CHON BURI, THAILAND — Earlier this year, Mars Petcare opened its first pet food R&D center in the Asia Pacific region. The new facility, called the APAC Pet Center, will support the company’s product development.

A grand opening was held for the new facility in February, in which Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, DVM, director-general of the Department of Livestock Development at the Ministry of Agriculture; Thawatchai Srithong, Governor of Chon Buri; and M.L. Narudee Kashemsant, president of the Veterinary Practitioners Association of Thailand (VPAT), attended as guests of honor. Jaruk Srikiatden, director of R&D Asia at Mars Petcare Thailand, presided over the event.

The new facility is located at AMATA’s City Chonburi Industrial Park in Thailand, a growing market for pet food processors. According to the Thai Pet Food Trade Association (TPFA), Thailand became the world’s third largest pet food exporter in 2021, exporting a value of more than 65 billion baht ($1.7 billion USD), a 27% increase from 2020.

“The establishment of the Asia Pacific Pet Food R&D Center in Thailand proves to the world the potential of the pet food business in Thailand as one of the world's top exporters of animal feed products,” Ratanamungklanon said.

The R&D center spans 3,630 square meters (39,072 square feet) and includes an automated pet food center. It is LEED Gold certified and leverages circular economy principles with benches and floor bricks made from recycled pet food packaging. The facility will provide Mars Petcare with product testing and development capabilities, as well as serve as a hub for exchanging and sharing knowledge about the pet food and treat industry to professionals, students, veterinarians and researchers.

“The launch of the state-of-the-art APAC Pet Center, including veterinarians as co-developers, demonstrates Thailand’s potential to develop the pet food industry; it will create a reputation for Thai veterinarians to be internationally recognized and will help grow the veterinary profession in Thailand,” Narudee Kashemsant said.

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