A Look at the Trends in the Pet Industry
Day: September 6, 2019
Beyond Treats and Grooming: Pet Industry Outlook and Trends
It’s a good time to be a dog. Or cat. Or gerbil, or other four-legged friend. The yearly increase in the total expenditures in the pet industry tells us that this industry is booming. In 2018, the U.S. annual spending on pets was recorded at $72.56 billion. With the yearly increase in revenue, it can be inferred that the pet industry is recession-proof, too. At the height of the financial crisis, particularly in the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, the statistics on pet industry spending increased steadily at $41.2 billion, $43.2 billion and $45.3 billion, respectively.
In truth, the upsurge in pet spending is not over yet. As millennials and baby boomers take in pets as four-legged family members, experts see more pet industry growth. Currently, about 70 percent of American households own at least one pet. With emerging trends and market requirements, the pet industry is expected to continue rising in the future. The uptick can also be attributed to trends and technologies that place the needs of our furry friends at the fore. Clearly, based on all these data, the pet industry is a gold mine.
Demographic Shift: Millennials and Baby Boomers Embracing Pet Ownership
According to a recent American Pet Products Association study, millennials and baby boomers make up 67 percent of American pet owners. Baby boomers take 32 percent of the pie while millennials take a slightly higher share at 35 percent.
After sending their last child off to college, baby boomers discover the joy of pet ownership. Moreover, with more disposable income, baby boomers are the primary drivers in national pet spending. Millennials, on the other hand, contribute to the pet industry growth by choosing to be pet parents early in life. As most millennials delay having a family of their own, pets become their four-legged family members. So, with the perspective that ‘pets are family’, millennials opt buying premium treats and pamper their pets with luxurious services. Under these two generations’ spending behavior, sales for 2019 is predicted to reach $75.38 billion within the U.S. market. Undoubtedly, the demographic shift contributes highly to the pet industry growth.
A Look at the Trends in the Pet Industry
With the growing interest in pet ownership, pet industry growth is expected to expand. From pet food and treats to essential veterinary services, the pet industry is seeing new trends, movements, and technology that can help us better take care of our pets.
- Natural or Organic Food for pets is a growing pet industry trend. Treats, nibblers and pet food should be environment-friendly and manufactured using sustainably sourced raw materials.
- Pet wearable trackers are a great way to know the whereabouts of your pet friends. These trackers can be transportation monitors or GPS trackers worn as pet collars. Some of these trackers also work as health monitors for pets.
- Smart pet toys accomplish two things: They keep pets entertained when they are at home alone, and they train them to be smarter by helping them develop the skill to recognize patterns.
- Prosthetics using 3D printing are helping disabled pets live healthy lives. Pets are unable to tell whether the prosthesis is too big or too tight. But with cheaper 3D printing, veterinarians can do trial and error until they find the right fit.
- Pet Subscriptions Services are contributing to the pet industry growth. With pet foods, treats, medicine, and medical advice delivered regularly at your doorstep or through mobile phones, caring for pets has never been easier.
- Pet DNA Kits can help determine your pet’s breed and check for genetic conditions or health problems. With this innovation, pet parents can learn how to better care for their four-legged family members.
- Pet Social Experiences tell us one thing: Pet parents want their pets to be a part of their lifestyle. Transport services, hotels, restaurants, and theme parks are becoming part of the pet industry, and establishments should find ways to accommodate pets in their services and offerings.
Growing within the Pet Industry: Innovative Pet Companies
- FitBark is a pet health-monitoring device. It records your paw buddy’s activity levels, sleep, calories burned and distance traveled. Along with a phone app, pet owners can track and monitor their pet’s health.
- The Microchip Pet Door from Sure Petcare keeps your pets safe. With pets’ identities stored in the system, the door only lets your pets get in and out of the house while preventing intruder animals from entering. Now that’s peace of mind for the pet owner as well as freedom and protection for pets.
- Top Dog Pet Travel is a travel agency specializing in pet-friendly trips. From finding pet-friendly hotels to planning activities with your four-legged family member, Top Dog Pet Travel ensures an exhilarating and inspiring trip with your pets.
- Pet Chatz is a digital daycare for pets. Leaving your pets home alone is not so bad with Pet Chatz. Owners can monitor their pets and even feed them, too. The device is equipped with a phone, camera and treats dispenser.
- DOGTV is a cable TV network that broadcasts programs specifically for dogs. DOGTV is the first television for dogs with programs developed by pet experts. Broadcasting 24/7, DOGTV creates and airs contents to soothe or stimulate pets for well-being and better health.
Other Pet Companies Riding the Pet Industry Growth Wave
- Vet on Demand is a pet tech that pet owners have been waiting for. With Vet on Demand, pet parents can video conference with a licensed veterinarian from their mobile devices.
