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| Christmas Trade Show debuts myriad of pet apparel and nutrition products - Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show - Brief Article CHICAGO -- From pooch apparel to kitten nutrition, there's no shortage of product on the market to feed consumers' preoccupation with pampering their pets. Each year manufacturers flood the market with innovative new items, and at this year's Pet Industry Christmas Trade Show, a leading venue for introducing new merchandise, the scope of new product was every bit as varied and eclectic as in the past. continued below... |
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The prevailing themes at this year's 35th anniversary show, held here Oct. 12 to 14, included nutrition and petwear, particularly sweaters and scarves, many with patriotic designs. Bedding, in a myriad of animal prints, was also a hot item at the show.
Sponsored by . Backer Associates, the show is mostly attended by small pet retailers. However, many of the items still find their way to the shelves of mass channels and big-box pet chains.
Ralston Purina showcased its latest dog food brand, Beneful, which has been in stores since summer. The line is marketed to provide vitamins, minerals and protein with real beef, whole grains and vegetables. Also from Purina, Tidy Cats brand Crystal Blend cat litter blends clay litter with crystal granules technology.
Several manufacturers introduced products for dental hygiene. Hill's Pet Nutrition's Science Diet Oral Care and Jams Co.'s Eukanuba Denta-Defense are food brands for dogs and cats promising to reduce plaque and tartar buildup. Science Diet Oral Care is the latest in Hill's "special needs" line, which includes weight-control and sensitive stomach formulas. It promises to freshen a pet's breath in seven days.
The Eukanuba product has kibbles with micro-cleansing crystals that scrub away plaque while the pet eats and block tartar formation. Iams also introduced Eukanuba Healthy Extras nutritional dog biscuits with teeth-cleaning ingredients. The biscuits come in five formulas, including puppy, reduced-fat, adult maintenance, adult large breed and senior.
Hartz Mountain Corp. debuted its Nursemaid weaning formula for kittens, a powdered milk nutritional supplement for cats from birth to 35 days. Another new product is its three "Groomer's Best Infusions" shampoos: Infusions with Anti-Hairball Beads for cats, and Herbal Beads Skin & Coat and Vitamin Beads Skin & Coat, both for dogs. The shampoos will be in stores within a month.
Small vendors also exhibited innovative wares. Gimme Four Pet Products, based in Bozeman, Mont., was peddling its "Gotcha" dog leash with a magnetic collar attachment. Voicetag of Nashua, ., showed an ID tag for dogs that can record and play a 20-second message. Paperlet Co., a Japanese company claiming to have patented the first paper cat litter, was showing its Katapy brands, which sold in Japan since 1975. Touted as environmentally friendly and odor-absorbing, they are made of recycled pulp and change color when used. The company is trying to get . distribution.