Behind the scenes: Crafting Hypro Premium’s new treats range

Ever wanted to know how the high-quality pet food you feed your furry friends actually gets made? We sat down with Dr. Shiva Greenhalgh, PhD, Hypro Premium’s Product Development Manager and Animal Nutritionist (RAnNutr), to get her valuable insights on the process of creating our exciting new treats range.

A long-lived fascination with pet nutrition

Dr. Greenhalgh has had a strong interest in pet nutrition since she first brought home her pet cat, Ollie. “There were so many questions I wanted answered, because I felt a bit in the dark when I first got Ollie,” she says. “Based on a lot of the wrong information, I was determined to get on the path to pet nutrition, which was a long academic progression.”

In addition to doing her Undergraduate in Zoology, and both her Masters and PhD in Animal Nutrition, Dr. Greenhalgh worked as a veterinary nurse for about eight years.

“After working as a consultant in my own practice for some time, I was looking for a more practical, hands-on role. Working with Hypro Premium seemed to be just the right fit!””

What’s so special about our new range of treats?

Dr. Greenhalgh is particularly proud of the new range of Hypro Premium treats: Protein Discs and Jerky Chews.

“The Protein Discs are solid pieces of meat that have been naturally air-dried and  formed into a shape easy for pets to eat and digest,” she says. “In the Australian market, we haven’t seen anything like this type of treat before. A lot of pet parents want to give their pets meat as part of their diet, but understandably, they get worried when it’s raw.  The Protein Discs offer a safe option and we see animals getting great enjoyment out of them.

“The Jerky Chews are a bit different because they contain a mixture of things. They have some supplementary aspects with the inclusion of collagen and green-lipped mussels, but they are also a very palatable chew. There are a lot of chews on the market, but none that offer the same range as Hypro Premium.

“The ingredients we use when creating our treats also differ to everyone else on the market, for example, no one is using goat protein. Goat is a high-quality protein that is easy to digest and rich in nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, zinc and selenium. Other brands like to focus on just the skin and coat, or just bone health. While these aim to help specific parts of your pet’s wellbeing, they don’t provide an overall or whole-body nutritional boost. At Hypro Premium, we like to take a more holistic approach to pet health through our food and treats, which is why we like to provide a wide variety in our proteins.”

From ideation to the production line

Dr. Greenhalgh and her team created the new treat range by looking at what was happening in the market. Once they spotted a gap, they started the ideation process.

“After brainstorming potential products, we looked internally at our manufacturing capabilities and our ability to buy in the right ingredients from local farmers and suppliers,” Dr. Greenhalgh says. “Once we ticked all those boxes, my team and I came up with a formula. We ran trial batches and created the treats in our extruder. Once they came out looking and smelling as they should, we knew we were ready to produce on a larger scale.”

Dr. Greenhalgh says treats don’t necessarily need to be complete and balanced like traditional dry foods, in fact, they are classified as ‘complementary foods’. “But at Hypro Premium we like to make sure our treats include added benefits so they are not just tasty, but also beneficial to your pet’s overall wellbeing.”

What your pet will love about the new treats range

Hypro Premium’s new range of Jerky Chews and Protein Discs are created with premium, all-natural ingredients and entirely Australian made and owned. The Jerky Chews come in five delicious and nutritious flavours – Kangaroo, Beef, Chicken, Duck and Ocean Fish – and support your pet’s anti-inflammatory properties (green-lipped mussel), gut and immune health (sweet potato), as well as skin and bone health (collagen).

The all-meat Protein Discs come in several tasty proteins – Kangaroo, Chicken and Goat – and are designed as long-lasting treats. Both treats are grain-free, as well as a rich source of protein.

Want to give your pet a treat they will love that also supports their overall health and wellbeing? You can order the new Jerky Chews and Protein Discs online at Paw Pantry, the go-to place for all your pet’s needs.

You can also explore our other grain-free and wholegrain products to keep your best friend happy and healthy.