Nutrition Business Journal (NBJ) has been following the uprising of natural and organic pet food since the 2007 Menu Foods pet food recall, in which 60 million cans and pouches of pet food were recalled. During said recall 471 cats and dogs were poisoned and 104 pets were reported dead. It was a big deal; both for the recalled brands and other brands as well.
Other recalls have happened since and essentially, all of this recall madness has sent consumers running away from conventional and store brand pet food and right into the arms of some of the natural pet food companies out there.
What this means to the organic industry:
As other industries weaken, organic businesses just keep on growing. Current trends show that private label brands of cat and dog food are slowly losing ground, with dwindling sales. NBJ reports, "According to Nielsen, in the 52 weeks ended January 22, 2011, store-brand dry dog food lost 1.2% share in total pet food, while dry cat food lost 1.7%."
The same NBJ article reports that Todd Martin, vice president of marketing for Castor & Pollux, a natural pet food company, says, "Though the pet industry is growing, pet ownership is experiencing minimal growth... at the same time, natural & organic pet food is growing 12% to 15% annually, so it must be stealing share from conventional and private label brands."
It's not shocking news that the natural and organic pet industry is growing. We've watched for a while as organic businesses and the organic industry experience incredible growth.
If you're interested in the organic and natural pet industry, pay attention to NBJ. In August they'll be exploring natural & organic pet food in greater depth in in their Animal Nutrition Overview issue.
Photo ©sundstrom via sxc.
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