1,000 exhibitors expected at 2015 CIPS

More than 850 companies have registered for the China International Pet Show (CIPS) on September 4-7, 2015, and 1,000 exhibitors in total are expected to attend.
The 19th edition of CIPS will be the first time it has been held in Shanghai, at the newly constructed National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC). This ultramodern exhibition complex is centrally located in the Hongqiao commercial district and enjoys a direct connection to Shanghai’s city airport.
CIPS is an important gateway to the entire Asian market, and alongside familiar Chinese industry heavyweights such as CATIDEA and Wanpy the exhibitors will include a wealth of international companies from countries such as Italy, Portugal, Turkey and the US.
“To develop a global market presence, CIPS is an important event alongside the established trade fairs in Europe. At the same time, it represents a particularly effective opportunity for us to test the sales potential of the growing Chinese market and serve our existing customer base throughout Asia and Australia,” said Adrian Bartlett of UK firm Doggequin.
The GlobalPets Forum Asia will also offer an opportunity for international networking this year. With the theme of Bridging business and culture, this event the day before the trade fair will bring exhibitors and visitors together for a cross-cultural exchange, discuss the special characteristics of the Chinese market and provide an introduction to the country’s contract law and import conditions, for example.
 The supporting program held in conjunction with the trade fair will also offer participants added value in terms of information and the chance to cultivate contacts. The Sino-Japan Pets Forum is one of several other new formats offering an outstanding opportunity for international visitors to meet specially with wholesalers and suppliers from China and Japan. The China Aquatic Plant Masters once again focus on the trend toward aquascaping, and Pets and Beauties will introduce new products in the area of animal fashion.

Purina educates pet owners in China on petfood, health, safety

Nestle Purina petfood has been in the China market since 2003. Gloria Xu, marketing manager for Purina in China, says China’s pet population is the second largest in the world, behind the US. However, she said, commercial petfood coverage is the lowest in the world.

Retail sales of petfood in China increased more than 31% by value from 2012 to 2013, reaching $4.3 billion, according to Mintel, a research firm.
Xu, in an interview with Ad Age, said only 5% of dogs and 6% of cats are eating commercial petfood, because many dog owners cook for their dogs. She said some people mix commercial dog food with human food to feed to their dogs.
In China, Xu said Purina uses social media and its web presence to educate the population about pet ownership and how to care for their animals. Purina Online Academy sends its subscribers information, for example, the importance of giving dogs more water in warm weather, and how to keep pets safe at Chinese New Year celebrations when fireworks are used.
Purina’s Homeless but Not Worthless campaign works to prevent abandonment and encourage adoption. China’s large cities see a lot of stray dogs and cats, and this campaign hopes to change that.

2015 Guangzhou Pet & Aqua Expo to be held

The Guangzhou Pet & Aqua Expo will be held June 26–28, 2015, in the China Import and Export fair complex Pazhou in Guangzhou.

According to expo organizers, the 2014 show attracted approximately 200 exhibitors and featured 500 different pet products and services. More than 13,000 visitors came to the 2014 show.

China International Pet Show counts 36,000 visitors

The 18th China International Pet Show (CIPS) in Beijing attracted 946 exhibitors from 20 countries and about 36,000 trade visitors from 70 countries, according to NürnbergMesse, the show's co-organizer together with China Great Wall International Exhibition Company. The show was held Nov. 17-20, 2014. About 26% of visitors came from Europe, and another 21% traveled from other places outside Asia.
"The stable economic situation in China is creating a good basis for the country's pet supply industry and is making it an attractive market for companies worldwide," said Katharina Neumann, project coordinator at NürnbergMesse. "For international exhibitors in particular, the CIPS opens doors to the Asian market and is very popular."
More than half of the exhibitors presented products and services from the pet segment, while another third came from the aquarium field. Organizers have already received 400 exhibitor registrations for the 2015 event, which will be held Nov. 4-7, 2015, at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai.

Taiwan businesses expanding in China pet market

Businesses focusing on pet care in China are growing by 15% per year, and the market has a potential turnover of 20 billion yuan (US$3.21 billion), according to reports. As the number of domestic pets increases, so do the opportunities for market expansion—and Taiwanese businesses are taking full advantage.

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A pet service company in Shanghai established by a Taiwanese entrepreneur has had roots in China for 20 years, and has seen the market grow. According to Chiang Pi-hsiu, executive chairperson of the company, there are 120,000 registered pets in Shanghai but the actual number is thought to be several times higher than that. "A healthy pet can cost its owner between 600 and 800 yuan (US$96–$130) a month," said Chiang. "So a dog or a cat owner would spend at least 10,000 yuan (US$1,600) a year for us to take care of their animal."
The growing market comes with more regulations, as well, and the market needs to manage international standards to continue growing. Chiang's company is the only one in Shanghai licensed to sell cats and dogs, and the company owns a specialized farm to breed the animals. "It was very painstaking to apply for the license, and if a pet gets sick the service that goes with it would be very special," said Chiang. "Now local operators are catching up and the industry is not what it was 10 years ago. Now we need more professional people and licensed businesses to survive and keep up with international standards."

