Convenience Still a Top Dog in Pet Food Packaging

New York, June 25, 2007 — Cited by more than four-fifths of pet owners surveyed, convenience still trumps most other factors influencing pet care product purchases, according to Pet Food Packaging and Convenience Trends, a new report from Packaged Facts. Convenience fell second only to price in mass-market outlets and third to product quality and knowledgeable sales help in pet specialty channels.

Growing time constraints, the “humanization” of pets, and the aging pet and human population have all contributed to the growing emphasis on convenience. Marketers launched 94 new convenience products in 2006; 40 more than just four years earlier.

Above-average sales growth rates in the $44 billion pet products and services market have attracted attention from retailers in non-traditional venues, including wholesale clubs, home improvement stores, and dollar stores. Packaged Facts forecasts that sales in non-traditional channels will outpace the market as a whole, gaining an average of 8% a year through 2010, as consumers continue to think in “human” terms when purchasing pet products, buying more than just the basics.

“There is no longer any question that consumers are willing to pay significantly more for products capable of enhancing their relationship with their pets while also making pet care more fun and convenient,” said Don Montuori, the publisher of Packaged Facts. “Longer lives for pets mean deeper emotional bonds between pets and their keepers, and pet owners are therefore more willing to invest more heavily in keeping their furry friends healthy and happy in their golden years.”

With a particular focus on convenience-oriented, “premiumized” product types, Pet Food Packaging and Convenience Trends is a comprehensive survey of innovative pet convenience products in the food arena. The report examines both the products themselves and what’s driving their popularity, providing case histories illustrating key trends in product development and marketing. The report has a particular focus on new packaging types and technologies such as single-serve, pouch, resealable, easy-open and easy-carry. It is available from Packaged Facts by visiting http://www.packagedfacts.com/Pet-Food-Packaging-1480611. It is also available at MarketResearch.com.

About Packaged Facts
Packaged Facts publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer industries, including consumer goods and retailing, food and beverage, and demographics. For more information visit www.PackagedFacts.com, or contact Tom Ehart at 240-747-3014, or tehart@marketresearch.com.