Russel and Gerty have been two of the biggest names in small pets retailing for the last 30 years and now Gerty is to benefit from her own mono-component as Supreme launches Gerty Guinea Pig Tasty Nuggets under the Tiny Friends Farm brand.
With the Tiny Friends Farm Russel Rabbit mono-component format experiencing a meteoric rise in small pets – up 400% this year – Supreme is confident it will be in demand from day one.
“Benefiting from the loveable and well-recognised Gerty character, the product has the instant brand recognition that helps it stand out within the small pets category,” said Supreme marketing manager Claire Hamblion, adding that this was ‘the kind of product that unlocks many more purchases’.
“Small pet owners are often multi-pet owners and they often seek the product they want for their small pet first, as that is often the most difficult for them to source to their satisfaction. We’re seeing guinea pig owners follow the same trends as rabbit owners as they swing towards the nugget format. What better brand to bring that to fruition than Tiny Friends Farm and Gerty Guinea Pig?”
HIGH-FIBRE
The new product is an extruded diet that delivers crunch and a high-fibre matrix for extended chewing time. Known for its ‘no sugar’ message, Supreme says it has also ensured that palatability is high, without the addition of syrups or molasses. As with all its guinea pig foods, Gerty Guinea Pig Tasty Nuggets also contains additional vitamin C, which has been stablised in line with the shelf-life of the product. There is also linseed and added vitamins and minerals.
Claire says there’s a big opportunity for retailers to guide purchase to a mono-component that can’t be sourced in grocery.
“While specialist retailers offer a much wider choice of products, it’s important that they reap the benefits of their recommendations on staples like food, to ensure customers keep returning.
“A specialist-only brand like Tiny Friends Farm and ‘Gerty’ offers an opportunity to be proactive and to pick up on the one-nugget trend, while cross-selling treats, hay, bedding and hygiene across the range.”
Gerty Guinea Tasty Nuggets are available in a 1.5 kg bag with an RRP of £4.99 and packaging designed to sit alongside Russel Rabbit Tasty Nuggets for instant brand recognition. Supreme also provides a Tiny Friends Farm loyalty scheme to help keep shoppers loyal to specialist pet stores.
