Keeping Up with Demand for Better Pet Food
Think back ten years as consumers scanned the pet food aisles of your local grocery store. Chances are the choices were canned dog or cat food or hundreds of bags of kibble. The ingredients were even more distressing – were these ingredients nutritious for your favorite pooch? Fortunately we have turned the corner on pet nutrition and your food ingredient supplier, Bell Chem, has all the best choices for your pet food business. Read below to learn the basics as well as the latest trends on keeping man’s best friend healthier longer.
Helping the environment as you help pets
Proteins need not be based solely on poultry or cattle. Many manufacturers are turning to insect proteins to supplement their pets’ health or more environmentally-friendly plant proteins, such as chickpeas. Another innovation is adding many of the nutrient-rich botanicals consumers enjoy in their own packaged foods, including ginseng and magnesium.
Another concern is how environmentally unfriendly pet food bags are. With the addition of polypropylene, pet food bags are more biodegradable and even recyclable!
Superpets
The superfoods in which consumers have been partaking are now proudly splashed across many packages in the pet food aisle. Look for many fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, sweet potatoes, and red bell peppers, as well as omega-3 rich chia and flaxseed.
With the majority of pet products listing wheat, corn, or soy as a main ingredient, many pet owners find relief in grain-free pet foods, such as those with flaxseed, chia, or oats.
Personalized nutrition
Online retailers have a direct to consumer advantage with digital questionnaires querying their customers about their pet’s age, weight, nutritional requirements, and more. With this information, manufacturers are able to personalize a diet for each individual pet, giving information on the amount of wet versus dry food as a specific food is created based on each pet’s needs. In-store brands have countered with weight- and age-specific products along with products touting joint health or active lifestyles.
Individualized formulas are likely to include any of the following, depending on the needs of the pet.
Turmeric, glucosamine HCl, and chondroitin sulfate for joint health
Calcium and betaine HCl for strong bones
Co Q-10 for heart and muscle health
Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) as well as the B-complex vitamins and vitamin C
Yeast, ginger and honey for digestive health
Many pet foods also advertise “grain free”, which generally uses rolled oats or oat flour, tapioca, cassava, legumes, or the like as a nourishing base to bulk up the more nutritious ingredients.
Bell Chem is your food ingredient supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including dozens of pet food additives for healthier animals. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.