

Leaft Foods enters pet nutrition market with meat-like leaf protein and US distribution deal
Leaft Foods, known for extracting Rubisco – the world’s most abundant protein – directly from green leaves, has announced its entry into the pet nutrition market with Alfalfa Protein Concentrate (APC), a sustainable, high-protein ingredient designed to deliver meat-like nutrition with a fraction of the environmental impact. The company also revealed a strategic partnership with Meateor Pet Food Ingredients New Zealand to distribute APC in the USA, with expansion into Europe planned for 2026.
The move marks a natural evolution of Leaft’s food production system, which maximizes the value of all nutrient streams in alfalfa. While the company’s Rubisco Protein Isolate has gained recognition for human nutrition, APC was purpose-built for pet food applications – demonstrating Leaft’s commitment to using every part of the leaf to serve both human and animal nutrition markets.
“Our total utilization approach was always designed to create value from the entire leaf, and pet nutrition represents the perfect application for our Alfalfa Protein Concentrate,” commented Ross Milne, CEO of Leaft Foods. “We’re not just adding another ingredient to the market. We’re providing pet food manufacturers with a way to maintain their premium meat-forward positioning while significantly reducing their environmental footprint.”
The agreement with Meateor gives Leaft immediate access to established distribution networks and customer relationships across the USA. Meateor, part of Scales Corporation’s Global Proteins Division, operates across Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Europe, specializing in frozen ingredient production and distribution supported by extensive logistics infrastructure.
“Meateor’s operational excellence and reputation in bringing New Zealand pasture-raised proteins to global markets makes them the ideal partner for APC,” Milne said. “Their understanding of protein scarcity and sustainability challenges aligns perfectly with our approach. We’re proud to work together to provide manufacturers with solutions that address both nutritional and environmental goals.”

Tim Harty, General Manager of Meateor Pet Food Ingredients New Zealand, said American pet owners are increasingly demanding premium nutrition that also supports environmental sustainability. “APC enables manufacturers to deliver on both fronts,” he said. “They can maintain their meat-forward positioning while achieving meaningful greenhouse gas reduction. This partnership aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing solutions that address the ever-changing protein landscape and support our customers’ sustainability goals.”
The collaboration uses Scales Corporation’s integrated logistics division for delivery and Meateor’s expertise in frozen proteins to ensure seamless service for the growing pet food market. Together, the companies expect to build a business worth tens of millions of dollars (US$) within five years.
Designed to work alongside traditional meat ingredients, APC offers both functional and environmental advantages. Supplied in a frozen block format identical to conventional meat inputs, APC can be integrated directly into existing pet food production without changes to supply chains or processing lines.
Independent life cycle analysis found APC delivers protein levels comparable to meat with 99% lower carbon emissions than beef or lamb. Substituting APC for just 5% of a beef-based recipe can cut a product’s carbon footprint by up to 20%, while maintaining protein levels and adding beneficial micronutrients such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamin K.
APC’s nutritional profile supports immune function, joint health, and skin and coat condition – offering a plant-based complement to animal proteins without compromising on performance or palatability.
Leaft’s expansion into pet nutrition follows early market validation across the Asia-Pacific region, where three customers have already launched or are developing products featuring APC.
In Japan, premium pet retailer Hitowan introduced a freeze-dried range in September 2025, featuring APC across three recipes – Lamb & Salmon, Venison, and Beef – targeting Tokyo’s growing market for minimally processed pet food.
In New Zealand, GoodNoze, a Hamilton-based brand and manufacturer, is preparing to launch a kibble line with freeze-dried inclusions featuring APC in January 2026. Its “best of New Zealand” positioning aligns with Leaft’s premium provenance story.
Also in Canterbury, Fourflax, a pet supplements business, is developing a new immune-support product for cats that combines antioxidant-rich APC with locally grown flaxseed. Fourflax plans to launch in New Zealand in early 2026, before expanding to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other Asian markets.
With its Rubisco extraction platform now serving both human and animal nutrition, Leaft Foods’ move into pet food represents a broader strategy to maximize the value of the leaf – demonstrating how green proteins can help reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint while meeting rising global demand for high-quality nutrition.
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