Page 22 - PET worldwide issue 02/2022

International Pet Conference

A new era in the

pet sector

The International Pet Conference takes place in Bologna on
11 and 12 October. Presentations and discussion panels will

focus on the “new normal” since the pandemic, which has
also brought radical changes in the pet sector.

A lot has changed since the last the coronavirus outbreak, peo- the coronavirus crisis. From the
edition of the International Pet ple across the world found com- sector’s viewpoint, one of the
Conference in Budapest in Oc- fort and company in owning a negative aspects of the pan-
tober 2018. Between that con- pet, resulting in an increase demic was the disruption in
ference and now, a pandemic in the pet population on every supply chains, seen as an in-
raged – a challenging period continent. This change related dicator of the vulnerability of
beginning in early 2020 and not only to dogs and cats, but a globalised economic order.
characterised by limits on go- was also visible in the case of Starting with shortages of raw
ing out, social distancing and small animals, ornamental fish, materials, bottlenecks in the
lockdowns, but at the same time reptiles and even cage birds in supply of wood, steel and other
triggering an unprecedented up- some countries. Pets acquired commodities and a continuing
turn in the pet business. During an even higher status in many lack of packaging materials, a
households during the pan- number of factors meant that
Meet the industry experts and demic, with plenty of pet own- production and logistics faced
movers of the pet business ers spoiling their companions major challenges from the out-
as never before. A trend towards set. These have been exacer-
premium products emerged that bated by cost increases for pet
persists even now, two years af- food and accessories, which are
ter the coronavirus emerged. Pet now being passed on to custom-
stores in particular have bene- ers to a greater or lesser extent
fited from this. and could result in a significant
slowdown in growth rates in the
Dušan Placˇek Polina Kosharna Hubert Wieser A host of changes pet sector after two successful
Owner + CEO Co-Owner + CEO Regional Director
Placˇek Group Suziria Company Central Region Covid-19 has also been respon- years. The war in Ukraine is an-
Group Nestlé Purina sible for many other changes in other event making the supply
the international pet sector. On- chain crisis even worse.
line pet product retailing experi- Rarely have so many urgent
enced a huge boost in growth, topics featured on the pro-
while the importance of digi- gramme of an International Pet
talised processes only became Conference as on this occasion.
clear to many players during As well as the exchange of infor-
Heiko Bücker Rolf Hagen Jr Paul van der Raad the pandemic. The awareness mation and opinions, however,
Senior Vice President Co-Owner + CEO Global Commercial of sustainability also grew meeting face to face is high on
Product Offer Hagen Group Director, Pet Industry
Fressnapf Protix sharply in the pet sector during the agenda for this gathering. If

22 PET worldwide 2|2022

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