OREANDA-NEWS. February 15, 2011.  Summit Agro International Ltd. (Summit Agro), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, has introduced "Oinkies," a new type of treats for dogs produced under the Hartz® brand. This innovative product combines two distinctive qualities, namely, good palatability such as jerky products and long lasting durability of pig hide gum.

Masaki Yanazaki, who belongs to Hartz Japan Dept of  Summit Agro, described the background and features of the new dog treat: "Real jerky products are so palatable that dogs  gobble it up. It  often results in undesirable weight gain because pet owner tend to give too much jerkey products to their dogs . We identified a need for healthier alternatives of  dog owners who are conscious of their pet's physical well-being. "Oinkies" was developed  to satisfy this demand and designed  in the form of a double-layer structure consisting of an outer envelope of smoked pig skin stuffed with a fiber-rich sweet potato  inside, and thereby realized  delicious and extremely long lasting treats that can hold the dog's enthusiasm  for an extended period of time."

Yanazaki also noted that Summit Agro will participate in the upcoming 2011 Japan Pet Fair, an international trade show for the pet supply industry featuring products such as pet foods and accessories. The exhibition will be held from March 24 (Thu) to 27 (Sun) (open to the public on the 26th and 27th) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City. Summit Agro will use this opportunity to promote and publicize "Oinkies" by conducting special campaigns, including free trial offers.