Food for Thought

The New Year is almost here and as we all settle in for winter, with our own resolutions, why not throw one in for our pets? It’s easy in the pet food industry to forget that fresh is best when it comes to nutrition for ourselves and for our pets. We make resolutions to eat more salads, grab more greens, ditch fast food but what about our companions? Integrating raw foods into dogs and cats’ diets can make a huge difference in their health. Treating the freezer section of your store as an exclusive space, only for those committed to a 100% raw diet is the wrong approach.

As we all know the pet industry continues to grow with pet parents spending $69.5 billion on their pets in the U.S. just last year. For many people, their pets are like their children and therefore pet parents now more than ever truly care about what they are feeding their animals. Research shows that 55% of American pet owners are concerned about filler ingredients in pet food, such as grains and meat-by-products which often are not found in alternative pet diets. This concern has made a huge impact on the growth of the alternative pet food market. 

Let’s face it: despite the high quality food brands you sell at your store, many pets could benefit from supplements. Pets experiencing symptoms like lack of energy, dull coat, upset stomach, bad breath, and even cancer can benefit from the right supplement recommendation. Even better, you have the opportunity for an add-on sale for nearly every customer that walks through your door.

As pet parents pay more attention to the dietary needs of their furry friends, they are taking their pets’ diets back to basics with Limited Ingredient Diets that eliminate any extra, unnecessary ingredients and help cats and dogs with food sensitivities. For those interested in maximizing nutritional benefits while minimizing risk of food allergies and other diet-related issues, LID may be the way to go.

Let's be honest, the monotony of the same old, same old kibble routine doesn’t provide enough of a variety to meet a dogs’ nutritional needs. Enter, the rotational diet. Rotational feeding involves varying the menu on a periodic basis so dogs can broaden their palates and experience a wider range of nutrients and ingredients, giving them a full and balanced diet.

If you need insight into the next big trend in the pet food industry, the best place is to look is the human food industry. As people develop new habits in regard to what they are eating, they tend to mirror those habits for what they are feeding their furry friends. Some of the biggest trends in the pet food industry, such as gluten or grain free foods, coconut oil, and quinoa, are all due to pet lovers wanting to give their pets the goodness that they give themselves.