Pet Product News - May 2016

BY ANDREA LANDIS

Though there haven’t been many major breakthroughs in the herp food industry over the past year, according to Jason Oneppo, research and development manager for San Francisco Bay Brand in Newark, Calif., recent product alterations and improvements continue to evolve in response to consumer preferences.

Pet owners are more educated and ingredient conscious than ever before, making the demand for natural and healthful herp food options increasingly pronounced.

“Consumers like to know exactly what they are feeding their pets,” said Jack Armstrong, president of Armstrong’s Cricket Farm in West Monroe, La.

Oneppo said that owners’ criteria for what constitutes natural food goes beyond just the ingredient listing, but also includes appearance, odor and texture.

Demands for convenience
remain equally pronounced, ne-
cessitating what Oneppo called
“prepared natural diets,” such
as those made from freeze-dried
and dehydrated fruits, vegeta-
bles and insects.

“One of the most convenient
attributes of this type of food is
that it is as close to fresh as you
can get without having to worry
about it spoiling if it goes un-
used,” he said. “These can be fed
as a staple diet or in addition to
the usual fare and have proven
to be well accepted by both herps
and their owners.”
This isn’t to say that conve-
nience is out of reach when it
comes to traditional options.
Producers of fresh herp foods,
such as Armstrong’s Cricket
Farm, have integrated services
and assortments that cater to
busy but mindful owners.

“Many consumers appreciate
products delivered directly to
their door and want diversified
quantities,” Armstrong said.
“Armstrong’s meets these needs
with our Cricket Café—a box of
multi-sized live crickets that
are easy to purchase online with
delivery within one to two days
or at a local retailer.”
Preparation and maintenance
requirements also have become
key to consumer decisions in the
herp food space.

“Consumers are looking for
products that herps will eat
readily and those which re-
duce their maintenance time,”
said Chris Clevers, president of
Hikari Sales USA Inc. in Hay-
ward, Calif. “A number of new
foods have arrived on the scene
that are attempting to make
feeding herps more efficient by
reducing the amount of time
required to prepare as well as
clean them up.”
As predicted by their growing
sales over the past several years,
reliably natural, convenient and
efficient herp food options are
growing in market dominance
with increased owner knowledge
and shifting lifestyles. Alongside
the complex technological, cul-
tural and generational factors
effecting consumer behavior and
demands, the reasoning Clevers
shared for these changes also re-
mains relevant: “Owners want to
spend their time interacting with
their pets!”

Herp Food Evolution
and Adaptation

Natural, no-mess and easy-to-feed products lead in popularity with herpkeepers.

NEW MEDIA UNMATCHED FOR CUSTOMER EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT

Educating herp owners regarding their pets’ innate dietary needs and the most effective ways to meet them lies at the foundation of products’ value and success.

The opportunity that online tools and platforms offer in this area has grown exponentially in recent years and become the No. 1 education and engagement strategy of nearly every manufacturer and retailer.

“The use of social media is one of the best sources of spreading new information,” said Jack Armstrong, president of Armstrong’s Cricket Farm in West Monroe, La.

“Online content, both on our own
website and those of other related
outlets, is proving to be the most
effective way of communicating in
real-time with customers.”
Manufacturers and retailers have
become very effective at using social
media to provide customers with
feeding and health tips concerning
herps and to notify them of new
trends, said Jason Oneppo, research
and development manager for San
Francisco Bay Brand in Newark, Calif.

You Tube videos showcasing use of the products and product review sites featuring first-hand testimonials have drawn the highest amount of customer education and engagement among all online mediums, said Oneppo and Chris Clevers, president of Hikari Sales USA Inc. in Hayward, Calif.

“Information and opinions reach the general audience much faster these days, and in some cases what’s online can make or break a product,” said Oneppo.