Why Pet Food Packaging Audits Can Save Your Brand?

The Global Pet Expo is the world’s largest and, arguably, most important event for the pet industry.

Just as consumers are making more informed decisions about their own health and are paying closer attention to the composition of products they buy, pet owners are committed to serving their furry friends the highest quality, most healthful ingredients on the market today. It’s up to today’s manufacturers of pet food and related products to remain committed to informing and educating consumers that the products they purchase are safe, wholesome, and beneficial to their families. There’s no easier way to communicate this information than through your product packaging.

Before vendors enter the venue to display their offerings to Global Pet Expo attendees on March 16, conducting inspections and audits on both the product and its packaging can help businesses make adjustments to ensure their goods are of the highest quality and safe to consume. The National Animal Supplement Council is one organization that routinely conducts audits on its members in an effort to protect the health of companion animals throughout the U.S. Its Quality Seal Program allows consumers to easily identify products that come from reputable pet companies and is an indicator that the business, its facility, and its products have been audited to enact specific quality standards.

By placing the Seal on their flexible pet food packaging, companies reduce and control risk, keep track of all product information, and assist in educating consumers with correct labeling information. Pet owners pay special attention to allergies and sensitivities their animals may be subject to, and proper packaging and labels help inform these consumers about any ingredients that may be harmful to their pets. Likewise, proper inspections also enlighten buyers about nutritious and healthy components that are contained within certain products. Choosing the pet food packaging that best protects the vitamin content and structural makeup of pet treats is extremely important.

Conducting audits on the way the product is produced and packaged boosts brands to the next level, inspiring trust and loyalty among consumers who value transparency.

Vendors attending trade shows like the Global Pet Expo often introduce new and innovative items that have not yet gone to market. After careful review of the product, brands now need to shift their attention to the way it is packaged to ensure the container meets specific regulations and is compliant with the standards set forth be certain agencies like the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA, too, conducts audits, carefully inspecting regulated facilities to ensure companies are compliant with rules put in place by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. Reviewing a pet food company’s – and their packaging supplier’s – operations help protect public health and allow consumers to make more informed marketplace choices.

Once the product and its manufacturing facility have been carefully audited, brands need to ensure their flexible pet food packaging also meets specific qualifications, certifications, and regulations. Digital printed prototypes allow pet food companies to test out the way their product will perform inside its container and whether or not the packaging will compromise the product in any way. Proper flexible pet food packaging should be made from food-grade material and expertly sealed to prevent any spills or leaks while holding up to handling and transportation to keep the product safeguarded from harmful outside contaminants like odor, bacteria, moisture, air, or UV rays.

Packaging prototypes from a NASC-audited supplier are the perfect way to display your new or in-development goods to informed buyers at events like trade shows because they clearly communicate your brand’s commitment to keeping pets safe and healthy.

Digital printed prototypes are the perfect solution for small “sample” runs of products like cat treats and dog food because they feature the same scientifically developed layers of laminate film that keep items protected, and they use water-based inks that will boast your brand’s educational product information and labels without contaminating or altering the flavor, color, or aroma of the goods inside the pouch.

Careful inspection of pet products and their packaging helps manage supply chain and compliance, and getting new products into packaging prototypes allows them to be shown off and reviewed by important stakeholders without hefty costs or wasted product that may not meet all important standards. Whether you’re attending a trade show or introducing a new addition to your product line, formal inspection of your product, its manufacturing facilities, and its packaging are necessary steps toward building a transparent, healthy, and trusted pet brand.

(Image Sources: Global Pet Expo, EntirelyPets)