Local start-up Peco Pet Food is breaking new ground in the pet food industry with support under the Northern Territory Government’s Innovation Program.
Under the program Peco Pet Food is transforming wild-caught buffalo into premium, eco-friendly dog treats.
Starting with Buff Jerky and Buff Jellies, the company is now expanding its product line to include Buff Bites – all-natural gelatin treats infused with concentrated collagen.
Buff Bites is an all-natural gelatin dog treat infused with concentrated, naturally extracted collagen from wild-caught buffalo.
The Innovation Grant will enable the business to utilise freeze drying technology to freeze dry the Buff Bites. The freeze-drying process will enable up to 96% of nutrients to be retained in the dog treat.
The freeze-drying process will also enhance the shelf life of the product, creating opportunities for greater scalability and significantly reduce shipping costs.
The Innovation Grant makes Peco the first Territory business to offer-freeze dried dog treats in the NT and the first in Australia to utilise exclusively wild-caught game for pet treats.
Kristen McKechnie, owner of Peco Pet Food said, 'The Innovation Grant is a game-changer for Peco. With this support, we can invest in the specialized equipment needed to bring our unique freeze-dried treats to market and scale production. It allows us to accelerate our launch, create local jobs, and expand our reach across Australia—opening doors to partnerships with stockists, vets, and conservation groups.'
Four Territory businesses will share in a total of $115,000 in funding under the latest Innovation Program grant round, the other recipients include:
- MyEmDR – a virtual therapy platform delivering Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment for anxiety, depression and stress at a fraction of the cost of current models.
- International Solar Boat Challenge – development of the rules and governance model for the world’s first open-ocean solar powered boat race, akin to the World Solar Challenge but on the ocean.
- Larboard – a livestock castration device combining cutting and pain relief in an ergonomic single operator device.