Elma van den Berg has become the full owner and director of Renske Natural Petfood in the Netherlands, taking over from her parents Renske and Jan, who started the company 32 years ago.

Elma has been involved in the family business from the very beginning and has been a shareholder for over 25 years, with (joint) responsibility for operational management. She is set to continue the family tradition by taking over the business and is committed to growing the Renske brand. 

Renske Natural Petfood started in 1993 as an importer of English brands, but the founders soon realised that the food was not adequate. 

Elma ssaid: “Solid nutrition is essential for the health and behaviour of dogs and cats, as well as their look and vitality. We noticed there was a lot of room for improvement.” In 2008, the focus shifted entirely to the Renske Natural Petfood brand, which is now an established name in the pet food business.

Renske Natural Petfood is a family business. Elma’s brothers Eric and Jan-Hilco have helped in its success too. Elma added: “The next generation is joining the ranks. My eldest son helps with accounting. My daughter can often be seen modelling in our marketing communications. And the youngest son offers his very honest opinion on how he would tackle things.

“What started as my parents’ passion for healthy and natural food for animals has grown into a trusted and impactful brand. We became the market leader for high-quality, freshly steamed meat feed in recent years. For example, we have always added fresh meat and superfoods to our pet food products. Our vision: our food allows you to offer a varied diet with lots of combinations. This means your pet does not eat the same food every day, instead enjoying variety – just like we do. Another example is our switch to sustainable Tetra Recart packaging. We were the first in the Netherlands to make this change,” says Elma.

“I am proud of what we have achieved as a family over the years, also thanks to the contributions of our dedicated team, partners, and customers. Now it is time for the next step and I will remain committed to the mission and vision of Renske Natural Petfood. We will continue to innovate and focus on quality and sustainability. What’s more, we will respond to pet owners’ evolving wishes and requirements. The passion and love for animals will always be at the heart of what we do.”

Renske and Jan are set to retire.