11/8/2019 By Jeannie Swedberg“Leveraging science into Product Innovation” was the theme of the Petfood R&D Showcase last month in Manhattan, (the Little Apple) Kansas. Pet food professionals gathered at K-State for hands-on product development activities – one of which I led, featuring Tree Top fruit ingredients. In the session, attendees were given a briefing on some of the latest science around pets’ age-related health issues and oxidative stress. READ MORE
10/3/2019 By Jeannie SwedbergSure, nootropics or supplements and products that promote cognitive health are getting a lot of attention at the moment in the news and otherwise. People want to find an edge or keep their mental focus, and also to prevent age-related cognitive decline, so this area of research and product development is a hotbed of activity. But how does this relate to pets? We’re beginning to see some crossover in the area of cognitive health research and product development from humans to pets.
8/22/2019 By Jeannie SwedbergBrands can reassure pet owners of the integrity and safety of their products by using human-grade ingredients. Being more transparent about the provenance and manufacturing details of pet food can win over consumers. Read more...
7/18/2019 By Jeannie SwedbergAnother discussion topic at Petfood Forum was about updating pet food nutrition labels. My take on that is—what took so long? Apparently, the current labeling, “Guaranteed Analysis and calorie contents,” was introduced in the early 1900s. From the average consumer’s view point, Guaranteed Analysis is nearly indecipherable as a guidepost for their pet’s nutritional needs. Click title to read more...
6/30/2019 By Jeannie SwedbergInformation I picked up at the recent Pet Food Forum suggests that pet food sales remain strong. Nielsen figures for pet consumables sales across all channels in 2018 totaled $32.7 billion, which is an increase of 5%. The interesting part of the data lies in the specific channel sales. Click title to read more.