Signs point to continuing growth

In just a few days, Zoomark International, Europe's foremost pet supplies trade show in an Interzoo-free year, will open its doors. It is being staged on four working days for the first time and on an exhibition area at the Bologna trade fair centre that is ten per cent bigger than two years ago. It is generally expected that the fair organisers will succeed in increasing the high visitor figures of 2017 further this year. As regards exhibitors, this target has probably already been realised, because the demand for fair stands is likely to have been huge. It will be intriguing to see how visitor numbers develop this year, even if it is entirely uncertain how visitors will react to the change in show days. It is to be assumed, however, that the contingent of foreign visitors in particular will increase further this year.
To secure a broader international spread, the Zoomark organisers have reached further cooperation agreements with associations from a number of countries. This is likely to have a positive impact on visitor numbers. Like the organisers of Interzoo, too, the Italians have expanded their involvement in other countries. Such activities yield positive results in the medium and long term.
The general climate in the pet sector is also showing positive signs. In many countries pets have grown in popularity in the last few years, regardless of the economic situation. Pet population figures are continuing to rise, and a host of trends from the human sphere are emerging in the pet product sector also. This could secure potential for further growth in the years to come. 

What is striking is the growing bond between pet owners and pets. This is causing increasing demand for individual products and new services, starting with pet food and extending to location and tracking devices, which are now purchased in larger numbers by pet owners.  The much-evoked premiumisation of the pet supplies market is still restricted mainly to the world's leading industrial states, but could be adopted by more and more countries as levels of prosperity rise. Grain-free and natural pet food products are a good example of this; they were introduced initially in North America and are now available worldwide. What this teaches us is that in the…