Loop expands East African pet food business into Tanzania

TANZANIA – Kenyan pet food manufacturer Loop has expanded into Tanzania, extending its locally produced pet nutrition business beyond Kenya as it builds an East African market presence.

The company said its complete and balanced pet food, formulated to international standards and made with ingredients sourced across the region, is now available in Tanzania.

Loop said the expansion follows growth in Tanzania’s pet food market and reflects its strategy to build a regional pet food business across East Africa.

The company was established in Kenya with a focus on locally produced pet nutrition and regional agricultural supply chains. 

Its products use alternative and upcycled ingredients, including Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae, as part of its approach to pet food production.

The Tanzania launch follows the introduction of Loop+ in July, a second product range designed to make the company’s pet nutrition more accessible to a wider market across East Africa.

Loop+ combines BSF protein with fresh Kenyan tilapia and catfish recovered from agro-processing operations, fermented spent grain sourced from local brewer 254 Brewing Co, and vegetables supplied through the company’s smallholder farmer network.

The company’s flagship Loop range remains a grain-free recipe using BSF larvae as its primary protein source alongside locally sourced vegetables that would otherwise become food waste.

Loop said the two ranges are complete and balanced and developed to international standards, with their formulations and target markets differing.

The company said demand for a more affordable option prompted the development of Loop+, while retaining its focus on local ingredients and alternative protein.

Both product lines are certified by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).

Building a regional pet food supply chain

The expansion into Tanzania gives Loop access to another East African market while supporting its broader focus on regional sourcing and production.

BSF larvae are used as an alternative protein source in the company’s products, while other ingredients are recovered from agricultural and food-processing supply chains. 

Loop has also worked with smallholder farmers to source vegetables for its pet food products.

The company said its products are intended to provide complete nutrition while making greater use of ingredients from East Africa’s own agricultural and supply chains.

The move into Tanzania comes as Loop seeks to build a pet food business serving consumers across the region rather than focusing solely on the Kenyan market.

Loop said its longer-term vision is to produce pet food in East Africa for East African consumers, combining locally sourced ingredients with international nutrition standards.

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