‘Promoting Trust and Transparency’ was the topic of behavioural expert Jez Groom (Cowry Consulting), key note speaker at the latest annual congress of FEDIAF, the federation of the European pet food industry, held in Madrid on 12 June. He shared how science can help tackle misinformation and rebuild consumer trust.
From science to our pet’s food bowl
This was followed by a panel discussion with Ann Criel (FVE, FECAVA ), Sara Lamonaca (FoodDrinkEurope) and Nicole Paley (UK Pet Food), on how collaboration and clarity are key to countering myths and promoting informed choices. ‘We should aim for closer collaboration between science, veterinary knowledge and the pet food industry,’ commented Ann Criel. ‘From the academic level right down to the food bowl of our beloved pets.’
Transparency and responsible communication
FEDIAF President Rosa Carbonell i Farré Carbonell emphasized that trust is not a given: ‘it must be earned every day, through consistent action, honest dialogue, and scientific integrity.’ In an age where consumers expect more transparency than ever, she highlighted the crucial role of the pet food industry in not only meeting those expectations, but setting a new standard for responsible communication.
Environmental footprint category rules
With the EU’s sustainability agenda accelerating, a standout session from Anne Gaasbeek (Mérieux NutriSciences) provided a practical look at applying the EU’s Product environmental footprint category rules (PEFCR) for pet food. Finally, Susana Izquierdo (Spanish School Rescue and Detection with Dogs) gave a presentation showing how pets not only enrich and protect, but also save lives.
Report: now 299 million pets in 139 million households
Earlier this month, FEDIAF published its report with 2023 data on the European pet population market. Pet ownership is on the rise with 139 million European households (49%) owning one or more of Europe’s 299 million pets. Annual sales of pet food products now stands at 29.2 billion euros and the volume is around 9.1 million tonnes.
Photo: From left, moderator Chris Burns, Ann Criel, Nicole Paley and Sara Lamonaca.