Pet food market researchers with Branded examined attitudes about pets and nutrition among four ethnic groups in the United States. People of self-reported Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic and Asian heritage expressed different views towards pet nutrition and the amount they were willing to spend on their pet’s food.
Organic pet food perceived as safe
One thing all four groups agreed upon was organic pet food.
“Across the board, pet owners are focused on organic pet food as the healthy and safe option for their pets,” Danielle Ricci, Branded senior marketing and communications manager, told Petfood Industry.
Of the 17,673 respondents to Branded’s poll, 48 percent of Hispanic pet owners agreed with the statement that, “organic food is safer and healthier for pets," which was the highest level of agreement.
Caucasians had the lowest level of agreement with that statement about organic pet food, at 42 percent, and also the highest level of belief that “any food is sufficient for my pet,” at 26 percent. African-Americans expressed the lowest level of agreement (16 percent) with the idea that any pet food was OK.
African-American and Asian pet owners were most likely to indicate that homemade food is best for their pets, at 20 and 21 percent, respectively.
Willingness to pay for pet food
Another question asked: How much are you willing to spend on pet food each month?
“The majority of pet owners are willing to pay $75 or less for pet food each month,” said Ricci. “African American and Hispanic pet owners are most likely to be willing to pay $50 or less, while Asian pet owners are willing to pay up to $100 per month for pet food.”
At the very top of the pet food monthly budget range, two percent of poll-takers were willing to pay more than US$200 among Caucasian, Hispanic and Asian participants. Four percent of African-American respondents said they would devote more than US$200 monthly to pet food.
Pet ownership by US ethnic group
Branded conducted this survey on pet food in early November. An earlier poll examined differences in pet ownership among the four ethnic groups.
