Petsmart now offers Natural Balance dog, cat foods

Natural Balance dog and cat foods are now available from Petsmart Inc. online and on store shelves throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The expansion of PetSmart’s premium food selection confirms its commitment to providing customers with an unparalleled selection of quality products for their pets in one convenient destination.
“The introduction of Natural Balance products highlights our commitment to providing pet parents with the very best for their pets,” said Ted Passig, executive vice president, buying and sourcing, PetSmart. “We are thrilled to bring one of the best brands in the marketplace to our customers so they have even more options to care for their pet’s health and well-being.”
Built upon a genuine passion for pets and a commitment to quality, Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc. meets a variety of pet parents’ dog and cat food needs, such as grain-free, limited ingredient, and weight management formulas. Natural Balance products are made with premium quality ingredients and include a variety of dry and canned food, stews and treats.
 “At Natural Balance, we believe that every pet has something that makes them unique. That’s why we offer a wide selection of premium quality dog and cat foods that are used and respected worldwide,” said Heather Govea, general manager, Natural Balance. “Expanding our distribution is a huge milestone for our brand. Through PetSmart, we will be able to give more households access to the wholesome offerings their pets deserve.”

Open Farm’s petfood is ethically raised and sourced

Open Farm, a Canadian-based family-run company, touts its ethically raised and sourced petfood. The company says it uses humanely and sustainably farmed meats, ocean-caught fish and local vegetables, allowing pet parents to feed their pets premium food while also doing some good for farm animals, family farms and the environment.

“As an animal lover and ethical eater, it was very important that Open Farm work only with farmers who raise their animals in accordance with strict ethical and humane standards,” said co-founder Jacqueline Prehogan. “To give pet parents 100% comfort in where their pet’s food comes from, our farm-to-bowl supply chain is audited and certified by third-party organizations specializing in humane animal care and sustainable farming practices, such as Certified Humane.”
The Certified Humane label assures consumers that all of the meat and poultry used in Open Farm products comes from animals fed a vegetarian diet, free of antibiotics and growth hormones, and that live naturally with space, shelter and gentle handling.
For its fish sources, Open Farm uses a “catch of the day” model that uses exclusively ocean-caught, seasonally sourced fish in collaboration with Ocean Wise and the Vancouver Aquarium. This maintains the company’s commitment to aquatic animal welfare and the health of the oceans.
Open Farm has launched a full-sale program to manage its environmental footprint, and it has partnered with TerraCycle to provide customers with a free and easy way to recycle their bags, converting them into new products.
Open Farm is available in Canada and will launch in the US at Global Pet Expo.

Solid Gold Pet donates US$500,000 in premium petfood

Solid Gold Pet has partnered with Petco to donate an estimated US$500,000 of premium petfood to selected charities across the US. The partnership kicked off at the beginning of January 2015.

"We strongly believe in the benefits of good pet nutrition for all pets and are proud to partner with a leading specialty pet retailer like Petco to help make a difference to dogs and cats in need," said Michelle Higdon, CEO of Solid Gold Pet. "We know that great nutrition makes all of the difference in the world to a pet's quality of life. We call this bringing out their Inner Gold." 

Texas-based natural petfood company aims to go national

Austin, Texas-based premium petfood company Nulo has set its sights on becoming a national brand after growing to a regional presence in the last four years, according to reports. One of the US's largest independent petfood distributors will begin handling Nulo in April 2014, a distribution deal that could find the company's petfood on the shelves of 3,600 pet stores nationwide.

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Nulo is exiting the grocery stores currently carrying its products, and has stopped selling directly to customers online, instead partnering with pet specialty sites. With its expanded distribution, the company aims to attract more customers focused on the healthy, fresh premium petfood trends. 

Dog owners purchasing premium petfood in spite of economy

Dog owners continue to buy premium petfood in spite of the current economic climate, according to a survey conducted by online pet supplies store GJW Titmuss. The survey results indicate that 74% of dog owners purchase top-quality, premium petfood products. Twenty-eight percent of owners buy specialty food for their dogs due to skin problems, weight issues, sensitive stomachs or old age.

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The questionnaire indicated that "quality" over "cost" is the most important factor when choosing suitable dog food-61% chose quality while 9% chose cost and 7% chose brand. Other key findings:

• 85% of people who purchase from GJW solely use the Internet to purchase petfood; 15% purchase both online and in stores; less than 1% purchase directly from veterinarians
• Chicken (60.9%) and lamb (36.32%) were the most popular flavors of dog food; duck (8.33%) and rabbit (7.08%) were the least common
• 81.66% of people purchase treats for their dogs
• 94% of dog owners believe their dog is of "average" weight

Whole Foods Markets launches Whole Paws petfood products line

Whole Foods Market is introducing Whole Paws, a new line of premium-value petfood comprised of 24 products for dogs and cats. The Whole Paws line includes a range of items, such as grain-free adult dog food and training treats, indoor cat formula and litter with baking soda.
Premium petfood is the fastest growing segment in the petfood category," said Mitch Madoff, global exclusive brands coordinator at Whole Foods Market. "We know how much our customers care about what they feed their pets, so we're glad to offer a new line of products with premium ingredients at a value price.
Made with chicken, salmon and other wholesome ingredients, the Whole Paws products contain no corn or soy, no animal by-products, no artificial colors, no artificial preservatives and no added sugar.

