Insights-driven development of humanized foods for pets

Abstract

Commercialized petfood has been evolving since the late 1800s. From rock-hard, flour-based biscuits to the adaptation of extrusion andcanning, or the most recently developed “fresh-cooked” processes, thedifferentiation between foods for pets and humans is becoming increasinglyblurred.  Today, the U.S. pet food industryis worth $42 billion and continues to rapidly grow year after year.  This growth is, in part, driven by anincreasing pet population which was accelerated by the pandemic (APPA, 2022; Euromonitor,2022); however, much of the growth and evolution of the pet food industry isarguably in response to a growing bond between humans and their pets. As petparents are increasingly looking for new ways to nourish and delight their “fur-babies”,the development of new, alternative formats of pet foods offers many advantagesto pet parents including more variety of food choices that typically have amore pleasant appearance and aroma.  Benefitsfor the pet from these innovative foods include exceptional palatability andnutrient digestibility as compared to conventional pet foods, although barriersto the growth of new, alternative pet food formats such as “fresh-cooked” foodsdo exist.  Most notably, the cost to feedtheir pets a diet solely consisting of “fresh-cooked” foods may be prohibitivefor many pet parents; furthermore, these novel foods bring unique technical challengesto manufacturers that do not exist for conventional kibble and canned petfoods.  From securing ingredient supplyto ensuring the safety and shelf life of products, manufacturers of “fresh-cooked”pet foods have been challenged to adapt new formulations, processing methods,and supply chain strategies that have not previously existed in the pet foodindustry.  This paper will exploreconsumer insights that have led to the evolution of the pet food industry aswell as the unique opportunities that pet food brands face as they seek tosatisfy consumer demand for high quality, humanized foods for pets withoutcompromising the nutritional adequacy, safety, and sustainability of commercialpet food diets.

Your pet and god: A religious case on the antecedents of pet food buying behavior

“…This research finds that there is a positive influence between their connection with their pets and how pet owners care enough to read the labels in pet food packaging, but not as far as to buy them hastily. Since most pet owners regard their animals as members of the family, pet food is becoming increasingly comparable to human food (White, 2023). Thus, this paper concludes that pet owners' attachment to their pets compels them to notice religious cues on pet food packaging but not to directly influence the type of pet food they buy.…”

Edible Insects as a Source of Dietary Protein for Companion Animals – Perspectives and Possibilities

“…Due to social changes, cats and dogs are presently considered family members, rather than property [14,15]. Most dog and cat owners claim that their pets are integral members of their families [16,17]. These changes are particularly evident in households ran by Millennials (Generation Y) who largely drive the growth of the pet food market [15,18,19].…”

“…Pets are anthropomorphized by 42% of Generation Y owners [22]. This demographic group is also more susceptible to social changes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic which increased the demand for pet products [17]. Around 7% of Millennials and 26% of Generation Z have adopted a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic [22,23].…”

Edible insects as a source of dietary protein for companion animals with food responsive enteropathies – perspectives and possibilities

“…Due to social changes, cats and dogs are presently considered family members, rather than property (Hankin 2007, Forbes et al 2018. Most dog and cat owners claim that their pets are integral members of their families (McConnell et al 2019, White 2023). These changes are particularly evident in households ran by Millennials (Generation Y) who largely drive the growth of the pet food market (Lincoln 2018, Forbes et al 2018, Kucharska and Malinowska 2019.…”

“…Pets are anthropomorphized by 42% of Generation Y owners (Ypulse 2020). This demographic group is also more susceptible to social changes, such as the COVID-19 pandemic which increased the demand for pet products (White 2023). Around 7% of Millennials and 26% of Generation Z have adopted a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic (Ypulse 2020, Beck et al 2023).…”