Pets co-habit the homes of approximately 59% of Brits today. From lockdown Labradors to pandemic Persians, pet ownership in the UK has increased to an unprecedented high.
That means there are some juicy bones of retail opportunity up for grabs in the pet care eCommerce sector. 33% of UK households own a pet dog and the UK dog food sector alone is worth an estimated £1.4 billion, followed by cat food at £1.1 billion.
Unsurprisingly, a whole litter of new products is being born into the pet care marketplace. Savvy entrepreneurs in the eCommerce sector will want to keep a close eye on the latest trends in pet food, grooming/hygiene products, and pet accessories.
As an experienced provider of pet care eCommerce fulfilment for big brands such as Mars Petcare, as well as many innovative pet care SMEs, we want to share with you 3 of the key pet care trends we predict will be big in 2022…
Pet health and wellness
Fullers takes care of the fulfilment for the James Wellbeloved range of cat, dog and ferret food from Mars Petcare. It’s natural and free from added artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, which appeals to increasing numbers of pet owners interested in wellbeing.
Our team of pet care fulfilment experts also picks and packs dog treats for Frozzy’s, who won ‘Product of the Year’ at the 2021 Petquip Awards. They use natural ingredients with added vitamins, minerals, probiotics and fibre - ticking taste and nutrition boxes at the same time.
The pet supplement industry is set to hit $1 billion by 2027, according to findings from Grand View Research. Examples of trending pet supplements include dog vitamins, cat fish oil, dog probiotics and CBD. First Vet has outsourced their fulfilment to our team as demand for supplements has grown.
Careful storage, along with stringent batching and stock rotation processes, ensures top quality and optimum freshness for all our pet care clients.
Personalisation and pet subscription boxes
Tasty treats for Tinkerbell? Breakfast biscuits for Barnaby? A chic collar for Cleo? The fulfilment technology we use at Fullers allows us to personalise packaging for all pet care products.
Pets are a part of the family and owners are prepared to spend a pretty penny on spoiling them rotten. As such, personalised subscription boxes for pets are set to continue as a major trend in 2022.
Essential Foods is another pet care fulfilment client in the Fullers portfolio. They use only pure and healthy ingredients in their pet food and we’ve been producing Puppy Packs for their growing customer base. We also handle their returned goods because all food that’s in a useable condition is donated to pet charities.
Sophisticated systems allow pet care subscription boxes and promo bundles to be produced quickly and accurately by Fullers. Pet care companies can brief these into us at any stage.
Our Warehouse Management System (WMS) integrates with your eCommerce platform and we pick and pack orders automatically same day, for next day delivery if required. You can track every order and monitor stock levels in real time.
Sustainable pet care
As climate change continues to dominate news headlines, expect to see demand for pet care with a lower environmental impact.
Natusan is a sustainable pet care brand that’s chosen Fullers as their fulfilment service. The cat litter they sell is made from recycled wood and can be turned into fertiliser after use, reducing waste by up to 65%.
A survey by The Vegan Society showed that almost half of Brits who eat meat feel hypocritical for loving animals while eating others. Perhaps that’s why plant-based pet food is another trend gathering momentum in 2022.
Many animal products have a higher carbon footprint due to their meat content, too. Until plant-based pet food brands Veggie Pets entered the market, this provided something of an ethical conundrum for pet care consumers.
Pet friendly products that are also kind to the earth will continue to be a growth area in 2022 and beyond. Handling the daily fulfilment of orders for Veggie Pets shows us that vegan pet care is certainly an area to invest in.
Looking for a scalable fulfilment solution for your pet care products in 2022? Fullers Logistics is an end-to-end fulfilment service with warehouses in Hampshire, Berkshire, and The Midlands. Talk to us about your pet care fulfilment requirements today and we can get you onboard in as little as 2 weeks.
Got a question?
Check out our FAQs or get in touch today.
