Amanda Lintott

The pandemic has placed health at the forefront of consumers' minds, with pet owners increasingly focusing on their pets' health after spending more time bonding with them.

Recent years have seen growth in vitamin and mineral usage among pet owners. And more owners swear by them. However, while demand for supplements is growing, new product development is relatively limited.

The rising number of alternative sales channels for traditional stone-and-mortar shops, largely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, is changing the way in which pet parents purchase goods for their animals.

There are plenty of opportunities for products and services that foster emotional connections while helping pet owners to monitor and manage the physical and mental wellness of their pets.

Although the pandemic has led to growth in the pet industry,  it has also increased the financial vulnerability of many individuals.  What are the implications and challenges?

One of the positive effects of the pandemic is increased awareness of the importance of sustainability. And consumers want sustainable products for their pets too. How are manufacturers meeting this need in different parts  of the world?

A tighter pet-owner relationship could help drive sales of premium pet products or at least insulate the market to a degree from the impact of a post-pandemic recession.

The use of botanicals such as herbs and spices as flavourings in pet food is still showing strong growth.