The Pet Food Science Podcast Show Lindsay Beaton: Innovation in Pet Food | Ep. 128
Nov 20, 2025
Lindsay Beaton, editor of Petfood Industry magazine and host of Trending: Pet Food, dives into the dynamic world of pet food innovation. She defines innovation as enhancing consumer value amid historic market changes, like the rise of kibble and pets-as-family. Lindsay discusses critical trends such as sustainability, technology, and functionality, emphasizing the importance of translating scientific advancements into trustworthy messaging. Personal anecdotes about her pets reveal her passion for the industry, making this conversation both insightful and relatable.
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Innovation Is A Process
- Innovation is a process of creating new value, not just inventing completely new products.
- Pet food innovation often improves or expands existing products to meet consumer-driven demands.
Pets Became Family
- The shift to treating pets as family transformed the industry beyond simple kibble.
- That change spawned freeze-dried, raw, premium, specialty and humanized packaging trends.
Three Trends Shaping Innovation
- Three umbrella trends currently drive pet food innovation: sustainability, functionality, and technology.
- Each trend varies by stakeholder and creates both opportunities and complex challenges for the industry.