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Pet Food Retailers are Asking for Manufacturer Responsibility
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Big Pet Food Retailers are aware pet parents have lost confidence in the pet food industry. In a recent article published on the PetFoodIndustry.com website, Rick Rockhill of Petco urged pet food manufacturers to do their part to rebuild consumer confidence.
The Petco Representative told pet food manufacturers, “We’re not just selling pet food. We’re in the relationship business with pet parents.” The article clearly showed the awareness retailers have of customer lack of trust with pet food. “While today's pet food consumer seeks information from individual brand and retailer websites, our research shows she is leery of what your company says on its site and places more weight on what she reads online in independent views, blogs, message boards and customer reviews. The fact is, pet parents trust other pet parents; 70% of customers surveyed said that when it comes to pet food, they believe their peers more than an authority.” http://www.petfoodindustry.com/ViewArticle.aspx?id=25110
The Petco Representative asked pet food manufacturers for some typical cooperation with retailers; as well, they asked for some changes in the industry. Surprisingly, ‘retailers’ are asking AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) to improve on ingredient definitions, “especially for by-products, by-product meals and meals.” The Petco Representative even hinted that a ‘united industry’ might be capable of influencing AAFCO to provide clear and concise pet food ingredient definitions. Here’s to hoping, however most pet owners who have long been confused over ingredient definitions aren’t holding their breath; we’ve lived with AAFCO’s lack of progress for years.
If you’ve been in a Petco or other pet super store recently, you’ve probably noticed the ‘hired guns’ of pet food working in the store. Several of the major brands have hired pet food educators to represent their brand in-store. Petco also asked manufacturers in this article to “hire only ethical in-store demonstrators” and “do not resort to negative selling vs. other brands”.
In a perfect world, pet food would “use
honest ingredients, make clear product claims, and avoid misleading terminology”. However, as many of us have lived through first hand, with pet food, it’s not a perfect world. Big Pet Food has earned the lack of trust; it is no wonder 70% of pet food customers believe another pet owner more than a pet food company.
It is good news that Petco brings these issues to the attention of pet food manufacturing. However simply asking for honest ingredients, clear product claims, and clear ingredient definitions won’t change anything. Changes will only happen when pet food manufacturers are forced by regulations (and to an extent loss of customers and profits). We can only hope that Petco and other pet super stores realize that changes need to happen; furthermore, we hope they will present these same issues to AAFCO and the FDA. Consumer groups have been begging authorities for years for change, it is time big pet food retailers join our fight.
