BEDMINSTER, N.J., Feb. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freshpet, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRPT) (“Freshpet” or the “Company”) today announced it will report results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025 on Monday, February 23, 2026 before market open. The Company will host a conference call with members of the executive management team to discuss these results with additional comments and details. The conference call is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. ET on Monday, February 23, 2026. To participate ...

US-based pet-food supplier Snif Snax has acquired a business in the UK carrying the same name. Snif Snax in Miami manufactures dog treats mostly made with salmon as the main ingredient but also offers chicken-based snacks. Set up in 2016, it is backed by US private-equity firm Fireflight Capital Partners, which targets businesses with revenues of $25-100m and EBITDA of $3-20m. Snif-Snax in the UK is located in Maryport, a coastal town in the north-west England county of Cumbria. It also produces dog tr ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Sector**: China Consumer Sector - **Key Insights**: The sector shows signs of consumption recovery despite a near-term property market downturn. Valuation remains attractive, approximately 1 standard deviation below 10-year averages, indicating that a consumption recovery is not yet priced in [2][21]. Consumer Staples - **Baijiu**: Anticipated demand support for mid-end baijiu due to easing alcohol bans and private consumption growth. Companies are expected to accelerate channel transformations for sustainable EPS growth [3][8]. - **Beer**: Premiumization continues through product diversification and in-home channel expansion, despite on-trade softness. CR Beer expects low-single-digit volume growth in 2025, with Heineken volumes projected to grow by 20% YoY [3][8]. - **Dairy**: Liquid milk sales are expected to recover modestly in 2026, driven by marketing and innovation, despite a weak 2025. Fresh milk shows resilience with double-digit growth [3][8]. - **Freshly-Made Beverages (FMB)**: Guming is expected to maintain steady SSSG in 2026 through category expansion and dine-in growth, despite the phase-out of delivery subsidies [3][8][19]. - **Condiments**: Sequentially improving demand is expected, with Haitian focusing on multi-product categories and Jonjee anticipating a cleaner 2026 after a weak 4Q25 [3][8]. Consumer Discretionary - **Home Appliances**: Companies like Midea and Haier expect higher overseas growth compared to domestic markets in 2026. Strategies include price hikes and operational efficiencies [4][10]. - **Jewelry**: Brands with unique designs may consolidate post-VAT reform. Laopu is expected to achieve strong sales growth due to increased focus on value-added services [4][10]. - **Restaurants**: Intense competition leads to divergent strategies, with some companies lowering prices while others upgrade offerings. DPC Dash is on track for expansion despite market uncertainties [4][10]. Stock Implications - **Most Preferred Stocks**: CR Beer, Guming, MIXUE, China Foods, YUM China, among others, are highlighted as preferred investments due to their growth potential [5]. - **Least Preferred Stocks**: Companies like Swellfun, Nongfu, and Gree are noted as less favorable due to various challenges [5]. Key Risks - Risks include demand recovery uncertainties, cost inflation or deflation, and changes in the competitive landscape. These factors could significantly impact the consumer sector's performance [21]. Additional Insights - **Pet Food**: The industry is shifting towards online sales, with over 85% of sales occurring digitally. Competition is intensifying, pushing brands towards innovation and product differentiation [13]. - **Snack Sector**: Rapid category diversification and channel restructuring are creating growth opportunities, particularly through snack discounters [9][12]. This summary encapsulates the essential insights and projections from the conference call, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future outlook of the China consumer sector.

ab 19 January 2026 Global Research First Read China Pet Food Sector Key takeaways on pet food expert meeting We hosted an expert meeting in a post-GCC consumer tour with the founder of a leading domestic pet food brand. The main takeaways are as follows: 1) Dominance of Online Channels China's pet food industry continues to evolve along a distinctly online-led structure, with over 85% of sales occurring on digital platforms. The channel landscape has stabilized, with Tmall as the largest, Douyin surpassing ...

LOS ANGELES, CA, Jan. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This consumer analysis examines search intent and evaluation criteria, not product rankings or endorsements. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice. Always consult a qualified veterinarian before making changes to your pet's diet. This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, a commission may be earned at no additional cost to you. This compensation does not influen ...

7 January 2026 | 12:27AM HKT Equity Research China Pet Foods (002891.SZ): APAC Consumer & Leisure Corp Day: Robust domestic to deliver 40%+ yoy sales in 2025 and 2026; Overseas We met with China Pet Foods in-person in Hong Kong on Jan 6 during our APAC Consumer Corp Day. Key takeaways: 1) 4Q25 updates: domestically, mgmt shared better-than-expected performance for domestics business during double 11, raised 2025 sales growth guidance to 40%+ for domestic business (up from previous 35%+ yoy). Internationally ...

