What Nutrinsect does

Nutrinsect S.r.l. is an Italian private limited company headquartered in Montecassiano (Marche region), founded in 2016 with a team of 1–10 employees, that operates a vertically integrated cricket farming and processing business built around Acheta domesticus (the house cricket). The company breeds its crickets in a controlled Italian supply chain fed cereal-based diets without antibiotics or medicines, then processes them into a portfolio of pet-food formats including live crickets (for insectivorous birds such as swallows, swifts, and house martins), freeze-dried crickets for rehydration, dried crickets in multiple sizes for reptiles, amphibians, turtles, and tropical fish, frozen crickets, and bulk cricket powder for pet food formulators. Its proprietary processing chain includes freeze-drying technology that removes nearly all water while preserving the nutritional profile and enables a 20–35 minute rehydration cycle, paired with a microbial load reduction process developed in-house by food technologists.

The flagship retail SKU is the Nutrinsect Intolerance Diet, a grain-free, hypoallergenic veterinary diet for adult dogs formulated with cricket protein (14%) and fava bean (42.85%) as selected novel protein sources, co-developed with veterinarians and nutritionists to address food intolerances, skin and coat health, and intestinal function. Nutrinsect also distributes the NEKTON brand of avian nutritional supplements across more than fifteen SKUs covering hummingbirds, lories, granivores, frugivores, insectivores, pigeons, and pet birds, with vitamins, minerals, probiotics, colorants, and breeding support. A separate offering, Nutrinsect Academy, provides B2B training, operational support, and annual consulting to partners and entrants in the cricket flour market.

Revenue is generated through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at nutrinsect.it selling across all product categories, complemented by a retail distribution partnership with Arcaplanet that places Nutrinsect freeze-dried crickets in pet supply stores nationwide across Italy. Pricing is pay-as-you-go per unit (no subscription model publicly disclosed), with most SKUs in the €2.50–€16.00 range and the dog food at €27.00 per 1.5 kg bag. Customers are long-tail individual pet owners, breeders, wildlife rehabilitators, and veterinary professionals, with customer acquisition driven by content marketing through the Nutrinsect blog, organic search, verified reviews on the e-commerce site, and a newsletter offering a 10% first-purchase discount. The company reports no external funding, no disclosed revenue figures, and serves the Italian market primarily while holding out the broader European pet food market as its target geography.

Name

Nutrinsect

Legal name

Nutrinsect srl

Website

https://nutrinsect.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Italian Nutrinsect S.r.l. breeds and processes Acheta domesticus crickets into freeze-dried, dried, live, and powder-based pet foods for exotic pets, wildlife rehabilitators, and dogs with food intolerances, distributed through its own e-commerce site and Arcaplanet stores across Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insect-based pet food

NAICS

Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111), Animal Food Manufacturing (3111), Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Insect-Based Protein Foods Manufacturing (AFAKAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Alternative Protein & Sustainable Pet Food (insect/plant/cell-based) (CRADAFAI), Reptile & Amphibian Feed (AFADAFAK), Manufacturing, Private Label & Co-Manufacturing for Animal Diets (HLAMAHAO), Specialty & Condition-Specific Nutraceuticals (e.g., Liver, Eye, Endocrine) (HLAMALAO)

Keywords

• Insect-based pet food
• Alternative protein
• Cricket protein
• Freeze-dried insects
• Exotic pet nutrition

Headquarters

HQ city

Ancona

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Sales (Direct-to-Consumer): Nutrinsect operates its own online storefront (nutrinsect.it) selling insect-based pet food products directly to pet owners, breeders, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and veterinary professionals. Sales are conducted in euros with secure payment processing.
2. Retail Distribution (Arcaplanet Partnership): Products are also sold through Arcaplanet retail stores across Italy, with freeze-dried crickets available in Arcaplanet stores nationwide. This provides broader retail distribution and access to walk-in customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nutrinsect breeds and industrial-transforms Acheta domesticus (house crickets) in a controlled Italian supply chain (without antibiotics or medicines), then sells the resulting products — live, frozen, dried, freeze-dried crickets, hypoallergenic dog food with cricket protein (Intolerance Diet), and cricket powder for pet food — through its e-commerce site and Arcaplanet retail stores. The company also distributes the NEKTON range of avian nutritional supplements and runs a paid Nutrinsect Academy training and consulting program for businesses entering the cricket flour market.

