Royal Canin Fresh food!?!

Royal Canin Fresh food!?!

Author: Clayton Payne and Sam Muelas July 29, 2025 Duration: 30:19
In this conversation, Clayton and Sam discuss the evolving landscape of the pet food industry, particularly focusing on the rise of cooked pet food, the challenges faced by subscription services, and the significant opportunities within the cat market. They explore the implications of premium pricing, the disconnect in product offerings for cats, and the future of pet food brands as consumer preferences shift. The discussion highlights the need for better quality and more tailored products for cats, as well as the changing dynamics of pet ownership and spending habits.
takeaways
  • Royal Canin's new cooked food reflects industry shifts.
  • Subscription services may struggle as retail options grow.
  • Consumers prefer buying pet food as needed, not via subscriptions.
  • The cost of premium pet food is a barrier for many owners.
  • Hybrid feeding is becoming more common among pet owners.
  • Competition will drive down prices in the pet food market.
  • Brand equity in pet food is diminishing.
  • Cat owners are increasingly seeking premium products.
  • The pet industry has historically focused on dogs over cats.
  • There is a growing demand for cat-specific products.

titles
  • The Future of Pet Food: Cooked vs. Raw
  • Subscription Services in the Pet Industry: A Dying Trend?

Sound Bites
  • "Cooked foods are terribly expensive."
  • "Pure is the one I really don't like."
  • "Cats are very underserved at the moment."

Chapters00:00The Rise of Cooked Pet Food
04:42The Subscription Model's Decline
09:09Niche Markets in Pet Food
13:04Brand Equity in Pet Food
18:14The Cat Market's Untapped Potential
22:42The Future of Cat Products


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…