Japan's Umios buys into Asia pet food with $77.5M Malaysian JV, Thai stake
What's the deal? Japanese seafood group Umios CorporationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, formerly Maruha NichiroDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, has taken a 25.1% stake in Thailand's Pataya Food GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (PFG) and set up a joint venture with Malaysia's Pet World InternationalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → (PWI). Terms of the PFG investment were undisclosed; for PWI, UmiosDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → paid US$87.7M for a 51% stake through a new holding company.
What's the endgame? Umios is building a broader processed-food and pet-care business across Asia. The PWI deal marks its entry into dry dog food, pairing its wet pet food expertise with PWI's dry-food capabilities across dogs and cats.
Why now? Both companies are chasing higher-margin categories. PFG, which generated about $220 million in 2025 revenue, is targeting 10% average annual growth over three years, leaning on product innovation and higher-value products.
Through the PFG deal, Umios joins the board and gains access to brands including Nautilus, Mongkut Talay, and Sea Crown, alongside pet food lines Regalos and Remy. The collaboration starts in the broader processed-food sector, with pet food flagged as a later opportunity.
By the numbers. Umios has more than 145 years in fisheries, aquaculture, and food processing, operates in over 70 countries, and reported roughly $7.34 billion in 2025 revenue.
The PWI joint venture positions the Malaysian plant as a major manufacturing hub for Umios' pet food business. The group plans to push into East Asian markets using the sales channels of AIXIA, its existing pet food brand. PWI is expected to become a consolidated subsidiary in the second quarter of Umios' fiscal year ending March 2027.
Umios also outlined plans for applied research, including DHA-based kidney support products aimed at "extending pets' healthy lifespans."
What they said. "We position Thailand as a Kitchen of the World — a development and processing base that supplies products globally," a company spokesperson said, adding the deal would expand its portfolio and sales channels across Asia.
The signal: A 145-year-old seafood giant is deliberately diversifying into pet care, one of the few consumer categories still posting steady growth. By buying processing capacity in Thailand and Malaysia, Umios is betting Southeast Asia becomes both a manufacturing base and a market for premium pet nutrition.
Read more: globalpetindustry.com
Image credit: Mr.TinDC
