Debbie Phillips-DonaldsonDebbie Phillips-Donaldson is editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry magazine and Petfood Forum.From the Author - Page 58Pet Food MarketDo you have insights to share with petfood industry professionals?If you have new research findings, deep knowledge or experience on a specific aspect of petfood manufacturing or marketing, why not share it with your peers in the petfood industry? Consider submitting an abstract to present at Petfood Forum 2014 or Petfood Forum Asia 2014.Pet Food MarketHuman food trend that petfood should not follow: ignoring FSMASince the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in January 2011, I have seen reactions in our industry ranging from approval to grudging acceptance to complaints to anxiety. I have even heard anecdotes about a few, mainly smaller petfood or treat manufacturers who say they do not have the time or resources to comply with the law and its regulations, so they plan to just ignore it.Pet Food MarketNew research benefits pets, people and pet industryWhile some issues arising from last week's American Veterinary Medical Association conference -- like whether veterinarians receive enough education on pet nutrition -- might spur controversy, I think everyone can agree that research on the benefits of the human-pet bond, presented during the accompanying conference of the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations (IAHAIO), is a positive development for pets, people and the pet industry.Market Trends and ReportsUS pet owner spending: Behavior versus attitudeAfter the Great Recession, it was not surprising to see growth of petfood sales in the US reach only 2.8% in 2010. While any growth was positive, especially considering how the global economy was faring overall, that was down from 6% growth just three years before and 8.3% in 2002, according to Packaged Facts.Pet Food MarketVeterinarians trying to learn more about pet nutrition"You know more about nutrition than you think you do." That was one of the messages Jennifer A. Larsen, DVM, PhD, DACVN, professor of clinical nutrition with the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of California-Davis, imparted to her audience during the American Veterinary Medical Association's annual convention, taking place in Chicago this past weekend through today.Pet Food MarketLatest human food trends parallel petfood trends (or vice versa)Petfood product development follows human food trends by only "half a step," said David Sprinkle, research director and publisher with Packaged Facts, during a Petfood Forum 2013 presentation. That was just three months ago; judging by information presented at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo this week, I am beginning to think that perhaps petfood has already caught up and is marching in lock step with human food in many areas.Pet Food MarketPrivate label petfood strong in Europe, has opportunities in USPrivate label products have never become a significant part of the US petfood industry, reaching only as high as 9.7% of the market in 2010, according to Packaged Facts. In fact, in 2011, US private label petfood sales slipped 4.4%, decreasing the overall share of the market to 9%, SymphonyIRI data showed.Pet Food MarketIndulgent petfood trends may not be healthy long termA UK chef creates a "luxury" cat food consisting of roasted duck, lobster roll, Beluga caviar and beetroot jellies, and costing £24.99 (US$37.98). In the US, dog food trucks purveying "dog-friendly" ice cream and cookies are growing in popularity, to the point where some companies are seeking to franchise their concepts.Pet Food MarketPetfood markets on the riseWith nearly US$21 billion in sales last year, the US is not in danger of losing its ranking as the largest petfood market in the world anytime soon. (The new number two, Brazil, fell just short of US$6 billion in 2012.) And US petfood sales will continue to grow at 4% to 5% a year, according to Packaged Facts—a rate most consumer goods industries would love to have.Pet Food MarketFDA can no longer delay on petfood safety regulationsThe wheels of justice turn slowly, as the saying goes, but they have finally turned in the direction toward safer petfood, animal feed and human food -- and toward clarity for producers of those products. On June 21, a US federal court ordered the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to complete the new food safety regulations of the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) by November 30 of this year.Pet Food MarketWhy consumers are worrying more about petfood safetyUS consumers are increasingly concerned about food safety -- and, by extension, petfood safety, since so many pet owners treats their pets like family members. As many as 17% of consumers have stopped buying a specific human food or brand because of a certain safety concern, according to IFIC (as reported in Food Technology magazine by A. Elizabeth Sloan, contributing editor).Pet Food MarketDefining breakthrough innovation in petfood product developmentOnly about 10% of the 30,000 new product concepts developed in the US each year achieve success in the marketplace, according to Nielsen. So why do so many companies, including petfood and treat manufacturers, continue to pour so much R&D money into new product development?Previous PagePage 58 of 75Next Page