Central Garden & Pet’s short interest drops 6.2%

Central Garden & Pet Co.’s short figure has dropped 6.2%, or 82,022 shares, taking it from 1,314,372 on January 30, 2015, to 1,232,350 on February 13, 2015.

In terms of floated shares, the short interest was calculated to be 3.7%. The days to cover are 6 given that the daily volume averaged 195,059 shares.
The short interest has registered a change of -3.4% for the month. The total shorted shares measure up to 0.025 times the outstanding shares. Over the preceding 3 months, short interest has changed to -1.52%. The company has a short ratio of 7.46. A low ratio indicates that the short interest is still on the lower end while a high ratio represents aggressive short positions. The daily volume has averaged 151,190 shares in the last 20 days. The volume in the preceding 20 trading sessions has been calculated at 0.3% of the total outstanding shares.
Shares of Central Garden & Pet ended the trading session with a loss of 0.09 points or 0.92% at $9.68. The shares had previously closed at $9.77. Shares have dropped 0.41% during the last week of February, however, the bigger picture is still very bullish; the shares have posted positive gains of 6.37% in the past four weeks. The counter has underperformed the S&P 500 by 0.14% during the past week but Central Garden & Pet has outperformed the index in four weeks by 0.84%.

Burda to exit stake in rapidly growing Zooplus

German publisher Hubert Burda plans to exit its 30 percent stake in online pet supplies store Zooplus, according to a Reuters report.

Zooplus has seen shares rise 80% in the past year, valuing the company at EUR639 million (US$726 million). Its sales reportedly rose 34% in 2014 to EUR571 million. Because of its rapid growth, Burda’s digital chief Stefan Winners said, Burda would rather invest in expansion than pay a dividend.
"We want to invest in digital businesses that also make dividends possible," Winners told Reuters.
Burda said it intends to make its exit within the next two to three years.

United Pet Group to close Cincinnati headquarters

United Pet Group plans to close its global headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, according to a report.

Spectrum Brands Inc., which owns United Pet Group, is planning the move to consolidate the pet products division with its home and garden division in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
United Pet Group makes products including Dingo rawhide dog treats, Nature’s Miracle stain and odor remover, Furminator de-shedding brushes for dogs and cats, and Tetra fish tanks and other water-related products.

Petland deemed top-ranked franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine

Petland rose 29 spots to rank 442 overall in Entrepreneur Magazine's 36th annual Franchise 500. According to Entrepreneur.com, there are more than 3,000 active franchisors in North America.

"It is an honor to once again be recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top 500 franchise concepts in the United States," said Petland President and CEO Joe Watson. "This recognition is a testament to the relevance of the Petland brand and our proprietary operating model."
In conducting its annual rating of franchises in the world, Entrepreneur considers numerous factors, including financial strength, stability, growth rate and size of the franchise system. Other rating factors include number of years in business, length of time franchising, start-up costs, litigation, percentage of terminations and whether the company provides financing. An independent CPA firm audits financial data. Every company with verifiable data receives a cumulative score. The franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500.

Tractor Supply Co. to give away year's supply of Purina pet food August 15-19

Tractor Supply Company will giving away prizes and gift cards to lucky winners as part of its second annual Pet Appreciation Week, August 15-19.
At each store, customers will have the chance to win prizes including a one-year supply of Nestle-Purina petfood or a veterinary services rebate from Hills Science Diet pet food brand. On Saturday, August 18, customers can also stop in the store for pet nutrition demonstrations, pet adoptions and other deals on pet supplies.
“Our first Pet Appreciation Week was extremely well received by our customers, and they let us know they wanted it to return this year,” said John Wendler, Tractor Supply senior vice president of marketing. “This is not only an opportunity for us to showcase our contributions to the pet community, but also gives our customers an opportunity to celebrate their pets and how much they mean to them. This is certainly an event for the entire family, including your leashed pet.”

PetSmart to increase quarterly dividend amount

PetSmart Inc., a pet product retailer, announced the board of directors' approval to increase its quarterly dividend by 18 percent from US$0.14 to US$0.165 per share beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. A new US$525 million share purchase was also authorized that expires in January 2014, and begins on July 30.
“The return of excess cash to our shareholders through a combination of dividends and share repurchases reaffirms our commitment to the creation of shareholder value through effectively managing the capital in our business,” said Bob Moran, chairman and CEO. “We believe the stability and predictability of our cash flow demonstrates the continued strength of our business.”
The dividend of US$0.165 will be paid on August 10 to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 27, equivalent to an annual rate of US$0.66 per share.

