 PM - 3:10 PM<\/div><\/td>
Coffee break<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

Sponsored by Mondi<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Alternative and sustainable pet foods: 3:10-4:15 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2503<\/div>
  • Advancing shelf-life and safety in cooked and raw high-moisture pet foods with clean-label innovation<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

    Jasmine Kataria, Ph.D., senior scientist, Kerry, explains how high-moisture pet foods, particularly raw and cooked formats, represent one of the fastest expanding categories in today\u2019s pet food market, driven by consumer preference for fresh, minimally processed diets made with recognizable and transparent ingredients. However, these products present notable challenges due to their elevated water activity, highlighting the need for innovative preservation strategies that maintain safety and quality without compromising clean-label expectations. Kataria reports on a study evaluating ingredient systems combining vinegar-fermentate technology in both raw and cooked formats. <\/p>

    • Circular nutrition: Unlocking the value of upcycled ingredients in pet food<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Ann Marie D. Ocker, Ph.D., technical marketing and innovation director, International Ingredient Corp., examines how upcycled ingredients from food and agricultural sectors are repurposed into functional pet food ingredients that reduce environmental impact while offering nutritional benefits. Feeding trials and compositional analyses demonstrate improvements in palatability, digestibility and overall diet performance from these co-products, which contribute high-quality proteins, essential fatty acids and bioavailable micronutrients. Ocker explores formulation strategies and ingredient functionality, providing practical insights into how upcycled materials support product development, environmental goals and help meet consumer demands for transparency.<\/p>

      \u00b7 Case study: Utilizing alternative proteins from byproducts to support local food systems<\/span><\/p>

      Mark Kleinschmit, Ph.D., COO and CFO, Other Half Processing, presents a pioneering case study demonstrating how fashion brands have been able to support local food systems by sourcing hides from beef raised on regenerative farms. Other byproducts are also underutilized, disrupting the fundamental economics of regional slaughterhouses and leading to poor environmental outcomes. Kleinschmit provides practical insights into infrastructure, partnerships and aggregation models that make regional supply viable, plus a replicable framework for connecting regenerative agriculture with pet food manufacturing.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Pet food regulatory, safety and technology: 3:10-4:15 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2504<\/div>
  • Auditing the future: Digitalization and data analytics in pet food quality assurance<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Jennifer Lott, technical development director, SGS North America, explores how digitalization is transforming food safety auditing in pet food manufacturing and supply chains from reactive to proactive through digital platforms that enable real-time document exchange, remote verification and data analytics supporting continuous assurance and early risk detection. Drawing on field data from more than 300 remote and hybrid audits conducted between 2021 and 2024, her study evaluates measurable impact of digital tools on audit efficiency, accuracy and risk visibility, showing an average 25% reduction in total audit cycle time, improved traceability of corrective actions and enhanced consistency of findings.<\/p>

    • AI-powered analytics for pet food: Price elasticity, forecasting and decision-making in Latin America<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

      Iv\u00e1n Franco, founder and independent advisor, Triplethree International, introduces an applied framework using advanced analytics and AI to optimize pricing and forecast demand in the pet food market. Leveraging models of price elasticity, distributed lag effects and demand forecasting, he demonstrates how data transforms into actionable strategies for portfolio management and channel execution. Case studies from Latin America illustrate how predictive analytics uncovers hidden inefficiencies and improves profitability while reshaping competitive dynamics in pet food and offering a scalable blueprint for data-powered growth.<\/p>

      • Leveraging AI to predict pet food palatability<\/span>: Integrating recipe, analytical and pet data<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Ana Rita Monforte, Ph.D., global flavor and data sciences manager, AFB International, evaluates the use of AI to anticipate palatability outcomes of palatant systems prior to in vivo<\/span> (animal) exposure, enabling earlier failure identification and reduced trial burden. Palatability remains one of the strongest commercial differentiators in pet food, yet its prediction still relies predominantly on empirical, animal-based testing. Beyond trial reduction, this AI framework informs ingredient selection during formulation, constrains design of experiments search space and supports design of next-generation palatants tuned for specific recipe architectures and processing conditions. By converting historically siloed data into decision-quality signals, AI enables a shift from intuition-led iteration to evidence-assisted design.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Pet nutrition and ingredient research: 3:10-4:15 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2505<\/div>
  • Nutrition for senior pets: What do we really know?<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Emma Bermingham, Ph.D., founder and head consultant, Ember Pet Nutrition, explores research on the nutritional needs of aging cats and dogs, highlighting critical gaps in current knowledge and guidelines. Cats show physiological changes beginning at 8 years, while dogs\u2019 aging varies by size; yet no explicit nutritional guidelines exist for senior animals despite some pets living into their 30s. Many age-associated conditions such as cognitive decline and immune function decline respond to nutritional interventions in experimental settings, suggesting aging pets have specific nutrient requirements. Bermingham identifies urgent knowledge gaps and proposes key nutrients for developing improved nutritional guidelines for senior pet diets.<\/p>

