Proteine Resources launches VELI functional pet food brand powered by EntoPro™

POLAND – Polish food-tech company Proteine Resources has launched VELI, a new functional pet food brand developed around its proprietary EntoPro™ ingredient platform, as the company looks to expand the commercial adoption of alternative proteins in pet nutrition.

The VELI wet dog food range was unveiled at Interzoo 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany, with the company positioning the launch as both a consumer-facing product debut and a proof of concept for pet food manufacturers and retailers seeking faster entry into the functional pet nutrition segment.

The launch is being supported by a “First Tasters” campaign in Poland, where consumers can receive free samples of the complete VELI dog food range. 

The products are available in lamb and venison flavours and are currently limited to shipments within Poland.

VELI is based on EntoPro™, a hybrid alternative protein platform that combines insect-derived protein, natural prebiotic fibre from chitin, and bioactive compounds sourced from mushroom cultivation by-products. 

According to Proteine Resources, the platform is designed to address growing industry demand for pet food ingredients that are sustainable, functional, palatable and commercially scalable.

The company said development of the platform followed eight years of research and development, including 18 months focused specifically on recipe formulation, taste optimisation and market positioning for the VELI range.

“VELI shows what a new generation of alternative-protein pet food can look like: functional, scalable and commercially ready,” said Bartłomiej Roszkowski. 

“For us, it is both a product and a proof point for the EntoPro™ platform.”

Roszkowski added that the company wanted to demonstrate how alternative proteins could move beyond niche sustainability discussions into mainstream commercial pet food production.

Proteine Resources said internal palatability studies placed VELI in the same performance category as premium fresh-cooked pet foods across multiple dog groups. 

The company is also conducting functional studies on EntoPro™ in partnership with the University of Agriculture in Krakow, following large-scale in vitro studies and the launch of formal in vivo testing.

The company’s business-to-business model allows pet food companies, retailers and private-label manufacturers to access ready-made formulations using EntoPro™, with low minimum order quantities and development timelines of about three months from concept to retail launch.

Proteine Resources said the model is intended to lower barriers for companies seeking entry into the growing functional wet pet food market without investing heavily in alternative protein research and development.

The company plans to pursue EntoPro™ certification for the United States and Canada later in 2026 as it targets international expansion.

In 2025, Proteine Resources secured investment support from the European Innovation Council Accelerator and Radix Ventures, providing the company with €11.8 million (US$13.4 million) in available capital to scale and commercialise.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.