Umios expands Asian pet food business through stakes in Thailand and Malaysia

JAPAN – Umios Corporation, formerly Maruha Nichiro, is expanding its presence in the Asian pet food market through a 25.1% stake in Thailand’s Pataya Food Group (PFG) and a majority investment in Malaysian pet food manufacturer Pet World International (PWI).

The investments support Umios’ strategy to grow its premium pet food business as demand for higher-value nutrition products increases across Asia. 

The company seeks to combine its wet pet food expertise with manufacturing and distribution capabilities in regional markets.

Established in 1979, PFG manufactures seafood and pet food products in Thailand and Vietnam. Its portfolio includes seafood brands Nautilus and Seacrown, as well as snack brands Titan and Mont Shamau. 

Its pet food brands include Regalos and Remy, which Umios plans to develop further in international premium segments.

“Through this capital and business alliance, the Umios Group and PFI will draw on their combined expertise, brands, and sales networks to expand the reach of their processed foods across Thailand and other Asian markets,” the company said.

Umios combines wet and dry pet food capabilities

In June 2026, Umios announced a strategic joint venture with PWI, acquiring a 51% stake through a newly established holding company for approximately ¥11.4 billion (US$72.12 million).

The partnership combines Umios’ strengths in wet pet food with PWI’s dry-food manufacturing capabilities, providing a broader product offering for dogs and cats.

“PWI brings outstanding brand and manufacturing strength in Malaysia and is the ideal partner to accelerate our pet food strategy across Asia,” said Kimihiro Takaya, managing executive officer at Umios.

PWI distributes its products through more than 10,000 physical stores and its own e-commerce channels. It recorded consolidated sales of approximately ¥12.4 billion (US$78.44 million) in the year ended September 2025.

Umios operates the AIXIA pet food brand in Japan and manufactures premium pet food on an original equipment manufacturing basis in Thailand.

Its October investor update identified pet food as a growth priority, with the company targeting operating profit of approximately ¥10 billion (US$63.25 million) and return on invested capital of around 18% by the year ending March 2028.

Seafood investments support wider protein strategy

Beyond pet food, Umios is strengthening its access to seafood resources. The company announced plans to acquire an additional 10.31% stake in New Zealand seafood company Sanford Limited, increasing its ownership from 5.22% to 15.53%. 

The acquisition was scheduled for 2 November 2026 at NZ$71.997 million (US$40.44 million).

Sanford operates in fishing, aquaculture, seafood processing and sales, with products including hoki, silver warehou, scampi, king salmon and green-lipped mussels.

Umios said the investment would strengthen its access to sustainably managed fisheries resources and deepen its long-term partnership with Sanford. 

The company aims to combine Sanford’s marine resource access with its global processing and food supply capabilities.

The investments are part of Umios’ wider strategy to expand its protein and food businesses, with pet food emerging as a key growth area across Asian markets.

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