The human-animal bond has never been more mutual and dynamic. Pet owners today treat their pets as family members and provide them with the very best care. The evolution of pet “humanization” has reached a point where the standard for pet food has become human grade. Increased health awareness among consumers has driven pet owners to look for healthier options for their pets which reflect their own eating preferences. Demands for natural organic pet food, functional and fortified foods, clearer labelling and eco-friendliness combined with new tastes and flavors are on top of the list.
Most people unaware that sixty-five percent of U.S. households, or about 79.7 million families, own a pet. Dogs account for 77.8 million, cats for 85.8 million and freshwater fish for 95.9 million. These astounding figures from the American Pet Product Association (APPA) present potential opportunities for the pet food industry. In the Statista June 2015 report on U.S. pet-food sales, dog food captured sales of US$9.5 billion, the largest in the pet food category. While pet food garnered the highest sales, pet supplies and over-the-counter medicine (OTC) followed closely behind.
According to the Innova Market Insights October 2015 Report, nearly 75% of global pet-food launches focus on a health aspect, with “clean label” claims topping the list. Popular claims include “natural,” “no additives/preservatives,” “organic,” “gluten-free”, “grain-free”, and “GMO-free”. Product developers are targeting specific nutritional requirements associated with age, breed, or size and including protein, vitamins and minerals as well as ingredients for digestive health.
When surveyed, pet owners expressed interest in fruit or vegetable chews, vitamin-enriched waters, nutrient drops or powders added to regular pet food, soups and stews, energy-boosting snacks, protein bars, and treats.
Pet treats and chews are divided into four categories; indulgent treats, rawhide/natural treats, dental chews/treats, and nutraceutical treats and all are seeing strong retail growth. Package Facts reported that retail sales of treats and chews reached $5.4 billion in 2014.
The United States has the largest pet food market in the world with four vendors accounting for more than 80% of all the retail sales - Nestle Purina PetCare, Mars PetCare U.S., Del Monte, and Procter & Gamble.
While dogs and cats are the most popular pets, ownership of other pets, such as birds, fish, and small mammal/reptiles, is also growing. Japan, the U.S., Brazil and the United Kingdom (U.K.) are the largest food markets for these pets.
The pet food industry continues to grow worldwide. Package Facts 2015 survey projection is that organic and natural pet food sales will increase 14.6 % annually through 2019.
NP Nutra’s Nutra Pet product line meets and exceeds all of these demands. A range of premium quality human grade ingredients, Nutra Pet includes pet favorites such as Sweet Potato, Fennel, Carrot, Cranberry and Lemon. These ingredients are used for superior tasting pet food formulations including nutrient enhancement and performance formulas, canned and dry foods, food toppers as well as treats like biscuits, bars and other snacks.
References:
http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/reports/2016/the-humanization-of-pet-food.html
http://www.statista.com/topics/1369/pet-food/
http://www.statista.com/statistics/197939/symphonyiri-tracked-dollar-sales-of-pet-food/
http://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/pet-statistics
http://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/5804-petfood-industrys-top-companies-database-updated
http://www.packagedfacts.com/Pet-Food-12th-9903763/
http://www.packagedfacts.com/Natural-Organic-Eco-8468812/
