Baked and Coated Pet Food OEM Guide

# Baked and Coated Pet Food OEM

K9 Natural launched its Baked & Coated line at Pet Valu in Canada, with grass-fed red, cage-free poultry, and wild ocean fish recipes. Baked and coated kibble is becoming a premium direction.

What is baked and coated?

Traditional kibble is high-temperature extrusion. Baked and coated is:

1. Low-temperature baking (not extrusion)

2. Sprayed with coating (animal fat, fish oil, digest)

3. Denser kibble, more protein retained

Baked vs extruded

| | Baked & Coated | Extruded |

|---|----------------|----------|

| Temperature | Low bake | High extrusion |

| Protein retention | High | Medium |

| Starch gelatinization | Low | High |

| Palatability | Coating-driven | Extrusion density |

| Cost | +30-50% | Standard |

| Texture | Crispier | Puffed |

Process

1. Baking at 120-160C for 20-40 min

2. Coating with fat, fish oil, digest

3. Vitamin post-spraying

4. Shape customization

Cost and MOQ

• Baked MOQ: 1000-3000kg
• Coating MOQ: 500kg
• Sampling: $420-$1100
• Lead time: 25-35 days
• Formulation: $1400-$7000

Best for

1. Premium positioning

2. High-protein direction

3. Palatability-sensitive

4. Shape differentiation

Choosing a co-packer

1. Do they have an oven (not just extruder)?

2. Can they do post-spray coating?

3. How many shape molds?

4. Can they run small batches?

Common pitfalls

1. Too much moisture -> mold

2. Too much coating -> oily

3. Poor mold release

4. Uneven vitamin spray

5. Cost overrun

If you want premium differentiation, baked and coated has a story without the freeze-dried price. Mixiaoqi pet food OEM/ODM has baking and coating lines starting at 500kg.

FAQ

How much better is baked than extruded?

5-15% more protein retained, 30-50% more expensive.

Is coating unhealthy?

No, it is animal fat and fish oil, standard practice.

Can I make small bites for small dogs?

Yes, just change the mold.