Pet food is a demanding product to package: it has to hold aroma in and moisture and pests out, survive a supply chain, resell on a shelf, and increasingly meet recyclability expectations. Many pet food brands use a contract packer to fill and seal it. Smaller brands, and those doing subscription or direct-to-consumer, often pack in-house with the right pre-made packaging. This guide covers both and how to choose the packaging.
What pet food contract packaging covers
- Dry food: filling and sealing bags or pouches, usually with a high-barrier laminate and a resealable closure.
- Wet food: filling pouches, trays or cans and retort or hot-fill sealing.
- Treats and supplements: stand-up pouches, sachets and stick packs.
- Secondary packaging: cartoning, multipack bundling, shrink-wrap and palletising.
A co-packer brings the filling line and, for wet food, the thermal processing that is impractical to run in-house.
When to use a co-packer, and when to pack in-house
Use a co-packer for wet food, for high dry-food volumes, or when you need audited food-safety systems. Pack in-house when volume is lower, the product is shelf-stable dry food or treats, and you want control of batch size and format, which suits subscription and direct-to-consumer brands. For treats and dry food you can buy pre-made high-barrier pouches, fill with a benchtop auger filler and seal with a heat sealer. Model both against the same annual volume, and see contract packing versus smart in-house packaging.
Choosing pet food packaging
| Product | Packaging |
|---|---|
| Dry food | High-barrier stand-up pouch or bag with a resealable zip; gusset for stability; degassing not required but aroma barrier is. |
| Treats | Smaller stand-up pouch or sachet with a strong aroma barrier and easy-open feature. |
| Wet food | Retort pouch, tray with lidding film, or can, matched to the co-packer’s process. |
| Supplements and powders | Sachet or stick pack in a foil laminate. |
| Shipping | Right-sized carton so freight is not charged on air, with a strong seal for the parcel weight. |
Recyclable mono-material pouches are increasingly available for dry food and treats; check the shelf life still holds for your product.
How Carewell Group helps
Carewell Group is an Australian packaging manufacturer and supplier. We are not a pet food filler or contract packer. We supply the packaging:
- High-barrier stand-up pouches and bags with resealable closures, in a range of sizes.
- Sachets and stick packs for treats and supplements.
- Trays and lidding films for wet formats.
- Right-sized shipping cartons and water activated tape.
- Custom print on pouches, cartons and tape, and a packaging review to specify the range and cut freight.
Carewell can meet all your packaging needs for your business. Talk to our expert and we will work to your required MOQ. Call +61 (02) 8760 1491 or request samples and a packaging review. See also food contract packaging.
Frequently asked questions
What is pet food contract packaging?
A third party filling and sealing your pet food into bags, pouches, trays or cans, and cartoning it. Wet food also involves retort or hot-fill processing.
Can I pack pet food in-house?
Dry food and treats, yes, with pre-made high-barrier pouches, a benchtop filler and a heat sealer. Wet food needs a co-packer for the thermal processing.
What packaging does dry pet food need?
A high-barrier stand-up pouch or bag with a resealable zip and a strong aroma barrier, sized to the pack weight.
Does Carewell fill pet food?
No. Carewell supplies pouches, bags, sachets, trays and cartons. We are not a pet food filler or contract packer.
Sources
- PFIAA, pet food standards in Australia: pfiaa.com.au
- Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation: apco.org.au
Written by Alif Vasaya, digital and content strategy, Carewell Group. Carewell Group is an Australian packaging, food packaging, tape, industrial safety and 3PL supplier serving all of Australia. Last updated 10 September 2026.