Recent Articles from Colleen Murphy
Recall: Blue Ridge Beef, Raw Basics Issue Pet Food Recalls for Potential Contamination
Two more raw pet food companies have recalled certain products after a contaminant was found in its product. One lot of a Blue Ridge Beef product has been recalled for its potential to be contaminated with salmonella and listeria while one lot of a Raw Basics Tucker’s product has been recalled for its potential to […]
Attractive Pet Product Packaging Key to Increased Sales
It’s hard to say who enjoys treats more—the pet eating the treat or the owner who gets to give the pet the treat. Feeding pets treats is an owner’s way of rewarding, bonding with, and showing love to the pet. Pets, well, they simply love the taste. Because owners love giving treats and pets love […]
3 Recalls Over Listeria, Salmonella Concerns
TruPet, Northwest Naturals and Carnivore Meat Company have all issued voluntary recalls of certain products due to the potential of contaminants. TruPet, LLC is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of its Treat Me Crunchy Beef Delight treats and Carnivore Meat Company is voluntarily recalling a limited amount of its Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Beef Nibblets Entrée […]
Pentobarbital Found in Smucker’s Food
The J.M. Smucker’s Company has withdrawn more than 30 UPC item codes across four brands from store shelves after they tested positive for pentobarbital, a euthanasia drug. Gravy Train, Kibbles ‘N Bits, Skippy and Ol’ Roy all had specific shipments recalled. Pet Age confirmed the withdraw with a Gravy Train customer relations representative, who also pointed […]
Pet Dental: It Doesn’t Have to Stink
Brush twice a day. Go to the dentist every six months. Floss daily. These are rules of thumb many Americans were taught growing up and stick to throughout adulthood. For the most part, Americans take very good care of their oral health, as a healthy mouth is seen as an important factor of presenting oneself […]
General Pet Supply Tips on Selling Food and Treats
According to John Gibbons, president at A GPS For Pet Businesses, “every week over 20 million U.S. households buy food and/or treats for their pet children.” Manufacturers and retailers must keep up with that demand, making and stocking enough food and treats so that each of those 20+ million households finds the products they’re looking […]
Valentine’s Day Pet Spending Expected to be Big this Year
According to the National Retail Federation, people will be spending $19.6 billion on Valentine’s Day this year, and $751 million of that will be on pets. That means that, on average, people will be spending $5.50 on pets for Valentine’s Day. The spending is also up from the past two years’ totals–$681 million in 2016 […]
Recall: 4 Companies’ Chews, Treats, Raw Food Raise Salmonella Concerns
UPDATED MARCH 27: The FDA posted the following update to its website on March 26: The FDA has detected Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O128 and Salmonella in samples of raw pet foods manufactured by Arrow Reliance Inc. The samples were collected by the FDA to determine whether the firm had addressed an ongoing pattern of […]
Instagram Influencers to Attend Food & Treat Festival
It was recently announced that, in addition to a trade show floor featuring pet food and treat manufacturers, Tinkerbelle and several other social media pet celebrities will be attending Pet Age’s Food and Treat Festival for Pets, which will take place on Tuesday, February 6. Tinkberbelle, who is featured in a profile in the January edition […]
Owners Spent $26.5B on Pet Food in 2016
In 2016, the biggest driver in U.S. consumer spending—price—came to the forefront in the pet industry, says A GPS For Pet Businesses President John Gibbons. In fact, pet food spending fell $2.99 billion (-10.1 percent) from 2015 to 2016. Spending in 2015 saw a rise because of the increased spending on higher-priced premium foods. But […]
New WPA President Discusses Organization’s Future
With longtime World Pet Association (WPA) President Doug Poindexter having retired, WPA has welcomed a new president, Jacinthe Moreau, to the team. In her new role, Moreau will lead WPA in continuing to strengthen the pet industry by providing resources and education to suppliers, retailers and pet owners. Moreau has worked in the animal health […]
Feeding with a Purpose
We all know the importance of dog food: it is the fuel a dog needs to survive. But food can be so much more than just the source of the required daily caloric intake. Manufacturers are working with scientists and vets to develop formulas and diets that benefit dogs in more ways than one. Dog […]