Calvin Smith
Title
Director of Pet Nutrition NZ
Company
Pet Nutrition NZ
The freeze-dried phenomenon: next stop Europe – Calvin Smith, director of Pet Nutrition NZ, offers insights on new product development in freeze-dried pet food. This category has emerged as the fastest growing niche in the influential US pet food market, growing at over 60 percent a year with annual sales over US$190 million and driven by the desire for high meat inclusion. Europe has been a leader in high meat inclusion pet foods, yet the freeze-dried phenomenon is still in its infancy in Europe, on the cusp of emerging. Smith describes the many unique characteristics of freeze-dried pet foods that require careful consideration when launching into this niche.
Smith is a New Zealand-based businessman with a background in entrepreneurship and investment banking. His current company offers exclusive pet nutrition solutions to retailers and brand owners globally, focusing on providing New Zealand proteins and omega 3s in a freeze-dried or canned form. Previously, Smith served as CEO of K9 Natural Food, which grew under his leadership from a startup to a medium-sized business, earning recognition in 2011 as New Zealand’s fifth fastest growing business. K9 Natural is now exporting from Christchurch to 19 countries throughout Asia, US, Canada, Europe and Australasia and is known worldwide as a leader in pet nutrition. Smith also spent 16 years in investment banking in New Zealand, Singapore, Tokyo and London, culminating in his becoming managing director at Credit Suisse First Boston in London. Since returning to New Zealand in 2007, he has been actively involved with several startup businesses.
