Raw pet food adoption: What does the future hold?

Pet owners in North America and Europe are increasingly feeding raw and other ‘alternative’ pet foods, especially younger owners, but do barriers remain?

Debbie Phillips-Donaldson

March 15, 2024

Pet owners are increasingly feeding raw and other alternative pet food formats.

Pet owners are increasingly feeding raw and other alternative pet food formats.

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Companies offering raw pet food, like Primal Pet Foods, are innovating with new products and research showing the benefits of feeding this and similar types of pet foods. Is that resonating with pet owners?

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Michael Baker, vice chair, Pet Food Experts board of directors, and Greg Cyr, president and CEO.

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A student gives their research presentation at Petfood Forum.

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Where do pet owners stand on plant-based pet foods?

Plant-based, vegan, vegetarian and other pet diets with alternatives to animal-based proteins get a lot of buzz, but are pet owners really willing to buy them?

Yeast is among the plant-based proteins being used in pet diets.

Brand Insights

Demand for Sustainable Pet Food Ingredients Remains Strong

Kemin Industries

With pet health and nutrition at the forefront of pet parents' minds, pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers must continue to put sustainability at the forefront of their innovations.

Demand for Sustainable Pet Food Ingredients Remains Strong

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Will high pet treat sales growth soon come down to earth?

Pet treats are popular but also a discretionary expense, and in inflationary times, some pet owners may reduce their spending in the category.

Higher pet treat prices may be driving some pet owners to cut back on their spending, leading to falling sales growth.

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What do pet owners seek in pet food packaging?

Communication, freshness, convenience and sustainability rank among packaging priorities for pet food, along with broader trends resonating with all consumers.

Communication, freshness, convenience and sustainability rank among packaging priorities for pet food.

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FDA’s evolving role in pet food regulations and safety

Proposed new U.S. pet food legislation, plus the return of an FDA-generated controversy, highlight the agency’s significant role, for better or worse.

New pet food labels may not be the only regulatory change coming to the U.S. pet food market.

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Caution ahead: Pet food pricing pressures continue in 2024

Pet food producers are still facing higher costs, leading to higher retail prices, while pet owners want premium products but are spending more thoughtfully.

Higher prices for pet food materials mean higher retail prices, creating a still uncertain situation for the pet food market in 2024.

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Joining pet owners on the path to pet food sustainability

Consumers embrace sustainability at varying levels, so you have to understand where your target consumer is, then navigate the complex sustainability journey.

Pet food and treat companies can help pet owners seek and embrace sustainability, but producing “green” products can be quite complex.

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Why cats are a growth category for pet food

Rising urbanization is leading to increased cat ownership and, following on, higher cat food sales growth, presenting opportunities for pet food companies.

Higher cat ownership means higher growth rates for cat food and treat sales.

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The ongoing strength and growth of pet food omnichannel

Omnichannel shopping — buying pet food both in physical stores and online — really took off during the pandemic and is still a popular choice for pet owners.

Omnichannel pet food shopping became more popular during the pandemic and is still preferred by many pet owners.

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Pet food premiumization: Too much of a good thing?

The pet food market has continually moved to premium and superpremium, helping drive growth, but has it reached its limits for long-term market health?

A focus on the affluent may have its limits when it comes to pet food product development and retail strategies.

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What pet food manufacturing contributes to the U.S. economy

U.S. pet food manufacturers directly contribute billions of dollars in added value, labor income and output to the economy, along with thousands of jobs.

Flashvector I I Stock com Pet Food Factory People

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How functional pet food’s consumer appeal ties to buying

Many pet owners show awareness of the importance of pet nutrition to health and wellness, yet only half are willing to pay more for functional benefits.

Pet owner surveys over the past few years show the majority are aware of the key role nutrition plays in their pets’ health.

Pet Food Market

Top pet food companies rising along with overall industry

The largest pet food companies globally keep growing due to acquisitions, product launches, expanded distribution and inflation, guiding the industry’s growth.

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