Farm-to-bowl dog food gaining popularity among pet owners, farmers

Farm-to-bowl dog food is gaining popularity among some producers and consumers of petfood looking not only for a healthy option for their pet, but also a way to help the environment by reducing waste on farms. 
Two years ago, Jake Dickson, a butcher in New York, New York, USA, began selling premium, locally sourced dog food blended with veggies from a farmers market and leftover meats from his shop. Although the food is "quite expensive," Dickson said about 100 customers per week purchase it.
"For us, it's all about 100 percent utilization of the animal," Dickson said. "If we're going to slaughter it, we want to use every part. And second, if we use every part, we're more profitable as a company."
The trend in sustainable petfood has also led some to set up subscription-based "doggie CSAs," or community-supported agriculture.
One such doggie CSA is run by Dennis Adams and his wife, who live near Columbus, Ohio, USA, and raise free-range sheep, alpaca and chickens at Cota Farms. Adams grinds up the leftover meat after it's processed and sells it as raw dog food at local farmers markets. Adams now has 50 subscribers to his CSA, and he has even recruited other ranchers and farmers in the area to sell their meat.
"This is premium, organic meat," Adams said. "Dogs are lucky to get it."
Another doggie CSA is operated by Tasha Ardalan in San Diego, California, USA. Ardalan collects the season's leftover fruits and vegetables from local farmers, who would otherwise just throw them out. "The farmers love it," she said. 
Ardalan mixes the produce with meats from local ranchers and sells the raw, organic dog food patties for about US$4 per pound to subscribers of her CSA, Foxy Treats. Ardalan says she consults with local veterinarians to formulate the recipes. "Some customers are a bit skittish about the food being raw," she said. "So I just tell them to bake it."

Superior Farms Pet Provisions launches small breed dog treats

To serve customers of smaller dog breeds, Superior Farms Pet Provisions has added Lamb and Venison Itty Bits treats to its product line. 
The treats are a source of novel protein for small dogs as well as a training snack for larger dogs. The treats include a single source of protein making them ideal for dogs with allergies.
"It's uniquely shaped for small dogs under 15 pounds," said vice president, Eric Tiller. "We are taking our high quality lamb and venison lung product and made it bite-sized - small enough for petite breeds to enjoy."
The treats, like other products from the company, have packaging that features actual dogs of the company's employees that reflect they type of animal the products are for. 

Petfood market driven by growth in specialty pet foods, PMMI finds

Trade association PMMI released its Pet Food Market Assessment 2013, which found the pet food market is driven by many of the same factors as the human food market, including intense competition, growth in specialty products such as premium and functional pet foods, and demands of the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Five pet food manufacturers produce more than 70 percent of the pet food products currently sold in the US, the report found. More than 85 percent of the pet food sold in the US is manufactured in the US, as well, which the report attributes to perceptions of quality, transportation costs and a highly saturated marketplace.
The US makes up 38 percent of the global market for pet food, accounting for US$19.85 billion of the US$56 billion global market in 2011, a projected US$20.54 billion in 2012 and US$26.6 billion by 2015. However, double-digit growth is expected in the Latin American and Asian pet food markets. “Brazil stands out as the fastest-growing market for pet food. India and China are growing at double digits, too, but by 2016, we expect to see Brazil as the world’s second-largest pet food market,” said Jorge Izquierdo, vice president, market development, PMMI.
Much of the pet food market's growth has been in organic, natural and premium pet foods, which have all grown at nearly 20 percent per year for the past two years. Global demand in this market will account for nearly 32 percent of the petfood market in 2013, the report projects. On the other hand, some products outside the premium pet food category have grown very little, such as wet dog food, which is projected to grow less than 1 percent in 2013. 

Pet food retailer Fressnapf Switzerland cuts prices

Pet food retailer Fressnapf Switzerland cut the price of premium pet food for all customers with the company's loyalty card.
Applicable to pet food brands such as Royal Canin, Iams, Eukanuba, Hill’s, Happy Dog/Happy Cat, Pro Plan, Select Gold, Iso Dog/Iso Cat, Nutro Choice, Almo Nature and Schweizer, the 10 percent discount applies immediately in stores and in the company’s online shop. The price-drop campaign is also supported by new Facebook ads, online banners and customer flyers. 

