9/15/2021 By Jeannie SwedbergDog treats have come a long way over the past few decades just in sheer number and variety. During the same period, treats moved from being an occasional indulgence or training aid to a daily functional delivery system. This change has come as people’s attitudes toward pets shifted towards more humanization. Pets are more often valued family members and COVID coworkers than working animals or guardians. All this preamble is to say -- the dog treat segment of the petfood market is dynamic and enjoying brisk sales...READ MORE
8/23/2021 By Jeannie SwedbergI’m delighted to see sustainability coming to the forefront in our industry rather than remaining an afterthought. Frankly, it’s been a long time coming. In its recently released Sustainability in Motion white paper, global ingredient supplier, Kerry says sustainability “has moved from an emerging trend to a mainstay table stake.” In fact according to market research firm, Innova, 75% of global consumers expect companies to invest in sustainability. Also Kerry reported nearly half of global consumers prioritize sustainability at various levels. These heightened consumer expectations are what’s making sustainability a priority for companies...READ MORE
8/5/2021 By Jeannie SwedbergAs I’ve noted before in this space, the pet food segment continues to be robust despite the pandemic and the economic stresses it introduced. Part of the reason is the increase in sales of premium pet foods. Market analysts attribute the uptick in sales to more availability through broader distribution of these premium products, and they also say certain favorable demographic trends in the U.S. population are keeping demand strong. In fact, shifting age distributions are expected to keep the premium pet food market growing significantly through 2025...READ MORE
7/21/2021 By Jeannie SwedbergA recent analysis of the pet industry suggested it was recession proof. The reasoning given was that overall sales remained robust despite the economic recession caused by the pandemic last year. Take for instance dog food sales in the U.S last year. Retail sales of dog food had their strongest growth (6.8%) in more than two decades, according to Sundale Research. Last year total retail sales rose to $19.3 billion, following a solid 4.2% increase in 2019. Sundale attributed the category growth to the COVID-19 pandemic, which boosted dog adoptions and had more people spending time at home forging bonds with their four-footed friends...READ MORE
7/6/2021 By Jeannie SwedbergIf you haven’t heard it elsewhere, let me be the first to tell you. Tree Top added pumpkin to its fruit ingredient offerings. It’s true. We now have our very own Drum Dried Pumpkin Flake Powder. It’s super nutritious, delicious, and naturally enhances flavor and color in any number of applications both savory and sweet. You may also want to know - this year’s pumpkin crop is in the ground, shown here, located in the fertile soil of Washington state, and will be harvested in early fall...READ MORE