The Most Important Trends in the Pet Food Industry in 2023

There have been significant trend shifts in the pet food industry, as individuals worldwide are growing more health-conscious of both mental and physical health.

The drivers of the pet food sector are directly related to the growth of consumer needs, with pet wellness and health gaining steam and rising as a top priority. The pets-as-family mindset influences customer purchasing behavior as the level of involvement in the decision regarding the alimentation of the furry pal has increased tremendously.

Revenue in the pet food segment is increasing year-on-year, and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11,11%, amounting for US$224,50bn by 2027. The humanization of pets is more prevalent than ever as pet adoptions surged among Gen Y and Gen Z, calling for different business approaches regarding pet food manufacturing, packaging, and delivery.

There's plenty of opportunity lying in wait for the pet nutrition industry, so let's dive into the most promising trends to see how businesses can adapt to changing customer preferences.

Focusing on health

The instagrammable healthy eating movement is part of every nation's modern culture. It goes beyond human food, meaning that the pet nutrition industry now has a new goal to accomplish – more minimally processed pet meals. Given this, it's safe to say that retailers will emphasize the quality of the delivered pet food more than ever before, implementing the necessary pet food processing solutions to achieve this goal while ensuring cost-effective production strategies. After all, apart from the ingredients used, the processing strategy is at the core of the preparation of the end product that you're buying from the supermarket shelves, and one of the most influential aspects that impact the taste and color of your pet's food. Ultimately, customers want to provide their pets with the most nutritious ingredients available.

Don't find it surprising if you see the likes of kelp, chia, and kale on the ingredient list of your pet's food. Pet nutrition is taking on a more holistic approach, too, partly to deal with age-related changes and different aspects of pet health, catering to digestive, cognitive, and skin nutrition.

Taking advantage of the insects' health benefits

Insects as a protein source? Yes, why not? Lately, there has been increased interest in the health benefits of these creepy crawlies as a fantastic protein source. Although seeing the critters on the menu is off the table for the moment as more scientific research is required, they are, so far, known to possess the following benefits:

• Vitamins and minerals that are fast-absorbed
• High content of antioxidants
• Essential fatty acids.

While many insect species are used for human and animal consumption, the move towards them in the pet nutrition industry is quite a novel undertaking, and only select retailers integrate them into their formulas. But as more research is conducted, there's no doubt that the concept will take off soon.

Mimicking human food

One of the most notable trends you will likely agree with is the humanization of the pet food scene. Because pet owners strive to offer the best of both worlds to their beloved furry companions, they're inclined to look for food imitations, providing retailers with a new working trajectory – emulating the aroma, ingredients, appearance, and even product names.

Many manufacturers are now placing a priority on "clean labels" – pepping the latest health buzzwords like "free-from", "homemade", "seasonal" and "clean" on their pet food packaging. Pet owners today perceive the necessities of their furry pals in a similar light to their own, leading to a rise in humanization and also in the complexity of food manufacturing. With more ingredients and recipes that manufacturers should understand and use in order to cater to evolving customer preferences, specialists from Ksegroup offer the right solutions to ensure businesses stay ahead of the curve.

More raw meat and treats

Pet parents are giving their pets more treats as they become more involved in their pets' well-being, including mental health. Every year, the dog and cat treat market expand in value and volume and is the fastest-growing area in the pet nutrition industry. No wonder the focus on premiumization and humanization has shifted towards pet treats, and now you can give your cat a beer and your dog a bag of crisps. What?!

Raw meat products are another profitable area of interest for retailers. For now, you can buy raw meat for your pet, freeze it, and thaw it before serving. But as these products grow in popularity, you may see more diversity on the shelves of pet stores in the future.

Increasing the premium choices

As pet nutrition dietary demands continue to be similar to those of humans, the need for premium ingredients is rising, with locally sourced materials at the top of the list. Gourmet or British recipes, simple and natural, with authentic ingredients and a high protein and vegetable content are increasingly sought-after and bought by customers.

They take comfort in knowing they're feeding their beloved pets food with high-quality ingredients and less to no fiber content (also known as "fillers").

Allowing for more transparency

The need for transparency is not new in the pet food industry, just like it isn't in the human one, but it has certainly increased in recent years. Pet parents want to know exactly what they are feeding their furry companions, likely as a result of the "post-truth" society. How are the ingredients grown and the food produced? The rise of ethical consumerism has compelled businesses to provide accurate disclosures about how their goods are grown, farmed, and made, meaning that manufacturers must ramp up their game to ensure customer satisfaction.

Last words

Human tastes and demands reflect more and more into the pet nutrition trends, as individuals perceive their furry friends' needs in a similar manner to their own. And given the growing emphasis on premiumization, health orientation, and ethical consumerism, it's no surprise that products featuring familiar, sustainably sourced ingredients are picking up steam.