Overall, pet food industry employees may feel loyal to their sector and be among the least dissatisfied in their roles compared to others in the human or animal feed businesses. Human, livestock and pet food industry leaders shared their attitudes towards their jobs in a survey conducted by executive search firm Kincannon Reed earlier in 2020, sponsored by WATT Global Media, parent company of Petfood Industry. The results revealed how pet food companies may be able to attract fresh talent.
Food industries leadership survey
Pet food industry professionals responded that they were as satisfied as other sectors and the least dissatisfied with their jobs. They also reported high levels of loyalty to working for dog, cat and other pet food companies.
Out of 732 respondents, 30 were currently employed by pet food producers and suppliers. The largest portion of respondents (33%) worked in multi-disciplinary management roles, such as president or CEO. Another 27% worked in sales, marketing or similar roles. Other respondents worked in manufacturing, research and development, finance or regulatory.
While approximately half of respondents working in the human food business had never considered a career in pet food, nearly half expressed interest in the industry. Those who expressed interested pointed to the rapid evolution of the pet food industry, along with their own love for dogs, cats and other pets.
Attracting leaders to the pet food industry
Attracting human and livestock food industry executives to the pet industry entails the company’s culture and company values, along with providing a sense of purpose and fulfillment, concluded the Kincannon Reed analysts.
The pet food industry’s beneficial effects on dogs, cats, other pets and their owners may most excite employees about their jobs. In the survey, 60% of respondents said they would describe that aspect of their work with family or friends, if they wished to explain why a career in the pet food industry excited them. Another 43% of pet food industry respondents responded that industry growth and innovation most excited them.