Demand for premium pet food drives market for EPA/DHA

Global consumer spending on EPA/DHA omega 3-fortified products, such as pet food, is expected to grow from US$25.4 billion in 2011 to US$34.7 billion in 2016, according to a report released by Packaged Facts.
Demand for products enhanced with EPA/DHA will reach a compound annual growth rate of 6.4 percent over the period from 2011-2016. The report attributes much of this growth to the continued humanization of pets and demand for premium pet foods.
Geographically, North America currently accounts for 43 percent of consumer sales of these enhanced products, but Asia-Pacific is projected to grow to a close second by 2016. 

Premium petfood manufacturer establishes new lab in Malta

Petnutrition, a premium pet food manufacturer, is establishing a new research and development laboratory in Malta that will also upgrade the pet food company's quality control processes.
The laboratory will be operated by a new company, Petnutrition R&D, and will be responsible for the analysis of the entire product range of wet and dry pet foods, supplements and oils.
According to managing director, Matthew Wismayer: “In the last weeks we started to export to Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Canary Islands. We have seen our revenues double in some markets and to maintain this momentum it is crucial that we have the highest quality control of all the products before they enter the market.
“A team of Maltese analysts will design and assess each product, and manage production lines issued by the factories. Samples from every batch will be tested in Malta before dispatch to customers. Previously, testing was carried out in laboratories overseas,” Wismayer said.
The company is also planning to launch new petfood packaging in September that prominently declares the nutritional content. Over the next five years, Petnutrition plans to consolidate its presence across Europe and to continue to build on its export network in other regions.

Online pet food retailer offers new holistic dog food

Pets Plus USA, an online retailer of natural, holistic dog food, recently launched a new selection of Natural Holistic Dog Food in new flavors with added nutrition.
The new, Pets Plus Natural Holistic Dog Food uses premium petfood ingredients with no fillers or byproducts.
“PetsPlusUSA.com carries the largest selection of holistic, organic & natural petfood. At Pets Plus USA, they believe in providing the best quality food and supplies to pets. They're not only feeding their loved ones better, but ensuring a long happy, healthy life,” said a spokesperson for the company. 

Rising dog ownership in India driving demand for petfood, accessories

Dog ownership in India is rising, according to Euromonitor International, which projects India as the fastest growing global pet market, and rising pet ownership rates are driving demand for pet food, health products and pet accessories.
The Times of India says Gurgaon, India, has a ratio of one dog per 15 people in the city. 
Tanmay Sharma, owner of Pets Pash, said: "When we say 'pet,' the first thing that comes to mind is a dog. The most important reason why people prefer a dog is that after a long, tiring and stressful day, one can relax and enjoy with their pet." 
Rana Atheya, co-owner of e-commerce dog product site Dogspot.in, said that as the status of pets is elevated in India, demand for pet care is also expected to become more sophisticated, with Indian consumers purchasing more premium pet foods and specialty products as they gain a better understanding of their pet's nutritional needs. According to Atheya, research reports indicate that Indian consumers have been slow to embrace feeding commercial petfoods in the past, opting for homemade foods instead, but their preferences are changing with the trend of pet humanization in India. 
Veterinarian Dr. Ashok Kumar, who runs a clinic and pet supply shop in Guragon, says that although the Indian pet product market supply and demand is not balanced, causing an inconsistent supply of pet products, competition within the market has increased, subsequently leading to improved practices.

Dog food, cat food-related stories rank among magazine's top-read in 2011

Pet Product News International published a list of its top 10 most-read pet industry stories of 2011 by online readers, which includes a number of pet food-related stories.
Readers were most interested in the magazine's articles about pet food recalls, with "Aflatoxin Prompts Third Dog Food Recall in a Week" cited as the most-read story.  Another story that ranked among the top-read was "Consumer Reports Urges Pet Owners to Forgo Premium Pet Food, Shop for Vet Services," in which Consumer Reports advised pet owners to save money by not purchasing premium pet foods.  Readers were also interested in "Pet Industry Spending Tops $48 Billion in 2010," an article on pet food manufacturer Natura Pet Products class-action lawsuit settlement, Petco's acquisition of Ohio, USA-based pet specialty retailer Complete Petmart, and an article on the top pet products from 2011 Global Pet Expo.

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. 

