Merrick releases infographic on organic petfood

Merrick Pet Care has developed an infographic for its Castor & Pollux Organix brand highlighting organic food and how much it matters to pet parents.
Among the topics discussed in the infographic: the value placed on organic food for pets compared to the rest of the family; what's important about organic to pet parents; and common misconceptions surrounding the USDA Organic logo. The infographic can be found on Merrick's Facebook page.

Webinar to discuss natural, organic trend in petfood

The adage in journalism has always been “follow the money,” but the business wisdom in the pet nutrition industry might be “follow the human.”

More than ever, people buying natural and organic for their table are buying natural and organic for their pets. In today’s rapidly growing natural products industry, innovation and an intimate understanding of consumer wants and needs are a precious resource driving the industry forward.
Join us for a webinar to discuss the consumer trends driving growth in the natural pet products space. Learn about the link between human and pet trends and what innovators in the space are doing to take advantage of this dynamic market growth.
This educational webinar, “Consumer trends driving growth in natural pet products,” is brought to you by Trouw Nutrition and sponsored by Trouw Nutrition and presented by WATT Global Media. It will be held Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 10 a.m. CDT. Register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/141264704?linknumber=website to attend.
Petfood manufacturers, nutritionists, veterinarians, petfood professionals and petfood suppliers should attend this webinar to learn:

• What consumer trends are driving growth in natural pet products
• What fears and values are playing a role in this growth
• How the lines are being blurred between supplements and treats
• How innovators are playing with ingredients and marketing claims to take advantage of growth opportunities
• Recommendations for those committed to serving the growing natural pet product market
The speaker for this webinar will be Eric J. Pierce, director of strategy and insights at New Hope Natural Media. Pierce is a proven strategic marketing and market research leader with nearly 20 years of research and insights experience. In various consulting roles, he has been instrumental in maximizing the value of his clients’ business and marketing investments and has built a reputation for being a great partner, problem solver and adviser.

Organic petfood, novel protein sources among 'Top Pet Trends of 2013'

Following the launch of new petfood and pet products at Global Pet Expo, Petsweekly.com compiled a list of the "Top 10 Pet Trends of 2013."
One trend listed was pet owners' increasing demands for all-natural, organic, "Made in USA" products. 
According to the article: "We predict a number of other companies will be following suit as pet parents realize the value of raw, freeze-dried, and dehydrated foods for their pet. This is something that companies like the Honest Kitchen, Merrick and Stella & Chewy's have been doing for years. But, as we all know, it takes time for the big boys to implement change. The 'Made in the USA' logo will increase in importance as more pet owners refuse to support companies who manufacture in China and other locales, and instead prefer to support the local economy with their hard-earned money -- even if it does cost a bit more."
In addition, supplements and nutraceuticals for pets are expected to become more popular. "[T]here will be an even greater rise in the way we treat our pets for medical conditions, a large increase in the number of animal nutrition specialists and a lot of holistic veterinarians entering the scene," the article says.
New protein sources will also be increasingly used in petfoods, treats and toys. These alternative protein sources, ranging from alligator and crawfish to kangaroo and llama, are expected to become even more important as pet owners seek the best ways to keep their pets healthy. 
Other trends included keeping chickens as pets, which could lead to more opportunities for the petfood industry, as well as re-purposed, environmentally responsible pet products and companies.  

RECALL: Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula

Pet food maker Nature's Variety is voluntarily recalling of one batch of Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties and medallions because the pet products may contain pieces of clear plastic that could potentially cause pets to choke.
Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula products marked with a "Best if Used By" date of October 4, 2013, are being recalled because clear plastic pieces were found in some bags. The company said the source of the plastic has been identified and the issue has been resolved.
Products affected by the recall include:

• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions in 3-lb. bags, marked with UPC# 769949601371
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions in 27-lb. cases, marked with UPC# 769949701378
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties in 6-lb. bags, marked with UPC# 769949601272
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties in 36-lb. cases, marked with UPC# 769949701279
The affected product was distributed through retail stores and Internet sales in the United States and Canada. Nature's Variety said there have been no reports of harm to dogs or cats.
Consumers with questions may contact the Nature's Variety Consumer Relations team at +1.888.519.7387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email cservice@naturesvariety.com.

