According to a recent study from Freedonia (freedoniagroup.com), the US demand for pet food is expected to rise close to 4% annually through 2018. That only makes sense, considering Packaged Fact’s (packagedfacts.com) report U.S. Pet Market Outlook, 2014-2015, showed that pet ownership is on the rise. Pet ownership isn’t the only thing on the rise, either. Pet owners are more concerned with the health of their pets.
Another report from Packaged Facts, Natural, Organic, and Eco-Friendly Pet Products in the U.S., 5th Edition, estimated that natural pet products were on track to exceed $7 billion in 2014, with natural pet food sales expected to reach $6.6 billion. Packaged Facts surveyed pet owners and found that 68% of pet owners are willing to spend more on high quality pet foods to ensure the health of their pets. The survey also showed that 62% of pet owners check labels on pet food and 42% are concerned about their pets having allergies or food intolerances. As more pet owners are concerned for the health of their pets and as premium pet food brands compete for consumer attention, packaging plays a major role in helping consumers connect with the brands that best suit their needs.