As consumers increasingly strive for healthier eating habits, they are including their pets in this journey towards better nutrition. The pet food industry is progressively reflecting the trends seen in human food, and pet owners are responding by purchasing these products. For instance, Blue Buffalo Co. Ltd. offers a recipe featuring chicken and quinoa with ancient grains, while Nestle Purina’s Beneful has experimented with incorporating blueberries, pumpkin, and spinach into their offerings. Honest Kitchen Inc., known for using only human-grade ingredients, has had a chicken and quinoa recipe available since 2006, and has now expanded to include blends of beef and chickpeas, duck and sweet potato, and fish and coconut.
Consumers appreciate the health advantages provided by these superfoods and are eager to share them with their furry companions. However, it’s important to recognize that pets have nutritional requirements that differ significantly from those of humans. Research has indicated that breeds like labradoodles and schnauzers do not require the high-protein diets that their wild ancestors, such as wolves, do. Instead, they can thrive on a plant-based, low-protein diet, which brings a favorable perspective to these new quinoa and spinach recipes. Nevertheless, dogs can meet their nutritional needs with traditional ingredients like soy or corn, in addition to trendy options like quinoa. Ultimately, it’s the pet owners making the food choices for their pets.
According to a Harris Poll conducted in 2016, 95% of pet owners in the U.S. regarded their animals as part of the family, a notable increase from 2007. Pet owners genuinely care for their pets and seek to provide them with the best food possible. While a higher price tag doesn’t always correlate with higher quality, pet owners are willing to invest more in what they perceive to be superior products. The sales of premium pet food surged from $5.7 billion in 2001 to $14.5 billion in 2015.
As sales of consumer packaged goods (CPG) stagnate, the pet food sector is experiencing rapid growth. With the rising similarities in ingredients and nutritional profiles between human and pet foods, more manufacturers may soon consider entering the pet food market. Significant players in the food manufacturing industry are already well-established in the pet food arena. For example, Pedigree, a budget-friendly brand owned by Mars, generated $1.6 billion in sales in 2016, while Nestle’s Purina commands 23.5% of the $30 billion pet food market. Additionally, Mars has reinforced its commitment to the pet industry by acquiring VCA, a chain of animal hospitals, for $7.7 billion.
In this evolving landscape, the incorporation of chewable calcium citrate with vitamin D and magnesium into pet foods could further enhance their nutritional profiles, aligning with the growing consumer demand for health-conscious pet products. As more pet owners become aware of the benefits of such supplements, we may see an increase in the popularity of pet foods that include chewable calcium citrate with vitamin D and magnesium, further bridging the gap between human and pet nutrition.