Press Releases

May 2012

High-quality and functional food

Food plays a particularly important role in the well-being and long life of pets. The recipes for pet food are tailored to the individual needs of the animals, such as small breeds or puppies. Premium food, for example, comes with ingredients such as wild salmon, fresh garden herbs, fine fish and high-quality meat. Regional sources of raw materials are increasingly used for the manufacture of high-quality food products for sustainability reasons.

There is also a trend to food supplements as functional food, which takes into account certain problems like food intolerances, musculoskeletal problems, fur properties, etc. The new products also include healthy snacks as rewards and as treats for between times. These include corn-free dog biscuits from the bakery as well as biodynamic ice cream for dogs.

Natural food

There is also a trend in dog and cat food towards individual feeding with raw meat and vegetable components, the so-called Barf or raw feeding diet. According to veterinarians, raw feeding is suitable if pet owners make sure the meat is not off and the rations contain all the necessary nutrients. In order to give domesticated pets a balanced diet on the one hand and meet the pet owner’s desire to provide “natural food” on the other, pet food manufacturers offer supplementary food, which together with uncooked fresh or frozen meat becomes a balanced ration. Others present Barf systems with feeding recommendations or freeze-dried food that becomes fresh food on adding a shot of water.

Pet supplies: ecological and trendy

This year’s new accessories include many products made of recycled materials: Manufacturers present dog beds and toys made of a fibre created from 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles, or enclosures of recycled by-products of wood. There are dog beds made of recycled raw materials from horticulture. Others manufacture dog pullovers of recycled cotton fibres. There are also many accessories that can be recycled themselves, for example, articles of natural rubber and wood.

But not only the products are “green”. Companies also increasingly often use recycled products in the production process – from banana crates as storage boxes to writing paper.

Grooming and movement

To make sure pets are groomed from head to paw and remain fit until old age, movement incentives are particularly important. Many of the toys presented at Interzoo promote dogs’ and cats’ natural instinct for hunting or lying in wait. Innovative climbing and scratching furniture is offered in the cat segment. Birds love swings and climbing frames, and small mammals appreciate products that enable them to burrow, crawl and climb. Products with natural contents are the trend in the grooming segment: Paw creams clean and care with active cell-regenerating substances, and there are fur care shampoos and conditioners based on natural extracts and designed for different kinds of fur.

Designs from retro to urban

The trend for accessories is towards high-grade materials and modern forms, partly developed by well-known designers like Luigi Colani or Harald Glööckler. Also to be seen at Interzoo are nostalgic-looking articles, such as toys in light pastel colours and dog bowls in 1950s style. There are also articles like pet furniture, clothing, cushions and vintage-look lounge beds for dogs.

Innovative technology

Modern high-tech systems are increasingly used in aquaria and terraria. The new aquariums with LED lights offer more light with less power consumption, better light distribution and improved filtration. Newly designed automatic feeders protect the food against moisture and keep it fresh and crispy. There are new flow pumps for natural and energy-saving water movement for salt water aquaria and innovative energy-saving filter pumps in the garden pond sector.

The promoter of Interzoo is Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH (WZF), which has appointed NürnbergMesse GmbH to organize the exhibition. The German Pet Trade & Industry Association (ZZF) is the honorary sponsor of the exhibition.

More information: www.interzoo.com

Charts showing the origin of Interzoo exhibitors and visitors and the product segments are obtainable in print quality under Press Centre / Media Center / Download Service:
www.interzoo.com/media-center

Interzoo Communication Manager:
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft
Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH (WZF)
Antje Schreiber
Tel +49 (0) 6 11. 447 553-14
Fax +49 (0) 6 11. 447 553-33
send enquiry

Accreditation, press centre:
Press Office NürnbergMesse GmbH
Ariana Brandl
Tel +49 (0) 9 11. 86 06-82 85
Fax +49 (0) 9 11. 86 06-12 82 85
send enquiry