In 2016, pet owners continue to go for healthy pet food. Who doesn’t want to provide their pets with the best nutrition possible? We have identified eight pet food trends that are and will be dominating consumer demand this year.
Nothing less than premium
Pet owners care so much for their pets that they are willing to pay more for their food than for their own. Although they can already spend a little fortune, their budget for pets is still increasing. This goes along with their demand for high-quality premium pet food. For pet owners, only the best is good enough for their furry family members. We expect an increase in revenue for premium pet food.
High-quality ingredients only
Pet owners seek for healthy pet food containing high-quality ingredients. They want to keep their pets alive and kicking, so they have them eat only the best ingredients. Especially popular among the ingredients is protein. According to a recent survey, 65% of dog owners and 62% of cat owners claim their pets need a high-quality protein diet. If that isn’t a trend…?
Continuously high demand for natural & organic pet food
Many think there is no difference between natural and organic food, but that isn’t true. Have a look at their production processes and you get the difference. Natural food can be any food not chemically altered. Organic yet refers to food produced and manufactured using organic means only. What they do have in common though is an increasing demand by consumers. And if they can enjoy the advantages of natural & organic ingredients, why not their pets? The majority of our customers in the pet food market also use natural ingredients only. This just shows how much demand has increased over the years and we expect these two healthy pet food trends to continue.
Ancestral diets on the rise
Ancestral diets may not be as popular as natural and organic pet food yet, but they are definitely on the rise. Just an example: in 2012, one of our customers launched a successful brand for ancestral pet food to answer this trend. Four years have passed and ancestral diets are still gaining more fans each day, with more brands joining this pet food trend.
The ever-increasing number of pet food variants
Like humans, pets can be sensitive to certain types of ingredients and enjoy different flavours of pet food. Luckily the number of healthy pet food variants has increased over the years. Today you can choose age-specific diets as well as wheat, grain & gluten free pet food. The flavours of pet food have become more premium over the years with many manufacturers offering duck, venison and salmon as ingredients, commanding a higher price. These product variants often go together with natural, organic or ancestral only ingredients. What does this mean for pet food companies? Offering a variety of pet food diets allows them to stay competitive.
Pet obesity calls for low-calorie pet food
Pet obesity is growing in the UK, so pet owners need suitable diets for their pets. According to PDSA, as much as a third of dogs and a quarter of cats are currently obese. PFMA states that 81% of vet professionals also expect pet obesity to increase over time. Obesity increases the risk of your pets developing diabetes, arthritis or a heart disease. This calls for a change in the pets’ diet habits. Many pet owners thus prefer low-calorie pet food to keep their pets from gaining even more weight. If you haven’t added low-calorie pet food to your range so far, you should definitely think about it. Because this trend isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon…
Eco-friendly packaging matters
Environmental protection has been an issue for decades, but people are now paying more and more attention to it. Who doesn’t want to buy a product that has been produced environmental friendly? It gives you a clear conscience and consumers are willing to pay for that. When it comes to packaging, sustainability and recycling are topics of interest to customers and the pet food market is no exception. Experts expect the demand for eco-friendly packaging to grow in the future. This trend links with the growing demand for natural, organic or ancestral pet food. If your packaging looks organic, it underlines the healthiness of the pet food inside.
Larger packaging sizes
A pet food company has observed a change in consumer buying behaviour. Pet owners tend to prefer larger bags of pet food in 2016, so pet food companies extended their product range. Adding bigger bags to your portfolio might be worth considering to meet current demands. Once a customer has found the best pet food brand for their pet, they purchase larger bags for convenience reasons. The more loyal your customer, the larger the bag.
When it comes to selling pet food, you’d want to keep these trends in mind. Pet owners are faced with endless choices of pet food today. So, how do they determine which product is best for their pets? Well, there is one essential: packaging. Packaging has the most influence on their buying decision. This means its message must be crystal clear.
Do you sell premium pet food of the best quality possible, but your packaging just doesn’t match up? You might consider a re-design that shows your dedication to quality and justifies a premium price. Are you currently modifying production processes to become more environmentally friendly? Can your manufacturer adapt and produce eco-friendly packaging too? If your packaging doesn’t show your efforts for environmental protection, the consumer won’t notice.
Whether you need to change the size of your bags or re-design your packaging, Law Print & Packaging Management Ltd can help you adapt to changing trends.
Missed us at Interzoo? Get in touch with us today and call +44 (0)161 440 7302!
Want to stay up to date with the latest trends and industry news?
