Page 54 - Retail World March 2021

PET NEEDS FROM PAGE 50 Sustainable consciousness: community and proteins Mintel reports that in the pursuit of sustainability, pet food bands experiment with unconventional sources of animal protein that can benefit both pets and the planet. Safcol’s Mr de Villers said: “We have some new sustainable protein offerings developed and in our NPD pipeline, and we actually already have a sustainably fished range on shelf. Most of our lines with tuna as part of their ingredient list is from sustainably caught tuna. This has been the case since 2011.” Expanding on the sustainability trend, Ms Sackville points to the importance of not only sustainable proteins being sourced, but also the importance of sustainable packaging, alongside other ways to sustainably support the community. “Shoppers like to support brands that have a socially conscious presence, such as supporting local communities and charities,” she said. “Brands that align themselves with key community leaders will see increased popularity from the local community.” Speaking on what Bell & Bone does specifically as a brand, Ms Sackville says it focuses heavily on health and wellness for dogs. “Besides regularly donating to and being an official corporate sponsor of RSPCA Victoria, our Australian made products target specific areas of health,” she said. All-round sustainability is an aspect that Mr de Villiers agrees will be a driving force this year. “The sustainability of both packaging and ingredients, and novel sustainable proteins, will drive the key pillars of innovation within the industry into the future,” he said. 52 RETAIL WORLD MAR, 2021 “The sustainability of both packaging and ingredients, and novel sustainable proteins, will drive the key pillars of innovation within the industry into the future.”