Dog food goes gourmet: Nine emerging trends in pet foodFour out of five pet owners now consider their pet a member of the family and consumers are shifting their priorities when it comes to purchasing food for their pets accordingly (Mintel Pet Food 2013). In the July issue of Food Technology Magazine published by the Institute of Food Technologists Contributing Editor A. Elizabeth Sloan writes about recent trends in gourmet pet food.1. The premium sector accounted for 40 percent of the 26 billion dollar U.S. pet food market in 2013 (Packaged Facts 2014).2. Sales of natural pet foods totaled $4.1 billion in 2012 (Packaged Facts 2014).3. 79 percent of pet owners said the quality of their pets' food is as important as their own (Mintel 2013).4. Top drivers of sales in pet foods included adding excitement to the pets' diets via flavors gravies look-alike human recipes and meal specific foods such as appetizers and breakfast (IRI 2014).5. Half of new pet foods touted have added vitamins antioxidants protein DHA for puppies/kittens and no fillers artificial ingredients or byproducts (Packaged Facts 2014).6. In 2013 more households had dogs than children with 39 percent of households having a dog and 32 percent of households having children (Packaged Facts 2014).7. The Paleo Diet has created a new sector of ancestral foods reflective of earlier diets of canines and felines that are focused on the high quality of proteins and grains in pet food.8. 53 percent of dogs and 58 percent of cats are overweight causing the need for functional and therapeutic pet food (APOP 2013).9. 51 percent of dog owners and 44 percent of cat owners believe that made in the U.S. is a very important package claim as fear of contamination and product safety is a large concern among pet owners (Packaged Facts 2014).Read the article in Food Technology: http://www.ift.org/food-technology/past-issues/2014/july/features/specialtymarkets.aspxStory Source:The above story is based on materials provided by Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.