    • How the microbiome-immune axis benefits multiple pet health areas that matter most to pet owners<\/span> <\/li><\/ul>

      Ravi Sheth, Ph.D., co-founder and chief scientific officer, Kingdom, explains how supporting the microbiome-immune axis simultaneously impacts multiple pet health areas including skin health, digestive wellness, weight management and behavioral health \u2014 all ranked by pet owners as top concerns. He examines emerging science behind the microbiome-immune axis in pets and how it links to various biological processes throughout the body, then highlights real-world case studies on various industry ingredients, products and clinical literature, demonstrating how impacting the microbiome-immune axis translates into quantifiable pet health benefits.<\/p>

      • The power of postbiotics: Strain selection, efficacy and applications for pet health<\/span><\/li><\/ul>

        Lindsay Sumners, Ph.D., director of creation, design and development for pet and animal well-being, ADM, covers postbiotics as novel pet food ingredients offering microbiome benefits without the stability challenges associated with probiotics. She dives into the science behind microbial strain selection, clinical efficacy testing and stability validation in finished pet food formats, highlighting three case examples regarding development of postbiotics to support metabolic health, oral care and gut health in pets. Species-specific clinical research and application science studies demonstrate how certain postbiotic strains retain functionality through manufacturing processes such as baking, thermal extrusion and retort processing, making them suitable for multiple pet food and treat formats.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
3:10 PM - 4:15 PM<\/div><\/td>
Today's pet food market: 3:10-4:15 p.m.<\/div>
KCCC Room 2502<\/div>
  • Panel discussion: The future of pet food retailing<\/span> \u2014 discuss trends, challenges and opportunities on the near and longer-term horizons. Panelists include:<\/li><\/ul>

    o Eleanor McGhee, senior vice president, merchandising and marketing, Hollywood Feed<\/p>

    o Teresa Miller, owner, Treats Unleashed<\/p>

    o Claire Obertin, research associate, Cleveland Research Co.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
4:15 PM - 6:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Exhibit Hall Happy Hour, including Women in Petfood Leadership networking<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

Sponsored by BW\/Symach, Coperion and Eurofins<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Tue Apr 28<\/div>
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Student Program\/industry poster researchers meet and greet<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/table>
Date\/Time<\/td>Title<\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
7:00 AM - 2:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Registration<\/div>
KCCC Lobby 2300<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
7:15 AM - 8:15 AM<\/div><\/td>
Breakfast<\/div>
KCCC Room 2215<\/div>

Sponsored by Symrise<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
8:15 AM - 9:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Wednesday opening session: The art of standing out: Leveraging remarkable experiences and experimentation to create brand evangelism<\/div>
KCCC Room 3501<\/div>

Ryan Estis, bestselling author, former Fortune 500 chief revenue officer and globally recognized sales and leadership expert, explains how the customer experience has been radically altered \u2014 and faces further transformation \u2014 as touchpoints, on-demand services, personalization and AI-enabled automation become more sophisticated. Today\u2019s customers expect an effortless, personalized experience and seek brands that can continuously adapt and consistently deliver exceptional experiences. Customer experience can be a strategic differentiator and a source of competitive advantage, and Estis helps you understand how by leveraging the principles of human-centered growth. He explores how category-leading companies have cracked the code to meet evolving customer expectations through people, aligning employees around a common purpose and empowering them to deliver the extraordinary. By inspiring new ideas about the dynamics of customer and employee relationships, Estis provides a fresh understanding of how putting your customer at the center of your growth strategy can profoundly impact your business.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Exhibit hall open<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>