Local, independent petfood stores get sales boost from organic petfood

Local and independent petfood suppliers looking to stand out from their big-box competitors are turning to organic, raw and gluten-free petfood for inspiration.
Annual retail sales of organic and natural petfood are expected to grow three times as fast — 12% a year on average to $2.8 billion by 2015 — as petfood sales overall, according to a recent Packaged Facts report. "People are treating their dog food like some people are treating their baby food," said Todd Martin, vice president of marketing for Castor & Pollux Pet Works. "They want to know it's safe and they want to know it's quality." Annual organic petfood sales increased to US$84 million from 2002 to 2009, according to the Organic Trade Association, but remain a small part of the overall market, partially because it can cost up to 30% more than non-organic petfood.
Organic food is becoming popular enough that some large pet store chains are beginning to stock up, but for now the more exotic options remain plentiful only in independent shops. "My clientele are probably mostly single, more single women than not, and what I am finding is that [their pets] are their kids," said Neal Massa, co-owner of California-based My Pet Naturally. "So you are going to spend a little bit more money for petfood."

Original Pet Food Co. introduces grass-fed beef petfood line

Original Pet Food Co. introduced a new line of dog and cat petfood, which the company says is made from organic, grass-fed beef.
The company said the beef for this product line is sourced from Pampas-grazed cattle in Uruguay. This grass-fed beef is high in omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid, according to Original Pet Food Co.
"With the sustainable, organic, grass-fed beef revolution well underway, we believe it's high time for the same quality meats to make their way from the dinner plate to the pet bowl," said Melissa McGinnis, founder of Original Pet Food Co.

NOSB scheduled to meet about organic petfood in October

The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will meet October 25-28 in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, to discuss NOSB Handling Committee’s recommendation that it adopt a plan to regulate organic petfood.
The recommendation is one of 66 items on the committee’s agenda, as part of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service's National Organic Program. The Handling Committee first recommended the plan in September 2008, following an initial report by the Organic Pet Food Task Force that was completed in April 2006.
Individuals and organizations may submit comments on this matter until October 12. The agenda and proposed recommendations can be viewed online. Comments can be submitted at www.regulations.gov (preferred) or via e-mail at nosb@ams.usda.gov. Requests to speak at the meeting can be made to Lisa Ahramjian, executive director of NOSB, at nosb@ams.usda.gov or +1.202.720.3252.

Sydney gets organic restaurant for pets

Sydney, Australia, has a new restaurant for cats and dogs called Chew Chew featuring organic menu offerings, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
The restaurant is run by pet nutritionist Naoko Okamoto and opened in June. Home delivery is also available.
Okamoto began by selling small organic treats at markets and exploring customers' needs.
Dishes include chicken mince with coleslaw salad, beef steak with mushrooms and doggie-cinos. Treats and biscuits are also available for ordering online.

MarketResearch adds new report on natural pet products

MarketResearch added a new report by Packaged Facts, titled “Natural, Organic and Eco-Friendly Pet Products in the U.S., 3rd Edition.”
The report divides the market into two classifications: petfood and pet care. For each classification of the natural and organic market, the report provides retail sales estimates from 2005 through 2014. It also provides competitive strategies and profiles of key industry manufacturers, along with trends in new product development. According to the report's pet owner consumer survey, 62% of dog owners and 56% of cat owners have purchased natural or organic pet products within the last three months.

Organic petfood task force asking for your input

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) task force that developed the proposed organic petfood standard now under consideration by the National Organic Program (NOP) is soliciting input from both member and non-member companies. The task force is comprised of organic growers, certifiers, representatives of petfood companies, AAFCO members and FDA staff.
In November 2007 the NOSB unanimously accepted the proposal of the task force and forwarded it to NOP for rulemaking. The organic petfood segment, valued at about US$250 million in sales, was upended by a recent directive from NOP prohibiting the use of certain nutrients in pet ood to make them complete and balanced. While PFI encourages NOP to act on the proposed organic petfood standard, the Pet Food Institute (PFI) launched into action to resolve this impasse by establishing an Organic Task Force with Brian Connolly of Castor & Pollux as chair. PFI hired Dave Carter – a former chair of NOSB and a former maker of organic petfood – as a consultant and is supporting the process of petitioning NOP to accept nutrients necessary for petfood, such as taurine, that are not currently on the National List of substances allowed in organic production.
The task force is soliciting input from both member and non-member companies. This issue will be discussed at a PFI committee meeting on July 30 in Portland, Oregon, USA, just prior to the AAFCO meeting, and at the Feed and Pet Food Joint Industries Conference this fall. For more information, please write to info@petfoodinstitute.org or visit www.petfoodinstitute.org.

{The task force is soliciting input from both member and non-member companies. This issue will be discussed at a PFI committee meeting on July 30 in Portland, Oregon, USA, just before the AAFCO meeting, and at the Feed and Pet Food Joint Industries Conference this fall.}

Video reports on industry growth, trends

Euromonitor International recently released a video reviewing pet industry growth in the past two years in addition to current petfood trends.
While petfood and pet care did not grow as much in 2009 as they did in 2008 due to the economic recession, when compared to other markets, the overall industry is still doing well.
“We expect this industry trend to pick up as the global economy outlook improves,” said Emily Woon, head of fresh food and pet care at Euromonitor.
She went on to explain the three trends currently seen in petfood: all-natural and organic petfood, weight management products and fortified/functional products.
“There is a lot of untapped potential from these three key markets,” Woon said.

