Fresh food and Vets

Fresh food and Vets

Author: Clayton Payne and Sam Muelas June 23, 2025 Duration: 24:23
In this episode, Clayton and Sam discuss the latest financial results from Pets at Home, highlighting the success of their Vets for Pets model amidst challenges in the retail sector. They explore the impact of subscription models on pet food sales and the potential for fresh cooked food to revolutionize the market. The conversation also delves into the growing trend of vegan pet food, examining its appeal and viability in the broader pet food industry.
takeaways
  • Pets at Home reported a 13% rise in practice revenues.
  • Vets for Pets is a strong model compared to retail.
  • Retail profits for Pets at Home fell by 16.6%.
  • Subscription models are taking a significant share of the market.
  • 17% of the UK pet food market is now subscription-based.
  • Fresh cooked food could be a game changer for retailers.
  • Vegan pet food is growing but remains a niche market.
  • The appeal of vegan pet food is limited to a specific consumer base.
  • Customer churn in pet food is high, with frequent changes in brands.
  • The market for vegan pet food may not be sustainable long-term.

titles
  • Pets at Home's Financial Success
  • The Rise of Vets for Pets

Sound Bites
  • "Vets for Pets is a phenomenal model."
  • "Retail is very, very hard."
  • "We need to put fresh food into stores."
  • "Cooked food can save Pets at Home."
  • "Riches are made in niches."

Ever wonder what's really happening behind the scenes in the world of pets? Real Pet Industry News offers a direct line to the conversations usually reserved for industry insiders. Hosts Clayton Payne, known for his work with Pet Business Disruptors, and Sam Muelas, who creates Dog and Cat Nutrition content, combine their distinct perspectives to analyze what's new and what's next. This isn't polished corporate messaging; it's a frank discussion about the products, practices, and headlines that affect our animals and the businesses built around them. Each episode digs into substantive topics, whether that's unpacking a recent controversy in pet food formulation or examining an innovative retail strategy that's changing the game. The dialogue is grounded in real-world experience, making it valuable for professionals running a pet service, entrepreneurs looking for an edge, or dedicated pet parents who want to make more informed choices. Tune in for a podcast that prioritizes substance over hype, giving you a clearer understanding of the complex and often surprising ecosystem where our love for animals meets commerce. You'll find their candid approach both refreshing and essential for navigating the ever-evolving landscape of pet care and business.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 46

Real Pet Industry News
Podcast Episodes
The Creator Economy of Pet food [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:22
In this episode, Clayton and Sam discuss the current landscape of the pet industry, highlighting the winners and losers, including veterinary practices, direct-to-consumer companies, and the rise of gently cooked pet foo…
D2C Market Spamming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:19
n this conversation, Clayton Payne and Sam discuss the marketing strategies and business models of Butternut Box, a prominent player in the pet food industry. They analyze the effectiveness of its marketing, the implicat…
The Dumbest Marketing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:24
In this episode, Clayton and Sam discuss the shortcomings of marketing strategies in the pet food industry, particularly focusing on a recent ad campaign by Pure Pet Food that they find tone-deaf. They explore the import…
Navigating Competition in the Pet Food Market [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:58
summaryIn this conversation, Clayton Payne and Sam discuss the evolving landscape of the pet food industry, focusing on the impact of regenerative farming practices, the scale of major companies, and the challenges faced…
The Premiumisation of Cat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:18
summaryIn this conversation, Clayton Payne and Sam discuss the evolving landscape of the pet industry, focusing on profitability, innovation in cat products, the challenges of raw feeding, consumer behavior in pet nutrit…
The Future of Legacy brands and Superzoo insights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:33
summaryIn this episode of Real Pet Industry News, Clayton Payne and Sam discuss JM Schmucker's recent financial performance, highlighting a significant decline in net pet food sales and the challenges faced by legacy bra…
Pet Industry trends that need to die [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:16
summaryIn this episode, Clayton and Sam discuss the evolving landscape of pet brand advertising, emphasizing the shift from traditional media to digital platforms. They explore the effectiveness of in-person events, the…
Pets at Home.... change of leadership!!!!!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:17
summaryIn this conversation, Clayton Payne and Sam discuss the recent leadership changes at Pets at Home, the challenges facing the retail pet industry, and the need for innovation and better product offerings. They expl…
The Premium Kibble Conundrum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:04
summaryIn this episode, Clayton and Sam discuss various trends in the pet food industry, focusing on the viability of vegan pet food, the challenges of direct-to-consumer (DTC) models, the expectations of premium pet foo…
The Downfall of Nature's Menu?????? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:11
summaryIn this episode, Clayton and Sam discuss the challenges facing the pet food industry, focusing on Nature's Menu's decline due to private equity influence, Bella and Duke's efforts to penetrate the veterinary marke…