Related Articles
Petfood Forum 2025 welcomed thousands of professionals from across the global pet food supply chain to Kansas City for a hands-on, insight-packed experience. The annual conference and exhibition, held on April 28-30, presented expanded programming and immersive opportunities designed to spark connection, collaboration and industry growth.
An interactive exhibition
The 2025 event featured 400 exhibiting companies, offering attendees the chance to explore cutting-edge resources in ingredients, packaging, processing, food safety and more — all through live demos, product samplings and interactive displays.
“Petfood Forum is where the pet food industry comes to life,” said Steve Akins, executive vice president, global petfood and events, with WATT Global Media. “It’s not just about watching presentations or walking the tradeshow — it’s about experiencing the future of pet food firsthand.”
The interactive show floor also included the Petfood Tech Talk Stage, showcasing 20 industry-changing technologies and applications to advance the production of pet food. Graduate students represented many universities in the Future of Petfood Pavilion as they presented the latest pet food and companion animal nutrition research.
The Women in Petfood Leadership program focused on the power of connection, mentorship and career development. The program included small-group networking lunch discussions and a packed evening reception where attendees could have candid conversations and build relationships. Additionally, a dedicated educational session featured Karen Jones, of NextUp, who works to advance women in the workplace and a panel discussion featuring executives who shared their experiences in leading both people and business.
Endless learning opportunities
Beyond the show floor, over 30 globally recognized presenters shared new research and data on a variety of topics, including a global economy outlook, the use of AI to aid new pet food plant workers, how feline flavor preferences change throughout life, consumer perception on insect protein, and much more.
View the 2025 Petfood Forum show guide for a complete look at the exhibitors, sponsors, speakers and more.
“Every part of this event is designed to be engaging and impactful,” said Akins. “You don’t just hear about what’s next — you interact with it.”
Petfood Forum 2026
Petfood Forum will return to Kansas City on April 27-29, 2026.
Petfood Forum 2026 will provide numerous opportunities to network and have essential business dialogue with industry professionals from around the world, learn the latest in trends and innovations, discover new tools for success and share ideas. Registration will open in October 2025.