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Tag: pet

  • WestJet Cargo expands pet transportation services to major European destinations on International Dog Day

    WestJet Cargo expands pet transportation services to major European destinations on International Dog Day

    As the world marks International Dog Day on August 26, WestJet Cargo is pleased to announce the expansion of its pet transportation services to three major European airports: London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), and Edinburgh (EDI). This expansion comes in response to the growing demand for secure and reliable international pet travel between Canada and Europe, reinforcing WestJet Cargo’s commitment to providing specialized care for pets during their journey.

    “At WestJet Cargo, we recognize that pets are beloved members of the family, and their safety and comfort during travel are our utmost priorities. By extending our pet transportation service to LGW, LHR, and EDI, we are enhancing connectivity for pet owners and ensuring that their pets receive the highest standard of care throughout their journey,” said Kirsten de Bruijn, Executive Vice President of WestJet Cargo.

    WestJet Cargo’s pet transportation service is tailored to meet the specific needs of all pets, including brachycephalic breeds, which require special attention during air travel. The airline strictly adheres to IATA’s Live Animals Regulations, and all pet transport occurs in pressurized, temperature-controlled cargo holds to ensure a safe and comfortable environment. Pet owners are provided with comprehensive pre-flight preparation guidelines, and WestJet Cargo maintains open communication throughout the journey, offering support in the event of any unexpected changes.

    Pet owners and specialized freight forwarders can easily arrange transportation through WestJet Cargo’s customer service or online booking system. The service is designed to comply with European regulations, accommodating the specific requirements of international pet travel.

    In addition to the new routes, WestJet Cargo has been operating year-round pet transportation services to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) since this year. In response to continued strong demand, some of the routes scheduled to pause later this year will resume next year. Looking forward, WestJet Cargo plans to leverage its strong passenger network to expand its pet transportation services across Europe further.

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  • Diana Unicharm to sell cat food

    Diana Unicharm to sell cat food

    Diana Unicharm, a leading personal hygiene products manufacturer, is set to distribute Japanese cat food brand Silver Spoon.

    Takahiro Okada, CEO of Diana Unicharm, said the company would import the product from Japanese joint venture partner Unicharm and sell it through supermarkets, pet stores and e-commerce platforms in Vietnam.

    Since Covid broke out, the pet industry has thrived as families choose to raise dogs or cats to soothe themselves.

    Statistics from Pet Fair Asia, the organizer of an annual international tradeshow for pet supplies, show pet care industry sales in Southeast Asia are US$4 billion, with Vietnam accounting for $500 million.

    The Vietnamese market is forecast to grow at 11% a year.

    Diana Unicharm, one of the biggest makers of sanitary napkins and diapers in Vietnam, targets annual revenues of $1 billion by 2030.

    As of last year it had a 40% share of the child care segment, 58% of the women’s care segment and 88% of the adult care segment.

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  • Coca-Cola teams with Berkley University to convert CO2 to sugar

    Coca-Cola teams with Berkley University to convert CO2 to sugar

    Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is partnering with the University of California Berkeley (UCB), US, to develop methods of converting captured carbon (CO2) into sugar. The collaboration hopes its work will slash the emissions of some of the world’s most polluting supply chains.

    Established between CCEP Ventures and UC Berkeley’s Peidong Yang Research Group, the project aims to create packaging and other essential raw materials from industrial waste.

    Last year, the Peidong Yang Group received a prize from NASA for a viable prototype for CO2 conversion to sugar for potential use on long-haul space missions.

    “Air to sugar conversion could significantly impact our ability to preserve the natural world,” says Dr. Peidong Yang.

    “This is a bold, scientific vision that would bring immediate environmental benefits, fundamentally transforming the production and distribution of goods across the world. We are pleased to be working with CCEP Ventures on research that could make a significant impact on our ability to create a more sustainable future.”

    CCEP Ventures’ initial investment with UCB will support foundational research that will focus on enabling the production of sugar from CO2 on-site and at an industrial level, with the expectation of future investments to drive scale – from lab to pilot phase.

    CCEP says the investment demonstrates the role innovation can play in its journey to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040.

    The development of lab-scale prototypes could make the generation of essential raw and packaging materials more environmentally sustainable in the long term. It could also reduce some of the largest CO2 contributors in supply chains while saving material, transportation and logistics costs.

