Pet Care Innovation Preparing for Takeoff: Expectations and Lessons for Global Pet Expo 2025

Global Pet Expo, one of North America’s biggest pet industry tradeshows, is right around the corner. Held March 26 to 28 in Orlando, Fla., the annual event brings together thousands of industry professionals on a sprawling show floor packed with exhibitors, buyers, influencers, and innovation.

Each year, the New Product Showcase boasts more than 1,000 new and emerging products spanning dog food, cat toys, small animal enclosures, retail displays, and more. In 2024, the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), which organize the annual tradeshow, reported record attendance of nearly 20,000 people representing more than 85 countries worldwide.

By these numbers, you can see why this show is a much-awaited event for the industry at large.

As the industry gears up for this year’s event, let’s first explore what to expect. Then, to put things into perspective, we’ll explore the arduous journey of bringing a new product to market in today’s competitive pet care marketplace.

Global Pet Expo 2025

Show organizers announced a new keynote series for the 2025 event, featuring Bert Jacobs, “Chief Executive Optimist” and Co-Founder of Life is Good, and Tyler Mathisen, News Anchor and Vice President of Events Strategy at CNBC. Jacobs will deliver his keynote at 9 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, March 26, and Mathisen will present his keynote at 8 a.m. Eastern on Thursday, March 27. Both will speak at the Global Pet Expo General Session Main Stage, on the third floor of the South Concourse at the Orange County Convention Center. 

Building on new features introduced in 2024, this year’s Global Pet Expo will mark the return of “immersive entrances” to the show floor, interactive “Innovation in Motion” experiences, and new specialty sections along the show floor.

Education is a mainstay at Global Pet Expo, and this year’s show will be no different. This year’s show will offer more than 50 educational sessions tailored to retailers, buyers, influencers, manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and other stakeholders across the industry, and is presented free for all registered attendees.

But be warned! On Wednesday, March 26, the exhibit hall won’t open until 10 a.m. Eastern, about an hour later than in years past. Exhibit hall hours are:

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, March 26
• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, March 27
• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern on Friday, March 28

Now that we know a little more about what to expect at this year’s show, let’s talk innovation.

New Product Innovation: It’s More Complex Than You Might Think

A walk around the show floor will reveal hundreds—if not thousands—of new products waiting to be discovered by retailers and buyers across the pet retail landscape. But what you won’t see is the hundreds—if not thousands—of hours it took to bring these new product ideas to life.

There are many hoops a brand must jump through to take a new product concept to market. Does your concept meet the needs of your customer base? Does it help you attract new customers? How will you communicate the benefits of the product, and how will it differ from others already on the market?

It’s rare (dare I say, impossible) that a new pet care product will enter the market with no competitors. Even if you’re an early mover in the category you’re launching into, conducting due diligence to understand your competitors is incredibly valuable in the early stages of new product development. Consumer research can be a great way to help identify this crucial competitive information.

Even when a concept can be proven, it then must be realized. This means sorting through dozens of raw material vendors to develop a sufficient supply chain, finding the right co-manufacturer or integrating the product into your existing manufacturing portfolio, ensuring the formulation will successfully run through the processing machinery, conducting pre-market testing, validating safety and efficacy, and getting the product approved and registered in your target markets.

Only then can you move on to marketing your product. Are you selling in the right channels and at the right price points? Will it be sold online, in independent pet stores, in grocery stores, or in larger chains? Having a well-thought-out strategy when it comes to distribution can help answer questions about how much of the product you need to produce to keep up with expected demand. Additionally, how will you act on customer feedback? And what if your marketing strategy isn’t driving the success you expected on paper? 

This is only a snapshot of the long and detailed checklist of questions brands must ask themselves when launching a new product. Sounds daunting, no? Well, that’s because it can be. But it doesn’t have to be.

The Power of a Trusted Partner

From concept to consumer, BSM Partners is the only partner you need for excellence in pet care innovation. Partnering with trusted experts can turn challenging endeavors into profitable innovations for your business and the precious pets it serves.

From product development and validation to facility design and supply chain optimization, all the way through positioning your products with the right pet parents, our full suite of services can take the guesswork out of new product innovation to ensure your concept gets the traction it deserves with consumers.

Reach out today to learn more about how partnering with our Nutrition & Innovation, FSQAR, Veterinary Services, Engineering, Consumer Strategy, and Media teams can help your new product stand out among the crowd.

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About the Author

Jordan Tyler is the Director of Media at BSM Partners. She has more than five years of experience reporting on trends, best practices and developments in the North American pet nutrition industry. Jordan resides in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband and their four furry family members.