In recent years, Japan’s pet food market has continued to grow steadily, and demand from pet owners for high quality, safety and peace of mind, and a natural, clean-label approach has been rising. Within this trend, the dog food segment in particular has become increasingly segmented—such as senior diets, allergen-friendly formulas, and premium lines—making product differentiation more important than ever in development and branding.
At the same time, however, manufacturing pet food domestically in Japan comes with several challenges. These include limitations on the types of raw materials that can be used, tight manufacturing capacity, and relatively high production costs. As a result, overseas OEM manufacturing has been gaining attention as a way to develop recipes and value-added products that are difficult to realize through domestic production alone.
Among the overseas options, Australia is one of the most promising destinations for pet food OEM manufacturing. With its rich natural environment, strong food safety standards, and unique raw material supply capabilities, Australia offers significant potential for Japanese brands that prioritize quality.
Why Australia?
Abundant animal protein sources
Australia has vast natural land and strong livestock resources, making it an extremely attractive country for sourcing pet food ingredients. In particular, lamb is one of Australia’s 대표 livestock products and is valued as a highly digestible, low-allergen protein source.
In addition, kangaroo meat—wild-sourced and naturally low in fat—is a rare protein characterized by high protein and low fat, making it well-suited for allergy-sensitive formulas and differentiated products.
Australia also utilizes unique animal proteins such as ostrich and emu as pet food ingredients. These are increasingly appreciated as alternative proteins with relatively low allergen risk. Because they are generally lean and high in protein, they may be beneficial options for dogs that are sensitive to more common protein sources.
Australia is also rich in seafood such as Tasmanian salmon, enabling formulation design that incorporates fish ingredients high in omega-3 fatty acids.
Another major strength is the ability to process these diverse animal proteins close to the production area while they are still fresh, which supports high product quality. Australia’s broad range of ingredients is a highly attractive point for Japanese brands seeking differentiation.
Clean and strict agricultural and livestock management
Australia’s agricultural and livestock industries are widely known for strict standards and robust management systems. Regulations on the use of hormones and antibiotics, animal welfare-based husbandry practices, and strong traceability systems for production history are thoroughly implemented—aligning well with Japan’s strong preference for “safety and reliability.”
In addition, the fact that Australia has not experienced major livestock diseases such as BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) or foot-and-mouth disease is another factor that strengthens international confidence.
High standards in pet food manufacturing
Many pet food manufacturing facilities in Australia operate under international standards such as GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) and HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points). This creates an environment where microbial control, foreign object prevention, and hygiene management are strictly maintained—making it easier to meet Japanese import requirements.
Furthermore, some factories can also produce higher value-added products with certifications such as organic certification or human-grade certification, which can directly support differentiation for Japanese brands.
Key Benefits of OEM Manufacturing in Australia
Access to high-quality raw materials
Australia offers a wide range of animal proteins—such as lamb, kangaroo, salmon, ostrich, and emu—while also maintaining strict quality control systems for livestock and seafood.
The country enforces strict limitations on antibiotics and hormone use, and the use of genetically modified feed is also restricted, resulting in a very high level of ingredient safety. Ingredients produced in such an environment match extremely well with the Japanese market’s preference for “safe and trustworthy” products.
In addition, processing steps such as domestic handling, freezing, and drying are managed thoroughly, enabling products to be manufactured while maintaining freshness and nutritional value. This makes Australia not just a production location, but a place where truly premium dog food can be produced.
Strong capability in high value-added products
Australia is particularly strong in developing value-added dog food such as grain-free formulas, natural concepts, whole-food formulations, and products using organic ingredients.
Many OEM factories are capable of recipe design aligned with current trends, making it easier to develop products that appeal to Japan’s natural-minded pet owners. For example, it is often possible to develop functional formulas using natural ingredients such as kelp, chia seeds, yucca, and turmeric, as well as freeze-dried products that utilize raw meat ingredients in a “whole prey” concept.
Australia-based manufacturers also tend to be flexible in developing allergy-friendly recipes using alternative, less allergenic proteins—another advantage for Japanese companies seeking greater formulation freedom.
