Three-hundred-and-thirty-six exhibitors from 48 countries are ‘attending’ this year’s online Interzoo Digital this week (June 1-4) with more than 1,100 products.
The organisers say ‘comfortable, healthy and sustainable’ are the key words to sum up the new products and services for dogs, cats, small mammals, pet birds, fish, terrarium species and garden animals on display.
Trends that were already in evidence before the covid-19 pandemic, such as healthy feed, comfort, digitalisation and sustainability, have received a strong boost over the past year.
“Just like when selecting products for humans, pet owners are increasingly paying attention to the need for healthy nutrition for their pets,” said Norbert Holthenrich, president of the German Pet Trade & Industry Association (ZZF).
HEALTHY
The portfolio of foodstuffs for dogs and cats ranges from high-quality, prepared food, healthy snack rewards and recipes using natural and sometimes vegan ingredients to functional food supplements to take care of the specific needs of puppies or pregnant animals.
Manufacturers are also focusing on special products to accommodate the trend toward smaller dogs, which suffer from dental problems more frequently than larger dogs, for example, and need different care products, more heating paraphernalia, and feed adapted to suit different age groups, given that life expectancies are generally longer.
The increased focus on the home environment brought about by the pandemic has led to a noticeable upswing in hobby farming, resulting in a need for information, feed and care supplies for hens, ducks, quail and other yard and garden species, together with the corresponding products and services.
There is also a trend toward wellness products to ensure improved comfort and also pet pampering ranges.
