Hugs Pet Products teaming up with Paula Deen

TV personality Paula Deen and Hugs Pet Products are partnering to launch a petfood and product line.

Hugs, based in Montreal, Missouri, is known for its Chillz line of pet cooling products like dog mats and toys, and also sells products including bowls, apparel, birdhouses, dog cots and houses, pet health products and leashes.
Hugs’ Paula Deen line will include petfood, treats and toys.
"Pet products and pet food is something I wanted to do for a while because everyone who knows me knows I just adore animals,” Deen said. "I want to share my love for animals with my fans and fellow pet lovers by creating special products and treats for their pets to enjoy.”
Deen will be at the Hugs Pet Products booth (3351) at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida, USA, on Thursday, March 5, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Pet product trade show draws record numbers in 2013

PATS Harrogate, an annual pet industry trade show held in northern England, drew a record number of pet product retailers. The two-day event hosted 1,969 retailers, an 8.6 percent increase from the 2012 exhibition, organizers say.
The show drew 167 exhibitors, ranging from Alfalfa King, a US-based producer of hay for small animals, to Zealandia, an England-based dog food manufacturer.
The event's New Products Showcase Awards attracted more than 170 entries. Natures Menu, a manufacturer of raw and natural petfood, was named winner in both the cat and dog categories. A panel of retailers also judged the winners in three other categories, including top Bird Product or Service, in which Honeyfield's No Grow, from Marriages Specialist Foods, was named winner.
PATS Harrogate's sister show, PATS Sandown, is scheduled for March 18-19, 2014, at Sandown Park Racecourse in suburban London, England.

Pet supplies manufacturer seeks innovative pet product submissions

Fetch... for pets!, manufacturer of innovative pet supplies, is launching a new division within the company.
The "Fetch... for Innovation" division focuses on finding new inventions by recruiting individuals with unique concepts and products for pets. If you have an innovative pet product or concept, email Innovate@fetch4pets.com or call +1.212.244.2456, ext. 234. 

Pet product retail, consumer trends report released by Packaged Facts

Packaged Facts released a new report, Pet Product Retail Channel and Consumer Shopping Trends, which says pet product retailers and marketers should re-evaluate strategic options to keep up with the increasingly competitive pet product marketplace.
The report suggests options for remaining competitive in the market, including: competing on price; incorporating premium or natural products into offerings; improving merchandising, marketing and promotions; promoting pet treats; and becoming "destination information" sources.  According to the report, three long-term factors have greatly increased competition: the expansion of big-box pet specialty chains; the growth of mass merchandisers and supercenters; and the rise of the Internet. In the short term, budget constraints have changed the way consumers buy and what they buy, proving they are willing to switch channels and brands to make ends meet or satisfy shifting priorities.
The full report may be purchased online from Packaged Facts. 

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. 

Ark Naturals donates natural pet products for the Emmy Awards

Natural pet product supplier Ark Naturals will participate in the WOW Creations Celebrity Gifting Lounge taking place in honor of the Emmy Awards on September 13, 2011, in Beverly Hills, California, USA. At the Emmy Gifting Lounge, Ark Naturals will give away a gift bag of products aimed at solving familiar pet issues and bringing celebrities closer to their pets. 

The company says its gift basket products include: BREATH-LESS brushless chewable toothpaste, Sea Mobility Joint Rescue treats, Gentle Digest for dogs and cats, Don't Shed on Me! anti-shed mist, and Royal Coat: Omega Mender! Itch Ender! additive for pets' diets. 
In celebration of their Emmy Celebrity Gifting Lounge participation, Ark Naturals will host a “Red Carpet Pet” contest on its Twitter and Facebook pages, where fans and followers can participate for a chance to with an Emmy Pet Gift Pack. 

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."

Pet product search for Giggy of Bravo's 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills'

Edison Nation, a product developer and social network inventor, is partnering with the Creative Artists Agency to host a pet-related product search for Giggy the Pomeranian, a celebrity pet on Bravo's TV show, "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills."
The "Giggy the Pom" new product search seeks innovative, stylish pet products in categories such as: carriers and travel products; harnesses, leashes and matching accessories; toys; earth-friendly grooming and pet beauty products; and bed and home products. Inventors of chosen pet product ideas will receive a minimum US$2,500 advance payment and a percentage of future product sales, according to Edison Nation.
The "Giggy the Pom" search runs through July 11, with no limit to the number of submissions per person or potential products to be selected. Edison Nation says its standard fee to submit a product idea is US$25, which covers internal screening costs.

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.

Global analysis looks at consumers' most trusted pet info channels

"The Pet Market," an analysis by Adem Lab of Parma University, looks at the global market for pet food and pet products, as well as how consumers access information on pet ownership and care through different retail channels.
A global overlook of the pet market shows that sales of petfood and pet care products are surging in Latin America, led by the Brazilian market. According to Euromonitor International, sales of pet food and pet care products rose from US$4.8 billion to US$8.3 billion from 2005 to 2010. Currently, Latin America  represents 10.2% of the global market, an increase from 7.6% in 2005. Brazil is the region's largest market, with pet care sales of US$5.2 billion in 2010, followed by Mexico (US$1 billion) and Argentina (US$645 million). Euromonitor predicts that Latin American pet care value sales will see a 5.5% compound annual growth rate over the 2010-2015 period.
Latin America's pet market growth comes as pet populations rise around the world, including in the United Kingdom. Research by Mintel for the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association found that about one in four (22.9%) UK families owns at least one dog, an increase of 2.1% over the past five years. The UK dog population is now at an all-time high of 8.3 million, which is almost as large as its cat population of 8.6 million. 
A 2010 survey from AISAD, an Italian pet association, looked at the most trusted places for consumers to gain information on matters related to pet ownership. The survey found specialty stores to be the most trusted for advice on pet care, hygiene, nutrition and dog registration. Breeders were found to be the most trusted by consumers for guarantees on pet origin and related assistance, as well as pet health and breeding. Those looking to buy a pet trusted a specialized store most, the survey found, but breeders and private pet owners were also considered to be important reference points. Though little competition to information channels that offer direct interaction, the Web was found to be an important source of information on all pet-related topics.

IML packaging is becoming a popular trend for petfood manufacturers

Belgian printing company Verstraete says that the humanization of pets has led to success in IML packaging for pet food manufacturers.
IML, or "in mold labeling," is a technique in which a preprinted polypropylene label is placed in a mold that is shaped like the end product. The molten polypropylene is added to the mold, where it is fused to the label, and the packaging and label become one.
The US National Pet Owner Survey revealed that female animal owners, in particular, see themselves as the "mother" of their pets. With IML, Verstraete says packaging can have an impact on this kind of emotional purchasing. The quality of the photograph as well as the various look and feel possibilities offered by IML ensure that all product information is communicated to the consumer in an attractive way. The company says that petfood manufacturers may find IML packaging to be an effective way to distinguish themselves from competitors.