Market Trends and Reports: Page 313

SPF launches new odor program for pleasant-smelling petfood

SPF, the palatability company, launched a new Feel Good Program that allows petfood manufacturers to create products that smell pleasing to pet owners while tasting good to pets, the company says. The program debuted at Victam Asia 2012, occurring February 15-17 in Bangkok, Thailand.

During Victam Asia 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand, a dog mascot directs visitors to the SPF stand to learn about the new Feel Good Program.

Global Pet Expo to break records for 2012 pet products show

Global Pet Expo 2012, the annual pet products trade show presented by the American Pet Products Association and the Pet Industry Distributors Association, is set to break all previous show size records, with the highest number of booths sold to a record number of exhibitors, according to Andrew Darmohraj, senior vice president of the American Pet Products Association.

Survey of vets finds 54 percent of American pets are overweight

A new survey of veterinarians, conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, found that 54 percent of pets in America are overweight or obese. The survey found that 53 percent of adult dogs and 55 percent of adult cats are considered to be overweight or obese by veterinarians - a total of 88.4 million pets.

Market Trends and Reports

US pet owners using petfood coupons, seeking deals

During the “new normal” of ongoing economic sluggishness, US petfood consumers are coping in a number of ways, including shopping around more for bargains and charting out grocery visits in advance. According to Packaged Facts’ September 2011 Pet Owner Survey, 74% of US pet product buyers agree they look for lower prices, special offers and sales on pet products.

From 2008 to 2011, coupon usage increased slightly for cat owners but declined slightly for dog owners, according to Packaged Facts.

Market Trends and Reports

Retail update: how consumers navigate multiple channels for pet products

Paul Cooke, vice president of industry development for Nestlé Purina Petcare, believes the US petfood and treats market has never been so flooded with brands and products all targeting the pet parent. "It doesn't matter whether you're talking about mass, drug, home improvement or convenience stores; everybody competes for the pet consumer," said Cooke in a March 2011 Pet Business article.

Three trends have greatly intensified the competition in the US petfood market: the expansion of the two big-box pet specialty chains, the growth of mass merchandisers and supercenters and the rise of the Internet.

Market Trends and Reports

Guide to Petfood Forum 2012 and Petfood Workshop 2012

Petfood Forum 2012 and Petfood Workshop: New Product Development will keep you up to speed on all you need to know about the dynamic global petfood industry while you reconnect with longtime colleagues, meet new industry peers and network with leading industry suppliers.

Petfood Forum, April 2â€“4, and Petfood Workshop, April 4â€“5, both at the Renaissance Schaumburg, offer up-to-date industry knowledge plus networking and business opportunities.

Market Trends and Reports

Potential benefits of fiber ingredients

The study compared the effects of three fiber sources on the energy and macronutrient digestibility, fermentation product formation, postprandial metabolite responses and colon histology of 24 overweight cats. The cats were fed one of four kibble diets: control (CO, 11.5% dietary fiber); beet pulp (BP, 26% dietary fiber); wheat bran (WB, 24% dietary fiber); or sugarcane fiber (SF, 28% dietary fiber).

Market Trends and Reports

How do high-fat diets affect healthy cats?

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of increases in dietary intake of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids on plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations and activity of associated enzymes in healthy domestic cats. Sixteen cats were fed a baseline diet (40% energy from fat) and four test diets, with increased amounts of fat (51% and 66% energy from fat) from the addition of polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids.

Euromonitor report examines UK pet products market trends

Euromonitor International's latest report, Pet Care in the United Kingdom, examines the changing UK pet products market, finding that the UK pet humanization trend may be playing a role in the rising pet obesity trend. The report projects that more "diet" petfood products, including low-calorie and portion-controlled petfood options, will be offered in 2012 by petfood manufacturers.

Pet Food Market

Hiring a petfood blogger and online community manager

Combine a writer, marketer, public relations manager, business manager, communications specialist, strategist, researcher, techie, customer support representative, graphics designer, host(ess), entertainer, petfood expert, advocate and social media guru ... and what do you get? A community manager fit for the petfood industry!

Pet Food Market

Who's posting what about your products or brand online?

Earlier this year, comScore, an online and digital tracking firm, released a report showing nearly everyone in the US who is online -- a whopping 98% -- uses social media. That usage equates to US females spending an average 7.9 hours a month on social media and US males spending six hours.

Pet product retail, consumer trends report released by Packaged Facts

Packaged Facts released a new report, Pet Product Retail Channel and Consumer Shopping Trends, which says pet product retailers and marketers should re-evaluate strategic options to keep up with the increasingly competitive pet product marketplace. The report suggests options for remaining competitive in the market, including: competing on price; incorporating premium or natural products into offerings; improving merchandising, marketing and promotions; promoting pet treats; and becoming "destination information" sources.

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