See you in Manhattan
We're looking forward to two days of good conversations with the pet food community at K-State. Register for the event, save your seat at our table, and come find us.
BESTMIX is proud to participate in the K‑State Pet Food Collab
This October, the BESTMIX team travels to Kansas State University for Pet Food Collab 2026, where pet food industry professionals, researchers and students come together for two days. We'll be there to connect with the industry and with students, and on Wednesday evening we're hosting a Dine Around on a question many formulation and production teams know well.
Why we're joining Pet Food Collab
Pet Food Collab is built to bring the pet food industry and academia into the same room. We share the organizer's approach, and we're coming to take part in all three parts of it.
Useful conversations
Discussion panels, roundtables and Dine Arounds put real industry challenges on the table, with time to talk them through properly.
Research
Talks from researchers and industry experts cover what's next in pet food, from processing and pet health to sensory data, feeding behavior and sustainability.
Connecting with peers
Receptions, networking breaks and student posters and presentations bring decision makers, researchers, suppliers and future talent together.
Meet BESTMIX at K-State
We're coming to listen and learn as much as to share. Whether you work in formulation, R&D, quality or production, or you're a student exploring a career in pet food, come and say hello during the receptions and networking breaks. BESTMIX is also proud to be one of this year's event sponsors.
Dine Around with BESTMIX
Wednesday, October 14, 7:00–9:00 p.m., at Nico’s in Aggieville
A formula can hit every nutrient target, meet every constraint and land at the right cost, and still behave differently once it reaches the plant. Ingredient lots vary, process conditions shift, and what the formula promised has to hold up on the line.
Over dinner, we'll talk openly about what closes that gap: the data you trust, the checks you run, and how R&D, quality and production work together before a formula goes live. It's an informal conversation among peers, so bring your own experiences, including what's worked and what hasn't.
Dinner details
| When | Wednesday, October 14, 7:00–9:00 p.m., right after the Opening Reception |
| Where | Nico’s, 1101 Moro St, Aggieville, Manhattan, Kansas |
| Group size | Dine Arounds generally have room for 14–20 people, so seats are limited |
| Cost | Guests cover their own meal and drinks. Dine Arounds are not included in the registration fee. |
How to reserve your seat
- Register for Pet Food Collab 2026. On the registration form, you can also let the organizers know you're interested in a Dine Around.
- Open the Dine Around sign-up form and enter your name, email, company and a phone number where you can be reached during the conference.
- Click Next and select the BESTMIX Dine Around. You can sign up for one Dine Around only.
Please note: the meal and drinks are at each guest's own expense. Sign-ups are also possible at the event, but signing up in advance helps the organizers plan.
Register for Pet Food Collab 2026
Registration is handled by Kansas State University. Space is limited, so we recommend registering early.
| Registration fee | $325 per person |
| Included in registration | Wednesday Opening Reception, Thursday breakfast and lunch, and the Thursday closing reception |
| Hotels | Room blocks are available at the Holiday Inn at the Campus, Bluemont Hotel and Courtyard by Marriott. Book once your registration is confirmed. Accommodation details |
| Students | The Student & Industry Collab preconference on October 14 has separate registration for students. Student details |
Event website: www.k-state.edu/petfoodcollab
Program at a glance
Wednesday, October 14
- Check-in opens at 11:00 a.m.
- Welcome and opening talk from 4:30 p.m.
- Opening Reception, 5:30–7:00 p.m.
- Dine Arounds from 7:00 p.m., including ours
Thursday, October 15
- Breakfast and registration from 7:00 a.m.
- Talks, discussion panels, student posters and presentations, and roundtables through the day
- Paws & Applause Reception at 4:45 p.m.
- Awards and closing comments at 5:45 p.m.
The program may change. See the official agenda for the latest times and speakers.
Personalisation
See the current personalisation segmentation scoring or apply a manual segmentation to test