Global Pet Expo Takeaways: Litter

r From Pg. 39 duced three new products that align with this mission—two new litters, and one new assortment of cleanprotein food products,” Brost continued. fiscal year goals and beyond. Just need to get to the finish line.”

While further diving into everything that is considered postshow, the company was able to reflect on its takeaways from the expo as a whole. “My primary takeaways focused on product rollouts and industry innovations. Our team collected feedback on packaging and channel specific rollout considerations, and are currently evaluating that feedback and actively making some adjustments,” he continued.

“We introduced a revolutionary concept by way of Litter Pearls Probiotics that was very well received!” Murbach said. “This product eliminates odors with any litter substrate! Our social

“We always enjoy showing off our fantastic booth and products to retailers. We work very hard each year to make sure everything is top notch and shows off our products to the fullest extent. Our main goal for this year’s show is to reconnect with as many retailers as possible and educate anyone who is not familiar with our products.” said. “Global Pet Expo has provided us with exposure to retailers and potential partners. It’s great to see the pet industry come together all in one place. The connections we’ve been able to make in years past have been pivotal to our success and growth. We find value in being able to cultivate relationships and enjoy being exposed to other companies and individuals we can learn from.”

— Leslie Ellis, Healthy Pet

media accounts on both Instagram and TikTok share insightful and sometimes whimsical video, pictures and images keeping anyone interested in the feline world engaged.”

“In the litter category there are a lot of new product rollouts and innovations using silica. Silica is great because it is gentle on paws and tough on odors. This past year we launched a line of products that are formulated to help address specific issues such as stress, litter box aversion and senior cats. I also noted an increase in litters using non-traditional plant-based materials. We have investigated such products in the past, but determined they were not acceptable solutions for cats and owners. The primary performance downfalls we noted when compared to our lineup of litters are decreased odor control, and an increase in bacteria growth that can lead to infections in cats. Overall, there was a large focus on treats and innovative foods. Freeze dried treats and foods and nutritional supplements caught my attention. These appeared to be a popular choice for pet owners and a way for brands to provide high-quality nutrition in a smaller footprint,” Brost concluded.

Looking at the show overall, similar to many companies, Ultra Pet Company felt the show was a huge hit. “As expected, preliminary results suggest that Global Pet Expo was fantastic for us!” said Richard Murbach with Ultra Pet Company. “We have had initial introductions to both clients and partners that may indeed help us to achieve 2023

“Brand Strategy, Clear Communication, Proven Success were equally insightful and important in all of our vendor partner discussions,” he continued. “We’ll continue to deploy high professional morals and let our track record speak for itself while also embracing best practices learned along the way.”

“Same song, different band. What I mean by that, is outside of just a handful of really unique pioneering advancements (Litter Pearls Probiotics) in formulation or substrate, we saw a few refreshed packaging concepts and a handful of unique alternative substrates, but we didn’t really encounter anything completely unexpected,” Murbach said.

Global exhibitors spent months preparing for the expo, and the hard work has continued to pay off for many. Diving into the prep work, litter leaders like Eco-Shell previously told Pet Insight what they expect from the show this year.

“When retailers come by the Naturally Fresh booth, we want them to immediately see what sets us apart from the rest – our litter organically and effectively neutralizes odors better than clay and other alternative litters,” said Director of Marketing and Sales Helen Cantrell at Eco-Shell.

“This year, we’re diligently working on product innovation, as well as enhancements to our packaging,” Cantrell

If attendees were not able to visit Intersand’s booth at Global, the company would like them to know, “We launched OdorLock maxCare - the perfect solution for caring cat parents who wish to monitor their cat’s health and wellbeing closely,” said Isabelle Larin, Marketing Director with Intersand. “This ultra-premium clay litter contains granules that will turn blue when they come into contact with blood and/or glucose in the cat’s urine, which are excellent early indicators of urinary tract diseases and/ or diabetes. OdorLock maxCare makes monitoring cat health easy and offers pet parents peace of mind. This technology has been tested by Blücare Laboratories specialists, combined with years of experience from actual users all over the world. Intersand’s new OdorLock maxCare is made from the highest quality bentonite and uses innovative technology that guarantees 40 days without odor.”

“To get traction in the market you need to differentiate your product and have an edge that will catch attention of the consumers by responding to a new need that was existing, but not recognized,” Larin stated while speaking about how the company will be moving forward. “To do so, you need to be close to pet parent insights and market developments. At Intersand, we innovate to find the specific and distinguishing key elements that will contribute to the overall well-being, and a safe environment, for both the pet and pet parent. Our products respond to the needs of pet parents seeking the very best for their cats. We will continue to innovate and provide smart care for happy, healthy pets.”

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