    “CCEP Ventures is helping us find solutions to industry challenges and provide funding to make these foundational technologies a reality,” says Craig Twyford, head of CCEP Ventures.

    “We’re excited to be involved in this project that could lead the industry in the development of transformational technology capable of converting CO₂ into more complex, usable goods.”

    If driven to an industrial scale, carbon capture could provide an answer to crop production issues by creating synthetic sugar – potentially for use in soft drinks like Coca-Cola. This, in turn, would cut related energy usage.

    Since agricultural ingredients, including sugar, amount to approximately a quarter of CCEP’s overall carbon footprint, the technology could not only reduce emissions associated with sugar manufacturing processes but also positively contribute to optimizing land usage as less arable land becomes available due to the global population growth.

    In the longer term, this technology may also make the conversion of CO2 into PET plastic more efficient by reducing the need for crude oil in the manufacturing process and significantly lowering costs.

    Earlier this month, CCEP launched a new supply chain financing program in collaboration with Rabobank. The duo is aiming to enhance their respective ESG performances by rewarding suppliers who enhance environmental sustainability across the board and include sustainability-related KPIs that, if attained, would result in discounts from the initial funding rate.

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  • JD launches online pet consultation services

    JD launches online pet consultation services

    JD.com launched its biggest ever 3,000-square-meter exhibition at the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference, a.k.a ChinaJoy2021, which is taking place from July 30 to August 2 in Shanghai.

    The exhibit is designed to showcase the latest gaming industry trends, what motivates China’s Gen-Z consumers, as well as the tremendous marketing opportunities arising from these developments, according to JD’s planning team for ChinaJoy.

    As China’s most well-known shopping platform particularly in the area of electronics products, JD will spotlight a number of new gaming products on site to bring a fresh experience for visitors. Beyond that, brands and products ranging from fashion and cosmetics to home appliances and furniture have also joined the bandwagon to introduce their co-branded offerings or tailored-made products in JD’s exhibit and via JD’s online platform.

    China’s e-sports market is expected to reach RMB 270 billion yuan by 2022, and will be an official event for the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. In response, JD is ramping up efforts to tap the potential of this market and associated partners to incubate a wider industry ecosystem.

    During this year’s ChinaJoy, JD announced that it will update its JD Esports plan, which was launched at ChinaJoy 2020 in collaboration with device makers like Lenovo, gaming leaders like Tencent and livestreaming platforms like Huya, to develop a one-stop e-sports service platform encompassing hardware, software, content and events.

    As Gen-Z is driving much of the growth in this market, JD is also increasing its marketing outreach to younger consumers. A lineup of live shows, games and interactions with e-sport influencers will be rolled out during the three-day event to appeal to young visitors with interest in anime culture.

    Furthermore, JD’s efforts in cultivating the market have also included two gaming teams in recent years, both of which have gained wide popularity among young gamers and wider audiences: JD E-sports (JDE) for Peacekeeper Elite League (PEL) and JDG (JD Gaming) Intel e-Sports Club for League of Legends (LoL). The latter is one of the top-performing teams in the League of Legends Pro League (LPL). Plus, JD has organized the nationwide annual e-sports tournament JD Cup since 2014, in an effort to grow awareness of JD as a one-stop platform for everything related to e-sport, from gears, content to entertainment.

    Major Zhu, head of integrated marketing of JD Retail, said during the expo that JD will continue to deepen its investment in e-sports. Basing on the company’s strength in supply chain and big data, it can leverage its deep understanding in e-sports to bring partners together, presenting more high-quality products, services and entertainments for the growing e-sports fan base, and contributing to the development of China’s e-sports industry.

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  • Coke, Asahi lead joint venture to recycle 1 billion PET bottles annually

    Coke, Asahi lead joint venture to recycle 1 billion PET bottles annually

    Pact Group, Cleanaway, Asahi Beverages and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) have announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a joint venture that will build and operate a new PET recycling facility. Under the MOU, the parties intend to come together to provide an industry model for recycling solutions in Australia. This will include the new facility as well as the PET recycling facility currently being built by Pact Group, Cleanaway and Asahi Beverages through Circular Plastics Australia (PET) in Albury-Wodonga, which is expected to be completed later this year.

