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The global cat food market is projected to significantly increase from $27.78 billion in 2020 to $41.92 billion by 2030. The North American market captures more than one-third of this value, which means there is steady growth in the demand to feed our feline friends. In particular, the treats and snacks segment displays the fastest-growing compound annual growth rate (5% from 2021 to 2030). It is perhaps the clearest example of where cat food manufacturers can really stand out among the competition by attractively branding and packaging their products.
Trends in the Cat Food “Cat”egory
While, on average, American households own more dogs than cats, there are some unique trends among cat owners that food and treat manufacturers can capitalize on. Cat owners average 1.8 cats per household, meaning they could often be shopping for two or more felines from the get-go (in addition to potentially owning both cats and dogs in the same home). So while immediate attention may be on trying to capture market share in the dog food industry, the cat food industry is poised to offer better profitability thanks to less competition offering higher margins.
Cats average fewer veterinary visits (and lower veterinary expenses) per year, making the reliance on high-quality food and treats a critical part of pet food marketing trends. The functional treat category, such as dental or digestive support treats, is an example where great product marketing can help influence shoppers by conveying high value to their beloved pets. Packaging functional cat food and treats in practical, memorable ways can help brands seamlessly become a regular part of a cat owner’s routine.
As the cat food and treat market expands, startup companies are eager to jump at the growth. Small businesses are increasingly able to compete with mainstream brands with more accessible packaging solutions available to suit small batch or niche needs. This means that small businesses can scale their products and offerings in ways the pet food industry hasn’t seen before. Smaller companies can customize their cat food packaging and leverage Belmark’s no minimum order quantity options to move faster than large, multinational brands.
Another trend in the cat food and treat industry is the explosive popularity of CBD and hemp-based products. Pet owners are typically focused on maximizing the health and well-being of their four-legged family members, making the “natural” messaging of CBD and hemp ingredients an attractive reinforcement of pet wellness. Packaging your cat food and treat products with CBD and hemp may include choosing environmentally-conscious materials (like eco-READY™ packaging options) or adding enhanced security features, and doing so with Belmark means your brand can customize quickly and easily.
Picking the Right Cat Food Packaging Matters
Depending on the type of cat food or treat you’re producing, you may be evaluating different options for how to package your products. Considering flexible packaging, a pouch offers flexibility in the material used and how a brand designs its package. The lightweight nature of pouch packaging is especially beneficial to smaller brands because pouches can help minimize weight (and, therefore, associated shipping costs). Using a pouch offers maximum space and efficiency when shipping Delivery Term Code (DTC) or to retail shelves and optimizes storage space for empty pouches.
With Belmark’s Web-to-Print® offering, brands can quickly produce their packaging with digital printing that doesn’t require an order minimum. This helps smaller companies to innovate and iterate their cat food packaging without compromising production quality (or boxes sitting in your warehouse). High-quality printing and packaging instantly stand out to a shopper, reinforcing your brand’s quality before they’ve opened your product.
Cat Food Packaging Partner
As a trusted and well-established packaging expert, Belmark can help you to choose the best cat food packaging options for your brand. Our packaging consultants leverage deep experience in the pet food category and extensive expertise in other verticals to advise customers on packaging type, material, barrier, features, and labeling to help you navigate the A to Z of bringing product packaging to life swiftly.
Whether you’re looking to design around specific brand messaging (like environmental friendliness or sustainability), are promoting certain features or ingredients (like CBD and hemp), or aim to stand out boldly through visual design, a Belmark packaging expert can help you to carve out your competitive edge.
Speak with a Belmark packaging expert today and learn more about how you can customize your cat food and treat packaging to win hearts and belly rubs.