Product overview

Nutrinsect is an Italian pet food company specializing in sustainable insect-based nutrition for companion and exotic animals. Its core product portfolio consists of proprietary Acheta domesticus (house cricket) derived products, including fresh/freeze-dried/dried crickets in various formats (live, freeze-dried, dried, frozen) for birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, a hypoallergenic veterinary diet dog food (Nutrinsect Intolerance Diet) made with cricket protein, and cricket powder for pet food formulations. The company also distributes the Nekton brand product line, a comprehensive range of nutritional supplements, tonics, vitamin and mineral complexes, probiotics, colorants, and complete foods for birds (including specific formulations for granivores, frugivores, insectivores, pigeons, hummingbirds, and lories), all of which complement the insect-based feeding products. The Nutrinsect Academy provides training and consulting services to partners on the sustainable protein market. All Nutrinsect-brand products are produced in controlled Italian supply chains without antibiotics or medicines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nutrinsect Intolerance Diet (Mangime ipoallergenico per cani adulti con proteina di grillo) Grain-free hypoallergenic veterinary diet food for adult dogs of small and medium size; formulated with cricket protein at 14% and fava bean at 42.85% as selected protein sources to reduce food intolerances and support skin and intestinal function; recommended usage 3–8 weeks, extendable up to 1 year with veterinary guidance.
• Grilli liofilizzati Acheta domesticus da reidratare (Freeze-dried rehydratable crickets) Freeze-dried Acheta domesticus crickets for rehydration, intended for insectivorous birds (swallows, swifts, house martins), reptiles, amphibians, and fish; rehydrates in approximately 20–35 minutes with warm or room-temperature water.
• Grilli essiccati per rettili e anfibi (Dried crickets for reptiles and amphibians) Dried Acheta domesticus crickets for reptiles and amphibians, available in three sizes (Medi, Sub Adulti, Adulti) and 20 g / 100 g pack sizes; high in protein, calcium, and vitamins with low fat and calories; processing reduces microbial load while preserving nutritional quality.
• Grilli vivi per uccelli insettivori, rondini, rondoni e balestrucci (Live crickets for insectivorous birds) Live Acheta domesticus crickets for insectivorous birds such as swallows, swifts, and house martins, available in three sizes (Medi, Sub Adulti, Adulti) and multiple pack sizes (40–1,000 pieces); farmed in a controlled supply chain without antibiotics or medicines.
• Tarta Cricket line — Baby, Medium, Big (Dried crickets for turtles) Dried crickets specifically formulated for tortoise feeding, available as Baby Tarta (15 g), Medium Tarta (30 g), and Big Tarta (50 g) to support growth and metabolism of turtles across juvenile and adult life stages.
• Grilli micro, medi e grandi essiccati per pesci tropicali (Dried crickets for tropical fish — micro/medium/large) Dried crickets in three sizes (micro, medium, large) for tropical fish feeding, providing high-biological-value proteins suitable for aquarium fish nutrition.
• Polvere di grillo essiccata ad uso pet food (Dried cricket powder for pet food) Dried cricket powder for use in pet food formulations, sold in bulk quantities (€5.00–€50.00); produced in-house under rigorous European standards as a complete, digestible, and sustainable protein source.
• Grilli congelati per uccelli insettivori (Frozen crickets for insectivorous birds) Frozen crickets for insectivorous birds, sieved and wing-free, providing a practical alternative to live crickets for specialized feeding contexts.
• NEKTON-Nektar-Plus — Alimento completo per colibrì e nettarini Complete food for hummingbirds and sunbirds, formulated to replicate natural nectar composition; provides rapidly available energy along with vitamins, proteins, fats, and trace elements. Contains 18 amino acids. Pack size: 600 g.
• NEKTON-Lori — Alimento completo per lori e lorichetti Concentrated complete food for lories and lorikeets, formulated for species that feed primarily on nectar, sap, and pollen; enriched with selected ingredients, amino acids, vitamins, trace elements, and minerals. 500 g pack.
• NEKTON-Tonic-F — Integratore nutrizionale per uccelli frugivori Nutritional supplement for frugivorous birds containing approximately 60 nutrients in free form, readily available and easily assimilated; indicated for breeding, stress, debilitation, or recovery periods. Contains 18 amino acids. Weight: 1 kg.
• NEKTON-Tonic-K — Integratore nutrizionale per uccelli granivori Nutritional supplement for granivorous birds with approximately 60 nutrients in free form; supports birds during breeding, stress, debilitation, or recovery. Contains 18 amino acids.
