United States Pet Food Market Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The United States (U.S.), which has a large pet food market and an impressive pet population, may be of interest to Canadian suppliers looking for new opportunities.

The U.S. pet food market is currently influenced by a number of factors, some of which are similar to those affecting human food trends. This report provides insights into the U.S. pet food market that may be of use to suppliers considering marketing their products in this growing marketplace.

Pet Food Recall of 2007
In 2007 a contaminated protein export from China was used in cat and dog food. The contaminated food was linked to kidney failure in pets who consumed it. Consequently, a large-scale recall was ordered that touched some of the key U.S. pet food manufacturers. This incident continues to affect the pet food market today. Pet owners remain sensitive to the quality of pet foods and their ingredients and, as a result, premium foods remain popular, even in a weak economy.

The Economy
Challenging economic times in the U.S. have led pet owners to become more value-conscious. Large increases in production costs also affected consumers as manufacturers were forced to raise unit prices in 2008. As the economy stabilizes, the market is expected to remain robust and should see positive growth in the medium to long term.