‘Feed Your Pet Right’ authors claim petfood labels are not truthful

Marion Nestle and Malden C. Nesheim, authors of the new book Feed Your Pet Right, said that organic petfood is largely a marketing term that isn’t verified and also claimed that premium petfoods contain mostly the same stuff as basic supermarket brands, according to a book blog.
Nestle, a public health professor and author of other books, said the labels are confusing and the organic label is a misnomer.
Neither provided specific information to support their claims.

US panel indirectly supports organic petfood

The recent US President’s Cancer Panel Report, which urged consumers to minimize their cancer risk by eating organic food, gave an indirect boost to the organic petfood trend, according to Zootoo.
Organic petfood sales from 2009 saw an increase due to the organic trend in human food in addition to the humanization of pets, reaching US$84 million -- up almost 10% from sales in 2008, according to the Organic Trade Association’s 2010 Organic Industry Survey. The panel report’s emphasis on avoiding foods produced using chemicals and pesticides may help organic petfood sales continue to increase this year.
However, the OTA acknowledged that organic food can only assure the potential for less toxic residue in food, meaning organic petfood is not necessarily healthier than conventional petfood.

NOP proposes stricter organic petfood qualifications

The United States Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program recently released a recommendation that petfood should not be called organic if it contains vitamins and minerals that are not organic, even if all other ingredients are organic, according to an article.

Samuel Jones, a representative from the NOP, said the issue is on the agenda for the National Organic Standards Board’s April 26-29 meeting.

Organic petfood to see more sales growth than organic human food

"Natural" and organic petfood sales are expected to hit US$2.6 billion by 2014, up from about $1.7 billion in 2009, according to the Boston Globe.
Human organic food sales are not seeing the same growth and actually declined 0.3% in 2009, market research firm Mintel International Group estimated.
One possible reason for the increased organic petfood sales is that owners are willing to scale back on their own food during the recession in order to pay a premium for their pets’ food.

What do you think about the new dog food from HSUS?

Did you hear the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is coming out with a line of dog food? It's called Humane Choice , and HSUS says it is cruelty free, all natural and certified organic. The main protein source is soy.
I’m not surprised by the type of product HSUS is launching nor its professed reasons: “to offer consumers a wholesome and nutritious dog food that does not contain animal-based proteins or support the factory farming industry,” according to a press release. “It’s an opportunity to support our work confronting animal cruelty,” a spokeswoman added.
But I have to confess surprise that an organization like HSUS would even enter this marketplace. ..Read the full blog on www.petfood-connection.com.

HSUS launches organic petfood

The Humane Society of the United States is launching an all-natural and certified organic dog food called Humane Choice.
The HSUS said it developed the product to offer consumers a wholesome and nutritious dog food that does not contain animal-based proteins.

New pet shop proof of pet humanization

The popularity of Pussy & Pooch – a combination health spa, boutique and sushi bar for pets – is the latest proof that pet owners are willing to spend more money to pamper their pets despite the economy as they continue to humanize them.
The multifaceted store, which recently opened in Long Beach, California, USA, sells mostly organic petfood, both prepackaged and at the raw food bar, pet toys and supplies and has seen a steady stream of customers so far, according to the Press-Telegram.
"It's not frivolous, it's not fancy; it's all about the health of the animal," said Janene Zakrajsek, co-owner and operator of the store.

Petco promotes organic petfood via e-mail

Petco’s marketing approach now includes monthly e-mail messages about its products and services, including information about organic petfood and coupons for the products.
Petco followed up the e-mail marketing campaign by hosting in-store nutrition seminars to educate customers on the benefits of an organic pet diet, according to an article from DMNews.

Magazine gives Cranimals seal of approval

Animal Wellness magazine has endorsed Cranimals, a new line of certified organic petfood supplement, with the Animal Wellness Seal of Approval.
Animal Wellness Magazine touts Cranimals – formulated with Kosher, certified organic extracts from cranberries, blueberries and red raspberries, as well as a novel source of DHA omega-3 fatty acids extracted from microalgae – as a smart choice for health-conscious pet owners.
"This is the most innovative product I have seen in a long time," said Becky Starr, regional manager of Animal Wellness magazine. "It's a great choice for health-conscious pet owners who would also like to prevent chronic degenerative disease like pet arthritis and pet cancer in a natural, holistic manner."