I recently passed my 20th anniversary with Petfood Industry and Petfood Forum, and if there’s one single theme I can extract from the many trends, stories, issues, concepts and events I’ve witnessed over the years, it’s that the pet food market is constantly evolving.
Of course, perpetual change is not unique to this industry, but today it seems to come faster and more furiously than ever. Yet, from my distinct and admittedly biased vantage point, the pet food market is particularly dynamic.
Consider these examples barely on the radar in 2006:
- “Alternative” formats, including cold-pressed, “gently cooked,” baked and air-dried, building on ones making just a blip then: freeze-dried, dehydrated and raw;
- Novel ingredients, especially protein alternatives such as cultivated “meat” and insect protein;
- The large channel share for pet food e-commerce, plus subscriptions and direct-to-consumer business models;
- High levels of automation coupled with new technologies, including the internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI);
- A hyperfocus on safety, sanitation and risk management, driven by the 2007 melamine pet food crisis and subsequent legislation and consumer demand;
- Driven at least partially by the 2007 crisis, the evolving role and involvement of pet owners in their furry family members’ nutrition and health.
This magazine and its adjacent media have changed, too. Seven years ago, Lindsay Beaton took over as editor of the magazine and elevated it to new heights. She is transitioning to exciting new opportunities outside of our company, and as we wish her a fond farewell and best of luck, we thank Lindsay for not only her outstanding work on the magazine but also launching and developing the Trending: Pet Food podcast and Petfood Forum Student Program.
I, too, will soon be moving on: I am retiring at the end of 2026. When I accepted the job of editor-in-chief 20 years ago, I never dreamed where it would take me — literally (more than 10 countries, some multiple times) and figuratively. I’ve been able to grow in my career and knowledge, encounter so many new companies and concepts and, best of all, meet and work with some of the most amazing people in the world.
Jackie Roembke will be taking over as editor-in-chief, and I can assure you Petfood Industry and Petfood Forum will be in excellent hands in 2027 and beyond. Meanwhile, I’ll finish up my tenure considering myself one very lucky person.
