Increased demand and falling meat production for human consumption are currently leading to bottlenecks on the shelves for dog food and the like, as reported by the “Lebensmittel Zeitung”. At the retailer Fressnapf, which specializes in pet food, the shelves are sometimes completely empty.
Although sales of pet food in specialty stores and retailers rose by 7.5 percent in 2021, the big brand manufacturers in particular were unable to benefit from this. The market trend is clearly towards higher-quality food for four-legged friends. According to the manufacturer Rinnen, for example, it was able to increase its sales by more than 20 percent with its “Rinti” products.
Since this surge in demand was not expected, bottlenecks are currently also occurring with gutter animal feed. “In the current situation, it is not possible to build up new production capacities to the required extent in the short term,” a Finnern spokesman told the LZ.
Dog food: Meat and aluminum shortages are also driving up prices Dog food and Co.: The shelves of many retailers are currently empty.
The competitor Nestlé Purina had also had capacity problems in many places last year, whereupon it was announced that production would be expanded.
In addition to the meat, the material for the cans is apparently also scarce in many cases. China has curbed magnesium production, causing aluminum shortages. The prices for the material rose by around 60 percent as a result.
The developments also mean that the prices for channels, but probably also for many other manufacturers, have already been raised. “Further adjustments” are likely to be made in the further course of this year.