Two long-term changes to the pet food industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic will depend on the internet. Many pet food industry professionals suddenly found themselves working from home as factories and offices worldwide reduced their staff to a minimum. This sudden work force metamorphosis may result in long-term changes to dog, cat and other pet food makers’ labor practices. Nearly 43% of respondents to a Petfood Industry poll reported that their employers may revisit investments in virtual or remote work and related technology for non-manufacturing personnel after the end of movement restrictions related to the pandemic. More than 14% may revisit investments in increased automation, the internet of things or similar systems in manufacturing and warehouse facilities.
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Online pet food retail trend after pandemic
Along with that, pet owners may make more purchases online. In a March report, Packaged Facts analysts estimated that pet product e-commerce, including internet sales by store-based retailers, will increase 10% to reach US$13.5 billion in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to that projection. Pet food owners may have stocked up at brick-and-mortar stores before going into lockdown, but may increasingly make future purchases online.
“A lot of pet specialty retailers are offering curb-side pickup allowing for 'contact less' pickup,” said Maria Lange, vice president of strategic verticals pet and cannabis for Nielsen, “but people may still be more comfortable ordering online, if delivery times are reliable, and having it delivered to their doorstep versus getting out the house. So, we may see a shift of some pet food dollars from brick and mortar to online as we move into Q3 2020 and into Q4.”
Petfood Industry survey responses suggest that many pet food brands have plans to capitalize on that trend towards online retail. Thirty-one percent of respondents’ companies may increase future investments in e-commerce sales and fulfillment through online retailers. Additionally 20% of participants’ companies may revisit the use of direct-to-consumer online sales or subscriptions and home delivery as a result of COVID-19.
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