Wellness® Natural Pet Food Debuts New Grain-free And Limited Ingredient Recipes

TEWKSBURY, Mass., June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Wellness®, the makers of natural food for pets, today announced the addition of 49 new SKUs to its already extensive product line. Wellness is committed to providing recipes formulated with the specific needs of different dogs and cats in mind. This new product launch, the largest since the line was first introduced in 1997, is the result of years of research and innovation in the field of targeted, high-quality natural nutrition. 

Many of the new recipes are designed especially for the estimated 8 million[1] dogs and cats with food allergies or sensitivities, who are in need of grain-free or limited ingredient diets, or for pet parents who prefer feeding grain-free nutrition.  Like humans, many pets experience food sensitivities or allergies, which can have varied symptoms including gastrointestinal upset, skin rashes and fur shedding, and excessive itching.  The new SKUs include 12 additions to the Wellness CORE® grain-free recipes for cats and 9 new Wellness CORE grain-free recipes for dogs, 16 newly reformulated Wellness Simple: Limited Ingredient Diet for Dogs, and 12 extensions to the line of grain-free Wellness Cubed, Sliced and Minced Canned Cat Cuts recipes.

"We've heard from many pet parents who are looking to help manage their pets' food sensitivities and allergies, and from those looking for more grain-free nutrition options," said Thano Chaltas, chief marketing officer, at WellPet.  "Our dedicated team of nutritionists, veterinarians and product development specialists created these innovative new recipes to help serve these pets' specific nutritional needs and tastes."

Wellness® CORE® Grain-Free Recipes

Specially formulated for grain-free feeding, each CORE recipe is packed with a high concentration of high quality meat or fish, with a controlled amount of fat, calories and minerals.

"We developed the CORE recipes for pet parents who are looking for a diet packed with a high concentration of high-quality meat, without fillers or grains for a pet's diet," said Dr. Al Townshend, Staff Veterinarian for WellPet.  "The CORE recipes are based on a pet's primal diet, while providing complete and balanced nutrition."

The Wellness CORE line now includes a variety of flavors, lifestages and solutions available in both dry and canned formulas, for a complete range of nutrition solutions for every pet's needs.  Each recipe includes added essential and beneficial nutrients such as probiotics and antioxidants, and contains no fillers, corn, soy or artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.  New products include:

Canine Recipes

• Dry CORE Puppy Formula – formulated with DHA to support healthy brain and eye development
• Dry CORE Small Breed Formula – formulated to support the unique health needs of smaller dogs with optimal calories in a smaller kibble size
• Canned CORE Beef, Venison & Lamb Formula
• Canned CORE Weight Management Formula
• Canned CORE Turkey, Pork Liver & Duck Formula
• Canned CORE Puppy Formula

Feline Recipes

• Dry CORE Kitten Formula – formulated with DHA to support healthy brain and eye development
• Dry CORE Turkey, Turkey Meal & Duck Formula – Made with Fish-Free, Chicken-Free, Novel Protein Sources
• Dry CORE Indoor Formula – formulated to support the needs of indoor living with less fat and Omega fatty acids to nourish skin and coat
• Canned CORE Kitten Formula
• Canned CORE Beef, Venison & Lamb Formula
• Canned CORE Turkey & Duck Formula
• Canned CORE Indoor Formula

Wellness® Simple: Limited Ingredient Diet for Dogs

Wellness Simple: Limited Ingredient Diet for Dogs, formerly named Simple Food Solutions®, has been carefully reformulated to deliver a novel source of protein and easily digestible carbohydrates and contains no meat by-products, wheat, gluten, corn, dairy, eggs, artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, to support the growing number of dogs with food allergies and sensitivities.  The line has also been expanded to include a new Turkey & Potato Formula. 

"Many common afflictions that send a pet to the veterinarian can be attributed to food sensitivities or allergies," said Dr. Townshend.  "Americans spent an estimated $13.41 million[2] on veterinary care last year.  The more we learn about allergies, the better we can manage and help prevent their often costly symptoms."

Each Simple recipe features a short, yet complete, list of key ingredients that nourish simply and completely from the inside out with results you can see. All Simple dry recipes now feature high quality meat as their first ingredient and are fortified with probiotics to support digestive and immune health and flaxseed to help nourish healthy skin. Each dry formula also has a complementary wet food, perfect for pet parents that feed wet and dry food in combination.  The Turkey & Potato Formula and the Salmon & Potato Formula are also Grain-Free.  The Simple Limited Ingredient Diet dry and canned formulas include:

• Simple Duck & Oatmeal Formula 
• Simple Turkey & Potato Formula
• Simple Salmon & Potato Formula
• Simple Lamb & Oatmeal Formula

Wellness® Canned Cat Cuts

Wellness Cubed, Sliced and Minced Canned Cat Cuts offer the natural flavors of chicken, turkey, salmon, and tuna in three appealing textures – sliced, cubed and minced. These succulent cuts in savory sauces are now available in a new larger 5.5 ounce can size.  Like all Wellness products, Cubed, Sliced and Minced Cat Cuts contain no fillers, corn, soy or artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

"As every cat parent knows, a happy and healthy cat is of the utmost importance," said Dr. Townshend. "The nearly 90 million domestic cats in the United States demand variety in taste and texture, but require top nutrition. All Cubed, Sliced and Minced Cat Cuts varieties are grain-free and encourage hydration, which helps support urinary tract health."

The line also includes chicken-free and fish-free varieties in every form.  The initial recipes in 3 ounce cans, launched in Spring 2011, were so popular that a new 5.5 ounce can was developed in response to consumer demand. New varieties include 9 existing flavors now available in the new 5.5 ounce can, new Minced Salmon Dinner in 3 ounce can and new Minced Turkey and Salmon Entree in 3 ounce and 5.5 ounce cans.

New Wellness Natural Pet Food recipes will be available beginning in May 2012 at pet specialty retailers nationwide and in Canada.

For more information about Wellness Natural Pet Food, visit www.wellnesspetfood.com.

Wellness®

Wellness is for pets and their parents who believe – as we do – that good nutrition and healthy food are the building blocks of a long, happy life. Created by nutritionists, veterinarians and animal lovers, Wellness recipes provide an ideal balance of nature's finest ingredients, carefully selected and combined to nourish and sustain your pet's well-being. You can trust the quality of all the ingredients in Wellness, from our source to your pet's bowl. All Wellness recipes include lean meats, fruits and veggies with no wheat, corn or soy, and no added artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.

Wellness pet food is part of a nutritionally balanced diet that helps support your pet's total well-being.

To learn more about Wellness, visit www.wellnesspetfood.com. Find Wellness on Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/wellnesspetfood and Facebook - www.facebook.com/wellnesspetfood.

[1] White, Dr. Stephen. University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine. "Veterinary Q&A: Food Allergies," The Seattle Times, January 19, 2012.
[2] American Pet Products Association, 2011.

SOURCE WellPet, LLC