"The Chinese? They love cats. The U.S. and other Anglo-Saxon countries? Dogs dominate. In Russia, dogs are scarce because it’s hard to walk them at -40 degrees. In Muslim countries, it’s all about cats. In Europe, it’s a tie. Globally, dogs account for about 55-58% of the market, compared to 42-45% for cats". This snapshot of the global pet market comes from Angelo Russo, 59, CEO of Farmina Pet Foods, a Campania-based company with over 50 years of experience in animal nutrition and wellness, specializing in the hyper-premium segment. With a turnover of $427 million in 2023, 75 markets, and 1,300 employees, the company now has 4 production plants (Nola, São Paulo in Brazil and two in Serbia, in Belgrade, where Russo has been living since 2012). A new plant will be added in Reidsville, North Carolina, with production starting in March 2025. “We are pleased to have a plant in the United States, which is the world's largest market. We have been successfully exporting to the United States since 2016, but we have now taken the initiative to establish a local company because demand has outgrown our production capacity", he concluded.