Petshop Science and Montego set Guinness World Record title for pet food donation

SOUTH AFRICA – Petshop Science, a subsidiary of Checkers, and Montego Pet Nutrition have set a new Guinness World Records title after collecting 67,200kg of pet food within 24 hours during the Bloem Show.

The achievement more than doubled the previous record of 36,750kg set in the United States in 2023.

The record attempt ran from May 1 at 5 pm to May 2 at 5 pm, with Guinness World Records officials independently verifying donations and monitoring the collection process before confirming the final total.

All food collected during the campaign will be distributed to eight registered animal welfare organisations in the Free State, with additional donations earmarked for shelters in other provinces.

“It shows what is possible when people rally behind a cause,” said Trevor Paxton.

“A record is one thing, but what matters is where this food is going, and the difference it will make,” he added.

Johan van Jaarsveld said the initiative also aimed to highlight the work of animal rescue organisations across the country.

“This record gave us an opportunity to shine a light on the extraordinary dedication of the people who run our animal rescues,” he said.

“We are proud of what this partnership with Petshop Science achieved and equally committed to the long-term work that continues beyond it.”

The record campaign builds on broader corporate support for animal welfare by Petshop Science, which said it donated pet food and accessories worth R3.3 million (US$200,590) to 35 animal welfare organisations across South Africa during the last financial year.

Rising pet ownership boosts South Africa’s pet food market

The initiative comes as South Africa’s pet care industry continues to expand, driven by rising pet ownership, premiumisation trends and growing consumer focus on animal nutrition and welfare.

Demand for pet food has increased steadily in recent years, encouraging manufacturers to invest in premium nutrition, veterinary diets and locally produced products.

South Africa remains one of Africa’s largest pet food markets, with local producers increasingly expanding production capacity and distribution networks to meet demand.

Animal welfare organisations, however, continue to face mounting pressure from rising feed costs, increasing numbers of abandoned animals and limited funding, making large-scale food donation programmes increasingly important for shelters and rescue centres.

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