- Doggles is all about goggles for dogs. It is the first and only eye protection product designed and created specifically for our furry friends. Doggles products are protected against fog and shattering and are designed with 100 percent UV Protection.
- Kittyo is a device that lets pet owners watch, speak and play with their cats remotely. The device has a built-in camera, laser, treat feeder and microphone/speaker. Thus, interacting with your cat is easy, even when you are away.
- Embark Dog DNA Test Kit allows pet parents to know more about their pet’s ancestry, breed, canine traits, and genetic health conditions. Information obtained from DNA testing can help owners provide better care for the pets to enjoy longer, healthier lives.
- DogVacay is the Airbnb of dog-sitting services. Finding the right dog sitters and dog walkers is made significantly more manageable. With Dog Vacay, pet parents are assured that their pets are having a great time while they are away.
Pet ownership has been around for tens of thousands of years, and it is obviously showing no signs of slowing down. Likewise, as more pet tech companies join the territory, technology is also seen to play a significant role in this pet industry growth. As societies realize the positive impact of pets on human health and well-being, businesses must brace themselves for more innovations and developments in the pet industry.
Why Lucky Charms Is Healthy for the Planet: The Promise of Regenerative Agriculture
Here is a statistic that might surprise you: Industrialized agriculture emits more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than all forms of transportation combined. However, changes in farming techniques and crop selection can have powerful impacts on these factors. As a result, a tremendous movement to promote better environmental and soil health are in progress. Termed regenerative agriculture, these new farming approaches have the potential to go well beyond reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Interestingly, current agricultural practices involve many unsustainable strategies when it comes to the environment. Poor crop rotation, use of chemicals, and a lack of field protections all contribute to declining soil health. If changes are not made soon, this could mean marked reductions in food supply and nutritious foods. However, several companies are listening and investing in regenerative agriculture techniques. And in order to do our part, consumer support for these companies is encouraged.
What Exactly Is Regenerative Agriculture?
When it comes to soil health, many agricultural practices today are highly unsustainable. Corn and wheat dominate many agricultural fields, and many fail to rotate crops routinely. Corn, in particular, is among the worst in terms of releasing nitrates. And persistent monocultures don’t allow soils time to recover. As a result, nutrients are depleted, and soil health declines. This results in less nutrient-dense foods while pushing soils to their eventual limit. Combine this with herbicides, pesticides, and wind erosion of open fields, and a recipe for disaster emerges.
With this in mind, regenerative agriculture represents a broad term that encompasses many environmentally beneficial practices. These regenerative agriculture techniques include planting trees and structures to reduce wind erosion. They also include routine crop rotation and the avoidance of chemical use. And regenerative agriculture includes adding organic matter to enrich topsoil health. Not only can these pursuits reverse poor soil health, but they may also help reverse climate change as well.
Companies Jumping on the Regenerative Agricultural Bandwagon
At first thought, you might not think Lucky Charms cereal is a great choice when it comes to health. But General Mills, the maker of the sugary-sweetened cereal, has taken strides to source its cereals from regenerative agriculture farms. In fact, the oats in Lucky Charms is a better crop for soil health. And alternating oats with corn and wheat crops could have tremendous environmental impacts. Oats make up a small portion of U.S.-produced grains at the present time. But if companies like General Mils supported regenerative agriculture techniques using oat crop rotation, the impact could be significant. General Mills alone could save $5 million in environmental clean-up costs while dramatically reducing nitrous oxide emissions.
General Mills is not alone. Kellogg co-chairs the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative, which is promoting regenerative agriculture strategies and data analytics. Campbell foods has long worked with tomato growers to promote better soil health through its Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops. And Stonyfield participates in OpenTEAM, a platform that promotes individual tools for tracking soil health and climate mitigation to farmers. Seeing the value that regenerative agriculture brings to soil health and longevity, these corporations are becoming increasingly involved.
Regenerative Agriculture’s Promise for Good Soil Health
If companies and farmers embrace regenerative agriculture techniques, future impacts could be impressive. Foods would become more nutritionally dense. Soil health, as well as the flourishing of its microbiome, would improve. And water runoffs would drop substantially. But at the same time, regenerative agriculture could serve as a means to reverse current climate change. Newly created topsoil is 60 percent carbon and serves as a carbon reservoir. This would have profound effects on environmental sustainability and deserves strong consideration.
As consumers, the choices we make offer a way to support regenerative agriculture and better soil health. If goods produced by companies investing in regenerative agriculture techniques are purchased, these efforts are incentivized. And the more that these companies partner with farms and governments, better nutrition and agricultural products will emerge. While Lucky Charms cereal may not be a part of your diet, other foods produced by regenerative agriculture techniques may be. By supporting these good and companies, you may likely be promoting better soil health and environmental sustainability for the future.
