Page 21 - PET worldwide issue 1/2021

better not just at home but also and cats based on their physi- more dining and accommodation
abroad. Real Power Nutrition, a cal condition and age. The com- services for pets. Taipei has the
young Taiwan pet food manu- pany first launched its service highest rate of pet ownership in
facturer founded only in 2013, at the Taipei Pets Show in 2018 the entire country, with a goal of
became a trailblazer in 2020 and has since expanded its op- becoming a true pet-friendly des-
by winning two highly coveted erations to Malaysia. tination. At least 123 pet-related
awards from Taiwan’s Symbol of Taiwan is also seeing brisk hospitality businesses such as
National Quality (SNQ) certifica- sales of non-food pet products restaurants, hotels and cafes can
tions board. It was the first time such as clothes, toys, accesso- be found in Taipei today.
a pet food product has won such ries and strollers since 2015, The Taipei City Animal Pro-
a commendation. Real Power is collectively becoming a pet busi- tection Office for its part offers
the maker of Real Nature pre- ness category that was worth at free pet insurance benefits to
mium holistic dog and cat food least 1.52 bn dollars, according those who would adopt aging
products that impressed a panel to organisers of the Taipei Pet dogs and cats from a shelter.
of 120 top scholars and experts Expo. In one of their previous Part of Taiwan’s “new normal”,
for meeting local and interna- shows, many Taiwanese pet however, is the tendency among
tional standards on safety and owners proved that they wouldn’t young adults (30 years old or The affinity for pets is very
high in Taiwan.
quality. even think twice about buying above) to just have pets instead
Furkid Food Taiwan, a start- something “extra” for their pets of children, a major issue which
up which specialises in fresh when they made a beeline for a to date has resulted in almost
meals for dogs and cats, also small shop that offered one-of- the same number of pets and
continues to dominate its niche a-kind pet e-collars shaped like kids aged 14 and below in the
market by producing ready-to- flower petals. It was pricy at 950 country. This development will
eat pet meals, the likes of which NT dollars apiece (33 dollars) for have far-reaching implications
were previously unheard of, such a small one, but the unique e- for Taiwan in the future and is
as pizzas and meatballs for collars sold very well among cat definitely a reason for concern,
dogs, steamed shark and fish and dog owners alike. but for now the pet industry only
roe meals for cats and a wide stands to gain from it from a
range of dishes and treats fea- The new normal: business standpoint. n
turing unique pairings of ingredi- pet services
ents. Furkid’s CEO Zhuang Ru Lin It seems that a “No Pets Allowed”
proudly claims that her company policy is the exception rather than
has 70 per cent of Taiwan’s fresh the rule in Taiwan as businesses
pet food market. To keep the mar- try their best to accommodate
ket curious and interested, Furkid pets which, as it happens, now
makes over 100 types of dry, fro- need more than just regular
zen and room-temperature pet grooming. Taiwan pet owners
meals which Zhuang said pet have embraced the idea of pet ho-
owners love to feed as alterna- tels, pet cafes, pet funerals, pet be-
tives to their kibble- and canned- havioural training centres and pet
food-weary pets. She said fresh insurance as the new normal and
pet food accounts for only about they are willing to pay for these
30 per cent of Taiwan’s total pet new services as their relationship
food market. with their pets grows more per-
Then there’s Nu4Pet, a pet sonal. In Taipei, the Department of
food subscription service that Economic Development is actively
customises pet food for dogs assisting businesses in opening Dog and cat treats were particularly popular at the Taipei Pets Show.

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