Halo survey: pet owners to buy higher quality petfood in 2012

Pet food manufacturer Halo, Purely for Pets polled 1,045 pet owners in its "Pet Parents' New Year's Resolution Survey," which found that 69.4% of pet owners plan to purchase a higher quality pet food in 2012.
Pet owners (45.9%) surveyed also pledged to help their pets lose weight in 2012. Of pet owners pledging to help pets lose weight, 68.7% will do so by providing more exercise, 44.8% by feeding a higher-quality pet food, 35.1% by feeding less food, 34% by giving fewer treats to pets, 33% by giving more nutritious treats, and 10.9% by developing a pet weight-loss program with a veterinarian. Other findings in the pet owner survey include that nearly 95% of pet owners plan to help animals in need in 2012 and 86.8% of pet owners plan to groom their pet more regularly. The survey was conducted between December 21-23, 2011.

UK petfood manufacturer named regional finalist in HSBC Business Thinking Initiative

UK pet food manufacturer MPM Products was recently featured in aUK Telegraph blog for being named a regional finalist in the HSBC Business Thinking initiative.

Set up in 2002, MPM Products is a premium-quality pet food manufacturer with two brands: Applaws and Encore. The business generates annual sales of £12 million (US$18.93 million), according to the blog, which represents an increase of 87% over the past three years.
Julian Bambridge, MPM Products managing director, said: “We have just opened an office in Atlanta and will be shipping products very soon, and this trip has confirmed our excitement about the opportunity that British companies have in the US. It has certainly given us more confidence that we are doing the right thing and with HSBC we have the right partners to do it. This trip has also given us the confidence that we can go beyond the US to explore the opportunity in other countries.
“I also think that we can take home with us the positive approach of the US markets. It’s tough out there but that doesn’t mean that we cannot achieve growth provided we make sure we target the right demographic.
“We have searched hard for the right international partners who have the same vision of growth as we do, and we will certainly do that again. Likewise, we will also make sure that we seek out and use expert local advisers in every market we choose to expand in.”

UK packaging company introduces single-serve cat food can

To help petfood manufacturers meet the UK's growing demand for premium cat food, Crown Food Europe - Cans and Closures, a business unit of Crown Holdings Inc., introduced an 85-gram package that provides single-serve portions to consumers and shelf differentiation for manufacturers.

Crown says its 85-gram container helps manufacturers address consumer demands through features such as superior metal packaging barrier characteristics to protect the nutritional value of the cat food and extend its shelf life, while providing convenience to consumers through the smaller, single-serving sizes. 
“Consumers are paying greater attention to the overall health and wellness of their families, and that mindset has extended to their beloved cats,” said Ana Neale, marketing director, Crown Food Europe. “This desire for cat food with higher nutritional value has led many brands to launch premium products, including lines that are natural or organic, focus on special diet needs or contain health-fortifying ingredients. Since consumers are often paying more for these products, it’s critical that the packaging delivers value on multiple levels. Along with protecting the quality and taste of these upscale products, it should also respond to consumer demands for convenience and environmentally friendly packaging.” 
Additionally, Crown says the containers are compatible with its range of easy-open ends to ensure easy and safe opening for consumers. The can, 100% metal, is recyclable and is produced with more than half recycled materials.

Human food trends not necessarily adequate for pets, vet cautions

As people opt for more organic foods, the trend is also crossing over to pet foods, but a veterinarian is cautioning pet owners that these human food trends may not always meet the nutritional needs of pets.

In a recent Huffington Post article, Dr. Karen Becker says that dogs and cats need wholesome, "living foods," just as people do. She says these "living foods" consist of uncooked foods that contain unheated and unprocessed, natural enzymes. Dr. Becker says she feels the most nutritious diet to feed a pet is one that is prepared at home from real, whole, human-grade foods. She says the next-best option is to buy a premium pet food, especially canned or rehydrated options. 

However, Dr. Becker warns that all human food trends should not be carried over to petfoods, as pets have different nutritional needs than humans do. For example, Dr. Becker says there should be no need to specially market a petfood as a "gluten-free" pet food formula, since gluten is found in grains, which are not an ingredient dogs and cats biologically require. Other terms like "organic" and "holistic," she says, are used as marketing tactics as well. While Dr. Becker does not believe these foods are bad to feed a pet, she says the first thing a pet owner should look for is that the diet is species-appropriate and balanced, not for words on the package.
Another concern of Dr. Becker is that pet food manufacturers market a food for a specific group of animals, such as for older or obese animals, despite the fact that each animal is different with its own, unique needs. She recommends that pet owners consult a holistic veterinarian to develop a custom nutrition plan for their pet. Experimenting, she says, is a good way to decide on what type of food is best for your pet, re-evaluating your pet's needs as they age.
For commercial pet foods, Dr. Becker says pet owners should do their research on the ingredients and quality of which ever petfood brand they choose. Basic species-appropriate ingredients in a food would include a high-quality protein source from animal muscle meat that does not come from by-products of animals, moderate levels of animal fat, high levels of the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA, a high moisture content and a few fresh-cut vegetables and fruits.