Hill's Science Diet offers social community for pet healthy living

Hill's Pet Nutrition and its brand Science Diet offer 10 Week Turnaround, a social community for pet owners who want to "bond with their pet through a healthy, active lifestyle," according to organizers. By joining and participating, pet owners will receive access to Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight, and the chance to win part of over US$15,000 in prizes, plus free food for a year to one dog and one cat.

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Other benefits of the program include bi-weekly gift card giveaways for participating advocates, exclusive access to Hill's content including launches, infographics and more, and recognition for top advocate content across Hill's social channels.

Fromm Family Foods, Milwaukee World Festival to host Fromm Petfest

Fromm Family Foods is partnering with Milwaukee World Festival Inc. to bring Fromm Petfest to Henry Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee, Wis., on September 20, 2014.

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The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will play host to a variety of pet-focused attractions and activities, including dock diving, agility demonstrations, nutritional seminars, grooming competitions, a pet-themed marketplace, family-focused games and activities, contests, live music, food and more. The Wisconsin Humane Society and Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission are charitable partners, and Fromm will work to raise funds at Petfest to support both organizations and benefit local animals in the community in need.
Fromm Petfest admission and parking will be free for all attendees. Dogs and cats are welcome as long as they're on leashes and up-to-date on vaccinations.

Pet living expert to speak at Petfood Workshop: Marketing to Today's Consumers

Kristen Levine, pet living expert, author and president of Fetching Communications and PetPR.com, has been selected to speak at the 2014 Petfood Workshop: Marketing to Today's Consumers, on Wednesday, April 2, at the Renaissance Schaumburg in Schaumburg, Ill. During Levine's breakout session, "Putting the BOOM in your Bottom Line: Building loyalty and engagement with the almighty boomer consumer," petfood marketers will learn what's important to boomers and how to target the fastest-growing segment of pet parents.

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"Baby boomers are the largest generational segment the US, controlling $2.5 trillion in spending power," said Levine. "Not only do these affluent empty nesters have time and disposable income to spend on their pets, they are also health-conscious and value diet and nutrition, and these characteristics are shared with their pet's care as well. I'm looking forward to teaching petfood marketers how to engage with this growing consumer segment at this year's workshop."
Immediately following Petfood Forum 2014, Petfood Workshop: Marketing to Today's Consumers will feature industry experts delivering information and insights on how to connect with today's ever more discerning pet owners. The two-day seminar will feature hands-on breakout sessions where attendees can learn about topics such as how pet owners shop, their perspectives on petfood, how to build trust and credibility with them, connecting with them through social media, balancing marketing with science and regulatory requirements, reaching emerging pet owner groups, and much more.
"The baby boomer generation is starting to pick up the pace in terms of pet ownership, and are a fast-growing demographic group that petfood marketers need to start reaching out to in dynamic and unique ways," said Jessica Taylor, managing editor of Petfood Industry. "Our audience would like to find out what's important to these pet owners and the best ways to reach them, so we're excited to have Kristen lead this discussion at this year's Workshop."

Morris Animal Inn offering dog weight loss camp January 13-17

Morris Animal Inn
Dogs can start getting in shape at the Canine Cardio and Fitness Camp.
Morris Animal Inn is encouraging pet owners to help their pets get in shape in 2014 by offering a weight loss and fitness camp for dogs. The luxury pet spa and resort is offering Canine Cardio and Fitness Camp from January 13-17.

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The program is designed to keep dogs active, stimulated and stress-free, with treadmill trots, aerobic swim sessions in the indoor pool, nature hikes, "Doga" (yoga for dogs), massages, nutritious homemade treats and more. Program offerings will be individually tailored to meet the particular needs of each dog, with some sessions overseen by a personal trainer and others offered in a group setting.
"Canine Fitness Camp helps dogs kick off the New Year with a fitness routine that will promote better health with exercise, stimulation and a bit of relaxation," said Joanne Morris, vice president of Morris Animal Inn. "If a dog needs to shed some pounds, this is a great way to get started because the dogs are motivated by the fun activities."
Morris Animal Inn recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation and expansion that doubled its size. The facility offers a heated indoor pool, whirlpool, pet suites with soothing music and videos, indoor and outdoor play areas, pampering and activities packages, daily maid and room service, Happy Hour with homemade pet treats and more. Perimeter fencing encloses the facility.
Reservations for the Canine Cardio and Fitness Camp can be made in advance for a day or week by calling +1.973.539.0377. 

New petcast offers petfood advice, money saving tips for pet owners

An on-demand petcast, Radio Beastro, was recently launched on WebTalkRadio.net, to provide pet owners with information and ways to save money.
The broadcasts feature pet expert guests and cover topics ranging from smart pet food product choices to winter preparation tips to environmental safety. “I hope that Radio Beastro will guide pet parents through the many decisions they face when it comes to taking care of their animals,” says creator, Kristen Levine. “My guests will help me provide expert tips and insight that will make our listeners’ lives and their pets’ lives that much happier, healthier and more rewarding.” 

