A good start to the new year

Notwithstanding the difficult situation in the economy as a whole, Americans continue to spend a lot on their pets. This doesn’t look likely to change in the foreseeable future. Futurologists are even predicting a looming trend towards “super-cocooning” in the USA. The chief beneficiaries of this at present are the manufacturers of home cinema systems, televisions and computers; but if Americans are spending more time within their own four walls, that could also be good for the pet supplies sector. Still, nothing has changed yet this year with regard to the prevailing megatrends in the pet sector. US pet food manufacturers are concentrating on products that are grain-free, natural, holistic and/or organic. LED continues to be the magic word where aquariums are concerned, and interactive toys to stimulate dogs and cats to greater activity also remain a bestseller. In this regard there were only a few notable surprises among the 800-plus products to be viewed in the New Products Showcase at the Global Pet Expo. Nevertheless, the manufacturers had come up with some innovations for the leading US trade show to move the market forward in terms of quality. A successful start to the new year for the sector, therefore, as demonstrated by the statistics from the show organisers APPA and PIDA. The numbers were considerably bigger compared with the previous year, both for the exhibition area and for the exhibitor and visitor attendance. Can Europe continue this positive trend in May, when Zoomark opens in Bologna? Although the economy is in a parlous state in many southern European countries due to the Eurozone crisis, the pet supplies sector has always succeeded hitherto in bucking the general negative trend. This is also attributable to the fact that Italy especially is home to several pet product companies that occupy a strong position in the European market and even the global market. This gives them immunity to a certain extent from the ups and downs of the domestic economy. Ralf Majer-AbeleDownload: A good start to the new year (PDF file)