Australis Aquaculture and ButcherBox have separately begun selling pet treats featuring seafood.
Greenfield, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based Australis Aquaculture, which is in the midst of expanding its barramundi-farming operations in Vietnam, has launched Barra Barrk, a Fair Trade-certified, single-ingredient, human-grade pet treat made from barramundi fish skins.
Australis’s Barra Barrk, sold under its Better Fish brand, is now for sale in all BJ's Wholesale Club stores located in the eastern United States. The treats are produced from Australis's Aquaculture Stewardship Council- and Best Aquaculture Practices-certified farms and are hand-rolled and air-dried, offering “countless nutritional benefits and endless enjoyment for furry friends.”
“Brimming with omega-3 fatty acids, these fish skins support everything from pets' agility and dental and joint health to their cardiovascular system and vision,” the company said. “The sustainable practices in use at The Better Fish farms guide every step of the fish-to-treat process, ensuring that every bite nourishes dogs with human-grade food ingredients from a fully certified food production facility.”
Australis Aquaculture CEO and Co-Founder Josh Goldman said as the pet treat market continues to evolve, his company is differentiating itself by offering “a wholesome alternative that meets the demand for natural and sustainable products produced to the highest standards.”
"The versatility of barramundi continues to excite and surprise us, and we couldn't be happier to bring it and all its benefits to a group very deserving of wellness – your best friends," Goldman said. "This launch represents not just a new product innovation but a new chapter in the bond between pets and their humans."
Separately, Watertown, Massachusetts, U.S.A.-based ButcherBox, a direct-to-consumer meat and seafood brand, has announced a move into the pet space through its ButcherBox For Pets line of dry food, treats, and hip and joint supplements for dogs.
B-Corp-certified ButcherBox, which delivers grass-fed beef, free-range organic chicken, heritage breed pork, and wild-caught Alaskan salmon by mail to customers across the U.S., developed its ButcherBox For Pets line “within the clinical vet environment with the same high-quality standards as ButcherBox by sourcing humanely raised, sustainably sourced beef and chicken that is never given antibiotics or added hormones – ever.”
"What we've learned in this process is that most food or meat companies do not want to put their branding on the label of pet food or treats they are selling," ButcherBox Founder and CEO Mike Salguero said. "We are proud of the work we've put into sourcing high-quality, humanely raised meat for this line of products, and we want consumers to know that by seeing our brand front and center on the package, it means they can trust where and how it was sourced."
ButcherBox For Pets treats and hip joint supplements have been available exclusively to ButcherBox customers for the past 12 months, achieving USD 750,000 (EUR 691,000) in sales thus far, according to the company. It is now adding dry food by subscription and plans to expand its pet food line over the next year with additional treats, supplements, meal toppers, and a product offering for cats, among other food products
“This rollout marks the complete line as well as a new way to purchase on the standalone ButcherBoxForPets.com website,” the company said.
ButcherBox For Pets President Bobby Quirk said internal research has shown nearly 60 percent of ButcherBox customers have a dog in their home.
"As a business, we pride ourselves on being able to take customer feedback and implement it into our research and development process. Customers told us that they were equally interested in feeding their pets, specifically dogs, a high-quality product similar to their own diets,” Quirk said. “This is a prime example of this feedback loop coming full circle."
And in January 2024, Boston, Massachusetts-based North Coast Seafoods introduced its new Boat to Bowl pet food line featuring fish-based dog and cat food formulas and treats.
The line, which includes three Fish-First Dry Kibble Recipes, two Food Toppers, and a Fish Oil Omega-3 Topper for added flavor and nutrition, became available at all Target stores on 1 January 2024. Each of the products includes upcycled Marine Stewardship Council-certified fish byproducts.
"We're thrilled to bring Boat to Bowl Pet Foods to Target guests nationwide," North Coast Seafoods Pet Foods Director Jon Wooner said. "Our mission is to offer sustainable, natural, and healthy seafood options. Boat to Bowl reflects our commitment to quality over 65 years, now extended to beloved pets."