Foreign petfood brands likely to benefit from China jerky treat issue

Chinese pet owners spent RMB7.84 billion (US$1.25 billion) on pet care in 2012, according to Euromonitor, and this number is predicted to rise 64% by 2017, to RMB12.9 billion (US$2.06 billion). The majority of these sales take place in independent pet shops, though chain stores and e-commerce sites have made significant market inroads. Beijing alone features two pet markets, about 20 boutique shops, over 30 agencies and nearly 400 retail shops. But recent issues regarding pet jerky treats made in China could mean trouble for domestic manufacturers and open the door for foreign companies.

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The Chinese pet care market is already dominated by foreign brands, who benefit from well-developed distribution networks and strong brand recognition. Royal Canin Au Yu (Shanghai) Pet Food Co. Ltd. ranks first in dog food sales, and the China subsidiary of US company Mars Inc. ranks first in cat food. Foreign investors from France, Japan, Germany and the US have seized opportunities in the pet care industry in China, investing in markets such as petfood, veterinary clinics and specialized online retailers.
As demand grows in China alongside the continuing questions regarding domestic petfood manufacturing, foreign brands stand to be the greatest beneficiaries of the conflict, and related topics may be at the top of everyone's minds: The 17th meeting of Pet Fair Asia will be held in China in 2014, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, over August 21–24, and the third annual Petfood Forum China, which will take place as part of the larger Pet Fair Asia conference, will focus on the theme of Nutrition, Ingredients and Formulation.

China pet product e-store gains US$25 million in funding

Shanghai-based pet products e-store Boqii has just completed a US$25 million series B funding round, according to reports. The investors have yet to be named.

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In 2008, Boqii was established as a retailer of petfoods and pet-related products. It had its own website, but was best knows for its outlets in Taobao, Tmall, Jingdong and other well-known Chinese e-commerce sites. The company has since added a wiki, social forums, group buying deals and directories, as well as developed an in-house brand of products.
Boqii has more than 3 million registered users. The newest funding will be used to ramp up marketing and branding, as well as moving into online-to-offline services.

World Pet Association to host World Pet Expo 2014 in China

The World Pet Association (WPA) will host the World Pet Expo 2014 (WPE'14) at the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center in Xiamen, China. The event will be held April 29-May 1, according to organizers.

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The expo, with an exhibition area of 15,000 square meters, sets up international-standard booths and devotes itself to shaping into the most well-known and best-service pet expo in China. WPE'14 connects with a great number of experts, exhibitors and professional visitors from dozens of countries and regions, including Southeast Asia, North America, East Europe and Australia, say organizers. It is estimated that the number of customers attending WPE'14 will exceed 50,000, while the exhibiting enterprises will reach 500.
Among other things, the exhibition category covers cats, dogs, ornamental fish, birds, horses, reptiles, amphibians, pet grooming, and medical equipment and pharmacy.
Highlights of WPE'14 will include:

• NGKC Dog Competition
• WPA Pet Groomers' Skill Contest
• WPA Cross-straits Pet Veterinarian Conference
• Pet Photography Contest, with a theme of "We have a beloved pet in the family"
• WPA Pet Welfare-Advocating pet affection and culture
• WPA Pet T-stage Show-Integrating popularity
• Annual Conference of Asia Ornamental Fish Union-attended by presidents of aquatic associations from 10 Asian countries and regions, including Singapore, Vietnam, Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Chinese Hong Kong and Taiwan

Petfood Forum China brings knowledge, networking to Chinese petfood industry

More than 100 petfood professionals from China and other countries networked and learned from industry experts during Petfood Forum China 2013, held August 23 in Shanghai. It was the second edition of this exclusive conference for the Chinese petfood industry, held in conjunction with Pet Fair Asia.
Speakers such as Clarissa Nicklaus, senior research analyst with Euromonitor International, addressed the rapidly growing Chinese pet market, which comprises 290 million pets and is projected to reach over US$1 billion in sales in 2013, Nicklaus said. She reported that many of the pets owned in China fall into the "other" category (species other than cats and dogs); only 7% of Chinese households own dogs and only 2% own cats. In addition, less than 10% of those cats and dogs eat prepared petfood, so the potential for Chinese petfood sales to continue to grow is significant. Dog food sales have grown more than 10% a year since 2008, Nicklaus said, while cat food sales have increased more than 8% annually.
Other Petfood Forum China speakers presented research on pet nutrition, palatability and ingredients, along with ways to determine how pet owners make purchasing decisions, save energy and money on petfood drying and establish a microbiological control system in a petfood plant.
During the conference, attendees, who came from petfood manufacturers in Thailand, Korea and other countries in addition to China, were able to network with one another as well as sponsors including Extru-Tech Inc., K-Tron, Mac Process, Thiele Technologies and Wenger.
The third annual Petfood Forum China is scheduled for August 22, 2014, again at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center in Shanghai during Pet Fair Asia.