    The proposed facility will provide a massive boost to Australian recycling by processing raw plastic material collected via Container Deposit Schemes and kerbside recycling. It is expected to process the equivalent of around 1 billion bottles each year to produce over 20,000 tonnes of new recycled PET bottles and food packaging. The facility will use state-of-the-art sorting, washing, decontamination and extrusion technology.

    The cross-industry solution combines the complementary expertise of each participant to enhance their individual sustainability goals. Cleanaway will provide available PET through its collection and sorting network, Pact will provide technical and packaging expertise and CCEP, Asahi Beverages and Pact will buy the recycled PET from the facility to use in their respective products. The plant, when fully operational, will be run by Pact.

    A decision on the plant’s location is anticipated in the coming months and construction is expected to be complete by 2023.

    CCEP and Asahi Beverages, while competitors in the beverage market, have, for the purpose of this joint venture, joined with Pact and Cleanaway to increase the production and availability of recycled PET resin in Australia. The parties are proud to work with one another to advance the cause of sustainability and recycling. This proposed plant is an important step forward in creating a local plastics circular economy in Australia. This new self-sustaining industry is expected to create dozens of new jobs during the construction phase and operation of the plant.

    In describing the deal, Peter West, CCEP Vice President and General Manager Australia, Pacific and Indonesia said, “This new joint venture will deliver a collaborative cross-industry solution to recycle the material that we use to produce our products. Together we can work towards creating a circular economy for PET within the beverages industry, ensuring that we are using more locally processed recycled content for the production of our bottles in Australia.”

    Asahi Beverages Group CEO Robert Iervasi said, “This will be a ground-breaking project that will massively boost PET recycling capacity. It will help transform recycling in Australia by providing a new, local source of high-quality recycled PET. The building of this large rPET plant along with the facility in Albury-Wodonga is a major step towards helping us deliver a truly circular economy for our consumers.”

    Cleanaway Chief Operating Officer Brendan Gill said, “This project supports Cleanaway’s Footprint 2025 by ensuring we have the right infrastructure in place to create a domestic circular economy. This PET plastic pelletising facility is a huge win for the environment by creating a high value, recycled raw material from plastics we collect and sort through our network. At Cleanaway our mission is to make a sustainable future possible and we see waste as a resource to achieve that.”

    Group CEO and Managing Director from Pact Group, Sanjay Dayal said, “We are delighted to be able to bring a scaled cross-industry solution that solves for the local production of recycled resin. We are proud to have CCEP, Asahi Beverages and Cleanaway as partners creating a local circular economy. This partnership shows the value of a solution that works for industry and consumers. This is completely aligned to Pact’s strategy which is to lead the local circular economy through reuse, recycling, and packaging solutions”.

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  • Coles launches own-brand premium pet food range

    Coles launches own-brand premium pet food range

    Supermarket chain Coles has launched a new premium pet food range called ‘Elevate’, recognizing Australians’ growing pet ownership.

    Coles said the new range, which features 19 products, was scientifically developed to cater to dietary requirements and health concerns, from digestive support for dogs to hairball and urinary care for cats.

    “We worked closely with pet nutritionists to develop a range that featured vital nutrients and health benefits typically found in top brands without compromising on price,” said Jonathan Torr, GM at Coles.

    Pet nutritionist, treasurer of the Pet Food Industry Association of Australia, and a member of the Australian Pet Food Standards Working Group, Scott Williams also helped to develop Elevate.

    “Food safety was paramount in everything we made for Elevate,” Williams said. “We tested all ingredients to understand their nutritional properties and meet the requirements set by the American Association of Feed Control Officials”.

    According to Coles, more than two-thirds of Australian households own a pet and the number is growing substantially each year. The supermarket also recorded more than 80 percent of pet owners purchasing pet food from its stores, showing the rising demand to this sector.

    “Research showed pet owners are spending $3.6 billion on dog and cat food per year,” Torr said. “In fact, the top two things our customers are looking for when purchasing pet food at Coles is health followed by budget.”

  • Korean startup translates dog barks using AI

    Korean startup translates dog barks using AI

    A South Korean startup has developed an AI-powered dog collar that can detect five emotions in canines by monitoring their barks using voice recognition technology.

