Tim Phillips, DVMFrom the Author - Page 3ProductionEditorial Notes: Big money in playThis headline is an easy way to get the attention of most business people. But it's also relevant because it relates to a paradigm shift that will change what and how much petfood you sell. This shift is called predictive medicine.ProductionGlobal trends to 2012Market researcher David Lummis of Packaged Facts asserts that there are three primary trends driving growth in the global petfood market: humanization, convenience and health. A report from Euromonitor predicts petfood's future, based on the top global trends from the present to 2012.ProductionUnleashing Seasonal petfoods"Seasons change and so should your pet's food," says Roman Versch, owner of the Pet Depot chain of pet stores. Why? "In the summer, dogs need higher levels of lineolic acids and omega oils in a lower protein and fat formula," says Versch. "In the winter, dogs need higher levels of protein and fat."ProductionDrama at the AVMAVeterinarians were on the front lines of the recalls in many ways. They got questions from the public, because they were readily available. The media called the AVMA, wanting experts on nutrition, kidney disease and quotes from the AVMA. They wanted the AVMA to explain what the government and industry had said, and put everything in context for pet owners.NutritionPetland on petfoodsSales of pets are half of Petland's total business. The franchise chain places over 50,000 puppies per year. But recently Petland has been focusing on increasing sales of petfoods and other consumable products. Petfood sales account for about 12% of Petland's total sales, while at Petsmart and Petco, petfood sales are 50% of the total.NutritionNatural Balance rebounds: 3 keysAfter the recalls in March 2007, Natural Balance thought it had dodged a bullet because it did not use wheat gluten. Still, the company began setting up Natural Balance Laboratories (NB Labs) to screen for melamine and cyanuric acid. In mid-April, the company was stunned to find two Natural Balance products had been contaminated via rice protein laced with melamine and cyanuric acid.NutritionDead dogs don't eatEuthanasia is a leading cause of death for dogs. Often pet owners opt for euthanasia due to their dog's behavior problems. Add to that poor training that results in dogs being hit by cars or otherwise killed and it's clear that improper training is a major killer of dogs. Thus, it is in the petfood industry's best interests to promote good dog (and cat) training. Effective training yields a positive bond and a longer life for dogs.Pet Food IngredientsBenefiting from novel ingredientsWhich novel ingredients can work marketing magic for your brands?NutritionFiber focusThere is increasing evidence that dietary fiber is important in maintaining the overall health of dogs and cats. Fiber in petfoods plays a significant role in the prevention and mitigation of several illnesses. Although the contribution of energy from fiber fermentation is minimal in dogs and cats, increasing evidence indicates that this fermentation contributes to their intestinal health.NutritionEditorial Notes: Balancing safety, profit and pricePerhaps what we need are ways to use peer pressure to increase the voluntary safety efforts of all companies. Perhaps we need a more effective regulatory presence. Perhaps, if the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not get enough funding, we will be forced to rely on voluntary safety regardless of what we want.ProductionDear China: ThanksFor brand owners, the real money is in brand name and retail - the two areas where developed economies are strong. China's strength is in fast and low-cost manufacturing, at least for now.Nutrition6 steps to successful exportingPetfood companies that export, or want to export, can make it as painless as possible by following six steps. The primary role of APHIS is to assist US exporters in meeting the import requirements of other countries. In this role, APHIS negotiates with foreign governments to establish export requirements.Previous PagePage 3 of 8Next Page