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In the pet food industry, business decisions about product advancement are based on comparative palatability assessments using data. Pet preferences are most often determined using two-bowl trials. Data from these or any comparisons must be carefully analyzed to tell an accurate story. The first step in this analysis is to…

September and October usually bring football games, apple picking, pumpkin patches, and haunted houses. At AFB, like many other organizations, we also spend these months at career fairs across the country searching for the next class of Interns and New Graduates to join our team! But just like everything in…

People expend a great deal of effort making food taste good. Is it any wonder that our pets respond to food flavors as well? Not only do we want pets to enjoy mealtime, we want to ensure they’re getting proper nutrition to support a vibrant, healthy life. Our recent video All About…

Why it is not a simple question to answer.

Joining AFB as the VP of Research and Development is a great opportunity to partner with a growing organization that’s really focused on delivering something amazing for those important members of our family – our pets. I also find the degree of passion that my colleagues have for this industry…

AFB International is excited to be part of the Petfood Forum CONNECT virtual event to be held September 9 – 10 and September 15 – 17. This new digital experience offers a unique way to interact, learn and share with key members of the pet food industry. You will be…

Creating a product that satisfies a cat’s preference can be challenging. Drivers such as aroma, taste and temperature are important in determining if a cat will prefer a particular food. A cat’s teeth are made for shearing and tearing, thus making kibble texture and size another factor in determining which…

Pet treats are big business. Sales growth in this category regularly outpaces the pet food market, and is expected to continue increasing year-over-year. However, treats are held to a higher standard of palatability than other pet food, since pet parents expect their cat or dog to readily accept a treat. …

Developing a successful palatant requires expertise in both formulations and processing conditions. It also involves collaboration to identify a customer’s specific requirements. A clear understanding of our customers’ needs lays a firm foundation for success. Working together, AFB International will provide guidance on the best path forward to deliver…

As I look out my office window, it almost looks normal. Trucks are coming and going, and employees are busy. But if I look closer, it’s easy to see signs that these are not normal times. Employees and truck drivers are social distancing, most offices are unoccupied, and there is…

In the pet food industry the word palatability is used frequently. Jennifer Barnette Fox with Petfood Processing Magazine wanted to find out how palatability is measured and interviewed several industry professionals to “understand palatability” in her latest article in the March 2020 issue. We were excited to have 3 of…

Aroma and taste are important variables in pet food palatability. However, our canine and feline companions can’t tell us what aroma they smell or flavors they taste, so how do we know which pet food they prefer? Electronic sensors have the ability to help scientists analyze the overall smell and…

AFB International was honored to receive the 2019 Saint Louis Zoo Foundation award. Michelle Sandau, Director of Research and Development, accepted the award on AFB’s behalf at the 28th Annual Marlin Perkins Society Celebration. Accompanying Michelle at the event were AFB employees Sarah Anderson, Becca Calvin, Debbie Francis, Jamie Klein,…

Erik Dahl, Global Product Manager for AFB, attended Pet Fair Asia and reports on the trends. If you have any interest in palatants in China, please contact Erik at edahl@afbinternational.com.