In February 2022, Petfood Industry’s staff and contributors wrote 6 blogs and columns. These articles covered pet food exports, sales trends, ingredients and more.
At the global level, pet food exports rose 2.4% from 2020 to 2021 (through November, the latest data available to AFIA). U.S. pet food exports increased by an even 2%, according to Tumbarello, continuing a small but steady increase year-over-year since 2017.
Some traditional pet food ingredients like soy, corn and wheat, and their derivatives, have long been demonized by so-called experts on the internet and even some pet food brands. Based mainly on unsubstantiated information, these ingredients often carry a perception in the minds of some pet owners as being unhealthy, non-nutritious, “cheap filler.”
A majority of consumers globally, 55%, say they’re more likely to buy a packaged food item if it has a sustainability claim, according to a newly released FATtitudes survey from Cargill. The percentage is up from 51% in 2019, the last time the survey was undertaken.
U.S. dog owners spent an average of US$287 on dog food in 2020, while cat owners spent US$254 on cat food. Both amounts represented an approximate 11% increase from two years before.