View the floor plan<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Visiting pet charities<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:20 AM - 12:05 PM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum Tech Talks<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage<\/div>

Stage sponsored by Symrise

View the full schedule <\/a>& see who will be presenting <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM<\/div><\/td>
Coffee break<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM<\/div><\/td>
Petfood Forum Student Program research presentations<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Future of Pet Food Pavilion<\/div>

Student Program sponsored by Coperion, Extru-Tech and Wenger<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr>

Wed Apr 29<\/div>
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM<\/div><\/td>
Announcement of Student Program research competition awards<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Future of Pet Food Pavilion<\/div>
<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM<\/div><\/td>
Lunch<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E<\/div>
Sponsored by Peel Plastics<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Wed Apr 29<\/div>
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM<\/div><\/td>
Closing session: It\u2019s an experiment! Musings on leadership, creativity and careers<\/div>
KCCC Halls C-E, Tech Talk stage<\/div>

\u201cThe people who are happiest in their career path treat their careers as an experiment, not an identity.\u201d Within this statement lives a world of possibility to try new things, explore curious questions and continue to grow in a career that brings you joy and fulfillment. Bridget Meadows, owner of Bridget Meadows Coaching and a pet food industry veteran, examines the concept of experimental thinking within a career and how it can powerfully shift your mindset, build your resilience and open up new possibilities for happiness at work.  <\/span>A panel of professionals who have made such career pivots will share their experiences, including Sarah Andereck, pet account manager, IFF; <\/span>Brooke Eiler, sales manager, North America, IQI; and Brenda Knapp, director of nutrition, Simmons Pet Food.<\/p>

Organized by Women in Petfood Leadership, which is sponsored by AFB International, Balchem PetShure, Camlin Fine Sciences, Coperion, Extru-Tech, Heartland-Progan, Kerry, the Peterson Co., Simmons Pet Food, Wenger and Zinpro.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/td><\/tr><\/table>Get your ticketTake the short quiz to find out. Get Started See what trends will dominate pet food in 2026 & beyond. Is your brand on target?Download PDF See booth locations of the expanded 2025 Exhibit Hall show floor.View Floor Plan Petfood Forum is the only ARPAS-credentialed event […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":6030,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\r\n

This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Hi there! I'm a bike messenger by day, aspiring actor by night, and this is my website. I live in Los Angeles, have a great dog named Jack, and I like pi\u00f1a coladas. (And gettin' caught in the rain.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

...or something like this:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The XYZ Doohickey Company was founded in 1971, and has been providing quality doohickeys to the public ever since. Located in Gotham City, XYZ employs over 2,000 people and does all kinds of awesome things for the Gotham community.<\/p><\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

As a new WordPress user, you should go to your dashboard<\/a> to delete this page and create new pages for your content. Have fun!<\/p>\r\n","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"folder":[],"class_list":["post-6209","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\nAgenda - Petfood Forum<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Agenda - Petfood Forum\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Petfood Forum\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-13T21:10:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Male-presenter-standing-on-stage-at-Petfood-Forum.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"19 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/\",\"name\":\"Agenda - Petfood Forum\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Male-presenter-standing-on-stage-at-Petfood-Forum.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-24T21:27:26+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-13T21:10:03+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Male-presenter-standing-on-stage-at-Petfood-Forum.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Male-presenter-standing-on-stage-at-Petfood-Forum.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Agenda\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/\",\"name\":\"Petfood Forum\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Agenda - Petfood Forum","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Agenda - Petfood Forum","og_url":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/","og_site_name":"Petfood Forum","article_modified_time":"2026-01-13T21:10:03+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Male-presenter-standing-on-stage-at-Petfood-Forum.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"19 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/","url":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/","name":"Agenda - Petfood Forum","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Male-presenter-standing-on-stage-at-Petfood-Forum.jpg","datePublished":"2025-11-24T21:27:26+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-13T21:10:03+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Male-presenter-standing-on-stage-at-Petfood-Forum.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Male-presenter-standing-on-stage-at-Petfood-Forum.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/agenda-test\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Agenda"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/","name":"Petfood Forum","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6209"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6209\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petfoodforumevents.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=6209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}