With an 18.7% increase in pet product sales during the second quarter, Del Monte Foods Co. of San Francisco has high expectations for its fiscal year 2009, according to a story from Pet Product News.com .

The company expects sales for the year to grow between 8 and 10% during fiscal year 2008 (earlier forecasts predicted between 6 and 8%).

According to the story, the company had pet product sales of $409.1 million for its second quarter ending Oct. 26, compared to $344.6 million in the same period last year. Del Monte said increasing pet product growth, outpacing an overall sales growth rate of 11.5% for the quarter, is due to pricing actions for petfood and pet snacks, new product volume (primarily from Meow Mix product introductions) and existing product volume growth.