VETERINARIAN’S TIP
Seasonal Diseases in Dogs and Cats:
The Role of Nutrition in Summer and Winter
The seasons bring not only climate changes but also alterations in the behavior, metabolism, and health of our companion animals. The good news? Nutrition can be an essential ally in prevention and support during these periods.
PAW Summer: heat,dehydration, and skin issues. During the warmer months, pets are more exposed to:
-Golpes de calor
-Desidratação
-Dermatites alérgicas e picadas de insetos
-Perda de apetite
How can nutrition help?
-Highly digestible and palatable formulas to maintain appetite;
-Inclusion of essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) to support skin and coat health;
-Minerals like zinc and B-complex vitamins for skin regeneration.
PAW Winter: immune system and joints on alert. Cold weather tends to worsen:
-Problemas articulares
-Baixa imunidade
-Rinotraqueíte, tosse do canil e infeções respiratórias
-Sedentarismo e aumento de peso
How to support with nutrition:
-Foods containing chondroprotective agents (glucosamine and chondroitin) for joint health;
-Natural antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenium;
-Adequate levels of protein and fiber to maintain muscle mass and ideal weight.
Year- Round Prevention
Adjusting the diet according to the season helps maintain health, improve quality of life, and reduce the need for medical intervention — a clear benefit for pet owners, veterinarians, and business partners.
Feeding well is also caring.
Dr. Rui Fortunato
These numbers reflect our daily effort to ensure proper waste management and to reduce the environmental impact of our operations.
More than just recycling, our goal is to raise awareness. That’s why we continue to actively involve our team, promoting good environmental practices that extend beyond petMaxi’s facilities.
Small actions, when combined, lead to big results — and this is a journey we proudly continue to walk together.
Internal Awareness Sessions
On June 5th, World Environment Day, we kicked off the first of several internal awareness sessions, aimed at reinforcing the importance of proper waste separation, as well as reducing and reusing materials.
These sessions were designed to be dynamic and engaging, creating a participatory environment that helps knowledge stick and encourages positive behavior change — both inside and outside petMaxi.
Sociedade Ponto Verde
Once again, we strengthened our commitment to sustainability through new training initiatives in partnership with Sociedade Ponto Verde.
These sessions covered up-to-date practices in waste management, recycling, and sustainable innovation, with a practical focus tailored to the petMaxi context.
We believe continuous awareness is key to integrating responsible habits into daily routines and amplifying each employee’s positive impact — both on and off the job.
Did you know ...
The green recycling bin (glass container) is strictly for glass packaging, such as bottles, jars, and flasks?
However, items like drinking glasses, plates, mirrors, and light bulbs are made from different glass compositions, often with additives or treatments that make them incompatible with the recycling process for packaging. Mixing these materials can compromise the quality of the recycled glass and affect the entire cycle. So, even if they’re broken, these items should always go in the general waste bin (non-recyclable container). This kind of simple information is essential for adopting correct recycling practices and contributing to a more efficient recycling system.
Heatstroke Dehydration Loss of Appetite Allergic dermatitis and insect bites Joint
behavior and weight gain Rhinotracheitis, kennel cough, and respiratory infections
BEHIND THE SCENES
The strength of petMaxi starts with our team.
MOMENTS THAT BRING US TOGETHER
Teambuilding 2025
Celebrating petMaxi’s 10th anniversary is also a tribute to the people who make this journey possible: our team.
To mark this special milestone, the team traveled to Madrid on May 17 and 18, where we shared unforgettable moments of fun, exploration, and connection — with a highlight being the visit to Warner Park.
We believe that valuing people is essential to continue delivering quality, closeness, and trust to our customers.
Team Lunches with Management
Lunches between management and team members continue to be a valued tradition at petMaxi.
These informal gatherings are a privileged space for open dialogue and sharing, where we strengthen team spirit, encourage cross-department collaboration, and nurture a more connected and motivating work environment. More than just a moment of socializing, these lunches reflect our commitment to strong human relationships and an organizational culture based on proximity and mutual respect.
DISCOVER THE OTHER SIDE OF PETMAXI
Who’s Who?
MEET THE DEPARTMENTS
This year we launched the “Who’s Who?” series on our social media channels, aiming to introduce the different departments at petMaxi and show how each team contributes to the company’s overall success.
The episodes are being released gradually, and so far, we’ve introduced the Human Resources and Logistics Departments.
In each post, we highlight not only the roles of each department but also the people who bring them to life every day.
