Unicharm Announces "DELECTABLES®" is the #1 Global Wet Cat Treat Brand, Accelerates Pet Care Expansion

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unicharm Corporation (TOKYO: 8113) announced that "DELECTABLES^®," a wet cat treat brand developed and marketed by its U.S. consolidated subsidiary, The Hartz Mountain Corporation, has been officially recognized as the #1 Global Wet Cat Treat Brand*. This announcement is timed to coincide with International Cat Day on August 8. Along with this achievement, Unicharm is also introducing the current status and latest initiatives of its pet care business, which aims to enhance the lives of pets and their owners worldwide.

*Source Euromonitor International Limited; in terms of retail value sales in 2025, based on the custom research conducted in December 2025 – February 2026.

Background of DELECTABLES^® #1 Global Wet Cat Treat Brand

First introduced to the market in 2016 by Hartz, "DELECTABLES^®" has rapidly grown in popularity. The brand offers a versatile and highly palatable product lineup designed to foster interaction between cats and their owners. Products include the classic "Lickable™ Treat" served on a dish, as well as the interactive "Squeeze Up^®" and "Lickable Spoon™" formats that allow for direct, hand-fed bonding. Catering to the specific needs of all life stages—from kittens to senior cats—and offering diverse recipes such as non-seafood and catnip-infused options, the brand has successfully captured a wide consumer base.

Driven by its extensive variety and exceptional palatability, "DELECTABLES^®" has successfully expanded its footprint beyond its core markets in the United States and Canada, penetrating new international regions including Australia and Mexico. As a result of this sustained growth, it has achieved the status of the world's best-selling wet cat treat brand*.

Strategic Acceleration of the Global Pet Care Business

Unicharm operates its pet care division with the dual pillars of pet food and pet toiletries. By offering a unique "total care solution" that seamlessly supports pets from diet to excretion, Unicharm strives to provide a comfortable living environment for both pets and their owners. Currently focusing on Asia and North America, the pet care business is leveraging Japanese manufacturing technologies and quality standards while adapting to local consumer needs.

In FY2025, consolidated net sales for the pet care business reached 156.1 billion yen (a 5% increase year-on-year), firmly establishing it as a core pillar of the company's overall growth. Under the newly launched 13th Mid-Term Management Plan (starting in 2026), this segment is designated as a key "growth driver."

To further accelerate this global momentum, Unicharm has aggressively pursued expansion into high-potential markets. Notably, in 2026, the company announced its full-scale entry into the rapidly growing Indian pet care market, and successfully acquired Nutrire, a premium pet food manufacturer, to establish a robust medium- to long-term business foundation in Brazil—the world's third-largest pet market.