Sustainability and traceability can be communicated clearly
Consumer awareness around sustainability is rising globally across three key areas: environment, animal welfare, and food safety. This trend is also increasing in Japan, where consumers are increasingly choosing sustainable products.
Australian OEM manufacturing often provides strong traceability systems, and many factories can confirm details such as “which farm the animal was raised on” or “which fishing area the fish came from.” This enables brands to communicate product value transparently, strengthening brand trust.
Some factories also adopt manufacturing processes with reduced environmental impact, enabling ESG-oriented branding approaches such as decarbonization and circular resource use.
Stable supply and well-developed export infrastructure
Australia is a major exporter of primary commodities, and it has highly developed export logistics and quality management systems, including port infrastructure, cold-chain transportation, and customs procedures. Asia—including Japan—is one of Australia’s key export destinations, and many pet food products are supplied stably to the region.
In addition, products manufactured at facilities approved for export under the management of Australian authorities (including quarantine/export control) can support smoother customs clearance for Japan, providing reassurance in lead-time and delivery management.
Australia’s geographic characteristics—relatively low risk of political instability and other disruptions—are also attractive for Japanese companies seeking stable supply.
Competitive Advantages for Japanese Brands
The added value of “Made in Australia”
Australian pet food has established a global image of being natural, safe, and trustworthy, and this reliability is also highly valued in Japan. Products made under strict food and livestock management systems in a rich natural environment—positioned as “Made in Australia”—can become a strong differentiation point for quality-oriented Japanese consumers.
In recent years, consumers have also become more attentive to ingredient origin and country-of-manufacture labeling. In many cases, simply highlighting Australian manufacturing can enhance brand value and support higher pricing. In a market where it is increasingly difficult to differentiate domestic products, the fact that “the manufacturing country itself becomes a selling point” is a major competitive advantage.
Unique ingredients and formulation design not available to competitors
By leveraging Australian OEM manufacturing, Japanese brands can plan and sell products using rare proteins—such as kangaroo, ostrich, and emu—that are difficult to source or manufacture domestically in Japan. These proteins are particularly attractive for allergy-friendly diets and broadened dietary options, making them effective for differentiation.
In addition, Australian manufacturers often have strong experience in natural recipe design, including no artificial additives (no synthetic preservatives, colors, or flavors) and formulations based only on natural ingredients. This supports the development of high value-added products aimed at health- and nature-conscious consumers.
High development flexibility and responsive manufacturing support
Many Australian OEM factories can support multi-item production and respond flexibly to Japan-specific requirements. They can often handle detailed adjustments and trials for designs such as:
- Grain-free and single-animal-protein recipes
- Functional recipes using superfoods and herbs
- New processing methods such as freeze-drying and air-drying
- Holistic product designs supporting digestion, skin, immunity, and mental well-being
In addition, because many OEM partners have strong export experience, they can issue necessary certificates, support Japan-oriented packaging requirements, and build partnerships aligned with Japanese quality expectations and business practices—another major advantage.
Inquiries and Consultation
Our company can introduce appropriate OEM manufacturing partners from multiple manufacturers based on your needs and requests. Please feel free to contact us for any inquiry or consultation regarding OEM support—no matter how small.
Main product categories we handle
- Dry dog food
- Freeze-dried raw meat dog food
- Dry cat food
- Freeze-dried raw meat cat food
- Dog treats
- Cat treats
- Air-dried pet food
How to contact us
Phone: +66 (0)61-457-4310
You can call and speak directly with our representative. Phone support is fast and allows us to provide needed information immediately.
Email:
You may send an inquiry email to our representative’s email address. We will respond with detailed answers to your questions and requests.
What we will ask you to prepare
After your inquiry, we will have a detailed discussion tailored to your interests and needs. We will ask about the following:
- Project overview: Please share the product you want to develop and the purpose of the project.
- Requests and preferences: Please tell us your specific requirements and budget so we can make a more concrete proposal.
- Schedule: Please let us know your target timeline and desired completion schedule.
We value close communication with our customers and will provide the best possible support to ensure the success of your project.