Packaging is an important part of pet food and can be a useful tool in attracting consumers to a product and telling a brand’s story.

In a highly competitive and regulated marketplace bringing a new product to market is no easy feat. The road from concept to completion is long, complex and full of speed bumps.

To meet consumer demand and the environmental reality, the pet food industry must consider looking for proteins from rendering, vegetables and grains and unconventional animals.

A gentle extrusion process followed by high-temperature baking can help to improve product quality, lower energy costs.

Pet food companies and retailers need to provide incentive for pet owners to engage with their products and become loyal brand consumers.

Novel proteins should have an increasing role in pet food and treats, but using more novel protein ingredients will only be successful if the industry properly educates consumers.

Premiumization of pet food is driving the pet specialty market’s continued growth, which sits at 5% year over year, said Maria Lange, business group director, pet care, Gfk, speaking at Petfood Forum 2016 on April 19.

Learn about using crickets as a main source of protein in pet food in this video from Petfood Forum 2016.

Celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stilwell, our keynote speaker at Petfood Forum, encouraged collaboration between pet food manufacturers, marketers and trainers.

New proteins designed to supplement more natural pet foods were on display at Petfood Innovation Workshop.