Pet Food Trends to Watch in 2018
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It is expected that pet food sales in the US will continue to grow substantially into 2022. Packaged Facts released a report that last year alone pet food sales were more than $26 billion. They attributed this increase to millennials’ love for their pets. Just like with other sectors, millennials are becoming the prominent market consumers. Secondly, online sales are also a driving factor behind the growth in sales.
So, here are the critical pet food trends to watch for in 2018:
Protein as the #1 Ingredient
Just like humans, pets are also primarily protein consumers. With new research, newer protein-focused products are being rolled out. These studies aim to replicate the diet of our furry friends, just as if they were in the wild. So, there’s considerable interest in exotic proteins, multiple proteins, protein as the first ingredient, and even single-protein products. Aside from the massive interest in high-quality protein, the industry is also interested in whole prey pet food that mimics the wild animal diet. Other companies are digging into plant-based proteins for their four-legged friend’s diet.
Do-It-Yourself Pet Food
Just like with the human diet fad that shuns processed foods, another emerging trend for the year is DIY pet food. If you look at Kindle book sales, they are selling varieties of pet food recipes that are made from whole and natural foods. Pet food makers are tapping into this market by offering products that can be combined with whole foods or products that can be personalized to their pet’s diet. This trend unlocks the door for the pet owner to customize their pet food.
Functional and Micro-Niches
Canine friends are beloved companions of their human owners, that’s why as much as possible pet owners try to lengthen their pet’s lives by providing preventative diets that hopefully keep their pets healthy. These functional benefits in pet food can be specific food products that are solely targeted to specific dogs with chronic health conditions, activity level, breed, age, size, or even the type of fur.
Preventative Benefits
As mentioned earlier, pet parents take good care of their pets by providing them with food that is meant to prevent illness and promote good health. It is perceived by pet parents that high-quality foods for their canine or feline friends are seen to be more efficient in improving good health in their pets. You will see brands adding new ingredients like GrandFusion to add plant-based vitamins and minerals instead of fortifying with traditional supplements. Interested in learning more? Download more information on our pet food products to see the benefits for yourself.
Home-Delivered Pet Food
To some, this may be something new, but to avid pet lovers, this is no longer an idea but a fact. Actually, there are several pet food producers that provide this service and they are Ollie, JustFoodForDogs, and The Farmer’s Dog to name a few. What’s great about this concept is that they deliver fresh food and customized offerings. Add to that the convenience of delivery and enjoyment of high-quality food is a win-win situation both for the pet and the owner.
Inspired by www.petage.com