    The Petpuls collar can tell pet owners through a smartphone application if their dogs are happy, relaxed, anxious, angry or sad. It also tracks dogs’ physical activity and rest.

    “This device gives a dog a voice so that humans can understand,” Andrew Gil, director of global marketing at Petpuls Lab said.

    The company began gathering different types of barks to analyse dogs’ emotions in 2017. Three years later, they developed a proprietary algorithm based on a database of more than 10,000 samples from 50 breeds of dogs.

    “I thought she was just happy when she played and felt sad and anxious when I wasn’t home…actually she felt angry when she lost a game she played with me, like how humans feel,” said Moon Sae-mi, who has a six-year-old Border Collie.

    The collar has a 90 percent average accuracy rate of emotional recognition, according to Seoul National University, which tested the device the company says is the first of its kind to be powered by AI voice recognition technology.

    Petpuls Lab started marketing the collar online in October last year at $99.

    The global pet care market was worth $138 billion in 2020, up 34 percent, Euromonitor data showed, as more people spent time at home with their pets or adopted pets during the COVID-19 pandemic. The global dog population also grew 18% the same year to 489 million.

    “More people began to adopt dogs, but unfortunately some of them abandoned their dogs due to miscommunication,” Gil said. “Petpuls can have an important role in the pandemic…it helps owners understand how dogs feel and increase their bonding.”

  • Pagerie releases what it bills as world-first luxury accessories for dogs

    Pagerie releases what it bills as world-first luxury accessories for dogs

    The brand, which bills itself as the world’s first “luxury fashion house for pets”, makes each piece by hand using sandy-hued, full-grain French leather and marine-grade stainless steel normally reserved for making yachts.

    “I just always found it odd when I’d see people dressed immaculately but then their dog is sporting a bright red plastic leash from a chain pet store,” founder Mandy Madden Kelley told Dezeen.

    “Our pets are a reflection and extension of ourselves and I realized there was such a gap in the market for products that live up to that connection.”

    The Sahara collection shuns an overly cutesy or utilitarian look in favor of a minimalist design and form-fitting silhouette reminiscent of equestrian equipment.

    “Everything about Pagerie’s styles, shapes cuts, and patterns is meant to conform to the shapes and contours of our dogs,” said Kelley.

    “Other pet accessories tend to be too sporty, masculine or they tend to cover the pet’s entire body. What I was looking for was something more sensual. I wanted to create designs that highlight the gracefulness and elegance that pets have.”

    At $380, the Dórro collar is the cheapest item in the collection and comes with a buckle that can be adjusted to its wearer on first use.

    From then on, the collar can be fastened and unfastened in a process “as seamless as opening and closing your Birkin”, Kelley explained, simply by closing the steel turnlock and securing it by flipping down the hook at the center.

    The matching Tascher leash can be set to three different lengths and used for two dogs simultaneously. It also comes with a cylindrical pouch for doggie bags or treats, rendered in the same sand-colored leather as the other pieces.

    As the most expensive piece, the $720 Babbi harness is modeled after a horse’s saddle and even comes with a removable, quilted lining similar to the saddle pads worn by horses.

    Kelley, a former lawyer and current beauty influencer, argues the collection’s price tag is justified because it will encourage slower, more considered consumption.

    “I would be shocked walking into someone’s homes if they had several different leashes and collars simply because they weren’t able to come across something high quality that they love,” she said.

    “Quality costs more but it can last a lifetime. When my team and I developed the designs for Pagerie, we made them to be timeless, high-quality pieces that would never go out of style or need to be disposed of or replaced.”

    The Sahara collection is the first release by pet wear label Pagerie

    Choupette, the famed cat of late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld, also made its first foray into pet accessories this year, releasing a woollen, hammock-style cat bed in collaboration with German brand LucyBalu.

    Elsewhere, Asif Khan’s contribution to the Architecture for Dogs exhibition at London’s Japan House saw the British architect add a circular crater to the top of a felt-covered table to allow dogs to snuggle up in it.

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  • Hong Kong’s Peak Galleria offers rooftop pet park

    Hong Kong’s Peak Galleria offers rooftop pet park

    Following its much-acclaimed facelift last year, Hang Lung Properties”” Peak Galleria has brought in plenty of pet-friendly amenities long desired by pet parents and their furry babies. This iconic landmark of Hong Kong is also introducing the Peaknic combo, allowing pet owners to enjoy a picnic with their four-legged friends on its new rooftop lawn by the Observation Deck on level three. With a world-class view of the Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island, Peak Galleria promises an unparalleled leisure experience for all!

