Jessica TaylorFrom the Author - Page 4NutritionHound & Gatos Pet Foods gets primalIn 2003, Will Post, a former US Marine, founded LIFE4K9 Pet Foods before selling it in 2010 to start Hound & Gatos Pet Foods. Today, Hound & Gatos ships petfood globally and claims to be the original Paleolithic petfood company.NutritionPackaging update: The latest materials, machines and services for petfoodPetfood and treat manufacturers want their packaging to reflect awareness for health, pet pampering and the environment, as well as a focus on consumer convenience, according to the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI). To remain competitive and grow market share, petfood manufacturers should be rethinking their package designs by focusing on package shape, closures and convenience features, says PMMI.NutritionMarket trends: Petfood consumer spending habitsLet’s look at US retail trends critically and discover more about where and why pet owners are buying petfood. Then, using what we find, you can prepare your products and brand to continue to buoy the industry with proper placement in retail channels and on the shelf.NutritionGlobal market update: Emerging petfood segmentsAccording to Euromonitor International, established petfood markets in the US, Japan, Brazil and the UK continue to rule with their retail dominance, but newcomers like Russia, Italy and India are lining up for their very own share from the global petfood bowl. Rising disposable incomes in emerging markets like India and China, coupled with rapid growth in Russia, Ukraine, Indonesia and Vietnam have these regions ready to play a much bigger role in the worldwide petfood and treat market in the upcoming years.NutritionNutrition trends: Allergen-free petfoods and alternative ingredientsSurprisingly, dogs and cats aren’t naturally allergic to most of the ingredients usually listed on labels with a ‘Free’ right behind them or a bold, red ‘No’ in front. Beef, dairy, chicken, corn, wheat, soy and yeast are simply the ingredients most commonly used in petfood recipes and, therefore, the most likely to be fingered first since they are the foods companion animals are most frequently exposed to at the bottom of their bowl.NutritionMaking good with Mister Buck's Pet FoodMister Buck’s Genuinely Good Pet Food Co. offers holistic natural petfood to consumers while promoting local community philanthropy. According to Jon Kitto, founder of the Indiana-based company, sales of Mister Buck’s petfood have enabled the company to donate tens of thousands of dollars to local animal welfare groups.NutritionFilling empty petfood bowls with reliefWhen disaster strikes, our family and friends are often what help us make it through the tough times. Most pet owners include their beloved dogs and cats in this important network of support, but what happens when they need help feeding, sheltering or simply keeping their pets when a catastrophe has left them without a roof over their head? Recently, some petfood companies have been teaming up with charitable organizations or starting networks of their own to lend a helping paw to pet parents who find themselves in need.Natural/Organic Pet FoodMarket update: The premium petfood shopper survivesAccording to Packaged Facts’ US Pet Market Outlook, 2012–2013, despite any money-saving tradeoffs pet owners may be making, premium products remain a fact of life in the US pet market, as do premium product shoppers. As of 2010, US households earning US$70,000 or more account for 51% of the aggregate pet market expenditure and Packaged Facts believes these consumers are footing the lion’s share of the bill for premium pet products.PackagingPackaging trends: An adaptable approachConvenience continues to be a driver behind consumer purchases. Pet parents want to feed their animal companions nutritious food at a high value and in an efficient, handy way. They want their pet’s food and treats fresh, fast, in single-serving sizes and easy to stow and go.Market Trends and ReportsNutraceutical treats bring tripled growth for Lincoln BarkIn 2010, Bobbye Cochran started Lincoln Bark in an effort to create healthy treats to entice her sick dog, Sophie, to eat again. Sophie’s diagnosis with Addison’s disease drove her to lose her appetite, along with much of her fur. After Cochran baked the first batch of (what would become) Sweet Little Butterpup dog treats and found that Sophie and the neighborhood dogs couldn’t get enough, she trademarked the recipe and has been growing the Lincoln Bark business ever since.PackagingHow to: Using new product development to build brand successConsumer packaged goods companies spend an average of US$15 million per product per year guiding some 30,000 concepts to the shelf, knowing full well they are likely to fail. These new products have a meager 10% probability of achieving new product success. So what makes a new petfood or treat not only novel and innovative, but a 'must-have' for a pet parent?NutritionNutrition focus: Pet dental healthAccording to VPI Pet Insurance, by the age of three years old, eight out of 10 dogs and seven out of 10 cats are already showing signs of oral disease. In 2012 alone, VPI Pet Insurance policyholders spent US$9.8 million on pet dental conditions.Previous PagePage 4 of 13Next Page