# Gourmet Pet Seeking to heighten experiences, owners turn to lavishly exotic pet food options. By [Tana Makmanee](https://www.trendhunter.com/tmak), SVP, Research Services at Trend Hunter | Published May 14, 2014 | Category: [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/lifestyle-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/gourmet-pet ## Key Figures - Trend score: 2.8/10 - Evidence articles: 6 ## What is the Gourmet Pet trend? **Gourmet Pet:** With pets increasingly being treated as family members over mere household companions, everyday pet sustenance is getting a lavish makeover to offer an alternative, human-approved method of nourishment. Providing an air of exclusivity without sacrificing nutritional qualities, gourmet pet foods allow consumers to elevate the dinning experience with both visual and exotic appeal. This speaks to a desire to communicate status through more appealing goods for all aspects of life. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 6 featured examples - Articles from: May 5, 2013 to Apr 15, 2014 - Published: May 14, 2014 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Curation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/curation), [Experience](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/experience), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Gourmet Pet trend ### Gourmet Pet Food The concept of pet food is being revolutionized with exoticness and nutrition, and presents opportunities for development of artisanal and organic pet food. ### Magazine-like packaging Unique packaging designs that resemble magazines, with eye-catching headlines and engaging photography, appeal to pet owners, especially females, and create opportunities for package design innovation and personalization. ### Human food-inspired recipes Creating visual, texture and flavor similarities to human food in pet food demonstrates its safety for consumption, and calls for innovation in recreating textures and flavors that humans already enjoy. ## What the Gourmet Pet trend means for industry ### For Pet Food Pet food companies can research on producing organic, artisanal and gourmet pet food for a niche to premium market. ### For Design and Packaging Creating eye-catching and playful packaging that mirrors magazines will separate pet food from typical commodity products. ### For Food industry Adapting popular superficial textures and flavors to pet foods can improve perceived taste and create new innovative products for the market. ## Trend signals for Gourmet Pet Trend score 2.8 out of 10, from popularity 48%, activity 27%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 48% - Activity: 27% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Gourmet Pet trend 6 featured examples from May 5, 2013 to Apr 15, 2014. - [Gourmet Dog Food Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robot-food): Robot Food Re-Brands Duchess & Rover to Exude Elegance (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Disruption opportunity for pet food manufacturers to differentiate their products through unique and appealing packaging designs. - [Magazine-Like Pet Food Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pet-food-packaging): Petit's Dog Food Bags Are Made to Look Like Magazine Covers (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Pet food packaging companies can create a new identity for their products by merging fashion and design into their packaging, particularly behaviorally targeting female pet owners. - [Delicious Dog Meal Packaging](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dingo-natura): The Dingo Natura Dog Food Branding is Simple and Wholesome (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Opportunity for pet food brands to innovate in packaging design, ingredients, and presentation to meet the demands of health-conscious pet owners. - [Decadent Dog Food Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dog-food-branding): Naturea Puts a Gourmet Spin on Its Delicious Dog Food Branding (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: The pet food industry can capitalize on the trend of gourmet pet food by developing new lines of premium pet food products. - [Fancy Feline-Inspired Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cat-food-recreations): This French Chef Served Cat Food Recreations in Honor of Cat Day (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Developing new ways to create and serve cat food recreations for humans can disrupt the culinary industry. - [Canine-Focused Ice Cream](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cream-for-dogs): Arfscarf's Ice Cream for Dogs Might Just Make You Drool Too (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: The pet food industry should explore incorporating more organic and natural ingredients in their products to meet the demand for healthier pet treats. ## Recent trend clusters - [Gentle Diagnostics](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/home-heart-screening) (Lifestyle) - [Targeted Macros](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/functional-protein-ingredients) (Lifestyle) - [Flavor Borrowing](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/soft-drink-flavor-mashups) (Lifestyle) - [Silent Triage](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/passive-health-wearables) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Lifestyle - [Holiday-Inspired Potato Chips](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holiday-inspired-potato-chips) - [Influencer-Curated Cafe Menus](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kit-keenan) - [Mystery Packaging Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cow-not-laughing) - [Fashionable Frozen Yogurts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aritzias-aok-caf) All articles: [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle)