Navigating the Booming Pet Market with Streamlined Logistics for Pet Supply Brands

By Sean Mueller

In the dynamic landscape of the pet market, achieving growth hinges on the strategic adoption of streamlined logistics. Let’s explore how pet supply brands can navigate this thriving industry.

Americans love pets. According to the?American Pet Products Association (APPA), 66% of households have pets. US families have 65.1 million dogs and 46.5 million cats. Birds, fish, reptiles, and other small animals each hover around 6 million. Horses and saltwater fish make up another 4.4 million.

US households also spend billions on their pets –$136.8 billion in 2022. The APPA broke down the 2022 expenditures as follows.

• Food and Treats. 58.1 billion
• Veterinary care and product sales. $35.9 billion
• Supplies and over-the-counter medicine. $35.9 billion
• Other Services. $11.4 billion

Expenditures are expected to reach $146 billion in 2023. People care for their pets because they are part of the family.

Pets Are Family

A recent survey found that?97% of US pet owners?say their pets are part of their family. Just over 50% say they are as much a part of the family as a human. Pet parents expect the same quality of products and services for their pets as for humans. For many, the US does not give enough emphasis to the health and well-being of pets.

For businesses that supply products or services to the pet market, they should keep those statistics in mind. Pets can provide companionship and reduce feelings of isolation. They provide memorable moments and viral videos. Their owners have the same expectations for the delivery of pet-related items as for any family member.

Those expectations include 24-hour delivery times and undamaged goods. It means the same level of packaging and accurate order fulfillment. Collaborating with experienced third-party logistics (3PL) partners, who possess expertise in delivering items for pets and people, ensures packages arrive on time and in good condition, and significantly contributes to achieving streamlined logistics and optimizing supply chain management.

Pet Food and Treats

Pet humanization continues to drive pet parents to look for healthy food sources. Pet owners seek healthy food choices to enhance the lives of their four-legged companions. While some manufacturers promote meat-based products for improved quality of life, others are developing alternative plant-based foods that deliver balanced nutrition.

Sustainable packaging?has also emerged as a growing trend in the pet food industry. Consumers are paying more attention to the environmental impact of packaging and food processing.? Balancing packaging with environmental concerns can present challenges, as poor packaging can lower food quality as it moves through the supply chain.

With more foods resembling human proteins, products may require cold-chain logistics that keep food and treats at a constant temperature. For optimum freshness, some pet owners rely on local providers to reduce delivery times.

Delivering Pet Food

With more pet food resembling people food, logistics becomes a crucial part of customer satisfaction. If food is improperly handled, its quality declines and may lead to contamination. Business owners do not want a nationwide recall of their pet food or treats.

Finding the right logistics company is essential for the responsible handling of pet edibles. Producers want third-party logistics (3PL) providers with cold chain capabilities. From temperature-controlled storage facilities to climate-controlled transport, companies want an experienced food-handling 3PL business. Knowledgeable 3PLs offer a lot control to prevent products from sitting beyond their “use-by” date.

Logistics companies with distributed networks can reach most US locations within 24 hours. With efficient transport networks, pet food and treats can arrive at their destination quickly. 3PLs with multi-channel fulfillment capabilities also ensure that online purchases are not delayed.

Beyond Pet Food and Treats

Pet parents spend almost $36 billion on pet supplies each year. Their pets need homes, whether fish tanks, bird cages, or kennels. Some pets receive custom beds. There are grooming supplies, harnesses, leashes, and cat towers. Don’t forget the statuary for under-the-water homes. No matter what the item, pet owners what their purchases to arrive promptly and in pristine condition.

Delivering Pet Supplies

People spend billions on nutritionally functional foods or nutraceuticals for themselves and their pets. Shipping human nutraceuticals means complying with the Food and Drug Administration guidelines. Inventory traceability is essential to preventing out-of-date supplements from being shipped. Proper labeling is also required. These same capabilities should apply to pet nutraceuticals.

3PLs qualified to handle nutraceuticals have temperature-controlled storage for environmentally sensitive items. They offer packaging services that comply with FDA labeling and use a streamlined process for e-commerce fulfillment. Robust distribution networks allow for rapid product delivery. These capabilities should be available for pet supplements, especially if the product emulates a human equivalent.

Pet owners enjoy buying toys for their pets. They are eager to see how their pets respond. If the items do not arrive on time or are damaged, consumers are dissatisfied. For pet supply brands, ensuring timely and undamaged deliveries is paramount. Streamlined logistics play a pivotal role in meeting these expectations. Pet suppliers need a 3PL partner with the expertise to deliver items safely and on time.

Innovation in Pet Product Logistics

Technology is the cornerstone of optimizing the supply chain for pet products. Warehouse and inventory management software allow 3PLs to offer lot control and ensure environmentally controlled storage. The Internet of Things (IoT) enables logistic companies to monitor shipments in real time and to locate items in a large warehouse quickly.

Artificial intelligence (AI) provides insights to improve operations and fine-tune processes for greater efficiencies. Blockchain technology can be used for transaction transparency. System integrations allow data to be shared for faster delivery.

Technology helps 3PLs meet the unique needs of pet products. It allows customized logistics services cost-effectively. It also helps track the environmental impact of delivery networks to address the growing sustainability concerns.

Delivering Innovation with Streamlined Logistics

Competing in the 21st century requires technology. As a business owner in the pet market, you know the competitive landscape that requires innovative products delivered quickly that improve a pet’s quality of life. Part of that process includes logistics. No matter how good the product is, if it doesn’t arrive on time and in excellent condition, the pet owner is unlikely to return.

As we navigate the booming pet market, it becomes evident that embracing streamlined logistics is the cornerstone of sustained growth for pet supply brands.

Pet suppliers need 3PL providers that leverage their technology to maximize storage space, ensure regulatory compliance, and monitor performance for continuous improvements. Symbia Logistics has been doing just that for decades. Our expert team can help businesses find the right Symbia solution to ensure they capitalize on the expanding pet market.?Contact us?to discover how to grow your pet business.