April 15,
2008Volume 8, Number
7This newsletter is also
available in an Adobe PDF format; click on the following link to
begin download:
Petfood
Industry eNews.
AFB International, the maker of
Optimizor®, BioFlavor®, and Enticer® brand palatants, sponsors your
free copy of Petfood Industry Electronic Newsletter. AFB is
the petfood industry's first choice for dog and cat food palatants.
For more information, please visit our website at http://www.afbinternational.com.
» INDUSTRY NEWS
Recalls spark
interest in "Made in America" labeling
According to a survey conducted by CMI Market
Research, 75% of American consumers are concerned about food safety
issues and pay close attention to food packaging. Last year's
petfood recalls have made consumers increasingly aware of where
their petfood is made, since the majority of the problematic
ingredients and food was made outside the US.
any pet owners, according to a WeatherChem report,
have lost trust in the brands they may have been using for years and
are now more apt to stop and take a careful look at new petfood
products. According to the same report, many consumers will only buy
products that are "Made in America" and if the packaging
doesn't convey this clearly then brands are losing important
business. One product that has capitalized on this concept is Pet
Factory's rawhide products that contain a simple, blue label that's
central message is "American Beefhide." WeatherChem attests that if
your company produces an American made product, you should be
marketing this fact on your packaging in a very prominent
way.
Health food going to US dogs
US consumers have recently been displaying a
hearty appetite for all things healthy, natural, organic and
vitamin-infused. Consumer companies are pushing that trend a step
further, right into the heart of the canine world.
Cott Corp., a maker of private-label sodas for
human consumption, is one of the latest companies taking the
health-and-wellness craze to the petfood industry. Cott is rolling
out a line of vitamin-infused beverages for dogs, not unlike the
enhanced juices and drinks for humans lining grocery and
convenience-store shelves.
"This is our first foray into the pet industry,"
Cott spokeswoman Lucia Ross said. "The same way the trend is
healthier food and beverages for people, we believe that healthy
beverages for pets are the next step."
Cott's move is just an example of how
many companies are trying to grab a share of the booming US pet
industry. The American Pet Products Manufacturers Association
expects Americans to spend about US$43.4 billion on their pets in
2008, up from US$41.2 billion in 2007. About US$16.9 billion of that
is expected to be spent on food.
Cott spent nearly 18 months on research and
development with veterinarians and food scientists to come up with
the products designed to meet the specific nutritional needs of
dogs. Its "Fortifido" line of fortified waters for dogs includes a
peanut-butter flavored water that is fortified with calcium for
healthy bones, according to the company. Another is fortified with
zinc for healthy skin, and one is spearmint-flavored for fresh
breath. Cott recently launched the products in pet specialty
stores and is trying for a wider national rollout. It also plans to
make the products available online.
Of course, Cott has plenty of competition. Take
retailer PetSmart Inc., who is no stranger to the pet market.
Their newer offerings include OVN, or Optimum Vitamin
Nutrition, tablets that can be added to dog water. They come in
three flavors -- chicken, chicken liver and bacon jerky -- and can
be used to make gravy for dry food.
"The biggest thing in petfood at the moment is
natural and organic, because it's been that way a couple years for
humans," said Jim D'Aquila, managing director at financial advisory
concern Mercanti Group, which specializes in consumer and wellness
products. "They are adopting for their pets what they are adopting
for themselves."
The big question will be how higher-end pet
products will fare in a weaker US economy. "The high-end food will
continue to grow, but it won't grow at the same rate as it would in
a healthy economy," Mr. D'Aquila said. "There is a subset of people
there who are seeing this as an essential part of their pet's
life."
Report available on UK pet
market
Research and Markets now
offers Pet Food and Pet Care in the United
Kingdom. The report offers a comprehensive guide to
the size and shape of the market at a national level, according to
the company. Forecasts to 2011 illustrate how the market is set to
change. For more information, visit www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c84442.
Both the dog and the cat food sectors
continue to grow strongly in the UK, according to the report.
However, their growth has been driven by certain categories. In cat
food, wet food continues to show excellent growth, which
manufacturers have continued to promote by stressing the premium
nature of their wet brands; wet dog food, on the other hand, is
stagnating. The opposite is true in the dog food sector, where it is
dry dog food that is continuing to show excellent growth, with pet
owners realizing the potential health benefits of feeding dry dog
food and also of the relative ease with which dry dog food can be
bought in bulk. Comparatively, dry cat food is showing much lower
levels of growth.
