A Year of Innovation in Pet Food 2026
Brands are expanding high-protein claims and novel ingredients while meeting demand for functionality, sustainability and shared seasonal experiences.
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INTRODUCTION
- What we’ve seen
- Our pick of the most innovative launches in this review
- Other innovative launches
- The Future of Pet Food: 2026
- Global spotlight: Middle East and Africa leads in vitamin- and mineral-fortified pet foods
- Graph 1: pet food launches with vitamin/mineral-fortified claims, by region, 2025-26
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EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA (EMEA)
- Europe: brands drive high-protein innovation
- Pet owners show curiosity amid caution towards novel proteins
- High-protein claims continue to grow in pet food launches
- High-protein launches adopt alternative protein sources
- Europe: seasonal innovation expands in pet food
- Consumers include their pets in seasonal celebrations
- Pet food brands step up seasonal innovation
- Graph 2: pet food launches with a seasonal claim, 2021-26
- Celebrate the seasons with your pets
- The Middle East & Africa (MEA)
- Taurine as a hero ingredient in cat foods
- When humanisation meets dog treats
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ASIA PACIFIC (APAC)
- Asia: brands blend traditional ingredients into pet foods
- Consumers embrace traditional ingredients in pet food
- TCM ingredients emerge in Asian pet food
- Graph 3: pet food launches with TCM food ingredients, 2021-26
- TCM ingredients featured in pet food launches
- Brand renovation/innovation: Fucoit launches premium fucoidan-infused dog treats
- Asia: rising digestive claims in pet treats
- Gut health drives pet food choices
- Digestive claims gain share in pet treats
- Graph 4: pet snack and treat launches with a pet digestion claim, 2021-26
- Pet treats highlight ingredients for digestion
- Australia & New Zealand
- Human-inspired formats elevate treat occasions
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THE AMERICAS
- North America: launches highlight additive- and preservative-free claims
- Consumers shift towards minimally processed pet food
- Additive- and preservative-free claims increase in recent launches
- Graph 5: pet food launches, by select free-from claims, 2021-26
- Innovative processing drives cleaner pet food solutions
- North America: brands showcase eco-friendly practices
- Pet owners set sustainability as the new standard
- Sustainable habitat and resource claims on the rise
- Graph 6: pet food launches with sustainable habitat/resource claim, 2021-26
- Brands engage in sustainable practices
- Latin America: brands prioritise digestive function
- Brands shift functional focus in pet food
- Graph 7: pet food launches, by select functional pet claims, 2021-26
- Digestive benefits drive product innovation
Explore the latest innovation in pet food with Mintel’s global innovation report. The report identifies the major launch activities, pivotal consumer attitudes and most important product development of the year across regions EMEA, APAC, and the Americas.
Key innovation trends in the pet food category are analysed and succinctly presented alongside Mintel’s consumer data and insights. So you can understand changing consumer demands and identify future growth opportunities.
This report also presents Mintel’s analysts’ pick of the most innovative launches in the global pet food market. Understanding innovation in pet food has never been so easy.
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