Global Pet Expo Preview: Premium Foods

Premium food manufacturers appreciate Global Pet Expo for the resources and opportunities the show offers exhibitors. It’s the hub for launching products and gaining exposure to draw in retail partners. Global offers a touchpoint for companies to measure their success and ability to connect with retailers and pet parents. These companies agree that Global fosters a place where partnerships are forged and nurtured for years to come. For most, Global serves as a key catalyst for connection and success in the pet industry.

FirstMate Pet Foods’ presence at Global has expanded each year as the company’s appreciation for the opportunities the show provides deepens. 

“I first attended Global in 2014 to better understand the scale of the show and the opportunity it represented,” said Matt Wilson, Director of Sales and Marketing for FirstMate Pet Foods. “In 2015, we returned as an exhibitor with our first booth, and we have expanded our footprint alongside the growth of the FirstMate brand ever since. This year, we will be exhibiting with a 20 x 30 booth and eight team members onsite to support our current partners, build new relationships, review promotional opportunities, and introduce new items launching in 2026.”

“We return year after year because Global remains one of the most important opportunities to connect face-to-face with the neighborhood pet retailers and partners who help build this category,” said Amy Horton, Chief Sales Officer, Open Farm, which is returning for its 11th year of exhibiting at Global. “It’s where we pressure-test what’s next, learn directly from conversations on the show floor, share what we’re bringing to market, and strengthen relationships that ultimately help us serve more pets with high-quality nutrition.”

Nulo has attended Global since the company was first established. The timing of the show plays an integral part in Nulo’s reasoning for returning each year, so much so that Global commences and sets the tone for Nulo’s year. 

“Global is held early in the year, when retailers are making decisions on which brands and products they will invest in and support, while finalizing their own marketing and plan-o-gram commitments,” said Eric Emmenegger, Head of Retail and Product Marketing. “This is a momentum build for our business, so we treat Global as the kick-off to the retail selling season each year, and an important time for us to align strategies and priorities with our retail partners. The timing of the Olympic Games in February is a perfect segue for our substantial marketing efforts leading into Global.”

Throughout the years that Big Country Raw has attended Global, the experience has served as a touchstone for the company to gauge its progress. 

“Big Country Raw has attended Global for the past number of years, using the show as a consistent touchpoint to stay connected to the broader pet industry and evolving category trends,” said Big Country Raw CEO Geraldine Brouwer. “In 2024, we took a significant step forward by exhibiting for the first time in the Canadian Pavilion with Pets Canada, which allowed us to formally introduce our brand to US pet specialty retailers. The level of interest and engagement we received that year clearly validated the opportunity for Big Country Raw in the US market. As a result, in 2026, we are returning with a stand-alone booth as we prepare for our official US launch.”

 “Global continues to be an important show for us,” Brouwer continued, “not only because of its scale and influence, but because it consistently showcases the highest calibre of innovation across the pet category. We leave the show inspired each year, particularly by the New Product Showcase and the leadership demonstrated by both emerging and established brands. These reasons reinforce our commitment to investing in the category and returning year after year.”

 NutriSource has exhibited at Global for several years, returning each year because of the value it brings to their brand and the industry. 

“The show provides an important platform to showcase our latest innovations, connect with retail partners, and engage in meaningful conversations about where the premium pet food category is headed. It also offers a unique opportunity to see how the industry continues to evolve and to strengthen the relationships that support our long-term growth,” said Allison DeLisle, Shopper Marketing Manager for KLN Family Brands, home of NutriSource.

In the decade that Portland Pet Food has exhibited at Global, the show is a testament to how deeply rooted connections and meaningful partnerships matter to manufacturers and retailers. 

“The company continues to return year after year because of the strong relationships built with independent retailers, the opportunity to educate partners within the premium foods category, and the visibility Global provides across the broader pet industry,” said Founder Kate McCarron. “For Portland Pet Food, the show is less about product launches and more about deepening connections, expanding SKUs with retailers, sharing data and advancing category conversations.”

In 2026, FirstMate Pet Foods is expanding its range of novel proteins across its dog formulas, with a continued focus on growing both its grain-friendly and limited-ingredient offerings. 

“These segments have delivered strong, practical solutions for pet parents, and we see a meaningful opportunity to broaden choice while staying true to our nutrition philosophy,” said Wilson. “In addition, FirstMate will be introducing a new product line early in the year. We expect it to deliver the trusted quality pet parents and retailers have come to rely on, while also offering the value needed to help keep independent pet specialty competitive as mass retailers continue to apply pressure on price points.”

This year, Open Farm is excited to debut new line extensions within its top-performing RawMix and Epic Blend platforms, introduce duck as a new protein option in its core kibble portfolio, and showcase wet food innovations that give pet parents more ways to add moisture, variety, and functional benefits to the bowl, according to Horton. 

“At Global, we’re spotlighting innovation that is both premium and purposeful, products that elevate everyday nutrition while staying true to our commitment to responsible sourcing and transparency,” she elaborated. “We’re also introducing GoodGut, our newest ‘kibble+’ line designed to help pet parents proactively support digestive wellness. It brings together complete and balanced nutrition with targeted functional benefits in an easy, everyday feeding solution.”

Nulo’s performance within the last two years has positioned the company to have a promising 2026. “Nulo posted another great year in 2025 with Nielsen reporting overall revenue growth of 6.5 percent over 2024,” said Emmenegger. “Heading into 2026, we see continued trends in the premium segment supporting higher quality and formulation authenticity—both of them embedded in our latest pet food innovations. It is our mission to continue to raise the bar on nutrition and manufacturing progress in the service of enhancing the health and well-being of dogs and cats. With that objective in mind, Nulo pioneered the development of oven-baked pet foods, a more artisanal, small batch production process designed to retain the nutritional density of raw food ingredients in a dry format while also enhancing palatability.”