With the pet obesity rate reaching record
levels in both the US and UK, pet health and pet hygiene proved to
be one of the biggest concerns of pet owners in 2006, according to
Research and Markets. This has resulted in new health focused
multi-functional foods aimed at improving pet health, with product
launches aimed at boosting pet paws, claws, eyes, coats, skin, teeth
and even brain power. Key terms included omega 3 and 6,
macro-nutrient profile, wheat and gluten-free and hypoallergenic.
Convenience has also been at a premium,
hastening the decline of the canned format, whereas innovations such
as Whiskas and Felix pouches and Ollis non-slip trays have continued
to perform well. Despite a general stagnation in pet numbers in the
UK, the petfood and pet care market is one of the most robust. With
anthropomorphism gathering pace, manufacturers are increasingly able
to persuade pet owners to trade up to superpremium and premium
products which will drive value sales growth over the forecast
period projected by the report. Research and Markets thinks we can
expect to see an increasingly segmented market as manufacturers with
similar high-quality products seek to drive value by diversifying
their products.
Pet Fair Asia expected to be a
success
Over 300 companies from the pet
product sector have registered for the Pet Fair Asia. The show will
take place from September 3-5, 2008 in Shanghai, China. At
present, the anticipated number of exhibitors is already 20%
up over the last show. PIJAC Canada, the Canadian
manufacturers' association, will be represented at the show for the
first time with an exhibitors' pavilion. Pet medical products and
pet medical treatment facilities will also be presented at the show
in the "Veterinary products" section. In parallel with this, a China
Vet Forum will be organized, in which world-authoritative veterinary
experts and well-known professionals will share their opinions with
the attendees, who are veterinarians and pet hospital staff.
More
professional look to Anido 2008
The
leading trade event for the pet care market in Belgium, Anido 2008,
ended this year with a striking professional character to the many
visitors. The show was visited by not only Belgians, but also a
large number of Dutch and French pet industry attendees. One
hundred and twenty businesses in all were represented at Anido
2008 and the exhibitor area was 17% larger than last year's
space. All together, 4,575 visitors came to Anido.
At the New on Anido Forum, visitors could vote for
what they considered to be the best new pet products. There were
more than 20 entries in the food category alone. Products eligible
for the competition had to have been launched on the Belgian market
after September 15, 2007. The next Anido show will take place in
spring of 2010.
WATT launches
EcoAgri.Biz
WATT has launched EcoAgri.Biz, a
comprehensive, global and completely digital news product providing
companies and individuals in animal agribusiness markets with
practical sustainability advice and solutions. Link to the digital
magazine at http://www.ecoagribiz-digital.com/ecoagribiz/200803/
» MARKET DATA
Each month the Petfood
Industry eNewsletter will bring you the latest market data
available from several different sources including Euromonitor
International, Packaged Facts, Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and
ACNielsen.
Pets become an important feature
in Portuguese households
Pets are becoming an integral part of
Portuguese households, and consequently, consumers are paying more
attention to their needs. Not only in their food but also comfort,
hygiene and health are becoming more pressing issues.
In 2007, the petfood and pet care
products market generated EUR208 million, following growth of 7% in
current value terms. Cat and dog food, mixers and treats were the
main triggers for the development of the market. Demographic statistics show that even with an
aging population, Portuguese households are increasing, which is
proving to have a positive impact on the pet food and pet care
products market.
The market is expected see a constant
value compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3% over the next five
years, and is expected to reach EUR244 million (US$327.5
million) by 2012. Dog and cat food continues to be the main
trigger to the development of the market, specifically, mixers and
treats. Dog and cat food is expected to see a constant value and
volume CAGRs of 3% over the forecast period, to reach EUR199 million
(US$313.3 million) in 2012. This situation will continue due to
the increased awareness of the benefits of animal-specific food and
its benefits.
http://www.euromonitor.com/Pet_Food_And_Pet_Care_Products?DCMP=AFC-petfoodemail
» PRODUCT NEWS
Awkward bag carrier
Grabbit Tool Co.'s newest
product, the Bag Grabbit allows awkward, heavy bags, such as those
petfoods are found in, to be carried like a briefcase. With their
"linear grappling" the Bag Grabbit attaches the bag and distributes
the bag's weight over a five-inch edge. Bag Grabbit will handle bags
made of any pliable fabric (e.g. plastic, paper, poly weave and
burlap). www.grabbittool.com
Flexible films from Pliant
Pliant Corp. has a line of engineered
films for bulk food and liquid packaging applications. The line
includes economical over wraps, high-impact frozen food films and
bulk liquid packaging films. The films are designed to reduce flavor
and aroma transfer through packaging, according to the company.
