Thailand has built one of the world's largest pet food export industries. Its strength grew out of the country's seafood and tuna-processing base, which is why Thai factories are especially well known for wet cat food in cans and pouches, tuna- and chicken-based recipes, jelly and gravy formats, and cat treats. Many factories also produce dry food (kibble), dog treats and functional snacks. For brand owners, this makes Thailand a natural place to look for an OEM or private-label pet food partner.
OEM, ODM and private label in pet food
- Private label / ODM — you choose from the factory's existing recipes and formats, then put your own brand and packaging on it. This is usually the fastest route to market.
- OEM / custom formulation — the factory develops or adjusts a recipe to your specification (protein source, texture, functional claims, life stage). Expect more development time, trial batches and documentation.
- Co-packing — you supply the recipe and sometimes ingredients; the factory produces and packs to your instructions.
What to prepare before contacting factories
- Target market and channel — supermarket, pet specialty, veterinary or e-commerce. Each channel affects price point, pack size and claims.
- Product format — can, pouch, tray, dry kibble, freeze-dried, treats; pack sizes; flavours or variants.
- Nutritional positioning — complete and balanced food versus complementary food or treats. This drives the recipe and the label wording in most markets.
- Volumes and launch plan — estimated quantities per variant and how many variants you need at launch. Minimum quantities vary a lot by factory and by format, so ask each supplier directly.
- Packaging artwork ownership — who designs the label, who prints it and who holds the files.
Regulations differ by destination — check yours first
Pet food is regulated in the importing country as well as in Thailand. In Thailand, animal feed and pet food production falls under the Department of Livestock Development (DLD). Your import market adds its own rules, for example:
- European Union — rules on animal by-products and feed labelling, plus establishment approval for the exporting plant. Industry guidance from FEDIAF is widely used for nutrition.
- United States — FDA oversight of animal food, with state-level labelling rules that commonly reference AAFCO model regulations.
- Asia and the Middle East — many markets require import permits, product registration or health certificates for ingredients of animal origin.
Ask factories which markets they currently export to and which documents they can provide (health certificates, certificates of analysis, nutritional analysis, plant approvals). Then confirm the requirements with your own importer or a regulatory consultant.
Questions to ask a Thai pet food factory
- Which formats and recipes do you produce today, and which can you adapt?
- Which export markets and plant approvals do you hold? Can you share copies?
- What quality systems are in place (for example GMP, HACCP, BRCGS or IFS)?
- How do trial batches, sampling and shelf-life testing work, and what do they cost?
- Who sources the packaging, and what are the typical lead times for first and repeat orders?
From brief to first container
- Send a short brief and request samples of comparable existing products.
- Shortlist two or three factories and compare recipes, documents and quotations.
- Run trial batches and check palatability, texture and label claims with your team.
- Finalise specifications, artwork and registration in your market.
- Place the first order, ideally with a pre-shipment inspection.
Start your search
Browse OEM, ODM and private-label suppliers on THAIMOST, or post a free RFQ describing your pet food format, target market and volumes — suppliers reply with their own proposals. Before you commit, read our guide on how to verify a Thai supplier.