Calvin Smith
Title
Director
Company
Pet Nutrition NZ
Presentation description: Freeze-dried pet food: is China the next big market? – Calvin Smith, director of Pet Nutrition NZ, describes how the freeze-dried category has been the fastest-growing one in the influential USA pet food market and how this growth is starting to spread internationally. Strong evidence indicates that Asia is the new hot spot for freeze-dried pet food, but there are many considerations required when developing and marketing these products. Smith will share his experience and the nutritional, production and marketing benefits and challenges of freeze-dried dog and cat foods.
Biography: Smith is a former director and CEO of K9 Natural, a prominent New Zealand freeze-dried pet food brand. His background is in investment banking, where he spent 16 years working in global positions, culminating in becoming a managing director at Credit Suisse First Boston in London. Now, pet nutrition is his passion and has led him to develop a new company focused on the export of freeze-dried pet food from New Zealand. Smith regularly speaks to pet food and food industry leaders and entrepreneur groups in New Zealand and around the world.
