Debbie Phillips-DonaldsonDebbie Phillips-Donaldson is editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry magazine and Petfood Forum.From the Author - Page 60Pet Food MarketNatural petfood a powerful, growing marketIf natural petfood sales continue to grow, does that mean no legal or regulatory definitions are necessary?Pet Food MarketUS pet retailers report sales growth, optimismUS pet retailers reported over 6% sales growth from 2011-2013, a positive sign for the petfood industry, including a 5% increase in natural pet productsPet Food MarketDoes fate of pet jerky treats rest with the marketplace?Consumers are probably justified in being wary of buying food, petfood or pet treats sourced from China.Pet Food MarketBrazil’s dynamic petfood market takes the world stageBrazil is the fastest growing pet market globally and is now the second largest petfood market (behind the US), according to EuromonitorPet Food MarketNew petfood products follow functional human food trendsNew petfood and treat products on display at this year’s major pet trade shows to date follow many of the functional, health and wellness trends in human food.Pet Food MarketPetfood trends at Interzoo: grain free, BARF and insectsLast week’s Interzoo, the 33rd edition of the largest pet trade show in the world, saw not only increased numbers from the last edition in 2012 but also hundreds of new petfood products. Grain free petfoods were ubiquitous, and BARF (biologically appropriate raw foods) and similar fresh-meat products abounded, too.Pet Food MarketInsights for petfood in US consumers’ focus on ‘healthfulness’A new survey on US consumers’ choices in human foods could have implications for the petfood industry, particularly in how these consumers are focusing on “healthfulness,” the sources they trust for nutrition information, their level of confidence in food safety and the information they seek on product labels. Some of the findings are good news, some not so great.Pet Food MarketDog food apps to help consumers control pets’ weightPet obesity is a steadily rising problem in the US and other developed markets; according to the latest study from the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), 52.6% of US dogs and 57.6% of US cats are overweight or obese. Fortunately, apps are available to help pet owners trying to control their furry loved ones’ weight.Pet Food MarketPurina and Blue Buffalo wage petfood marketing claims warIn suing Blue Buffalo Co. this week over false and disparaging advertising claims, Nestlé Purina PetCare threw down the gauntlet in terms of competitive marketing claims. Does Purina have a case – and perhaps more significant, if it does, could this be just the first step in a sea change in how petfoods are labeled and marketed? (Not to mention formulated.)Pet Food MarketPetfood industry could learn from new study on GMO labeling mandatesAs yet another US state considers mandating labeling of food products with information on inclusion of ingredients that have been genetically modified (otherwise known as GMOs), a new paper looks at the potential impact—positive and negative—of such mandates. The latest state jumping into the GMO labeling debate is Vermont. Its legislature recently passed a bill that would make it the first state to require mandatory labeling of any foods containing ingredients that had been “genetically engineered.” The governor is expected to soon sign it into law.NutritionPet obesity: Tackling the ‘fat gap’Two studies released in March show that pet obesity is becoming an all too common problem in developed petfood markets. First, UK's Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) issued “Pet Obesity: Five Years On,” an update to an initial report from 2009. The picture now does not look any better than it did then.Pet Food MarketWho influences pet owners’ petfood purchasing decisions?US dog owners are most likely to received petfood recommendations from their veterinarians, followed by a friend or family member, then a pet store, according to the GfK PetInsights Study. While this is not a surprise, the study, presented on during Petfood Forum Asia 2014 by Pushan Tagore, director of pet nutrition services for GfK's Animal Health division, revealed some interesting insights on who and what influences the petfood purchasing decisions for US pet owners.Previous PagePage 60 of 81Next Page