Research and Markets adds report on China's pet food market

Research and Markets has added a new pet food market report, Report on China's Pet Food Market Competition 2013, to its offerings, available for purchase online.
According to the report, China's local pet food companies market products including dry pet food, wet pet food, pet food snacks and pet nutrients. These companies have sales revenue of more than 1.5 billion Yuan (US$241 million), and market scale continues to increase by more than 15 percent on average annually.
In addition to these findings, the report provides a detailed analysis of pet food industry regulations and trends in China's national policies; the development history of China's pet food market and future growth opportunities; characteristics of pet food consumption and consumer purchasing in major areas; circulation channels of China's pet food; competition between foreign and domestic brands; and more.

Pet food market in China shows potential for growth

The Chinese pet care market, valued at US$1.3 billion in 2012, shows potential for the global pet food industry, with pet food sales accounting for just 37 percent of the provisional pet care market total, according to a blog from Euromonitor International’s head of pet care research, Paula Flores.
China is home to one of the world’s highest pet populations, Flores says, with 27.4 million dogs and more than 11 million cats in 2012. The country ranks first globally as a home to other pets, such as birds, fish, reptiles and small animals.
Increasing disposable incomes in China may also help the pet food market in that country. The percentage of Chinese households with disposable incomes of more than US$10,000 and US$45,000 increased four-fold from 2006-2011, to 36 percent and 3 percent, respectively.
Further potential in the Chinese petfood market lies in the fact that much of the pet population is still eating table scraps rather than prepared petfood, as the less than 10 percent of pets receive their nutrition from prepared foods.
According to Flores, international manufacturers, such as Mars and Nestle, are most popular with consumers in China, holding a 58 percent market share in dog and cat food. The main challenges for these companies are bringing in new consumers and driving more affluent customers up to purchasing premium and higher-priced products. The top Chinese manufacturers, Tongwei Co. Ltd. and Nory Pet Co. Ltd., on the other hand, accounted for just 2 percent of retail value in 2011. 

Brakke Consulting expands into Chinese animal health market

Brakke Consulting has joined with VaxiAm LLC, located in Manhattan, Kansas, USA, to expand its consulting services into the Chinese animal health market.
VaxiAm is currently helping Chinese animal health companies to set up research and development laboratories in the US, to evaluate new technologies and products that can be licensed to China, and to identify business partners for animal health markets in China and the US.
Dr. Jishu Shi is the principal owner of VaxiAm LLC. A native of China, Shi received his doctor of veterinary medicine from the Beijing/China Agricultural University in 1985, a master’s in science from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science in 1988, a doctorate in immunophysiology from Kansas State University in Manhattan in 1995 and completed postdoctoral research in immunology at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1998. Among his credentials, Dr. Shi is an associate professor for the college of veterinary medicine at Kansas State University and also the director of the US-China Center for Animal Health, which is a training center for the improvement of Chinese animal health education and research.
“Many of our clients are interested in marketing their products or services to a rapidly growing Chinese animal health market,” said Ronald Brakke, president and CEO of Brakke Consulting. “As part of VaxiAm, Dr. Shi brings his expertise and connections in the Chinese animal health industry. We also believe that Brakke’s extensive experience and knowledge will benefit Chinese firms desiring to enter the U.S. and European animal health markets.”

Pet Fair Asia exhibitor booths now sold out

Organizers of China's pet trade show, Pet Fair Asia, have announced that booths are already sold out for the 2012 show, taking place in Shanghai, October 11-14.
With 5,641 visitors from 21 countries currently pre-registered, 12,000 visitors are expected to attend Pet Fair Asia this year. Visitors may pre-register for the show online.
For the first time, Pet Fair Asia will also be co-locating with Petfood Forum China 2012, which will be held on October 12. Register by August 20 for Petfood Forum China to receive a discount of more than 15 percent. 

IN Pet Supplements fights against knockoffs in China

Scott Brown, president of IN Pet Supplements, recently discovered his line of pet supplements is being replicated by illegitimate businesses in China’s growing pet market.
In response, IN Pet Supplements is fighting back against the IN impersonators by partnering with Midas Pet Foods to educate the Chinese consumers and retailers about the presence of imitation products and how to tell the difference between real products and knockoffs.