    Customers could enjoy a picnic with their pets on the new rooftop lawn by the Observation Deck, against a backdrop of the scenic Pokfulam Reservoir and Hong Kong Island. 

    At Peak Galleria — the hottest pet-friendly shopping mall in town, not only is Fido allowed in most of the areas, they can also use a dedicated elevator to access the Observation Deck on level three, where they can roam freely and play. By late October, Peak Galleria will be setting up an Insta-station for pet lovers to snap away at — or with — their furry friends in a giant pet bowl installation, capturing the most beautiful memories with their pampered companions.

    Customer service is the hallmark of the Peak Galleria shopping experience. As such, Peak Galleria has set up designated dog parking areas where Fido can rest while their owners go shopping or dining. In addition, complimentary pet strollers are available for loan from the Concierge for up to three hours with a deposit of HK$500. (Note: In all mall areas, all pets must be muzzled and on leash not exceeding 1.5 meters in length.)

    Starting today, Pawfect Barber Shop, a pet salon-themed photoshoot station, will open on level one of Peak Galleria. A rich collection of props and backdrops will be available at the station, where owners can play stylist for their beloved pets for a fun-filled photo session. What”s more, a selection of items will be available for sale at PANDORA, Gift at Races, and Build-A-Bear Workshop. Meanwhile, patrons accompanied by their pets will be entitled to limited-time offers at the merchants below:

    From now on through December 31, over weekends and on public holidays, Peak Galleria will host the PetMart at the atrium, featuring pop-up stalls by multiple chich labels, including PRIVATE i PETS, KOLs Jerry. C @Jm9 and Kenji@ Ondogdog, PETCORE VET and WELLNESS, PETS 101, and Dreamcatcher Holiday Market. Discover a vast array of curated pet foods, pet supplements, handcrafted toys, and many more at PetMart, which is deemed to bring an exceptional shopping experience to pet owners and their furry friends!

    From now on, customers who order takeaway from participating restaurants or purchase a designated picnic set by Mina House or JinYaJu Noodle Bar of over HK$600 will receive a free picnic mat and a merchant cash coupon worth HK$100. Customers can also loan an exquisite picnic basket at no costs — a picnic essential for snapshots on the new rooftop lawn by the Observation Deck, against a backdrop of the scenic Pokfulam Reservoir and Hong Kong Island. The signature picnic sets at Mina House and JinYaJu Noodle Bar are available only at the Peak Galleria. The former specializes in crispy snacks, while the latter has a wide range of savory dishes, including the popular JinYaJu Noodle, chef-picked appetizers and specialty beverages. Menus for two and for four are available to meet the varied needs of avid picnic goers and paws.

  • Pet Lovers Centre flourishes in the Philippines

    Pet Lovers Centre flourishes in the Philippines

    The Philippines’ Robinsons Retail will open its fifth Pet Lovers Centre (PLC) this year following its strategy of broadening its retail focus beyond fashion.

    The latest pet shop is scheduled to open in the third quarter of this year in Robinson Place Palawan.

    Pet Lovers Centre has grown after Robinsons Retail Holdings secured the license from the Singapore-based pet store chain last October with the first shop opening in Robinsons Galleria in Metro Manila.

    The store has selections from local and international brands that caters for different pets and their needs. It also has a section dedicated to aquarium hobbyists, featuring tropical fish, ornamental shrimp, freshwater aquatic plants and nano-tanks.

    Christine Tan, senior marketing manager, Pet Lovers Centre, said that nowadays pet owners see the company they buy supplies from as part of their ecosystem. The brand’s rapid expansion in the Philippines attests to the fact that PLC is resonating with pet owners there.

    “The PLC brand is about an award-winning shopping experience that translates the love and passion for pets into true value. We do this by offering pets and pet lovers quality products and services, highly accessible care and fun experiences.”

    She added that this includes the widest and freshest range of products pet owners can find with prompt, friendly and helpful service as well.

