A New York Times reporter explores the booming pet food industry, driven by rising cat ownership and premium spending. Nestlé’s Purina and Mars’ Royal Canin invest heavily in feline and canine taste research. At Royal Canin’s center in southern France, 377 animals participate in palatability studies.
Experts analyze flavor preferences, like cats’ love for tuna’s umami profile. With fewer children and more pet-centric households, companies are tailoring food to picky animal tastes. The reporter visits labs, observes gravy-mousse trials, and learns how biting angles and breed differences shape product development.
This growing market reflects deeper emotional bonds between pets and owners.
Source: New York Times Business · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing