For pet store owners, pet food is both your biggest inventory expense and your top moneymaker. Consumers spent over $65 billion on pet food last year, outpacing the next largest category of supplies and over-the-counter medicine by almost double. It makes sense — food is a necessity.
With the rise in recalls, price hikes, and concerns over grains and byproducts, pet parents want to ensure they're giving their furry loved ones the best while keeping an eye on their monthly spending. It would be a shame for that food to go to waste.
As a pet store owner, this applies to you, too. Knowing how to store pet food in your retail store is important for prolonging its shelf life and preventing unnecessary expenses on inventory.
In this blog, we’ll cover the best ways to store fresh food, dry food, treats, and more — plus, we’ll give you tips on how your customers can maintain those items once they get them home.
Let’s jump in.
1. Fresh Pet Food
Fresh pet food is increasingly popular, and for good reason. As pet parents are more conscious of what they’re feeding their pets, many are turning to fresh food as a way to provide higher-quality, nutrient-rich meals. This shift is especially noticeable as pet owners start reading the ingredients more closely, realizing that their pets deserve the same quality food they eat.
There’s been a boom in the trend of fresh food, and while some pet parents still pick up pet food from the grocery store, many are now coming to your pet store for the convenience of prepackaged, fresh options — which means you need to have fresh food on hand to meet this growing demand.
Fresh food often contains high-quality ingredients and is designed to mimic what pets might eat in the wild. However, this type of food requires special care to keep it from spoiling.
Here are some storage tips for your store:
- Refrigerate fresh food: Fresh pet food should be kept in refrigerators or freezers, depending on whether it’s frozen or needs to be stored chilled. Make sure the temperature stays consistent and within the range recommended by the manufacturer. Having separate units for different types of food (like one for frozen and one for chilled) helps avoid cross-contamination.
- Avoid exposure to light: Fresh pet food can spoil faster when exposed to light, so make sure to store it in opaque containers or in areas that are shielded from direct sunlight.
- Track dates by labeling: Use clear labels to keep track of expiration dates and make sure the stock that comes in first goes out first.
Tips for your customers: When customers purchase fresh food, advise them to store it in their own refrigerators or freezers at home. Also, remind them to seal the packages tightly to avoid contamination and odors.
While expiration dates are more about the quality and texture than the safety of the food, they can still be a helpful guide. If something has a foul odor, discoloration, or you’re just unsure how long it’s been in the fridge, toss it! Don’t risk contaminating your kitchen — or worse, sending your beloved pet to Rainbow Bridge.
Related Read: How To Keep Perishable Inventory Fresh at Your Pet Store: 8 Tips
2. Bagged Dry Pet Food
Dry food, or kibble, is still the most popular choice for dog owners. A study from just a few years ago showed that 74% of Americans purchased dry food for their pets. That number hasn't shifted much over the years, even as fresh food options have made significant strides.
For many pet owners, feeding fresh or raw food is incredibly expensive — especially for larger breeds or households with more than one dog. Kibble, on the other hand, is made with more wholesome ingredients these days, not just preservatives. Plus, it comes in large quantities, like 50 lb bags, and can be mixed with canned or fresh food to give pets variety while making it more affordable.
But just because it’s dry doesn’t mean it can’t spoil. Dry pet food is sensitive to temperature, humidity, and pests, so storing it properly is a must.
Here are some storage tips for your store:
- Keep it cool and dry: Dry pet food should be stored in a cool, dry area. Ideally, this means away from direct heat sources like radiators, windows, or ovens. A temperature-controlled area (between 50°F and 70°F) helps keep the food fresh.
- Use air-tight containers: If you don’t want to rely solely on the original packaging, consider transferring opened bags of dry food into air-tight containers. This helps maintain freshness, especially in stores with high humidity where moisture can cause the food to become stale or moldy.
- Place bags properly on shelves: Keep bags off the floor and stored on elevated shelves to avoid potential contamination or damage. This also makes it easier for staff to restock.
