Pet Food Companies Offering Improved Protein Ingredients for Pets

Pet owners are demanding better protein sources for their cats and dogs, and a new wave of companies is answering the call. From cultivated meat grown cell-by-cell to postbiotic-enhanced formulas, the pet food industry is undergoing a protein revolution. Cultivated meat is real animal protein produced from cell cultures in bioreactors, eliminating the need for traditional farming or slaughter. These improved protein ingredients deliver cleaner nutrition, consistent amino acid profiles, and functional health benefits that conventional pet food often cannot match. Here is a look at the companies leading the charge in 2026.

What "Improved Protein" Means in Pet Food

Improved protein refers to pet food ingredients that offer higher digestibility, a more consistent amino acid profile, and fewer contaminants compared to conventional meat by-products. Traditional pet food often relies on low-grade by-products from the human food supply chain, which can vary wildly in nutritional quality from batch to batch.

The newest generation of improved protein comes from cultivated meat and enhanced functional ingredients like postbiotics. A postbiotic is a beneficial compound produced through bacterial fermentation that delivers targeted health effects without requiring live organisms to survive digestion. These innovations allow pet food to be both protein-dense and functionally supportive of skin, gut, and oral health.

Friends & Family Pet Food: Cultivated Quail With Functional Postbiotics

Friends & Family Pet Food is a Singapore-based company specializing in cultivated meat treats and toppers for cats and dogs. In April 2026, the company launched what it describes as the first cultivated pet food products sold in Asia and the first sold on an ongoing retail basis anywhere in the world.

Product Range and Protein Content

The company offers 12 SKUs across four functional lines, all built around freeze-dried cultivated quail meat. Each product features cultivated meat as the first ingredient by volume, with inclusion levels up to 70%. The treats deliver more than 60% protein from cultivated quail, providing a highly digestible amino acid foundation.

Clinically Validated Postbiotics

What sets Friends & Family apart is its integration of clinically validated postbiotics into the protein matrix. The Skin & Coat Glow line has been shown to reduce itching behaviour by 20% and is more than 2.5x more effective at reducing itching than other clinically studied biotics for pets. The Teeth & Gum Care line uses an oral postbiotic that acts directly on the mouth's microbiome to reduce bacteria causing periodontal disease.

Why It Matters

Cultivated quail is grown cell-by-cell rather than harvested from variable by-products. This means a consistent amino acid profile with no antibiotics, no contaminants, and no GMOs. Combined with freeze-drying to lock in nutrition without heat damage, it represents a significant step forward in pet protein quality.

Meatly: The UK Pioneer in Cultivated Chicken

Meatly is a UK-based cultivated meat company founded in 2022. In February 2025, it became the first company in the world to launch cultivated meat for pets with a limited-run product called Chick Bites, sold at Pets at Home. The company secured UK regulatory approval in July 2024.

Meatly produces real chicken meat from animal cells inside bioreactors. The company has made significant strides in cost reduction, cutting its animal-free growth medium cost to £0.22 per litre and developing a patent-pending bioreactor system that is 20 times cheaper than conventional models.

BioCraft Pet Nutrition: Lab-Grown Protein for Dogs

BioCraft Pet Nutrition targets the pet food market with cultivated meat specifically designed for pets. The company received EU regulatory approval in March 2025. BioCraft focuses on protein-rich formulations aligned with pets' dietary needs while reducing the environmental impact of traditional pet food manufacturing. The company partners with veterinarians and sustainable pet care brands to promote its solutions.

BeneMeat: B2B Cultivated Meat Technology

BeneMeat is a Czech Republic-based biotechnology company focused on enabling the commercialisation of cultivated meat through B2B partnerships. Rather than producing consumer products directly, BeneMeat equips food and pet food manufacturers with the technology, infrastructure, and expertise to bring cultivated meat to market at scale. The company launched its Try & Share program in September 2025 to test cultivated dog treats across the EU.

Company Comparison Table

Key Takeaways

• Cultivated meat is emerging as a superior protein source for pets because it offers a consistent amino acid profile without antibiotics or contaminants.
• Friends & Family Pet Food is the first company to sell cultivated meat pet food on an ongoing retail basis, with 12 SKUs across four functional health lines.
• Their products deliver over 60% protein from cultivated quail and include clinically validated postbiotics for skin, coat, and oral health.
• Meatly pioneered the first cultivated meat pet food sale globally in February 2025 and has dramatically reduced production costs.
• Consumer willingness to try cultivated pet food is growing, with nearly 35% of surveyed pet owners open to feeding it to their pets.
• The regulatory landscape is more favourable for pet food than human food, accelerating market entry for cultivated meat companies.
• Functional ingredients like postbiotics add measurable health outcomes beyond basic nutrition, addressing issues like periodontal disease and chronic itching.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cultivated meat pet food?

Cultivated meat pet food is made from real animal protein grown from cell cultures in bioreactors. The cells multiply into meat without the need for animal slaughter, producing a cleaner and more consistent protein source for pets.

Is cultivated meat safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Companies like Friends & Family Pet Food have secured regulatory approval in Singapore, and Meatly has received approval in the UK. These approvals require rigorous safety assessments before products can be sold.

What are postbiotics in pet food?

Postbiotics are beneficial compounds produced through bacterial fermentation. Unlike probiotics, which must survive digestion to work, postbiotics deliver active compounds directly where they are needed. In pet food, they can support oral health, skin condition, and digestive function.

Which company offers the highest protein cultivated pet treats?

Friends & Family Pet Food's freeze-dried cultivated quail treats contain more than 60% protein, with cultivated meat as the first ingredient at up to 70% inclusion. This makes them among the most protein-dense cultivated pet treats currently available.

Where can I buy cultivated meat pet food?

In Singapore, Friends & Family Pet Food products are available through retail partner Vanillapup. In the UK, Meatly's Chick Bites launched at Pets at Home. Availability is expanding as more markets grant regulatory approval.

How does cultivated quail compare to conventional chicken in pet food?

Cultivated quail provides a consistent amino acid profile with no antibiotics, no contaminants, and no GMOs. It is grown cell-by-cell and freeze-dried to preserve nutrition. Conventional chicken in pet food often comes from variable-quality by-products.

Are cultivated meat pet treats more expensive?

Currently, cultivated meat products carry a premium over conventional options. However, companies like Meatly have cut growth medium costs to £0.22 per litre and continue to drive costs toward price parity with traditional pet food.

Will cultivated meat pet food be available in Australia?

Friends & Family Pet Food is a Singapore-based company that is expanding soon to Australia. Regulatory timelines will determine exact availability dates, but the company has publicly signalled Australian market entry.

Try Improved Protein for Your Pet

Ready to upgrade your pet's protein? Visit Friends & Family Pet Food to explore the full range of cultivated quail treats and broths with clinically validated postbiotics. Give your cat or dog the cleanest, most functional protein available today.