Pets Consumer Insights

Trend - Many restaurants and pubs are now offering pet menus with specialized cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages for furry companions. These establishments allow individuals to include their pets in social outings, providing them with refreshing, safe treats while their owners enjoy their drinks.

Insight - Pet owners often feel guilty leaving their pets at home while they go out with friends or partake in relaxing activities away from h. In response, many restaurants are easing this dilemma by inviting pets along, even offering special meals and treats to keep them engaged while their owners relax. These establishments recognize that pet owners want the freedom to enjoy social outings without compromising on pet care, and are creating a space where both can have a memorable experience.

Trend - Pet food brands are releasing hydration-focused drinks and meal supplements for dogs and cats. These are electrolyte-rich products that ensure pets are intaking enough fluids throughout the day. These products can be served on their own or as additions to regular meals.

Insight - Many pet owners simply feed their pets a few regular meals per day with provided drinking water and occasional treats, but not as many owners invest in dietary supplements or products purely for nutritional benefits. While some owners do, others take a passive approach, often due to busy lives. In order to ensure pets are ingesting more healthy diets with balanced nutrients, including hydration, brands are releasing convenient products for pet owners that do not intrude on time constraints.

Trend - Pet food brands are using freeze-dried ingredients to create healthier meal toppers with more full ingredients lists. These toppers are grain-free and contain more nutrients than dehydrated alternatives, as freeze-drying preserves the enzymes. These are intended to be more natural, premium products.

Insight - As more consumers opt for pet adoption, many invest in premium products to ensure their pets live optimal lives. As such, these consumers desire nutrient-rich, practical, and easy-to-prepare solutions for pet meals that ensure healthy diets for their pets without consuming too much time. This has led to many consumers using meal toppers, as these can enhance various aspects of pets' diets, such as digestion of immunities, leading to brands creating freeze-dried meal toppers for premium diets.

Trend - Brands are creating alternative dental care products designed for pets. These products often come in the form of treats, chews, or additives to water or food that claim to help clean teeth and promote dental health without the need for manual brushing.

Insight - Busy pet owners often search for products that help them maintain high quality pet care and ward off potential health problems. In response, brands are designing alternative dental products to appeal to pet owners who may struggle to brush their pets' teeth regularly or have pets resistant to traditional brushing methods. Businesses that cater to the demand for alternative pet care products can appeal to consumers who value convenient alternatives to maintain their pets' overall hygiene.

Trend - Brands are creating dog foods with high-quality ingredients like real meat, fruits, and vegetables. These foods aim to emulate the nutritional advantages of raw diets while providing the ease of dry kibble, allowing pet owners to provide a balanced diet without the hassle of meal preparation.

Insight - Increasing costs have prompted numerous consumers to re-examine various high-cost aspects of their lives, including expenditures related to their pets. In response, pet owners who rely on a raw diet are turning to premium kibbles that claim to replicate the nutritional benefits of these diets while reducing costs. Businesses that cater to the demand for cost-effective and value-driven solutions in the pet industry are likely to gain traction among budget-conscious consumers.

Trend - DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) pet supplements are derived from licorice root but undergo a process to remove the compound glycyrrhizin. These supplements have gained recognition for their efficacy in addressing various health issues, particularly those related to the digestive and respiratory systems.

Insight - Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, pet owners often seek products that allow them to proactively support their animals' health and avoid expensive medical fees. The accessibility of over-the-counter remedies helps owners reduce the likelihood of infections and other illnesses while eliminating everyday stressors like distance, cost, and scheduling associated with veterinarian visits. Brands that recognize the need for accessible, cost-conscious pet care solutions are able to appeal to these consumers.

Trend - Pet food companies are launching services that offer customized pet food blends for customers. These blends incorporate the optimal food for a pet based on a survey completed by the owner. These custom pet food blends work around pet allergies, dietary restrictions, and flavor preferences.

Insight - While many dogs enjoy eating nearly any kind of food, there are both dogs and cats that are more selective of the food they eat, often refusing to eat certain blends. This challenge is exacerbated when pets have allergies that make finding a suitable diet for them more difficult. These pets still require a balanced diet, though, placing the onis on the owner to find pet food with specific ingredients. Pet food brands recognize this challenge, and are launching custom pet food services.

Trend - Companies are adding artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features to pet products to improve safety and quality of life. These features include facial recognition, disease detection, weight tracking, and more, which help pet owners understand their animals' needs.

Insight - AI has increasingly played a role in tracking and maintaining human health, and the technology is now being used to automate other areas of our lives. Consumers often desire peace of mind when it comes to their pet's safety or boredom, especially when they are away from home. Busy consumers who want to maintain a high standard of pet care can rely on AI technology to maintain their animal's health without incurring a hefty veterinarian bill.

Trend - Pet brands are creating pet meal enhancers that are based in the same wellness trends that appeal to consumers for their own purchases. Cultured meat, alternative protein and wellness marketing are being re-presented to pet parents--allowing brands to stand out in a competitive market.

Insight - The "humanization" of pets is a trend that's pushed the growth of the pet care industry--where consumers' want the same standards and quality of life for their pets as they create for themselves. Now, more consumers are taking the same approach to buying for their pets as they do their own purchases--through educating themselves about the products, making ethical choices, and adapting their purchases to their pets' individual needs and preferences.

Trend - Pet owners are becoming more attracted to green, plant-based supplements, foods, and treats because they believe they are healthier and more nutrient-rich than regular pet products. By incorporating this ingredient, consumers believe they can provide their pets with the elements needed for a long and healthy life.

Insight - Pet brands incorporate and highlight nutritional ingredients in pet care products to appeal to health conscious consumers. As consumers become more aware of what they’re putting into their bodies, they are starting to recognize the importance of prioritizing their pet’s internal and external health the same way they would their own. Additionally, pet food brands are engaging in the "humanization" of pet food, which helps consumers provide their pets with an indulgent treat the same way they would their own family.