• NEKTON-Tonic-I — Ricostituente per uccelli insettivori Nutritional tonic for insectivorous birds, formulated with nutrients in free form to support birds during breeding, stress, debilitation, or recovery. Currently out of stock.
• NEKTON-Fly — Integratore multivitaminico per colombi Multivitamin supplement for competition, show, and homing pigeons containing 13 vitamins, 6 trace elements, 2 amino acids, calcium, and minerals to support metabolism, growth, fertility, and overall well-being.
• NEKTON-E — Complesso di vitamina E per la riproduzione degli uccelli Vitamin E supplement for cage and aviary birds, formulated with biologically effective and durable vitamin E to support reproduction, fertility, embryo survival rate, and hatchling vitality. Weight: 35 g.
• NEKTON-Q — Complesso multivitaminico per uccelli durante trattamenti farmacologici Multivitamin complex for birds undergoing medical treatments, particularly antibiotics and sulfonamides; provides vitamins, trace elements, and amino acids to support metabolism, immune system, and normal physiological functions. Weight: 30 g.
• NEKTON-MSA — Complesso minerale per uccelli High-efficacy mineral complex for cage and aviary birds with quality minerals, vitamin D3, trace elements, and amino acids; supports mineral metabolism, bone strength, reproduction, breeding, and growth. Helps prevent soft-shell eggs. Weight: 40 g.
• NEKTON-Breed-Star — Integratore vitaminico per uccelli nel periodo di allevamento Vitamin supplement for birds during the breeding and rearing period; rich in vitamin E, essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. Supports preparation for reproduction. Weight: 30 g.
• Nutrinsect Academy — Training & Consulting Program Training and education program offering complete training on the cricket flour market, operational support, and annual consulting for partners and businesses entering the sustainable protein market.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cricket farming requires fewer resources than many traditional protein sources, particularly in terms of water consumption and environmental impact
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ArcaplanetcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArcaplanet is a major pet supply retail chain operating stores throughout Italy. Nutrinsect has a distribution partnership making its freeze-dried crickets (Grilli liofilizzati da reidratare) available for purchase in all Arcaplanet stores nationwide. This retail channel complements Nutrinsect's direct e-commerce sales by providing physical storefront access to Italian pet owners.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• InnovaFeed: French industrial black soldier fly protein producer serving aquaculture, pet food, and fertilizer. Comparable as a large-scale European insect protein supplier.
• Entomo Farms: Canadian cricket and mealworm producer supplying cricket powder to food and pet food brands globally. Comparable as a cricket-focused insect protein supplier sharing Nutrinsect's species choice.
• Protix: Dutch industrial insect ingredient company producing black soldier fly meal for animal feed and pet food. Broad incumbent in the European insect protein supply chain.
• Ÿnsect: French industrial-scale insect protein producer (mealworm) supplying animal feed, pet food, and aquaculture. Comparable as a broad incumbent in insect protein production whose products may ultimately compete for the same shelf and ingredient supply.

Regional players

• Farmina Pet Foods: Italian premium pet food manufacturer with strong veterinary focus. Comparable as an Italian-headquartered branded pet food company with veterinary nutrition positioning that Nutrinsect must compete with for shelf space and vet endorsement.

Direct peers

• Yora Pet Foods: UK-based insect protein dog food brand using black soldier fly larvae as the primary protein source. Direct competitor in the European alternative-protein pet food category with a similar premium, sustainability-driven positioning.
• Bug Bakes: UK insect-based dog treat brand using black soldier fly larvae. Comparable as a European, insect-ingredient, DTC-led pet food brand in the alternative protein niche.
• Jiminy's: US-based insect protein pet food brand using cricket protein in dog and cat food. Closest direct comparable as a branded, insect-based, hypoallergenic-focused pet food company targeting mainstream companion animal owners.
• Petgood: Swedish insect protein pet food brand using black soldier fly larvae for dogs and cats. Comparable as a European branded insect-based pet food manufacturer with sustainability positioning.

Others

• Arcaplanet: Italy's largest pet specialty retail chain and Nutrinsect's distribution partner. Relevant as the dominant channel partner through which Nutrinsect reaches Italian pet owners; enabling ecosystem participant rather than competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nutrinsect