With this initiative, we want to bring our partners and distributors closer to petMaxi’s internal reality, fostering transparency, recognition, and appreciation for our teams.
Behind the Scenes of Production
We recently launched the digital series “Behind the Scenes of Production”, offering a real, in-depth look at the various stages of our production process — from start to finish.
Episode 1 focused on the arrival of raw materials, highlighting the strict selection of ingredients that ensure quality from the source.
Episode 2 covered storage and the care taken to preserve ingredient characteristics.
Episode 3 revealed the grinding and mixing process — a key moment in preparing petMaxi recipes. The following episodes explore the remaining stages of production, all the way to final shipment to our customers.
With this series, we aim to bring our partners closer to petMaxi’s production reality, showcasing our commitment to quality, traceability, and trust in everything we deliver.
Get an inside look at what makes petMaxi food stand out — right from the source!
Follow all the episodes on social media.
Share them with your community.
CURIOSITY ON 4 PAWS
Get to know your loyal friend better.
A dog’s sense of taste is different from a human’s. It’s very special!
Did you know that dogs have only about 1,700 taste buds compared to the 9,000 that humans have? Even so, they can detect flavors like sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. And they have something we don’t: taste buds specifically for detecting water! These taste buds are located at the tip of the tongue and become even more sensitive after salty or sweet foods. That’s why your furry friend loves drinking water right after a treat!
BUILDING THE FUTURE
Today’s investments to grow tomorrow.
Project Update
Referring to the previous edition, we inform you that the 3rd packaging line is now fully operational.
This expansion represents an important step in petMaxi’s growth strategy, allowing us to significantly increase production capacity, enhance operational efficiency, and respond more quickly to market demands.
The addition of this new line also helps balance volume management and improves our service levels for partners and distributors.
Next step: a new automated shipping warehouse, expected to be operational by the end of the year.
QUALITY IN FOCUS
Excellence in pet food manufacturing
Nutrition for Dogs and Cats
Complete vs. Complementary Food
Dear reader, in the last edition, we clarified some labeling aspects of pet food. Continuing that, in this issue we want to demystify the terms on labels: “complete food” and “complementary food.” In the world of pet nutrition, there are many food options that may seem similar but have important differences. Clarifying these is essential to ensure balanced nutrition and the health of our pets.
According to applicable legislation, the definitions are: Complete food for animals: Food that, due to its composition, is sufficient to meet the daily nutritional needs of the animal. If this food is provided alone (with fresh water available), the animal will have a nutritionally balanced diet.
Example: dry foods (dog and cat) manufactured by petMaxi.
Complementary food for animals: Food that, due to its composition, only meets daily nutritional needs if combined with other food(s). Provided alone, it does not guarantee balanced nutrition.
Examples: snacks, biscuits, nutritional supplements, etc. When choosing food for your dog or cat, the important thing is to ensure that the daily diet is “complete” food rather than “complementary,” otherwise, you might just be giving them a “treat” instead of a balanced meal.
ENG.ª JOANA PEREIRA QUALITY AND
HEAR FROM OUR CUSTOMERS
We share authentic, sincere, and transparent testimonials that help us understand the impact our products have on your life.
Our kitties love the food. The results speak for themselves! Without a doubt, the best! I can honestly say we’ve tried many different brands, and none gave us the results we’re seeing now. Our Kurama has always been very sensitive.
@palavradecatarina
@shinobipets whatI’vereceivedseveralmessagesasking foodIgiveZukitokeephercoat sobeautiful.In2024,Idiscovered@ happyOnemediterraneumatFataciland I’minstantlyfellinlove!Ifmydogishappy, happy!
@buldoglabrador
Gasparzinho is a tricky one when it comes to shedding — he’s allergic to everything!!! But your food has been the only one that actually helped him.
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE!
GROWING PARTNERSHIPS
@paulacaldeirabrito
Ialwaystrytogivemyfurryfriendthe best.Andyourbranddefinitelycaught myattention—Portuguese,original products,grain-free…youwonmyheart.
We share success stories and the impact of collaborations with our customers and partners.
WEX
www.wex.pt
In this edition, we spoke with Nuno Moreira, CEO of WEX
PAW WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF WEX?
WEX was founded in 2012 by Nuno Moreira and Francisco Capela. Initially, the company focused on the distribution of food and beverage products. However, they identified a strategic opportunity in the pet food segment — an area that was still largely unexplored at the time. It was in this context that they established contact with the General Manager of petMaxi, sparking a collaboration that would later lead to the joint development of several international markets.