Spectrum Labs will donate $1 to Japan rescue groups for new Twitter followers, Facebook 'Likes'

Spectrum Labs will spend the months of May and June raising money for Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support, a collaboration of three Japan-based no-kill animal rescue groups that are helping animals affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
During May and June, Spectrum Labs will donate US$1 for each new follower on its Twitter page, for each new “like” on its Facebook page, for each new veterinary clinic that chooses to receive its newsletter electronically instead of on paper, and to any attendee of the CVC East conference who swipes a card at Spectrum Labs' booth 211. In total, the company says it will donate up to US$4 to JEARS for each new person who connects with Spectrum.
“We hope that our community of veterinarians and pet-parents will help us support JEARS extensive efforts to help animals and veterinary hospitals as they recover from the horrific disaster in Japan. Pets play a significant role in Japanese families, which we can all relate to,” said Lyndee Kelver, domestic marketing manager at Spectrum. “Undoubtedly, there is a need for pets worldwide to receive the most effective allergy treatments possible. JEARS is a wonderful organization and we are honored to partner with them as they help aid animals that are victims of the massive earthquake devastation. We need the industry’s help to follow/like us on our social media sites and encourage others to do the same.”

Food truck for dogs comes to Chicago May 7

On May 7, a new food truck for dogs will hit the streets of Chicago, Illinois, USA.
The truck, called Fido To Go, sells ice cream and baked cookie treats for dogs. Tracy Werner, one of FTG's owners, said she came up with the idea by watching a segment about food trucks on TV.
"Everything I see on the news, I automatically go: Dogs—how does this relate to dogs?" Werner said. 
FTG will make its debut on May 7, at Chicago's Bark in the Park. The truck will run through October, stopping at venues across the city like dog parks and other dog events.

Purina, One Care Co. launch ProCare products at Global Pet Expo

Purina and the One Care Co. teamed up to launch a new line of Purina ProCare products at 2011 Global Pet Expo, March 16-18 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The line includes almost 30 pet training and cleaning products, such as the Ultra Dry Advanced Training Pads and Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator for carpet and upholstery. The new product line will be available at pet specialty retailers, according to the One Care Co.

PetShopBowl only online pet shop to exhibit at 120th Crufts dog show

A 10-month-old startup called PetShopBowl will be the only online pet shop to exhibit at the United Kingdom's 120th Crufts dog show.
PetShopBowl was set up by two entrepreneurs, Adam Taylor and Alexandra Tamasan, with help from the Princes Trust Business program. Both were unemployed before coming up with the idea of an online pet shop designed to provide a service to help pet owners. Ten months later, the company is on track to achieve a turnover of £300,000 in its first year of operations. “The business idea originated from my personal experience of wanting to save money during these harder economic times,” said Taylor. “I also witnessed my mother struggling to carry heavy dry dog food sacks and cat litter for her pets.”
PetShopBowl’s website offers a repeat delivery service called “Bottomless Bowl” and a one-click reorder feature. “It occurred to me that most animals eat the same amount of food every day, every week and even every year,” said Taylor, “so why not save money and petrol by buying in bulk and have it delivered to your door?” The home delivery service is offered nationwide.

El Portal hotel caters to both pets and their owners

El Portal opened in Sedona, Arizona,USA, as a bed and breakfast hotel catering to both guests and their canine companions.
El Portal's owners, Steve and Connie Segner, built this twelve room hotel with Southwestern design, 18-inch thick handmade adobe walls, wood trim and natural native stone. Each guest room is different, but all have unique features such as arts and crafts furnishings, beamed ceilings or hand-painted detailing. The hotel also features wood and tile flooring throughout to accommodate its canine visitors, with a 1,000-square-foot fenced patio space for dogs and their owners.
Dogs are welcomed to El Portal with special treat baskets and their own pet bed in each guest room. Their owners are provided with lists of dog-friendly parks and outdoor restaurants, pet supply stores and groomers. The hotel also offers ways to enjoy the state's attractions, like a Grand Canyon tour complete with a tour guide and a picnic for all family members - even the dog.

