In a groundbreaking development for the pet food industry, Meatly has launched the world’s first cultivated meat product for pets. From February 7, 2025, a limited-release of “Chick Bites” will be available at Pets at Home in Brentford, London. The innovative dog treats, developed in collaboration with plant-based pet food brand THE PACK, offer a sustainable and ethical alternative to traditional meat-based pet food.
Chick Bites combine Meatly’s cultivated chicken with plant-based ingredients, ensuring a nutritious and environmentally friendly option for pet owners. This marks a significant step towards reducing the environmental footprint of pet food, as cultivated meat requires fewer resources such as land and water while maintaining the taste and nutritional benefits of conventional meat.
Pets at Home, a major investor in Meatly, has become the first retailer globally to stock pet food made from cultivated meat. The initiative aligns with its sustainability goals, which focus on reducing carbon emissions and resource consumption in pet food production.
The production process for Meatly Chicken begins with a single sample of cells taken from a chicken egg. These cells are then cultivated to create a continuous supply of meat, eliminating the need for traditional poultry farming. The resulting product provides pets with all essential amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins required for a balanced diet.
Owen Ensor, Founding CEO of Meatly, described the launch as a “giant leap forward” for the industry. “Just two years ago, this felt like a moonshot. Today, we take off. It’s a giant leap forward – toward a significant market for meat which is healthy, sustainable and kind to our planet and other animals. We’re proud to work alongside Pets at Home and THE PACK to bring cultivated meat to the pet world,” he said.
Despite securing only a fraction of Europe’s total cultivated meat investment, Meatly has become the first company to introduce cultivated meat in both the UK and EU markets. Ensor emphasised that this is just the beginning, with plans to scale production and expand availability over the next few years.
Pets at Home’s Chief Operating Officer, Anja Madsen, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainable pet care. “We’re always looking to the future of pet food and ensuring we offer products that matter to our customers,” she said.
“This innovation has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of pet food and will be a game-changer for the industry.”
Damien Clarkson, CEO and Co-Founder of THE PACK, echoed these sentiments, saying, “The launch of our Chick Bites treats is a watershed moment for the pet food industry. Cultivated meat offers a tasty, low-carbon, and healthy protein source, which has the potential to eliminate farmed animals from the pet food industry.”
With plans for further collaborations and increased production in the coming years, Meatly’s cultivated pet food could mark the beginning of a major shift in how pet owners feed their animals while supporting a more sustainable food system.
