London-based food technology start-up THE PACK, which specializes in plant-based dog food, has officially launched.
Since its inception, THE PACK, which was founded by Damien Clarkson and Judy Nadel, who are also behind the plant-based platform, Vevolution, has been on a mission to find vegan, protein-rich alternatives to fish, chicken, and beef, which are standard ingredients in dog food. Their goal was to create tasty, nutritionally balanced, science-based, and planet-friendly food for our furry friends, and now they’ve done just that.
Backed by food scientists and pet nutritionists, THE PACK’s dog food is chock full of iron and fibre and is completely free of unnatural ingredients. Each flavour is also grain-free and packed with Omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids like lysine and methionine.
Further, THE PACK’s dog food can only be described as gourmet, featuring all kinds of plant-based whole foods like pulses seeds, vegetables, and superfoods. Each dog food flavour, of which there are currently three, contains pea protein (for “doggy strength”), giving THE PACK’s dog food the highest protein content of any plant-based wet food on the market. Each flavour is also a nod to the non-vegan ingredient the brand aims to replace.
For example, THE PACK’s No-Fishy Dishy option harnesses the flavours of the ocean, using seaweed and algal oil, and combines it with immunity-boosting ingredients like butternut squash and blueberries. Meanwhile, the No-Cluck Casserole dog food is made with kale, papaya, and sunflower seeds. Finally, the No-Moo Ragu flavour is packed with calcium and other strengthening ingredients like broccoli, blackberries, and hemp seeds.
Other key ingredients in THE PACK’s plant-based dog food include lupin beans for gut health and brewer’s yeast for its high concentration of b vitamins.
Rest assured, THE PACK’s dog food is suitable for all pups, whether your pet is already a proud vegan, flexi-dog, or a full-blown carnivore. They even include a transitioning guide on their website to get all dogs used to their new plant-based food regimen.
In terms of packaging, THE PACK worked with leaders in the packaging industry to come up with a packaging solution that was both functional and eco-friendly. For this reason, the London brand decided to package their wet food in tin cans to minimize waste without compromising on recyclability.
THE PACK’s decision to create plant-based dog food was born from their realization that pet food is responsible for emitting massive amounts of carbon dioxide each year (64 million tonnes to be exact). In fact, through their research, the London-based start-up discovered that meat-based food for dogs and cats uses up a landmass twice the size of the United Kingdom every year. Even worse, meat processing is extremely water-intensive. THE PACK claims that if a dog the size of a Golden Retriever went plant-based for a year, they could save 2,200 gallons of water a day.
All of this research ultimately inspired THE PACK to create an alternative to traditional pet food that was not only healthier for our beloved animal companions but also better for the planet. They see it as their mission to transform pet health through sustainable, environmentally mindful pet food options.
All images in this article are courtesy of THE PACK.
