SMEATS PET FOOD HAS THE "MADE IN RUSSIA" MARK

Avega Group LLC produces cat and dog food under the SMEATS brand, combining premium quality with an affordable price. The company produces wet and dry cat and dog food at two production sites: in Azov (Rostov Region) and Ramenskoye (Moscow Region).

The path to export began in 2021, when the company became a distributor for the international company Cargill. In 2022, the assortment was expanded with cat and dog food, and in 2024, the own SMEATS trademark was registered. Already in 2025, the team started preparing for the entry into international markets, and 2026 was declared the year of export.

The key stage was the receipt of the voluntary “Made in Russia” certificate in the “Reliability” direction. This mark confirms:

- the natural composition of the product (based on meat, not meat-and-bone meal);

- compliance with strict quality standards;

- the environmental friendliness of the packaging (it is recyclable).

To enter foreign markets, the company took several important steps: it studied the target segments, adapted the brand presentation, translated the materials into English, and started searching for partners in the CIS and other foreign countries. With the support of the Russian Export Center (REC, VEB.RF), SMEATS prepared documents, selected events to participate in in 2026, and started negotiations with potential distributors.

Today, the company aims to expand its geography, with plans to enter the markets of Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. The Made in Russia certificate already helps to simplify the negotiation process with future partners and strengthen the brand's credibility.

In addition to business objectives, SMEATS pays attention to social responsibility: the company takes care of the Altai maral in the Rostov Zoo and supports animals in private zoos.

The brand's creator, Liana Babkina, emphasizes, "Hard work doesn't yield immediate results." With a focus on product quality and support from the Russian Export Center, SMEATS is confidently pursuing its goal of becoming a recognizable Russian pet food manufacturer trusted by pet owners worldwide.

The Made in Russia export promotion program offers free certification for manufacturers of non-commodity goods and services. The certificate can be obtained based on five criteria: quality, reliability, uniqueness, environmental friendliness, and organicity. All you need to do is submit an application on the REC website, attach the necessary documents in electronic form, and sign the automatically generated questionnaire. The program is coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, and the main functions for its implementation, according to the International Cooperation and Export National Project, are assigned to the Russian Export Center (REC, VEB.RF).