    Other Pet Lovers Centre stores are located in Robinsons Magnolia Mall and UP Town Center in Metro Manila and Robinsons Galleria in Cebu City.

    The pet retail and service chain was founded by David and Robert Ng in 1973 and has a network of more than 100 stores across Southeast Asia.

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  • JD wants its My Pet Profile to transform animal lives across China

    JD wants its My Pet Profile to transform animal lives across China

    Customers of JD can now store detailed profiles of their pets online and receive updates of suitable products, services and care instructions through JD’s My Pet Profile Initiative function.

    With My Pet Profile, brands can improve their product specifications and target marketing campaigns to specific pet demographics. Nestle Purina’s Pro Plan brand has piloted the initiative recently, and saw its click rate quickly double among customers who received targeted recommendations.

    “By providing insights not only on pet owners, but for the first time also on their pets, JD has taken us to the next step,” said Zoe Zuo, marketing director at Nestle Purina. “The My Pet Profile Initiative represents an expanding database of growing importance for us because it helps us improve our products and strategies. We will work on these insights to recommend products to customers with more precision, helping ensure our customers have longer and happier relationships with their beloved pets.”

    A report released by JD and Nielsen shows that Chinese pet owners are now more engaged with their animals and more interested in improving their pets’ health and longevity. In 2018 the year-on-year sales increase of imported pet brands was 118 per cent higher than that of domestic brands. Services related to pets are also on the rise, such as grooming and medical care.

    Tianyang Fan, head of pet products at JD Fast Moving Consumer Goods, said the initiative provides a better shopping experience for pet owners, while also serving brand partners who are looking to improve their products and marketing solutions based on consumer insights.

    JD also hopes to become Chinese pet owners’ one-stop destination for pet-related information and the types of high-quality pet products. Currently applicable only to cats and dogs, the initiative could be expanded to offer tailored information about other pets, such as aquatic creatures.

  • Pomelo Purpose range now features recycled PET fabrics

    Pomelo Purpose range now features recycled PET fabrics

    Omnichannel fashion brand Pomelo has released a third collection for its permanent sustainable line Purpose.

    Seeking to lead the sustainability charge in the Southeast Asian fashion industry, the brand will be introducing Recycled PET (RPET) material to its Pomelo Purpose production processes for the first time.

    As with the brand’s previous Pomelo Purpose collection, which placed a focus on clothing made exclusively from organic fabrics, dyes and cruelty-free materials, this collection intentionally incorporates eco-friendly practices from within the supply chain. Aiming to bring awareness to the importance of building sustainable fashion futures, the latest addition to the Purpose line is produced using RPET material and organically-sourced fabrics including linen, cotton, and natural dye.

    RPET material, which is obtained from EcoMax, one of the few Asian suppliers of environmentally-friendly renewable fabric, is made from 100-per-cent post-consumer PET bottles that would otherwise enter landfills or pollute natural habitats. By incorporating RPET material into the production of Purpose pieces, Pomelo hopes to create higher-quality, lasting pieces that ease production pressures on finite natural resources.

    Pomelo is encouraging its customers to drop off used clothing at its select partnered locations and offline stores, including the newly-opened Singapore flagship store at 313@Somerset. Pomelo Purpose shoppers can also schedule free pick-ups by scanning a QR code stitched into their Purpose products. All collected clothing is then redistributed to underprivileged partner communities, organisations and charities in Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.

    “Purpose by Pomelo has led the way for the fashion industry in the region to adopt environmentally-friendly practices through sustainable materials and processes,” said Pomelo CEO David Jou. “With this launch, we are hoping to make an even bigger impact by providing all Pomelo shoppers an opportunity to start their recycling journey using our free pick up service. We’re very excited to continue bringing innovation to this very important topic.”

    From now until September 5, all Pomelo online customers in Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia will be able to book a free pick-up for up to 3kg of used clothing via the Pomelo App. After the promotional period, free pick-ups will be limited to first-time Pomelo Purpose shoppers only.

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  • Link’s Stanley Plaza launches seaside speed-dating for dogs

    Link’s Stanley Plaza launches seaside speed-dating for dogs

    Link’s Stanley Plaza is presenting Hong Kong’s first seaside speed-dating event for dogs. Now in its eighth year, the Paws by the Sea 2019 event will involve a series of events held at the plaza on the weekends from March 23 to 31, including the doggie speed-dating activity. Dog owners and their dogs are invited to attend together to find their true love, and loving dogs-in-waiting will have the chance to be adopted into a new family.