Pet industry grows by engaging in digital marketing, social media

The Internet has not only helped the pet industry grow online among consumers looking for pet-related news and entertainment, but also has provided new marketing channels for pet food and pet product retailers.
A recent article, "[Four] Ways the Pet Industry has Gone Digitial," says one way the pet industry has been following digital trends is in it its adoption of subscription models. Similar to Netflix, the pet industry has services like Petflow, which ships pet food and pet products, and BarkBox, which was launched in November 2011 and donates a portion of its petfood and treat sales to rescues or shelters, according to co-founder Carly Strife. 
Pet brands are also engaging in ecommerce via social media. Sites like online pet supply retailer Wag.com encourage consumers to enter contests, respond to polls, post photos and other pet content to its Facebook page. Pet food brand GranataPet Food engaged consumers through Foursquare API with 10 billboards in Munich and Berlin, Germany, that "dispensed" dog food into a bowl on the ground each time a user "checked in." Pedigree hosted its "Every Dog Deserves..." campaign through social media as well, in which the brand donated a pound of dog food to a shelter for every "Like," post or tweet about the campaign.  New pet-related smartphone applications are catching on, too, including DoggyDatez, a location-based application for finding both human and dog friends; Petcentric, an application from petfood brand Purina that lets users locate pet-friendly hotels, restaurants and parks; Rate My Puppy, which allows users to upload and rate dog photos; and MyPedED that allows users to carry their pet's medical records, which are also following the digital trend as veterinarians move to computerized medical charts and digital pet X-rays. 

More than 1,200 pet product manufacturers to exhibit at Interzoo 2012

The pet supplies exhibition Interzoo announced that more than 1,200 manufacturers are already registered to exhibit the latest petfood products and pet supplies at the 2012 show, which will take place May 17-20, in Nuremberg, Germany.
The exhibition's growth comes mainly from Europe, Asia and Australia, show organizers say. Applications for larger exhibition stands and new exhibitors have come from Europe, particularly from pet product manufacturers in the Netherlands, France, Poland and the Czech Republic. “It is already apparent that Interzoo 2012 will once again be the world’s biggest show for the pet industry and the meeting place for all players in the industry. Well over two-thirds of the companies registered until now come from abroad. We are also pleased about the appreciable growth in the space occupied and number of exhibitors from Germany,” said Norbert Holthenrich, president of the exhibition’s honorary sponsor, the German Pet Trade and Industry Association. 

New all-natural dog food company ships petfood nationwide in US

A new pet food company, DooD, recently entered into the pet industry with its all-natural dog food shipped right to the pet owner's home. Dood pet food, a combination of the words "dog" and "food," was formed by Alireza Niroomand and brother-in-law, Andrea Carrano, after struggling with managing the stomach and health issues of their own dogs. According to DooD, the food contains high-quality ingredients, including 85% lean ground turkey, 85% lean ground beef, all-natural chicken, whole grain brown rice and vegetables. The petfood company creates a custom diet for the dog, calculating its daily caloric intake by taking into consideration weight, breed and age.
DooD is available online, and can be hand delivered in both New York City, New York, USA, and Los Angeles, California, USA, but can also be shipped nationwide. 

Pet food manufacturer Spring Naturals awarded for dog food

Pet food manufacturer Spring Naturals was named the 2011 winner in the dog food category of the Pet Business' Industry Recognition Award.
Now in its 10th year, the awards program highlights the specialty pet industry's most innovative and functional products across a variety of pet care categories. All the brands that received the award were showcased in the magazine's December 2011 issue. "Speaking for the entire Spring Naturals team," said Rob Cadenhead, vice president of sales and marketing, "it's a real honor for us to be selected for this award. It's great having a national publication like Pet Business confirm that our new line is on target and on trend."  

Illinois pet food manufacturer accused of 23 violations by OSHA

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration found 23 violations at an Illinois, USA, pet food manufacturer, the Chicago Tribune reported. 

According to OSHA, petfood company All-Feed Processing and Packaging Inc. exposed its workers to high levels of dust and excessive noise, and used trucks powered by liquid propane in areas where combustible dust was present. The company's petfood production plant is located in Galva, Illinois, USA. 

The agency proposed a fine of US$758,450. The company has not commented on the matter, according to the report, and OHSA says the company has 15 days to respond to its accusations. 

