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Pet owners aren’t just feeding their pets. They’re feeding their family. At least that’s the mindset driving serious growth in the premium pet food market. 

Reports predict that between 2024 and 2033, the U.S. pet food market will grow from $44.66 billion to more than $64 billion. What’s driving this boom? Demand for pet products made for specialty diets (think allergies, weight management, and age-specific formulas) and that use natural and human-grade ingredients.

A larger share of consumers is great news for premium pet food brands. But here’s the catch: more opportunity means more competition. As premium pet products take off, so will the number of brands fighting for those discerning pet parents’ attention.

As the main billboard for your product, packaging can set your pet food brand apart. And not just visually. Packaging lets you highlight product features, protect what’s inside from oxygen and moisture, share your brand story, and make life easier for pet parents.

To help your packaging work harder — and smarter — here are six custom features worth exploring:

1. Resealable Closures

Keep products fresher longer and deliver an exceptional experience.

Resealable closures are a must, especially for high-end products like fresh, freeze-dried or frozen pet food. These closures do more than keep air and moisture out. They show pet parents that you’re thinking about how your product fits into their daily routine. Because of this thoughtful feature, your customers can portion out their pet’s meals, reseal their package, keep their product fresh, and minimize waste. It’s a small upgrade that creates a premium experience.

2. Specialty Finishes

Showcase your brand with texture, shine, and contrast.

Specialty finishes like matte, gloss, dual-finish, soft-touch, and metallic accents help signal quality before your customer even opens the package. For premium pet products, your packaging needs to shout “quality” as loudly as the ingredients do inside.

  • A soft-touch finish creates a sensory moment customers notice and remember. 
  • Dual matte/gloss finishes combine flat and shiny laminates on the same package to create a premium look and draw attention to key elements, like your logo or nutritional claims.
  • Metallic or foil accents catch attention on store shelves and spark just enough curiosity to get your product into your customers’ hands (or double-clicked onto their screen).

3. Laser Scoring

Help customers open packages with ease.

No one wants to struggle to open their pet food package, especially when it’s heavy, and you’re wrangling an eager pooch at the same time. Laser scoring creates a clean, reliable tear line, making it easier for customers (and Sparky) to get to your product quickly. This feature also improves usability without sacrificing durability for brands using thicker, more protective films (common in raw, freeze-dried, or treat packaging).

4. Product Windows

Let the product speak for itself.

A clear window into your packaging can go a long way in building trust. It gives shoppers a peek inside to show off textures, ingredients, or natural color variations. Windows work double duty: they let customers confirm quality before buying and add visual interest by turning your product into part of the design. Product windows are especially effective for pet treats, freeze-dried or raw products, or novelty items like minnows and dog bones.

5. Rounded Corners

A subtle detail that shows attention to detail.

Rounded corners may not be the flashiest packaging feature, but they’re impactful. They give your pouch a softer, more refined look and help it stand out from the sharp angles of the standard square-cut crowd. Sometimes, subtle features can make the biggest statement about your brand’s commitment to quality and detail.

6. Sustainable Materials

Show customers you walk the talk.

Like many other consumer segments, pet parents are also becoming more eco-minded, favoring packaging with sustainability claims. Sustainable packaging, like recyclable films and responsibly sourced materials, can help your brand catch the eyes of shoppers who want to make choices that reflect their values. If sustainability is part of your brand promise, your packaging should reflect that commitment.

Packaging That Shows (and Sells) The Quality Inside

These packaging features might seem like small details, but they can make a big difference, from that first “wow” on the shelf to the last fresh serving at home. Premium pet products deserve packaging with the same attention to quality and detail that went into the product itself.

At Belmark, we help pet food brands choose the best packaging for their product and explore the custom features that take it to the next level. Whether you want to package kibble or raw treats in stand-up, fold-over, or box-style pouches, sell pet supplements in folding cartons, or label single-serve bones with pressure sensitive labels, we’ll help you find the right solution for your product, your customers, and your budget.

Ready to explore what works — and what wows? We make it easy with fast turnarounds, no order minimums, and expert guidance that keeps our customers coming back for decades. Reach out, and we’ll be in touch in under 24 hours.

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Call 920.280.1282 or fill out this form and you’ll be in touch with a packaging expert in under 24 hours.

Call 920.280.1282 or fill out this form and you’ll be in touch with a packaging expert in under 24 hours.

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