PAW WHAT REGIONS DO YOU OPERATE IN, AND WHAT MARKET NEEDS DO YOU MEET?
The company initially focused on Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) — Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, and São Tomé and Príncipe. However, as the sector evolved and new opportunities arose, it became clear that WEX needed to expand its international presence.
This led to a new phase of internationalization, through which the company entered markets like Macau, Australia, and Brazil. Later, WEX began exploring Francophone African markets such as Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Gabon, while also strengthening its presence in English-speaking countries like Ghana and Kenya.
PAW HOW MANY EMPLOYEES DOES WEX CURRENTLY HAVE, AND HOW HAS THE COMPANY EVOLVED?
WEX began with a very small team, reflecting its entrepreneurial nature and the hands-on approach of the early days. Today, the company has a team of 8 employees working across key areas. The founders still lead the business, supported by a Commercial Department, a Finance Department, and an Operations Department, which together ensure full process oversight and close relationships with partners and clients.
PAW HOW HAVE THE PRODUCTS BEEN RECEIVED IN THE MARKET?
petMaxi’s products have been very well received in the various markets where WEX operates. Consistent quality, brand reliability, and strong value for money have been key in building trust with both partners and consumers.
The products stand out for their nutritional formulation and the care put into their production — contributing to growing demand and high customer satisfaction. The brand is widely recognized for its commitment to excellence, which strengthens customer loyalty and supports growth across multiple markets.
This positive reception has helped position WEX as a key partner in the international distribution of pet food, and we aim to continue growing with strength and purpose.
@anatostaeducaodora
I’m loving it! It delivers on every promise. Congratulations!
PAW CAN YOU SHARE A SPECIAL MOMENT RELATED TO THE PARTNERSHIP WITH PETMAXI?
There’s a recurring story that I love to share — it’s almost become a signature of the brand in Cape Verde. Whenever we ask local retailers how “Campeão” is performing, their response is always spontaneous, like an unofficial slogan: “ Campeão is Campeão! ”
It’s a simple phrase, but deeply meaningful. It reflects the recognition and trust that the brand has earned among both distributors and consumers. Moments like this show that the work we’ve done over the years has a real and lasting impact — and that’s without a doubt the greatest sign of success in our partnership with petMaxi.
PAW REGARDING SUSTAINABILITY, WHAT ARE WEX’S PRIORITIES?
Although WEX is not a manufacturer, our commitment to quality is absolute. We work exclusively with reputable partners like petMaxi, whose mission and standards align with our core values.
We take an active role in selecting, representing, and promoting products that stand out for their reliability, nutritional quality, and alignment with the needs of the markets we serve.
We also maintain constant dialogue with our partners and clients, sharing market feedback and contributing to the continuous adaptation of the product offering — a process that drives innovation and enhances competitiveness.
In addition, we promote environmental awareness among our partners, encouraging more conscious choices in packaging, transportation, and logistics, and reinforcing our shared commitment to a more sustainable future.
PAW WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOUR COMPANY IS CURRENTLY FACING?
WEX’s challenges are largely tied to the complexity of export activities. We deal with highly diverse markets that require close monitoring, constant adaptability, and strong responsiveness.
International logistics remains one of our main obstacles — whether due to high costs, currency instability, or customs and transport issues.
Time management is also critical: with a small team, everyone wears multiple hats, which demands a high level of organization and clear prioritization.
To face these challenges, we’ve focused on process efficiency, strong partner relationships, and building solid commercial partnerships that allow us to grow sustainably, even in demanding and ever-changing environments.
PAW WHAT SETS WEX APART FROM OTHER DISTRIBUTORS IN THE MARKET?
WEX stands out for its strong specialization in international markets — particularly in complex and challenging regions.
We combine in-depth local market knowledge with a personalized approach, maintaining close contact with clients and regularly traveling to the markets we serve. Our focus is on a medium- to long-term vision, rooted in building lasting and sustainable partnerships.
Agility, attention to detail, and a commitment to long-term relationships are the foundations of our growth and the traits that differentiate us in the international distribution sector. We believe success is built through consistency, strong human relationships, ethical conduct, and a well-defined purpose. That’s the vision that drives us every day.
We deeply value this partnership and look forward to many more years of continued success together.
Rua General Humberto Delgado, 470 Gravulha • Águas Belas
Ismael Chorondo
Daniel Carreño menendes
