Emsland Group enters wet pet food market with Empet® SmartBind for cats and dogs

The Emsland Group is entering the wet pet food market with the launch of Empet® SmartBind, a new starch-based texturizing solution for wet dog and cat food applications.

With this innovation, the Emsland Group expands its pet food portfolio beyond dry applications, introducing a versatile, carrageenan-free solution that delivers reliable texture, simplified formulations, and cleaner ingredient profiles across a wide range of wet pet food products.

One Solution – Multiple Textures
With Empet® SmartBind, the Emsland Group introduces a multi-functional starch blend that enables manufacturers to achieve a broad range of wet pet food textures — without the use of carrageenan, xanthan, locust bean gum, guar or cassia.

Whether for all-meat patés, chunky stews, or smooth meat pastes, Empet® SmartBind offers:

• Stable and appealing textures across diverse product formats
• Carrageenan-free and hydrocolloid-free formulations
• Simplified ingredient lists with reduced reliance on additives
• Greater formulation flexibility, allowing independent adjustment of salts, minerals and other ingredients
• Consistent performance at competitive and stable cost levels

Texture can be fine-tuned, enabling precise adaptation to specific product requirements while maintaining processing stability and product quality.

Meeting Future Market Needs
With increasing scrutiny around hydrocolloids such as carrageenan — driven by sourcing, sustainability, price volatility, and consumer perception — Empet® SmartBind provides a future-ready alternative.

“Our goal was to develop a solution that combines technical performance with cost competitiveness, while eliminating the need for commonly used and increasingly scrutinized ingredients such as carrageenan,” says Fabian Ahuis, Application Expert for Animal Nutrition at the Emsland Group Innovation Center in Germany. “With Empet® SmartBind, we enable our customers to meet evolving consumer expectations without compromising on quality.”

Empet® SmartBind is based on plant-derived starches sourced in Europe, ensuring short and sustainable supply chains, transparency, and consistent quality. The Emsland Group’s broader plant-based portfolio can further support customers with more unique requirements.

Empet® SmartBind — ready for the future of wet pet food.

Our application experts will be at the Interzoo in Nürnberg, Germany, to show this new innovation and talk with customers. Visit us from 12-15 May 2026 in Hall 4, Booth 4-342!

For inquiries, contact us here: animal-nutrition@emsland-group.de