The Fatory adds nitrogen filling to protect oil-based pet products

The Fatory has introduced nitrogen filling on its liquid bottling line, a packaging upgrade aimed at protecting oil-based pet nutrition products from oxidation before they ever reach the shelf. Trade coverage says the new capability displaces oxygen throughout the filling process, from storage under a nitrogen blanket to bottle flushing, assisted filling, and a final purge before sealing. The company says the result is lower headspace oxygen, with the intended payoff of better stability and longer-lasting product quality in liquid formulations. (globalpetindustry.com)

The development fits The Fatory’s profile as a private label specialist focused on supplements and oil-based products for dogs, cats, and pigeons. On its website, the company says it produces products in Bodegraven and has invested in a professional liquid production line since 2015, with private label bottling as part of its service model. Its product range includes salmon oil and liquid sheep fat, both categories where oxidation control is especially relevant because fats and oils are chemically vulnerable during storage and packaging. The company’s salmon oil product sheet lists an 18-month shelf life, underscoring why packaging conditions matter in preserving quality over time. (thefatory.com)

What changed is not the formulation itself, but the atmosphere around it during production. GlobalPETS reported that The Fatory’s process now includes nitrogen blanketing in pre-fill storage tanks, nitrogen pre-flushing of bottles, nitrogen-assisted filling, and a final nitrogen purge before sealing. That matters because oxygen in the package headspace can dissolve into oils and accelerate oxidative reactions. Academic and industry sources alike describe headspace oxygen as a meaningful driver of lipid oxidation, and note that replacing air with nitrogen is a standard way to slow quality loss in oil-rich foods. (globalpetindustry.com)

There doesn’t appear to be much independent expert reaction published yet on The Fatory’s announcement specifically, but the broader technical rationale is well established. The Institute of Food Technologists has written that limiting oxygen in package headspace is central to slowing lipid oxidation, while peer-reviewed research has shown that higher oxygen partial pressure in headspace increases oxygen dissolved in oil and can increase oxidation rates. Kemin’s oxidation guidance for pet food also notes that oxygen exposure remains a core shelf-life challenge, especially in products containing more oxidation-prone fats. (ift.org)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this kind of manufacturing change may sound operational, but it connects directly to product performance. Oxidized oils can affect smell, taste, nutrient integrity, and overall supplement acceptability, all of which influence compliance when a pet parent is using an oil topper or fatty acid supplement over time. In categories where veterinarians may recommend omega-3 products or other lipid-based nutritional support, more consistent oxidation control could support more predictable product quality across shelf life, particularly in private label channels where formulation quality can otherwise be hard to assess from the outside. (kemin.com)

It also reflects a broader shift in pet nutrition manufacturing toward process control as a quality differentiator. The Fatory’s announcement positions nitrogen filling as part of an end-to-end private label offering, suggesting that manufacturers increasingly see packaging atmosphere, not just ingredient selection, as part of the value proposition. That could matter for brands selling premium oils, toppers, and liquid supplements to clinics, specialty retailers, and pet parents who expect stability without unnecessary formulation changes. (globalpetindustry.com)

What to watch: The next important signal will be data. If The Fatory or its brand partners publish validation metrics, such as residual oxygen reduction, peroxide value trends, anisidine values, or measured shelf-life extension, that would help veterinary professionals and buyers judge whether the new filling process delivers a meaningful quality advantage in practice. It’ll also be worth watching whether similar nitrogen-based packaging controls spread more broadly across liquid pet supplement manufacturing in Europe and beyond. (globalpetindustry.com)