Trends in freeze-dried pet food mixes

And so, like the food industry itself, the pet food sector is undergoing significant changes as a result of changes in the lifestyle of owners and their pets.

The general market trend has been, for some years now, moving towards the development of foods specially designed to treat the most common problems and conditions of pets: digestive problems, in the joints, sensitive skin and coat and obesity, for example. In this sense, freeze-dried pet food is a great ally.

But what is really freeze-dried food?

Freeze drying is a process similar to dehydrating food; It is carried out with the aim of increasing its durability and nutritional quality. This special way of drying the raw material eliminates the water thanks to the product freezing, the pressure is reduced and the water it contains is sublimated by converting it into water vapor. The great benefit is that there is almost no loss of nutrients.

The truth is that, as pet owners seek new ways to perfect their pets' diet, the integration between mixers and supplements has increased: from pork, pumpkin and turkey to blueberries and green New Zealand mussels, we find every day more variety in pet food components.

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Thus, it can be said that consumer trends continue to move towards preventive care and diversification of food.

Mixers are freeze-dried supplements that can be added to typical croquettes or patés, or they can be served alone as a healthy snack. These recipes typically do not contain grains, gluten, corn, wheat, soy, or by-products such as growth hormones, antibiotics, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

• 17% of those surveyed said they are buying dog food toppers, mixers and add-ons, while 14% do so for their cats.
• 18% of those surveyed agreed with the use of mixers and toppers at meals.

The reception of these new accessories is still small but it will be more and more positive.

What is the relationship between freeze drying and mixers?

In this way, there are two main factors that relate them:

Freeze drying is a "safe" process to increase the confidence and bond of pet owners with these more specialized products. It is a safety test that allows them to be more open to trying food options other than croquettes.

Although freeze-drying is a process that increases the price of dry feed, you can take advantage of its benefits by diversifying meals with freeze-dried options such as mixers or snacks to add a new variety of food. To achieve this, we need, from the industry, to create greater awareness about the benefits of a rotating diet and the intake of a wide range of nutrient sources.

"Pet lovers are beginning to understand that pets, like people, can enjoy a diverse diet instead of always consuming the same food." Keith Arnold, (https://www.linkedin.com/in/keitharnold1/) from Champion Petfoods.

Mixers and toppers, beyond the nutritional benefit

Pet food is always aimed at providing complete nutrition. However, with the new supplements such as mixers or toppers something remarkable happens: beyond the fact that they provide a wide variety of different proteins, they are a sign of affection for pets.

The factor by which they are booming is because, quite simply, they are a product that has managed to be the most convenient, they fulfill more than one function: they are a new experience for pets, they are a pampering on the part of their owners, and they are an improvement in the nutrition of the animals.

Plus, they are a great way to hide the smell of supplements, and this is especially good for animals that are a little… exquisite.

They are also very practical for cases in which pets need more than one supplement, since, for example, thanks to a single topper, a supplement for joints, bones, probiotics and improvement of the digestive system can be incorporated.

The wide range of uses that freeze-dried foods offer is appealing: they can be used as a food on its own, as a food supplement, or even as healthy snacks.

Companies that innovate with freeze-dried food

Some of the companies that are already encouraged to innovate and implement lyophilization in supplements and toppers are:

• Instinct (https://www.amazon.com/-/es/motivadores-Instinct-incluye-recetas-natural/dp/B00YWPHXTK?th=1) offers a variety of mixers and freeze-dried dry food of different flavors and protein qualities.
• Wellness Natural Pet Food (https://www.amazon.com/-/es/motivators-Instinct-incluye-recetas-natural/dp/B00YWPHXTK?th=1) offers its mixers under the motto "no more boring bowls" and toppers to supplement the diet with protein without cereals, based on 100% raw frozen food.
• Stella & Chewy's (https://www.amazon.com/Stella-ChewyS-Freeze-Dried-Mixers-Grain-Free/dp/B00N240SQ2) presents mixers to complement dry feed both in nutrition and in taste and palatability.

More and more people are adopting or buying pets; it is a number that is increasing worldwide. This is due, in part, to the increase in individual dwellings and the delay in paternity and maternity of the new generations.

Today, freeze-dried foods, toppers and mixers represent the greatest growth opportunity for companies both large and small in the industry.

It remains, then, to bet on continuing the development of this type of product that will bring mutual benefits: better nutritional quality and palatability for pets and an increase in sales and the pet food sector for manufacturers and distributors.

By: All Pet Food