On the stage with adjacent bar and networking area, 36 innovative companies presented their business models during all four days of the trade fair - an exciting insight into the future of the industry. "The Fresh Ideas Area with bar area and networking lounge, which has been significantly enlarged compared to 2022, was very popular on all days of the trade fair and is firmly established as an ideas hub for the pet industry," says Dr Rowena Arzt, Head of Exhibition at Interzoo organiser WZF GmbH.
Three companies awarded at Fresh Ideas Contest
On Friday, 10 May, the Stage was home to the second Interzoo Fresh Ideas Contest, which honoured the best innovative ideas in key trend and growth areas of the pet industry. A jury of experts consisting of Antje Schreiber (Head of Communications and Head of zza-Verlag at WZF), Katharina Engling (Chairwoman of the Interzoo Trade Fair Advisory Committee) and Lars Hansen (Trixie Heimtierbedarf GmbH) awarded the first prize to Petnow Inc from South Korea. The smart facial recognition system for pets developed by Petnow Inc on the basis of biometric data enables dogs and cats to be identified quickly and can therefore help in the search for lost animals, among other things. Second place went to the Dutch start-up Pawr for its regionally produced, purely plant-based dry dog food. The third place was given to Allkokos GmbH, a manufacturer of small mammal litter made from coconut flakes, whose natural product promises a longer durability with less odour development.
Great sponsor interest in innovative format
Five companies were present as sponsors on the Fresh Ideas Stage: The well-established German company Trixie Heimtierbedarf GmbH was the main sponsor in the 50th year of its existence and was thus prominently positioned within the stage design. The French pet food company ADM, food and accessories manufacturer Affinity Petcare S.A. from Spain, the US company Reading Bakery Systems from the pet food technology sector and the German start-up The Sustainable People, a company with a focus on sustainability, were also involved as Hot Topic sponsors.
