Blueberry guy has just returned from the Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida. "GPE" to all of us pet food insiders! Ten years ago, I walked all over the huge show and saw a few signs of fruits and vegetables in pet foods. This year, I saw blueberries from the dog and cat food areas to the reptile section! Blueberries were everywhere. I wore my Little Blue Dynamo shirt and Blueberry Council ID and received "rock star" reactions from exhibitors who wanted to know more about blueberries. USHBC provided a bibliography of health benefits, which is focused on human health. The pet food producers certainly do generalize the human benefits to pets. Anti-aging, urinary tract, and eyesight are the main topic of interest. But, health and beauty is also on the agenda. Met one company doing reptile foods, alligator foods and even large insects!
Well, look at the MINTEL Global new product database tracking of blueberry containing pet foods. 2012 was a big big year. Now look at 2014. Three months into the new year and almost 50 percent of the 2012 record year! Trends: Healthy bars for human and pet! Hot Oatmeal for dogs. Raw foods and pemmican with blueberry. We'll keep watching this category, and thanks to GPE attendees for thinking of blueberries!
No comments:
Post a Comment