Trends from Petfood Forum Closely Following Food Industry Trends
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Petfood Forum was back on again this year. There was a good turnout at the Kansas City, Missouri event (despite the lack of international attendees this year), with a number of smaller, niche pet food companies attending. The humanization of pet food—including an emphasis on healthy and premium—was a major theme at this year’s Petfood Forum.
Here’s a look at the trends we saw:
1. Focus on Treats
There was a strong interest in pet treats this year, especially premium treats. With people spending more time at home during the pandemic and snacking more, many feel their pets deserve snack breaks, too. Giving a pet a treat is also a fun bonding moment. Treats that also provide health benefits are one of the top pet treat trends to watch.
2. E-Commerce Opportunities
People have not only been buying their foods, beverages, and supplements online during the pandemic, but they’ve also been buying pet foods and treats. Educational sessions at Petfood Forum covered ways to capitalize on this opportunity. Strategies include optimizing sales on Amazon and Walmart’s e-commerce platforms, pet food subscriptions, and personalized boxes.