ShanghaiMay 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On May 7, the 6th TOPS Pet Expo opened at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai. Purina’s flagship pet food brand under Nestlé, Pro Plan, made a fresh appearance at the expo. Based on the new brand philosophy of “Pro Plan Pioneer Nutrition Nourishes Extraordinary Vitality,” Pro Plan systematically showcased a comprehensive product matrix covering puppies/kittens, adults, and seniors, spanning from dry food to wet food, from daily diets to prescription diets and nutritional supplements. It also championed the scientific feeding concept of combining wet and dry food for cats, becoming the center of attention.
(Purina Pro Plan booth at the TOPS Pet Expo)
Beyond its traditional strength in immune health, Pro Plan also highlighted key achievements from years of research in gut health. Addressing the complex health challenges commonly faced by indoor cats in Chinese cities, it introduced scientifically precise and innovative solutions, redefining the paradigm of scientific pet feeding with “pioneer nutrition.”
Francois Gergaud, Head of Nestlé Purina PetCare Greater China, stated: “Centered on the brand proposition ‘Pro Plan Pioneer Nutrition Nourishes Extraordinary Vitality,’ Pro Plan embeds original scientific research, professional safety, and high-quality scientific nutrition into every bite. We aim to make scientific feeding an easy-to-understand, easy-to-choose, and easy-to-sustain daily practice for pet owners, empowering pet families with greater health protection, better health performance, and a more fulfilling life together with their pets.”
Caring for Pet Gut Health, Strengthening the Foundation of Overall Pet Health
In recent years, as pet nutrition research deepens, gut health has garnered increasing attention from the industry and consumers, making digestion, absorption, and utilization efficiency key indicators of nutritional value. At the Pioneer Forum on Pet Nutrition Industry held during the TOPS Pet Expo, Wang Yidi, Chief Pet Nutritionist of Nestlé Purina Greater China, explained: “Gut health directly impacts a pet’s overall health status and long-term quality of life. A stable gut microbiome is a crucial line of defense for pets against diseases, efficient nutrient absorption, and maintaining vitality.”
At this year’s TOPS Pet Expo, Pro Plan’s prescription diet series focusing on digestive care became a major highlight, attracting many visitors to inquire. Among them, the dog food in this series is specially formulated with colostrum to support gut immunity, along with key ingredients like prebiotic inulin to promote gut microbiota balance. It has lower fat content and is easily digestible, reducing gastrointestinal burden while supporting nutritional management during conditions like pancreatitis. The cat food is tailored to the special digestive needs of cats with gastrointestinal discomfort, featuring a high-protein, low-carbohydrate formula. It also includes colostrum and prebiotic inulin, with an overall digestibility greater than 88%, helping to repair the gut barrier.
(Pro Plan Prescription Diet Series Products)
Additionally, since the 1970s, Nestlé has been researching the human gut microbiome. Leveraging this advantage, Pro Plan has further elevated its scientific research on pet gut microbiota, employing breakthrough technologies like probiotic dormancy preservation and specializing in high-efficiency probiotic strains. Through a multi-dimensional nutritional strategy combining “prebiotics + probiotics + fiber” and advanced processes like direct raw meat infusion, Pro Plan continuously improves product digestibility, ensuring that pioneer nutrition is better absorbed and utilized to safeguard pet gut health.
Global Research, China Solutions: Focusing on Health Challenges for Indoor Cats
In Chinese cities, most pets are kept indoors, leading to unique lifestyle habits but also specific health risks. “Especially for cats, prolonged indoor stays without natural shrubs to help remove loose fur mean that cat hair is easily ingested, forming hairballs in the stomach and causing vomiting—commonly known as ‘hairball syndrome,'” noted Dr. Li Ye, a veterinary feline specialist certified by the Chinese Veterinary Medical Association and director of Shanghai Pengfeng Pet Hospital. “Hairball accumulation can increase the burden on a cat’s digestive tract, leading to issues like difficulty defecating and loss of appetite. Therefore, daily nutritional intervention is crucial.”
Pro Plan deeply understands the characteristics of China’s pet-keeping environment and adheres to a localized innovation path of “Global Research, China Solutions,” transforming pioneer nutrition into health solutions better suited to local needs. The Pro Plan Professional Care Indoor Cat Food series, prominently featured at this year’s TOPS Pet Expo, is specifically tailored for Chinese indoor cats, helping them gently expel hairballs, reduce stool odor, and maintain a healthy body condition.
Pro Plan Indoor Cat Food is specially formulated with triple dietary fiber, including cellulose, beet pulp, and natural prebiotic inulin, to promote gastrointestinal motility, allowing cat hair to be gently and naturally expelled with intestinal waste, controlling hairball formation. Meanwhile, prebiotic inulin also helps improve gut microbiota, reducing stool odor at its source. Additionally, indoor cats have lower activity levels and are prone to weight gain from prolonged inactivity. Pro Plan Indoor Cat Food combines high-quality protein with appropriate energy levels to help cats maintain healthy muscles and a healthy body condition.
(Pro Plan Professional Care Series Products)
Leveraging Over a Century of Scientific Heritage, Nourishing Extraordinary Vitality with Pioneer Nutrition
“The continuous upgrading trend and immense potential of the Chinese market reinforce our confidence in long-term investment and deep cultivation here,” said Francois. “Relying on over a century of scientific accumulation, the Pro Plan brand remains committed to science-based development. We will continue to deepen global and local innovation synergy, delivering on our promise to Chinese consumers with ‘Pro Plan Pioneer Nutrition Nourishes Extraordinary Vitality.'”
The cutting-edge research achievements, comprehensive product matrix, and localized innovation solutions presented by Pro Plan at this TOPS Pet Expo once again demonstrate its robust strength as Nestlé Purina’s “pioneer force” in China. With the comprehensive brand upgrade and renewal, Pro Plan is set to embark on a new chapter of development in the Chinese market.