The recent performance of the pet food market has surprised investors and analysts. It seems that no matter the state of the economy, consumers are willing to spend money on their family pets - and that is certainly good news for pet food manufacturers.

PMMI

PMMI’S 2013 Pet Food Market Assessment, available for download at pmmi.org ($3,500 for non-members), examines how to capitalize on this growing market. According to the report, the U.S. pet food market is expected to hit $26.6 billion by 2015, up from $19.85 billion in 2011.

To remain competitive and grow market share, pet food manufacturers are rethinking their package designs. The report shows an increased focus on three key areas, all driven to respond to consumer demands: package shape, closures and convenience features.

• Shaped packaging is a highly effective tool to break the landscape of store shelves, but implementing it can pose some manufacturing challenges for brand owners, including filling and labeling. Pet food brands are collaborating with equipment suppliers to create solutions for new package configurations.

• Closures are currently one of the hottest industry topics. More and more companies are considering re-sealable zipper enclosures, tapes, drawstrings and Velcro to maintain product freshness for a longer period and prevent bacteria growth due to unregulated oxygen exposure.

• Consumers demand more convenient packages, and ideas about what’s “convenient” can vary depending on the target demographic. For example, women and the elderly seek packaging that is lighter and easier to carry, so handles, rigid PET containers, cap closure modifications and dispensers are being considered for incorporation into package design.

To find the best way to implement these or other trends, there’s PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013 (September 23-25; Las Vegas Convention Center). Registration is open and online at Packexpo.com. Admission to the show floor is $30 through Sept. 9 and $60 thereafter.

To register for PACK EXPO Las Vegas 2013 or get more information, visit Packexpo.com. 

 

Paula Feldman, Director,
Business Intelligence, PMMI

 

 

PMMI is a trade association representing 600+ packaging and processing supply chain companies that provide a full range of packaging and processing machinery, materials, components and containers. PMMI actively brings buyers and sellers together through its various programs including: The PACK EXPO family of trade shows, PACK EXPO Connected Communities, packexpo.com, PMT Magazine, PACK EXPO Show Daily, networking events, educational programs and more.

PMMI organizes the PACK EXPO trade shows: PACK EXPO International, PACK EXPO Las Vegas and EXPO PACK México, connecting participants in the packaging and processing supply chain with their customers around the world. Coming Up: PACK EXPO Las Vegas at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sept. 23–25, 2013; EXPO PACK México 2013 at Centro Banamex, Mexico City, June 18–21.

Learn more about PMMI and the PACK EXPO trade shows at PMMI.org and Packexpo.com.