Emmenegger continued, “Our innovation focus in 2026 starts with building on the success we’ve had to date with the oven-baked Culinary Harvest line, a brand that establishes a new retail pet food category by employing rotary baking manufacturing techniques from the human baked goods industry. Of note, most baked pet foods on the market today are extruded products. Culinary Harvest is different, and we have more work ahead to educate consumers about this unique leap in premium pet food nutrition. Meanwhile, our innovation team has also been working on wet additions to our cat food portfolio. Kittens are a growing segment of the feline market, and we’re introducing a 3-flavor line of silky-texture mousse products specifically designed for the nutritional needs of kittens. Formulations include chicken, liver & duck; salmon & egg; and tuna & duck—all in a broth base—that can be purchased in individual single-serve pouches or in 12-count variety packs.”

He added, “Finally, our small breed wet dog food business has been exceptionally strong, and so we’re providing retailers with a complete line of chicken-free Signature Stews recipes designed to meet the unique nutritional requirements of small breed dogs. These are available as individual single-serve pouch servings or can be purchased in variety pack formats for pet parents who want to stock the pantry.”

Big Country Raw is excited to enter select US states in March 2026. 

“In conversations with prospective retailers, what consistently stands out as innovative about Big Country Raw is how we’ve simplified raw feeding through built-in variety and rotation,” Brouwer explained. “Our Variety Packs, which include three or more complete and balanced recipes in a single box, make nutritional rotation effortless for pet parents, which is an important but often overlooked barrier to raw adoption. This approach is available across both our 12-lb Grab N Go and 30-lb XL formats, making it accessible for a wide range of households and feeding needs. Each product is complete and balanced for all life stages, reinforcing trust, compliance, and ease of use. Complementing our core food offerings, we are also launching quail eggs, a simple, whole-food topper suitable for both dogs and cats. Within the premium raw food category, we believe the next phase of innovation will be driven by scale, operational efficiency, and value creation, while balancing uncompromising standards for nutrition and food safety. This is where Big Country Raw continues to invest and differentiate.”

“NutriSource continues to evolve alongside the rapid growth of the premium pet food category by developing solutions that address a wide range of consumer needs,” said DeLisle. “Our innovation focus centers on delivering premium nutrition with purpose, whether that’s affordability, dietary precision, or ingredient integrity. For example, our Choice line is designed to meet the nutritional standards of the premium space while remaining a financially responsible option for pet parents. Meanwhile, our PureVita line reflects our deeper investment in limited-ingredient and elimination diets, supporting pets with specific sensitivities or dietary requirements. Across all lines, we are continually researching, learning, and refining our recipes to align with emerging guidelines and the evolving expectations of today’s premium pet food consumer.”

In 2025, Portland Pet Food accomplished two highly successful product launches: a convenient dog meal variety 4-pack and a new lamb dog meal formula, which will have a formal launch later this year, said McCarron. 

“Pet food is actively developing new products that reflect where the premium foods category is headed next,” she said. “While these innovations will be formally introduced later in 2026, the focus is clear now: whole-food functionality and convenience for our customers. Rather than adding isolated functional ingredients after the fact, Portland Pet Food continues to build nutrition naturally into every recipe using real, recognizable ingredients. This approach supports digestive health, whole-food nutrition, improved absorbability, and skin and coat health—benefits that come from the food, not supplements.”

“Preparation is everything at a show of this scale,” Wilson said. “Beyond the logistics, our focus is on planning ahead to maximize the quality of every interaction. We preschedule meetings with our key partners, so they receive dedicated time and attention, and so we never miss an important chance to connect. Global is also a great opportunity to strengthen relationships outside the booth, so we plan our evenings with purpose as well, creating time for meaningful conversations and a stronger connection with the people and businesses we enjoy.”

“Our focus at Global is on the needs and business goals of our retail partners,” Emmenegger said. “Global provides our sales and leadership team with an unprecedented opportunity to meet face-to-face with key account decision makers. We’ll have all the assets in Orlando required to walk them through our new product plans and retail marketing initiatives early in the year. Our goal is to help retailers thrive by delivering on their core shopper requirements for high-quality, nutrient-dense dietary solutions. Our diverse product line, serving an array of price points and affordability choices, is designed to answer all the various customized needs pet parents have to support the health and well-being of their beloved pets.”

“We approach a show of Global’s scale with a combination of intentional planning and continuous learning,” Brouwer said. “While our team has extensive experience across both trade and consumer shows, we recognize that each Global presents a unique opportunity to refine how we show up, connect, and execute. Based on our previous experience at Global, we’ve seen the greatest success come from pre-scheduled meetings with prospective partners, allowing us to maximize time on the show floor and focus on high-quality conversations. In advance of the show, we invest significant time aligning on show-specific offers, marketing materials, team presentation, and brand execution, ensuring that every touchpoint reflects who Big Country Raw is as a premium brand. Operationally, the Global Exhibitor Resource Center plays an important role in our preparation, providing a comprehensive framework and checklist that helps keep the entire team aligned and on track. This balance of strategic planning, attention to detail, and openness to learning allows us to make the most of the opportunities Global offers.”

As Global approaches, premium pet food manufacturers are ready with clear strategies, innovative product launches, and a renewed focus on partnership-driven growth.