Page 30 - PET worldwide issue 03/2021

Dog food

A high meat content and no cereal
are differentiating features
for many naturally produced
premium foods for dogs.

Natural products

become a key trend

The demand for naturally manufactured premium products in-
89.8 mio creased sharply during the coronavirus pandemic. Huge price

rises for raw ingredients are likely to mean more expensive end
dogs were kept in Europe products, however.
in 2020 – an increase of
2.3 mio over 2019. With fewer holidays and business tion in the pet food segment is skin and coat problems, kidney
Source: Fediaf trips, fewer outdoor activities on continuing and premium products and liver diseases and gastroin-
offer and a dearth of cultural are in greater demand than ever. testinal ailments have their roots
events to attend, people suddenly in bad, unhealthy food. Canine
found they had more time on their Bad food makes pets ill experts point out that the rise
hands during the pandemic. This The sub-segment of naturally in dogs displaying behavioural
also had an effect on their life- produced dog food in particular problems is also caused by too
style. It has been observed that has benefited from the increased many chemicals in food. It has
people across the globe have health awareness of many con- been proven that neurotoxic sub-
focused more on nutrition, their sumers, who read the small print stances in synthetic preservatives
health and their activity levels dur- on the packaging more than be- can modify canine behaviour.
ing the months of the coronavirus. fore. They take care to ensure that Alongside online retailers, the
Not only did they look closely at their pet’s food contains natural main beneficiary of this trend
their own behaviour in relation ingredients and where possible are the pet stores, which nor-
to health, but also at that of their no additives or preservatives. mally offer a larger assortment
pets, especially of cats and dogs. Many of them understand that a of naturally produced premium
It is thus self-evident that the de- close link exists between healthy dog food than the supermarkets.
sire to feed family pets better than nutrition and health. They are It is a trend that emerged before
before has grown significantly in learning that the growing num- the coronavirus and has become
the last few months. Humanisa- ber of allergies, joint complaints, stronger during the pandemic.

30 PET worldwide 3|2021

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