Gluten-free food for humans has been around for some time and is growing strongly in popularity. Now get ready for a huge surge in sales of gluten-free pet food.
If market researchers are to be believed, dogs, cats, birds, or pocket animals are on the brink of enjoying a whole new range of food that is devoid of grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.
Reasons for the surge in sales
Read More »Pets are suffering, researchers say, because so many pet foods contain gluten, which is not a natural food for our pets and can be harmful to them.
Humanization of pet foods
For many years we have been feeding our pets food that we think is good for us, not necessarily for them, Persistence Market Research points out in a new special report. This humanization of pet foods recently took a step forward by adding food that is free of preservatives, just as we are demanding in our food.
Now the pet food market is about to take a giant step forward in a different direction, Persistence Market Reports predicts in a new report. At present demand for basic or regular pet food dominates the market for pet food, but an increasing swing toward gluten-free pet food is starting to take place among pet owners, the researchers say.
Will replace regular pet food
The swing toward gluten-free pet food will be so strong that it is likely to replace regular pet food in a reasonably short time, the research report predicts.
Already the market is starting to grow steadily. As more pet owners get on board with the gluten-free concept and realize that it will likely be healthier for their pets, sales will rise sharply in the next five years around the world, researchers predict. Particularly those people who require that their own food be free of gluten will be among the first to look for gluten-free food for their pets.
Health benefits
Another new research report, this one from Precision Reports, points out that gluten-free products provide pets with a number of health benefits. Among them are improved digestion, superior nutrition, a healthier skin and coat, and more energy.
Veterinarians suggest that pet allergies are caused by diets that are rich in gluten, Precision Reports adds. Gluten is often used in pet foods as a way for pets to lose weight or as fillers in their food. The use of gluten in this and other ways in pet foods is harmful, they point out. Veterinary doctors therefore are advising pet owners to provide their pets with food that is gluten free.
Most sales will be online
The food will be available in an increasing number of supermarkets, retail stores, outlets that specialize in pet-related products as well as online stores that sell pet products.
Online stores are attracting more customers, Precision Reports says, as they can offer more variety than brick and mortar stores. In addition, customers can check out the product information, making it easier and more convenient for them to choose the products that are best for their pets.
Whole new segment
Gluten-free pet food will develop into a whole new division in the overall pet food industry, the report by Persistence Market Research forecasts. The researchers outline these characteristics of gluten-free pet food:
• The gluten-free pet food will be offered in a wide variety of flavors, including chicken, fish, beef, and other white and red meats. Those flavors are expected to give a significant boost to the popularity of the food among pet owners.
• It will come in dry forms in packages, which are likely to be preferred by most pet owners, or wet forms in cans.
• The food will contain more nutritional ingredients compared with regular pet foods.
• It will come in natural forms, which will be produced under strict regulations. These types of gluten-free pet foods will not contain any emulsifiers or added flavors.
• Some of the gluten-free foods will contain additives in the form of emulsifiers that will be added to give the food a specific taste.