    The events constitute part of Link’s Stanley Plaza’s commitment to providing innovative services for customers and their pets as Hong Kong’s first pet-friendly shopping mall.

    Stanley Plaza and the Society for Abandoned Animals will hold a “Walk the Dog Experiential Tour” for people who are considering adopting a dog to assess their chemistry with the dogs being considered for adoption. On March 31, Link will also host the “Doggie Wedding Gown Exhibition and Design Competition”, in which dog owners can design a unique wedding dress for their doggies and dress up them as a model in the catwalk show. At the same time, there is a dog wedding exhibition which collects various dog marriage information for each dog owner.

    Stanley Plaza will also challenge the Guinness world record for the “Longest Line of Glass Bottles” again on March 24, where dog owners will write love letters to their dogs and decorate their own “love bottle” to add to the line. After the event, owners may take their bespoke bottle home as souvenir.

    Several large-scale dog photo spots, exciting activities and workshops are also being arranged concurrently, including a photography tour, a “Love the Dogs Educational Workshop”, a “Pet Doctor Workshop Doggie” and “Love Is in The Air Carnival Exhibition”.

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  • Asia Pacific Pet Food Market is Expected to Grow Massively

    Asia Pacific Pet Food Market is Expected to Grow Massively

    Pet food is animal or plant material that is used for consumption by pets. These products are sold through a variety of distribution channels. However, these products are primarily made available in supermarkets and pet stores. The global pet food market offers specific food, which can be categorized as dog food, bird food, fish food, and cat food among others. A major proportion of the meat that is made available as pet food is not of human grade. These materials are generally byproducts of the human food processing industry.

    Increasing purchasing power, rapid urbanization, and changing lifestyle are some major factors fueling the demand for pet food in the Asia Pacific region. Apart from this, increasing preference of the population for a nuclear family has also fueled the adoption of pets in Asia Pacific. Moreover, rising awareness about pet health has further augmented the demand. Due to both these factors, the demand for nutritious pet food as compared to ordinary pet food has increased considerably in the last few years. In addition, a number of regulatory issues, rising cases of pet allergies in humans, and growing obesity among pets are some of the major factors boosting the demand for pet food in Asia Pacific.

    Dog Food Segment Remains Dominant

    The Asia Pacific pet food market in terms of pet type is segmented into dog food, cat food, and others. The others segment includes bird food and fish food. The dog food segment holds the most prominent chunk of the market share and is expected to swell to 61.1% by 2020. The dog food segment was nearing a valuation of US$6.0 bn by the end of 2015.

    Currently, there are several kinds of dog feed available in the market, which include dry, wet or canned, nutritious, and treats. Increasing awareness about pet health is one of the major factors fueling the demand for dog food in the Asia Pacific. Moreover, changing lifestyle and rapid urbanization is also expected to boost the demand during the forecast period. Additionally, the percentage of dogs as pets has increased considerably in the region in recent past. In India, the dog population had increased to about 58.1% by 2013 and similar trend has been observed in markets of Australia, China, and South Korea.

    India Emerging as Most Lucrative Market

    Japan is one the major markets for pet food in Asia Pacific, and is expected remain the dominant market during the forecast period, reaching a market share of 36.5% by the end of 2020. This dominance in demand from Japan is attributed to apartment-culture, which is the most common type of domicile in Japan. Because of this, Japanese consumers tend to prefer smaller pets. Australia is second most prominent market for pet food in Asia Pacific, which is due to considerable increase in pet ownership in the country in recent years. A large number of households are switching to pets for security and recreational purposes. However, the demand for pet food is also expected to increase at a fastest rate in the countries of India and China.

    The pet food market in Asia Pacific is dominated by a few major brands that operate globally, such as Mars Inc., Nestle S.A., Colgate-Palmolive Co., Procter & Gamble Co., Del Monte Foods Co., Agrolimen S.A., and Unicharm Corporation. However, stiff country-wide competition is prevalent from smaller players. For example, Purina Friskies in Japan, Whiskas in Australia, Pedigree in India, and Royal Canin in South Korea.