Top trends at Interzoo

As journalists from the PET worldwide editorial team, we had the great privilege of being able to explore all the exhibition halls – despite a packed schedule – and even catch a glimpse or two behind the scenes at the stands. Of course, buzzwords such as longevity, dietary supplements, lifestyle, closeness to nature and pet parents were on everyone’s lips and came up in almost every conversation – and quite rightly so. The exhibitors at Interzoo easily proved that these were not just empty words, but rather the verbal red carpet rolled out for trending topics.

The 59 young companies and startups alone – 27 from Germany and 32 from around the world – at two shared booths transformed their section of Interzoo into a veritable hub of ideas where visitors could easily lose themselves.

Driven by vitality and entrepreneurial spirit, the International Start-up Area and Young Innovators were the places to be for discovering innovations and exploring fresh ideas. From sustainable dog waste bags and high-quality cork accessories to dietary supplements, skincare products, and indestructible activity toys – there was a suitable answer here for every question about life with pets.

There was always something happening on the nearby Fresh Ideas Stage as well: 37 startups and established companies presented solutions and products for the future of pet care – the whole event proved to be a real crowd-pleaser. The Fresh Ideas Contest honored the most outstanding ideas: First place went to Mousebouncer, a German company that developed an AI-controlled cat flap with facial recognition. Second place went to Kuro & Kai, a Spanish startup offering sustainable cat litter made from olive pits. Lumiies, the newcomer from Frankfurt (Germany) specializing in high-quality dog accessories, took third place. The two founding sisters had already won the pet Best Newcomer Award last year and continued their success at Interzoo.

The Interzoo Pioneer Award was also presented for the first time: The prize went to Redoggo, a company that has been on the market for less than two years. The Cologne-based company focuses on dog toys made from upcycled materials from the automotive industry, such as airbags and seat belts.

For many people, pets hold significant emotional value as members of the family. In Germany, 43 percent of all households have pets, and 57 percent of pet owners even refer to themselves as ’pet parents’. How is the international pet industry responding to this trend? Quite clearly with an increasingly diverse range of health-promoting and sustainable products, reports ZZF President Norbert Holthenrich.

Based on this, the organizers of Interzoo have identified five top trends:

• Products that improve pets’ well-being, prevent diseases, and can increase life expectancy are in high demand.
• Alternative protein sources? Absolutely. Pet food made with ingredients from new animal and plant-based raw materials, as well as vegan or vegetarian food options, also made headlines – as did food and snack lines that use only a single protein source.
• Sustainability emerged as a central theme affecting the entire value chain – and is often already firmly anchored in corporate strategy.
• Pets as social companions are also reflected in products: from jogging leashes, life jackets, and bike trailers to travel crates – functional and stylish accessories are the way to go.
• Stylish, well-designed products and accessories whose look and feel match the diverse design preferences and home decor of pet owners are all the rage.
• Support from smart products that simplify and optimize the care and maintenance of pets opens new doors for pet ­owners.

Even though society is increasingly moving toward digital platforms and virtual interactions, another trend was clearly evident at this trade show: the cultivation of personal relationships – lively, energetic, and profound. In addition to discussions about new products, topics such as corporate mergers and the never-ending personnel merry-go-round were highly relevant. Exchanges with trusted, long-time colleagues; meaningful conversations with strong partners – who may even be scattered across the globe and whom one only sees during trade shows – as well as with exciting new contacts. Valuable, inspiring, and a solid foundation for the future.

Sarah Daubert