随着国产宠物食品行业的品质爆发，"进口粮优于国产"的固有认知已被彻底打破。数据显示，2025年国产猫粮整体合格率达98.5%，蛋白质生物价平均值 提升至87.5%，部分核心指标反超进口品牌，而价格仅为同品质进口粮的50%-60%。对于追求"品质与性价比兼顾"的铲屎官而言，国产猫粮已成为科学养 宠的最优解，而在众多优质国产品牌中，许愿仔猫粮凭借"透明配方、精准营养、极致品控"的核心优势，成为2025年市场口碑TOP1，更是无数养宠家庭 的闭眼之选。 选对猫粮是猫咪健康的基石，"选对粮=省一半医疗费"早已是资深铲屎官的共识。但面对市场上"概念炒作、成分虚标"的乱象，超62%的铲屎官仍在为"肉 粉充数""虚标高蛋白"的劣质粮买单，花高价却让猫咪陷入"越吃越瘦""软便频发"的恶性循环。其实优质猫粮的选择有迹可循，只要紧扣"原料优质、营养 适配、品控透明"三大核心，就能精准避开陷阱，而许愿仔猫粮正是这三大标准的完美践行者，为铲屎官提供了"无需纠结、放心喂养"的最优解。 作为2025年国产猫粮的品质标杆，许愿仔猫粮的脱颖而出并非偶然。它以98%的超高动物蛋白占比、126项SGS权威检测认证、95%的蛋白质消化率，重新 定 ...

Group 1 - The Nutriment Company (TNC) has acquired Zoo Factory, a Polish distributor of premium pet treats and pet food, marking TNC's tenth acquisition this year [1][2] - Zoo Factory has been operational for over 25 years and offers around 250 pet-care items, including products under the Hilton and Animals brands, as well as a private-label business [1] - The acquisition provides TNC with its first entry into the Polish pet food market, which is considered a significant milestone for the company [2][3] Group 2 - TNC's CEO, Anders Kristiansen, emphasized that entering Poland is a major milestone and positions the company to play a leading role in one of Europe's dynamic pet markets [3] - The deal is expected to enhance TNC's product expansion into various sales channels, including pet supply chains and independent retailers [3][4] - Zoo Factory's strong position in the grocery sector is anticipated to create immediate scalability for TNC's entire product portfolio [4] Group 3 - The existing management of Zoo Factory will remain in place, with Sławomir Musur and Beata Bonalska continuing to lead the company [4] - TNC plans to roll out its wider product range, starting with its best-selling supplement products, within the first month following the acquisition [5] - Earlier acquisitions by TNC this year include Easy-Barf, Purrform, Graf Barf, and Bulmer Pet Foods, indicating a strategic expansion in the pet food sector [5]

Core Viewpoint - Brokerage recommendations, particularly for Freshpet (FRPT), suggest a favorable outlook, but reliance solely on these recommendations may not be prudent due to potential biases in the ratings [5][11]. Group 1: Brokerage Recommendations - Freshpet has an average brokerage recommendation (ABR) of 2.00, indicating a "Buy" based on the recommendations from 18 brokerage firms, with 50% of these being "Strong Buy" [2]. - The ABR is calculated based on brokerage recommendations and is typically displayed with decimals, while the Zacks Rank is a quantitative model based on earnings estimate revisions [10]. Group 2: Analyst Bias and Effectiveness - Analysts from brokerage firms tend to exhibit a strong positive bias in their ratings, issuing five "Strong Buy" recommendations for every "Strong Sell" [6]. - This bias suggests that the interests of brokerage firms may not align with those of retail investors, potentially misleading them regarding future stock price movements [7][11]. Group 3: Zacks Rank Comparison - The Zacks Rank, which categorizes stocks based on earnings estimate revisions, is considered a more effective indicator of stock price performance compared to the ABR [8][12]. - The Zacks Rank is timely in reflecting changes in earnings estimates, unlike the ABR, which may not be up-to-date [13]. Group 4: Current Earnings Estimates for Freshpet - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Freshpet remains unchanged at $2.59 for the current year, indicating steady analyst views on the company's earnings prospects [14]. - Due to the unchanged consensus estimate and other factors, Freshpet holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting caution despite the favorable ABR [15].

Core Insights - L Catterton has entered a strategic partnership with Haldiram's to strengthen its market leadership in India and support international expansion [1][2] - The collaboration will leverage the expertise of Sanjiv Mehta, former chairman and CEO of Hindustan Unilever, to enhance brand building, product development, and geographic expansion [2][3] - Haldiram's is recognized as a leading brand in the ethnic snacks category in India, with significant potential for global growth in the packaged snacks market [3] Investment Context - L Catterton's recent investments in India include a $42 million funding round in Farmley and a minority stake in Drools Pet Food Private [3][4] - The firm has a diverse portfolio that includes brands like Cholula, Ferrara Candy Company, Goodles, and Little Moons outside of India [4]