Pet industry growth follows human trends

The pet industry is expected to maintain a steady pace of growth, increasing by 33% over the next five years to US$67.7 billion in 2016, according to Mintel. Pet industry trends mirror the same trends and innovations in human markets, such as those in food quality and social media, according to Fiona O'Donnell, senior analyst at Mintel.

"While humans are not the end user of pet products, they are the ones making the purchase decisions, so it make sense that product are developed with humans in mind as much as animals,” O’Donnell said.
“Functional” foods have become popular with American consumers as they promise better health benefits. According to the Mintel Global New Product Database, petfoods that also claim to be "functional" have increased by 130% over the period from 2006 to 2010.
Social media sites that allow visitors to share animal stories, post pet pictures and interact with other animal lovers are becoming an important marketing tool for petfood companies, O'Donnell said. Some example are Purina ONE’s Facebook page promotion, in which the brand donates a dollar to homeless pets in its shelter network each time a consumer views a Purina ONE Beyond video posted on the page. Pedigree uses Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in its social media efforts, along with a smartphone website with pet product and pet-related information. In its marketing campaign, Fancy Feast uses a combination of traditional marketing in its "the best ingredient is love" themed commercial, which then draws consumers to the Fancy Feast Facebook page to help the couple in the commercial plan their wedding day.
“Overall, their marketing effort is a good integration of traditional TV advertising joined with an online initiative,” O’Donnell said. “As of September 2011, the Fancy Feast Facebook page had more than 72,000 fans and appears to have achieved its goals of increased engagement.” 

Pets contribute significantly to economy, society, FEDIAF says

The European Pet Food Industry Federation, FEDIAF, reported updated statistics that show pet animals make a significant contribution to the economy and to society.

Throughout Europe, approximately 550,000 direct and indirect jobs, such as veterinarians, breeders or connected supply industries, are created as a result of pet ownership. The pet food industry and related supply and services represent a combined annual turnover of about €24 billion (US$32.8 billion). The petfood industry serves an estimated 70 million pet-owning households, with annual petfood production of over 8 million tons, according to FEDIAF.

APPA Pet Owners Survey finds record number of US dog owners

According to the American Pet Products Association's 2011/2012 National Pet Owners Survey, the United States now has a record number of dog owners.

APPA's survey found that the total number of dog-owning households in the US increased 1.5% to 46.3 million households, up from 45.6 million in 2008. In addition, the percentage of households owning multiple dogs is the highest number reported in more than a decade at 40%.  

Expanding pet industry gives entrepreneurs a chance for success

The American Pet Products Association estimates that consumers are spending more than US$50 billion on petfood and supplies, a 5% increase over the previous year. At a time when other industries are shrinking or at a standstill, the growing pet industry gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to start their own business selling popular pet products like organic pet food and treats.
"You don't have to go out and invent some patentable, new concept that's technologically innovative," says Bob Vetere, executive director of APPA. "If you have a pretty sweater that you can knit for a dog-that's got a niche too. You can cater to both ends." 
The pet market is relatively easy to enter, according to entrepreneur.com, because there are not only many opportunities for product innovation, but also many businesses can be started from home. Vetere says the pet industry adds about 200 to 250 serious businesses each year, though many of these small businesses do not make it past the first year.
Entrepreneurs must understand the market they are targeting as well as the business logistics of the product or service they are offering, experts say. John Nolan, president of Core Marketing and adjunct professor at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management, says pet market entrepreneurs should conduct feasibility studies on their product or service before investing much money and time into it.  
"The feasibility study should entail a comprehensive competitive analysis of all existing competitors," Nolan says. "You must know their products, features, benefits, pricing and marketing. In a nutshell-everything about them."

Prinova forms Animal Nutrition brand for pet industry

Prinova USA, formerly Premium Ingredients International, created a new brand for the pet industry called Prinova Animal Nutrition.
The renewed focus on animal nutrition includes a flavor product manufacturing facility built in 2010 at Prinova’s corporate headquarters in Carol Stream, Illinois, USA.  Prinova Animal Nutrition also has its own team of technical personnel and a research and development laboratory.

