Pet Food
Feeding change:
Pet food trends of 2022 The love of our pets is driving growth in the pet food industry. Words Kylie Baracz PET OWNERSHIP in Australia has significantly increased during the COVID-19
Premium pet food manufacturer Royal Canin has seen
pandemic, with two-thirds of Australian households now caring for a family pet. This rapid
an increase in pet owners calling for healthier and safe pet
owners wanting the very best for their pets.
nutritional information of what they are feeding their furry
growth in adoption has radically affected the pet food industry in Australia, with more pet This rising trend, captured in Pet Food Industry Association of Australia’s (PFIAA) 2021
consumer survey, shows increasingly that pet owners see their pets as part of the family (78 per
food over the last few years, with many wanting detailed family members before they purchase.
Royal Canin Spokesperson Dr Chantelle McGowan
cent) with 97 per cent of them caring about the quality of food they are feeding their pets.
says: “Our customers are telling us they are looking for
MacGill, PFIAA Executive Manager. “Pets are becoming more important to us and have
tailored for the breed and age of their furry loved one. This
“Our pets mean so much more to us than they probably have before,” says Carolyn
a different position in our family structure. So, no matter what the pet is, any pet food should be safe.”
nutritionally complete foods, with a focus on products
increased knowledge is important because our pets rely on us completely for their daily nutritional needs.”
Royal Canin has seen a trend towards pet owners
wanting to replicate human diets, which shows how much
they consider their pets as a significant part of their family. Instead of just picking up a bag of food at the
supermarket, many pet owners are now choosing products
that are scientifically formulated and tested to help support the health of their furred friends and some even choose to cook their pet’s food the same as their own.
“It is natural that pet owners are looking at ways to improve
the health of their dogs and cats, given they have spent so
much home time together in recent years,” Dr McGowan says. “Therefore, high on their list is a nutritionally complete diet,
backed by scientific research, using high quality ingredients.” This trend is confirmed by PFIAA, with many of its
surveyed pet owners choosing more premium products. 18 Pet Industry News | May/Jun/Jul 2022
