Weekly Roundup
Friday · 6/19/2026 · Issue #357
Sponsor
Case packing is one of the toughest jobs in pet food manufacturing. It's repetitive, physically demanding, difficult to staff, and when a position goes unfilled, production slows down fast.
Formic's Full Service Automated Case Packing eliminates those bottlenecks without requiring a major capital investment. Formic deploys, operates, and maintains the system, allowing your team to focus on production instead of labor shortages and equipment issues.
Why manufacturers are making the switch:
• Reduce dependence on hard-to-fill case packing roles.
• Keep production running consistently across every shift.
• Avoid major upfront costs with no CapEx required.
• Eliminate maintenance headaches with full-service support.
• Increase throughput by reducing downtime and labor disruptions.
• Keep production running consistently across every shift.
• Avoid major upfront costs with no CapEx required.
• Eliminate maintenance headaches with full-service support.
• Increase throughput by reducing downtime and labor disruptions.
Pet food manufacturers across the country are already running automated case packing with Formic. Others are still relying on teams to lift 30–50 pound bags all day.
Quick Hits
🐶 The COVID puppy boom is over. Now what?
📈 Farm To Pet opens investment round to the public
💵 The biggest force in pet spending might surprise you
🎮 Your pet can finally match your Pokémon obsession
📦 "BarkBox is not a box" says CEO as subscriber numbers fall
🇬🇧 Study finds widespread microplastic contamination in popular pet foods
Elanco Launches $25M Venture Fund For Pet Innovation
The animal health giant committed $25 million to Elanco Ventures, targeting startups across pet care, animal health, sustainability, and food technology.
Vetic Raises $40M To Expand Pet Healthcare Network
The India-based startup will use the funding to scale clinics, home veterinary care, insurance offerings, and technology.
Mars Opens Australia's Largest Cat Food Pouch Facility
The new manufacturing site significantly expands Mars' production capacity and strengthens its supply chain in the region.
Celebrity-Backed Animal Capital Raises $33M Fund
Backed by investors including Paris Hilton and Christina Aguilera, the firm raised $33 million and continues investing across pet, consumer, and technology startups.
Flat Capital Invests $7.4M In PlutoVets
The Swedish investment firm committed SEK 70 million ($7.4 million) to help accelerate growth at the veterinary platform.
Woof Gang Expands Into Three New States
The grooming and retail franchise continued its nationwide growth with expansion into Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Utah.
VETSTOR Lands Funding To Digitize Veterinary Care
The Czech startup connects pet owners and veterinarians through personalized health, nutrition, and insurance tools.
Chinese Cat Litter Hub Expands Global Reach
A city in eastern China is growing its presence in the global cat litter market through smart manufacturing and technology.
Elanco Wins USDA Approval For TruCan Vaccine
The approval expands Elanco's companion animal portfolio with a new canine vaccine offering.
Veterinary Industry Sees New Leadership Appointments
Hill's Pet Nutrition and Pegasus Laboratories announced senior leadership additions as both companies continue to grow.
Pet founders and operators — we're putting together an industry-wide Tech Stack Report to better understand the software, tools, and platforms powering pet businesses. If you have two minutes, we'd greatly appreciate your participation.
All responses will remain completely anonymous, and no personal or company-specific information will be shared. We'll send the final report and findings to participants once it's published.
Samsung Uses AI To Spot Pet Health Issues
Samsung's pet tech can analyze images to help detect possible health concerns in cats and dogs.
Aussie Pet Mobile Unveils New Brand Identity
The mobile grooming franchise introduced a refreshed brand as it looks toward its next stage of growth.
Quiet Cars Change Guide Dog Training
Electric vehicles are forcing trainers to rethink how guide dogs learn to recognize nearby traffic.
What Veterinarians Are Actually Earning In 2026
New salary data breaks down veterinarian compensation by specialty, experience, location, and negotiating leverage.
Your Mood May Affect Your Cat
A new study suggests owner wellbeing may influence how cats respond to human interaction.
Calls About Pets Ingesting Hallucinogens Keep Rising
Over the past decade, Pet Poison Helpline has seen a sharp increase in cases involving pets exposed to psychedelic substances.
Screwworm Threat Puts Pet Owners On Alert
Pennsylvania and New Jersey are taking precautions as the invasive parasite raises concern for pets and livestock.
Police Rescue More Than 400 Cats In Vietnam
Authorities busted an alleged cat meat crime ring and rescued hundreds of cats.
The Hidden Cost Of Feeding Pet Snakes
Vox examines the feeder rodent industry behind pet snakes, zoos, and reptile ownership.
Crumb Wins National Startup Technology Award
The pet technology company was recognized as Start-Up Tech Company of the Year.
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