Petfood Forum recently spoke with David Sprinkle, publisher and research director at Packaged Facts, a leading supplier of market research on the U.S. pet industry. Sprinkle has continued to be a crowd-favorite at the annual event for many years.
Petfood Forum: What is your earliest memory of Petfood Forum?
Sprinkle: Being introduced by Greg Aldrich at the podium as the next speaker and thinking how much more put together he looks than I ever will.
Petfood Forum: What do you consider the biggest challenge or opportunity ahead for the pet food industry?
Sprinkle: A triple: keeping quality pet care affordable and accessible for everyone, ratcheting up on pet product and packaging sustainability, and addressing the welfare of feed animals used for pet food.
Petfood Forum: Why do you continue to attend Petfood Forum, and why should pet food industry professionals join us?
Sprinkle: Petfood Forum is unique in its educational/research program heft. Packaged Facts has presented annually at Petfood Forum for many years, so there’s a longstanding relationship – I picked up the baton from David Lummis, who remains our “pet market guru” at Packaged Facts.
In 2022, Sprinkle will share new Packaged Facts research showing that, measured by bedrock pet owner population, a COVID-19-triggered spike in pet ownership among upmarket consumers was offset by pet ownership attrition among less prosperous or more budget-conscious demographics. This socio-economic pattern has created a disconnect between pet population and pet food sales levels, marked by increases in the number of dog/cat owners spending US$500 or more annually on pet food, but dips in the number spending at lower ranges. Sprinkle analyzes this altered pet food consumer landscape, the customers spending most on pet foods, the concerns and priorities that trigger higher spending and the performance of representative premium/superpremium pet food brands in this demographic and psychographic context.
Petfood Forum: What’s your recommendation for Kansas City fun during Petfood Forum in May?
Sprinkle: Because you can’t live on KC Brisket Burnt Ends alone, slip away to check out the international food options at the historic River Market.
About Petfood Forum
The 30th anniversary of Petfood Forum is scheduled for May 2-4 at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Petfood Forum includes an agenda packed with opportunities to network and collaborate with industry professionals, learn the latest in pet food innovation and discover new tools for business success.
Register here to make history at Petfood Forum