Stella & Chewy's, shortbread treats among top 10 dog products of 2010

Dog News Daily has released its "Top 10 Dog Products" for 2010, and the list includes Stella & Chewy's Chicken Freeze Dried Dinner and Shortbread Cookies, a dog treat from Exclusively Pet.
Other products to make the list for 2010 include:

• The Supercollar, a collar/leash hybrid
• Dog Fashion: The Bathrobe Collection by Romy & Jacob
• Skin Care Product: Skin Rescue Lotion by DerMagic
• Shampoo: Papaya Plus 2-in-1 Shampoo by Tropiclean
• Dog Carrier: The Amelia Tote on Wheels by Sherpa Pet
• Car Safety Product: The Auto Zip Line by Kurgo
• Leash: The Kujo by Ezy Dog
• Dog Bed: The Co-sleeper Pet Bunk Bed by Arms Reach

Americans spend more money on pets than children

Beware what you read on the Internet. I know, that should go without saying. But even supposedly seasoned journalists like those of us at Petfood Industry/Petfood-Connection.com have to relearn this lesson from time to time.
Yesterday we posted a news item with a headline that is definitely a grabber: "Americans spend more money on pets than children." The source, a blog on the website for The Telegraph in the UK, seems solid at first glance; the blogger, Pete Wedderburn, is trained as a veterinarian and has been writing a column about pets for 25 years.
However, nowhere in his post does Wedderburn attribute his source for the claims he's making: "... in the USA, where all worldwide trends seem to start, children's toys have been overtaken by another, rapidly growing market: pet products. Astonishingly, people are now spending more on their pets than they are on their children."
Wedderburn does acknowledge that the "statistic" he's referring to (but never actually reveals) encompasses the entire pet market, including petfood, and he's comparing it mainly to children's toys. Perhaps he never makes the direct comparison because he doesn't have exact data for pet toy sales vs. children's toys sales -- and because his headline and main claim are a lot more provocative and guaranteed to grab attention?
 Americans now spend US$21 billion a year on children's toys and games, according to the NPD Group, a market research firm. (Full attribution: I found that statistic in an online article about US toy purchasing, not on the NPD site, though I looked there.)
 The American Pet Products Association (APPA) estimates US pet owners will have spent a total of US$47.7 billion on their pets by the end of this year. So yes, $47.7 billion is more than the $21 billion spent on children's toys -- but it's not a very exact comparison, is it?
Unfortunately, APPA does not break out sales of pet toys, so I couldn't make the direct comparison, either. Now I'm curious! If someone knows the annual US sales of pet toys, please share.
(By the way, APPA's estimate for total 2010 petfood spending is US$18.28 billion. We should know soon if that holds up.)
In trying to find data to back up Wedderburn's claims, I did find some interesting information -- on, yes, another blog! -- that could possibly explain them. At first glance, a table with data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis on where Americans have increased spending since the recession began seems to support the claims. The table shows pets as the second category, ahead of education and child care. And the amounts spent from the last quarter of 2007 through the second quarter of 2010 (this blog was posted in August) show pet spending at US$5.7 billion versus US$3.6 billion for child care.
But you have to figure that at least some portion of the US$36.9 billion spent on education included for children (even public schools charge various fees), as did spending on healthcare, food and drink, personal care products, telephone equipment, etc. That child care figure is probably just money spent on having a child watched by someone other than the parents. (Children's toys aren't mentioned.)
Anyway, I updated our news item to reflect that the information is solely according to Wedderburn, and I included a link to the blog on American spending habits. Lesson learned!

Petfood sales expected to rise, according to Euromonitor report

Global petfood sales are forecast to rise 2.5%, according to a Financial Times article citing a Euromonitorreport.

The trend of pet humanization has consumers purchasing higher-premium products for pets they view as children, reported industry leaders Mars and Nestle in the article. The Euromonitor report expects Brazil to overtake Japan as the second-largest market in 2015. The "pet humanization" trend is most pronounced in America where sales in the petfood industry, which is triple the size of its baby food industry, are expected to grow by 1.5%. The report says Western Europe is following this trend too, with the Chinese petfood market growing close to 5%.

Go mobile with Petfood Industry

Petfood Industry’s new iPhone and iPad App gives a new definition to a digital magazine. The App, which can be downloaded free from Apple’s App Store, gives readers full access to the magazine, interactive features, and news and product feeds from Petfood Industry.

The App is more than a simple page viewer. The reader can chose between seeing thumbnails of a page, a full page or enlarged text versions of stories. It also allows viewers to link directly to more features, advertising information, and videos, as well as access to RSS feeds from PetfoodIndustry.com. The App also gives readers the ability to easily bookmark stories, share stories with colleagues, and to search current and past issues.

The App can be downloaded here or by searching for “Petfood” in the Apple App Store.

Works on most Smartphones

We’ve also launched an enhanced Mobile Web Reader that gives readers many of these same features on other mobile devices, such as the Droid or Blackberry, by simply pointing the device’s browser to www.petfoodindustry-digital.com.

With the App and Mobile Web Reader, readers now have access to all digital editions on any portable device they choose. Readers can now use the digital editions of the magazine from anywhere on their mobile devices.