INTERVIEW FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2025 59 for roughly ten years, but our dry food brand Bellfor has a history going back more than 25 years — it was actually founded by my father. We began with grain-free dry foods that had a high meat content. Then, about nine years ago, we developed the idea of using insect protein in dog food. We were the first in the world to launch a dry dog food with this protein source, and it was a big success. That success encouraged us to expand our range — we started producing wet foods, treats, and supplements using the same protein base. Insects proved especially popular in Asian and European markets. Later, we applied the same approach to cat nutrition, launching similar products under our I Love My Cat brand. Beyond pet food, we also produce fish feed under the KI-JA-KO brand and recently introduced MarsaVet, a product line developed specifically for veterinarians. These include supplements and care products targeting specific health issues. Our headquarters are located between Cologne and Bonn in Germany. And just this past February, we launched MicroBell — a dry dog food that’s not only vegan, but based on a novel protein source derived from microbial fermentation. Bert Fuhrmann: At this point, we have around 90 different products that use insect or other alternative proteins. These range from pet care items to oral health supplements — we even use insect oil, which is highly effective against ticks and fleas. Our product development process is guided not just by market trends, but by scientific validation. Back in 2016–2017, we partnered with the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover on a PhD project specifically focused on insect protein in dog food. That academic foundation is an important part of our company DNA. While some still view insect protein as a “niche,” it’s become mainstream for us. Demand for alternative proteins is growing — and we’re focused on meeting that demand. You recently announced a partnership with Calysta to launch Microbell, the first dog food to feature FeedKind Pet protein. Given that microbial proteins are still relatively new in pet nutrition, some might see this as a risky move. What inspired you to choose this ingredient, and how has the market responded so far? Hoffmann: Insect protein remains a very valuable ingredient in pet nutrition. But we’ve always had the goal of developing a truly vegan dog food — not just plant-based, but one that’s nutritionally complete. Existing plant proteins like soy or pea often lack the right amino acid profile for dogs — and especially for cats. So last year, while attending Interzoo 2024, we came across FeedKind, a novel microbial protein. After doing some research, we found that Oxford University had studied it previously. When we analyzed its amino acid profile, we discovered it was very close to that of chicken. That was the Adobe Stock | #83279587
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