www.pliantcorp.com
Test for tetracyclines
in milk
Neogen Corp. has developed the
quickest test available for tetracycline residues in milk, according
to the company. TetraStar dairy antibiotic test for tetracyclines
complements the company's BetaStar test for the beta-lactam group of
dairy antibiotics, which includes amoxicillin, ampicillin,
cephapirin, cloxacillin and penicillin. TetraStar produces clear
results in six minutes, and like BetaStar, is a simple dipstick test
that requires only minimal training and equipment to produce
accurate results. www.neogen.com
Film
with zipper included
INNO-LOK is an automated filling film
with the zipper material already built in offered by the company
Cello-Poly. The film does not require modification to filling
equipment or cause a reduction in cycle rates or output. The zipper
is pre-applied transverse to the edges of the film and does not
travel into the sealed area. This application eliminates zipper
distortion and leaking, which can occur during the heat-sealing
process with traditional zippers. www.cello-poly.com
» RESEARCH NEWS
Plant sterol
benefits
Plant sterols, or phytosterols, come
from vegetable oils, nuts, seeds and grains. They may have many
beneficial effects including cholesterol-lowering action,
anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidation activities.
The beneficial physiological effects
of plant sterols could be further enhanced by esterification to
other beneficial substances such as olive oil, fish oil and ascorbic
acid. The addition of plant sterols to the diet is a safe, effective
means to reduce the risk of various diseases.
Source: S.S. AbuMweis, et
al., 2007. Plant sterols: natural plant components with
potential beneficial health effects. Inform,
December.
Green tea protects liver
The incidence of
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has risen along with the
ongoing obesity epidemic. Green tea extract (GTE) inhibits
intestinal lipid absorption and may regulate hepatic lipid
accumulation. This study's objective was to determine whether GTE
protects against hepatic lipid accumulation during the development
of NAFLD in an obese model. The results suggest that GTE protects
against NAFLD by limiting hepatic lipid accumulation and injury
without affecting hepatic antioxidant status and
adiponectin-mediated lipid metabolism.
Source: R.S. Bruno,
et al., 2008. Green tea extract protects leptin-deficient,
spontaneously obese mice from hepatic steatosis and injury. J
Nutr138: 323-331.
» POSITIONS AVAILABLE
--Animal Nutritionist
Trouw
Nutrition USA is a leading
manufacturer of unique feed ingredients, base mixes and premixes for
the agricultural and companion animal nutrition industry. The
company is part of the Trouw Nutrition International Business
Group of Nutreco. Trouw Nutrition International is the
leading European premix and specialty feeds supplier with extending
global positions. Nutreco is based in the Netherlands and has
operations in more than 25 countries.
Due to
our growth and commitment to meet our objectives in the United
States, we are in constant search for talented people who aim to
work in a challenging but supportive organization and be part of a
global network of experts - experts with an entrepreneurial drive
who put the customer first and take responsibility for the further
development of our business.
Because of our
growth scenario we are currently searching for an Animal
Nutritionist. Main job
responsibilities are to ensure all products are properly formulated,
labeled and in compliance with applicable regulations, to ensure
integrity and accuracy of customer formulas and to review formulas
to ensure production efficiency with optimized formulation cost
within customer and TNUSA guidelines. Additional
responsibilities include providing technical nutritional support for
company personnel and customers.
A minimum of a Master
of Science degree is required with a PhD preferred along with
experience working in a customer service environment.
Knowledge of AAFCO regulations is desired. Preferred candidates will be goal oriented and possess
excellent interpersonal skills and sound judgment. Well
developed written and oral communication skills are essential.
Appropriate computer skills in formulation software, word
processing, spreadsheet applications and email programs are also
essential. Previous experience in the pet food industry would
be helpful.
For
consideration, please fax, mail or e-mail your resume with salary
history to the attention of:
Animal Nutritionist Position
Trouw Nutrition USA
P.O. Box 219
Highland, IL 62249 Fax: 618-654-3157
openpositions@nutreco.com
» CONTACT INFO
To submit any information you would like us to
consider for publication on our website, in the printed magazine, or
in this newsletter, E-mail your information to Jessica Taylor Bond,
jbond@wattnet.net.
Have questions or comments about what you've just read?
E-mail the editor at editor@petfoodindustry.com
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» CALENDAR
For our Full Calendar of Events, please
click on the provided link:
AFB International, the maker
of Optimizor®, BioFlavor®, and Enticer® brand palatants, sponsors
your free copy of Petfood Industry Electronic Newsletter.
AFB is the petfood industry's first choice for dog and cat food
palatants. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.afbinternational.com.
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