Connect Sponsors
Grow.
Innovate.
Connect.
Join us at Connect… Canada’s Pet Trade Expo. Celebrating and promoting the growth of the Canadian pet industry with manufacturers, specialty pets live, distributors and more. A business to business show like no other.
Coming May 15-16, 2024
Niagara Falls Convention Centre
Show Hours
Wednesday, May 15: 9am-5pm
Thursday, May 16: 9am-5pm
Parking Available Onsite
Let's Connect.
As a Canadian hosted event, Connect Canada's Pet Trade Expo is proud to showcase the thriving pet industry in Canada, which is known for its love of animals and commitment to their welfare. Canada boasts a vibrant community of pet retailers, manufacturers, distributors, specialty pet breeders and service providers, all of whom contribute to the growth and innovation of the industry. Join us! Let's Connect!
Register Now
Connect:
A pet trade event celebrating the Canadian pet industry hosted and created with a team that is 100% built with individuals and vendors from the Canadian Pet Industry.
Thank you to
our Exhibitors
How the Pet Industry is Dealing with Inflation
How the Pet Industry is Dealing with Inflation
Apr 19
Written By Todd Dittman, Executive Director
Pet product inflation continues to be a challenge for the independent pet retailers. Pet owners value the knowledge, experience, and variety of products that they find shopping in independent pet stores, but they also prioritize value when buying for their pets. According to IndiePet research partner, Cleveland Research who is spotlighted in this month’s member newsletter, Value ranks 3rd in a scale of importance to pet owners, only behind Quality and Health & Nutrition (IndiePet April newsletter).
Pet inflation has put more pressure on retailers to offer product promotions to answer the value demands of their customers. According to another IndiePet insights partner, SPINS,
in the past 52 weeks, promotions accounted for 12.7% of total pet sales in the SPINS Pet Channel. While the average retail price (ARP) in the channel increased by 5%, promotional ARP decreased by 14% compared to last year, resulting in greater savings for consumers. Additionally, among the top 10 brands in the SPINS Pet Channel based on raw unit growth, there was an average increase of 3.5 promotional events compared to the previous year. Similarly, the top 10 brands in terms of dollars also increased their number of promotional events by approximately 3 events. The average number of events for all brands in the channel is 0.1, indicating that promotions are proving to be beneficial and effective for revenue growth for brands and retailers in the channel, who participate.
IndiePet, whose mission is to support and strengthen the independent retail pet channel, is helping its member retailers obtain promotions from member pet food manufacturers through its directory listings and notifications through its monthly newsletter. In this critical time of keeping loyal customers coming back to independent stores, retailers can utilize their industry associations to efficiently manage their value offerings.
To access great member-only benefits including data trends and insights for the independent & neighborhood pet channel, we invite you to join IndiePet.
Todd Dittman, Executive Director
Todd Dittman’s career leading retail businesses and trade associations that provide inspiration and resources to enhance the customer experience has been long and successful. He led the marketing team for brands like Borden, Wendy's International, and Arby's Restaurant Group before joining IndiePet in their mission to empower the independent pet retailer community of North America.
Louis McCann
Past President & CEO, PIJAC Canada
“I have known Grant Crossman for over twenty-five years. Through these
years, I have witnessed his strong resolve towards fostering a more responsiblepet parent experience, fed by a unified and responsible pet industry. AddingRodger Salm to the CPE team further supports the determination to achieve these two objectives.As they embark on the creation of another event, aimed at unifying the petindustry, I wish them the best of success and look forward to their new“pet”project also known as the Connect Pet Trade Expo.I wish them all the best and much success in their new endeavor”. The Canadian
Pet Industry needs this makeover. I believe this new event will do just that.”
Meera Brown
Owner, Smoochy Poochy
"The Pet Industry has grown so much over the years but in some ways has
stalled. The Connect Pet Trade event is an exciting addition to the industry
for everyone involved or looking to be involved in the Canadian Pet Industry.
Bringing all the pet segments under one roof will help to complete efforts
in bringing back an energy of supporting the community as vendor and supporting
the industries continued growth.
It is exciting to see the new opportunities ahead for the pet industry"
Gord Walker
President, Walker & Associates
“ I have known Grant and Yvonne Crossman a long time attending the Canadian
Pet Expo Shows as an exhibitor for many years . Rodger Salm is no stranger to
the pet industry having headed up Pet Retail Marketing for many years .
This dynamic group with their combined skill set will result in making their
newest venture successful . They listen , adapt and execute which is a winning
formula. All the Best in the future I am excited for this ! “
Stacey Desnoyers
Astro Loyalty
" We are very excited to be able to partner wtih Connect! I believe
they are going to be a breath of fresh air for the Pet Professionals in Canada.
We need to bring more support, more networking, more collaboration to the
Industry and Connect will help "connect" all of those dots.
I saw first hand what they are capable of creating for the Consumer side of
this business, nothing short of amazing! I look forward to seeing the benefits
for the Business side of it.
Counting down the days to Niagara Falls in May! Hope to see you there!
