Pet Product News - April 2016

Still Growing Strong
The phrase “made in the USA” has long stood for quality.
Today, it also means more sales for pet supply retailers.
BY AUDREY PAVIA

The trend for USA pet prod- ucts grows daily, said Hol- lis Levy, owner of Animal Crackers in Los Angeles.

“Not just food and treats, but
all across the board—all prod-
ucts,” she said. “It’s always a
plus when you can say, ‘It’s
made here in the U.S.’”
Ann Hudson, vice president
of marketing for St. Louis-based
Whitebridge Pet Brands, maker of
Cloud Star treats, sees a lot of mo-
mentum behind the made in the
USA category, with new products
being introduced every day.

“A new generation of pet
owners is demanding more
transparency and is not only
considering brands for the quali-
ty of the products they offer, but
for the philosophy of the com-
panies that produce them,” she
said. “They want to be assured
that companies deliver on the
promises made.”
Consumers desire USA-made
products, agreed Lance Reyniers,
president of Python Products
Inc. in Milwaukee.

“Our products have always
been sourced only in the USA,”
he said. “This allows us to main-
tain our high quality and guar-
antee that our products are BPA,
arsenic and lead free.”
The trend recently received
a boost from the faltering Chi-
nese economy, according to in-
dustry sources.

“The issues coming from the Far East have presented U.S.-based companies a very distinct advantage in the development of products not only manufactured, but also sourced in the U.S.,” said Tim Fabits, vice president of sales for Redbarn Pet Products in Long Beach, Calif.

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HOMEGROWN PRODUCTS

These days, more and more USA-made pet products in the consumable and nonconsumable categories are appearing in the marketplace. Manufacturers report that pet owners value products that are made and sourced in the U.S.

“Evanger’s always has operated with the belief that the shorter the distance our ingredients have to travel, the more control we have over the quality, freshness and safety of our products,” said Holly Sher, owner of Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co. in Wheeling, Ill.

“We get 90 percent of our ingredients from farms within 50 miles of our facility and use them within 24 hours of collection. We send our own trucks to pick up our ingredients, giving us even more control over the handling of our ingredients well before they reach our kitchens.”

Redbarn Pet Products in Long Beach, Calif., also has responded to customer demand for USA-made products by offering domestically produced pet food lines.

“Our customers have spoken, and we have listened,” said Tim Fabits, vice president
of sales. “Over the past few years, Redbarn has been very progressive in launching
products that are sourced and made in the USA. Most recently, we have rebranded and
expanded offerings in both our canned dog and cat food product lines.”
Government controls in the U.S. help guarantee the quality and safety of products
produced here, according to manufacturers.

“All International Veterinary Services products are made in the USA, where we believe the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and good manufacturing practice certifications are key and critical to quality assurance and control,” said Ara Bohchalian, CEO of International Veterinary Sciences (IVS) in Anaheim, Calif.

IVS recently launched QuickBath Cat Wipes and QuickBath Wipes for Small Dogs
and Large Dogs, which are made in the USA. The company also is taking its lines of USA-
made natural supplements and going through a complete rebranding effort, which will
include a new logo and a new packaging and label design, Bohchalian said.

Loving Pets in Cranbury, N. J., is producing a new line of USA-made treats. This includes Waggles, made from 100 percent natural USA-grown chicken skins, and Puffsters Chips, an all-natural, air-puffed, low-fat dog snack, said Eric Abbey, president and founder.

“Humanization of pets is a growing trend that bleeds into the USA-made treat category,” Abbey said. “Pet parents want to give their pets treats they might eat themselves.” Pet food manufacturers are finding that more pet owners value products that are made and sourced in the U.S.

The slowing growth of the Chinese economy is good for USA-made products, and consumers will see less of a price difference between products made in China and those made in the U.S., according to financial experts.