What’s driving the pet industry?

Around 2,400 exhibitors from some 70 countries presented their latest products and services in Nuremberg from 12 to 15 May – spread across 15 halls covering approximately 150,000 m², equivalent to around 21 football pitches or 21 supermarkets including car parks. The organiser, Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH (WZF), recorded 39,000 trade visitors from over 130 countries. Over 87 per cent of exhibitors and more than 70 per cent of trade visitors travelled from abroad.

At the opening on 11 May, the WZF presented the Interzoo Awards. The Personality Award went to Norbert Holthenrich, President of the ZZF (Central Association of the Pet Trade). Gordon Bonnet, Managing Director of both the ZZF and the WZF, recalled how consistently Holthenrich had driven forward the process of internationalisation: “When Norbert Holthenrich attended his first Interzoo in 2012, the trade fair featured 1,539 exhibitors from 53 countries.”

The Long Distance Award went to Zealandia Ltd. from Auckland, New Zealand – 18,300 kilometres away. The Sustainability Award went to DSM-Firmenich for an algae-based omega-3 oil as an alternative to marine raw materials.

The programme was rounded off by the first-ever Interzoo Sustainability Conference, 16 country pavilions, the Petfood Forum Europe, the inaugural Groomers’ Day for the grooming sector, the Sourcing and Fresh Ideas Stage, and Academy Sessions – including, for the first time, a dedicated session on healthcare.

In terms of content, the theme of prevention dominated. Vitamins, probiotics and postbiotics, as well as superfoods, are finding their way into pet food as toppings, drops or powders; functional snacks are designed to support the immune system, joints and gut flora. At the same time, alternative protein sources came into focus – from sashimi-grade fish and insects to single-protein recipes designed to combat allergies. Sustainability was no longer a niche topic either: cat litter made from wood, coconut fibre or cassava, as well as upcycled toys, were a prominent feature.

The 59 young companies and start-ups – 27 from Germany and 32 from abroad – at two joint stands transformed their section of Interzoo into a hub of ideas.

Driven by vitality and entrepreneurial spirit, the “International Start-up Area” and “Young Innovators” were the places to be for discovering innovations…