Pet industry grows with human trends in petfood, pet products

Despite a recession, the pet industry has seen continued growth in recent years as the trend of pet humanization has more pet owners purchasing human-grade, premium pet foods, luxury products and human-like medical care for their pets, according to a recent New York Times article.
Americans spent a record US$55 billion on their pets in 2010, driven by a 7% increase in veterinary services, according to Packaged Facts. This may be partially due to the fact that human medical technologies are increasingly being used for pets and prolonging their lifespan, the Times article says. 
“Pet owners aren’t just looking to provide a home for their pets,” said Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association. “They are investing in their pets’ quality of life. Oftentimes they do this at their own expense, cutting personal expenses, but not those affecting their faithful companions.”
Consumers are also spending more on their pet's food, looking for human-grade products.
Jessica Taylor, managing editor of Petfood Industry, said that when she began at the magazine four years ago, the petfood industry lagged human trends by at least one year. Now, the industry is six months behind or less, Taylor said, predicting that blueberries and pomegranates will be the next trend in petfood, as they have recently been marketed to humans as powerful antioxidants. Another human food trend, natural and organic foods, have accounted for 7% of petfood sales, according to David Lummis, senior pet market analyst for Packaged Facts, who said that he expects to see even further growth in this sector.

H.H. Backer 2011 pet industry spring trade show draws increased attendance

H.H. Backer’s 23rd annual pet industry spring trade show was held April 13-15 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA, attracting nearly 6,000 registered  pet industry buyers from 1,869 firms.
These attendance figures are up 23% compared with the previous year’s show. According to the organizer, a total of 314 exhibitors displayed products in 560 booths. In addition, 60 exhibitors displayed at the Backer show for the first time.
The next show is the 45th annual pet industry Christmas trade show, which will take place from October 13-15 in Rosemont, Illinois, USA.

Global Pet Expo 2011 sets records in attendance, new pet products introduced

Petfood companies and exhibitors showed off the latest pet products on the floor of Global Pet Expo 2011.

The American Pet Products Association and Pet Industry Distributors Association  announced that Global Pet Expo 2011 exceeded 2010's record-setting numbers in nearly every aspect with thousands of new pet products introduced, and a record number of booths, exhibiting companies and buyers attending the show.
Global Pet Expo 2011 took place March 16-18,  in Orlando, Florida, USA. The show had 835 exhibiting companies, 2,380 booths and total attendance of 4,691 buyers – the highest buyer attendance ever at Global Pet Expo. Pet Expo’s Twitter and Facebook pages also reached all-time highs, with Twitter followers increasing 51% and the Facebook fans increasing by 325% from the previous show.
“I believe our new show date pattern definitely contributed to the record level of attendance this year,” said Andrew Darmohraj, APPA senior vice president. “Overwhelmingly we had heard from buyers that the amount of time they spend at the Show would increase should the show dates take place on weekdays only as opposed to the previous format of Thursday through Saturday. As buyer attendance is critical to the success of Global Pet Expo and its exhibitors, we listened and successfully made the change to a Wednesday through Friday format.”
Dog trainer and TV personality Victoria Stilwell was named the 2011 recipient of Global Pet Expo’s annual “Excellence in Journalism and Outstanding Contributions to the Pet Industry Award.” Stilwell accepted her award at a media-exclusive event sponsored by Nestle Purina Pet Care Co. on March 17. Other show highlights included the debut of the New Products Showcase Awards Presentation and the announcement of APPA's 2010 pet industry spending figures.
The 2012 Global Pet Expo is scheduled to take place from February 29 through March 2, 2012, in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Business Insider ranks top websites for dog lovers

Business Insider ranked the 10 best websites for dog owners to consult on important subjects from selecting a dog breed and petfood, to maintaining a healthy pet and traveling with dogs.
For those trying to select the right dog, Dog Breed Info provides information on many breeds with pictures and breeders.net  provides contact information for dog breeders by zip code. Gotta Love a Lab was selected as a top resource for all things Labrador-related, including articles, pictures and tips. 
Once the right dog is chosen, Baby Dog Names lists dog names by categories: popular, unique, famous, wacky and gender. Cesar Milan, the "Dog Whisperer," was named as a good online resource for dog tips and training advice, as well as the dogproblems.com forum.  Business Insider named Petco as the number one resource for selecting a petfood online because they offer coupons, free shipping on orders over US$60 and a wide variety of brands for consumers to choose from. When traveling with a dog, dogfriendly.com lets pet owners know which hotels, restaurants and parks are pet friendly.
Dog owners must also look out for their pet's health. To help do so, vetinfo.com offers resources about dog illnesses and lists of local veterinarians to consult for professional pet examinations. Dog owners looking for pet health insurance may want to consult the Dog Health Insurance website, according to Business Insider.