Tips for your customers: When customers buy dry food, let them know that after opening a bag, they should seal it tightly and store it in a cool, dry spot. An air-tight container is a must once the bag is opened to keep the food fresh for longer. It’s also important to emphasize that dry food attracts pests like ants and cockroaches, which is another reason to store it in a sealed container.
If customers have multiple pets with different dietary needs — like a sensitive stomach formula for one dog and puppy food for another — they should store each pet’s food in separate containers. This will avoid mix-ups that could lead to sickness, upset stomachs, or worse. The last thing they want is the mess and stress of rushing to the emergency vet.
3. Gourmet Treats
Gourmet treats are the pet store equivalent of a tabloid magazine. They’re usually always at the checkout counter to encourage impulse buys or celebrate something festive. These treats are often displayed like bakery items, where customers can pick how many they want themselves if they're not in the aisles.
Gourmet treats are a popular category of pet food, often packaged in fancy ways and designed to be a special indulgence for pets. They can be delicate, especially if they have higher moisture content or are made with premium ingredients.
Here are some storage tips for your store:
- Seal tight and keep cool: Like fresh food, gourmet treats should be stored in airtight packaging to avoid exposure to air and moisture. Even if you’re displaying them near the register for impulse buys, make sure they are in a sealed container to protect them from the elements and keep them fresh.
- Don’t leave them exposed: Even though these treats might be tempting for customers, it’s important not to leave them open to the air for long periods. Ensure the packaging is sealed after each customer interaction, or consider offering a dedicated storage container that can be closed securely.
- Place storage solutions near treats: Since gourmet treats can be a bit delicate, consider offering matching storage containers near them. This encourages customers to purchase a container to keep their treats fresh at home, driving an impulse sale.
Tips for your customers: For customers buying gourmet treats, recommend they store them in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Also, remind them to keep the packaging sealed tightly after opening to maintain the treats’ texture and flavor. If the packaging doesn’t seal properly, suggest they invest in a small airtight container.
4. Canned Pet Food
Canned food is another convenient option for pet owners, particularly for pets that may need special diets or have a preference for wet food. While canned food might seem like it could survive the apocalypse, it does actually spoil. Once opened, canned food requires careful handling. Unopened cans have a long shelf life, but after opening, they need to be consumed within days to avoid spoilage.
Here are some storage tips for your store:
- Keep it in a dry, cool place: Canned food should be stored in a cool, dry location away from heat sources. You can store cans on shelves or in bins organized by expiration dates to make rotation easier.
- Don’t stack too high: When storing canned food, avoid stacking cans too high. The pressure can cause cans to dent or become damaged, which might affect the quality of the food inside.
- Check expiration dates: While canned pet food has a long shelf life, it’s still important to keep track of expiration dates and rotate your stock regularly to ensure freshness.
Tips for your customers: After purchasing canned food, let customers know they should store it in a cool, dry place and only open it when ready to use. Once opened, the food should be refrigerated and consumed within a few days. If you're running low on canned food, a splash of warm water mixed into the food can give a similar effect, making it more palatable and easier to serve.
5. Freeze-Dried and Dehydrated Pet Food
Freeze-dried and dehydrated pet food is gaining popularity for its long shelf life and nutritional value. This type of food is lightweight, convenient, and considered fresh due to its minimal processing. It’s a great middle ground for pet owners who can’t afford raw, fresh pet food but still want something higher quality than dry kibble. Freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are also a great option for customers looking for high-quality meals that are easy to store and serve.
Here are some storage tips for your store:
- Store in a dry, cool location: Like dry food, freeze-dried and dehydrated pet food should be kept in a cool, dry spot. Make sure the packaging is tightly sealed to prevent moisture from getting in and compromising the food’s quality.
- Consider using display bins: These types of foods are often sold in resealable pouches, which can be displayed in bins or on shelves. Keep them organized by type and ensure they are kept upright to prevent them from falling over and opening.
- Rotate stock regularly: Since freeze-dried and dehydrated foods often have long shelf lives, it’s important to rotate stock regularly to ensure older products are sold first.
Tips for your customers: For customers buying freeze-dried or dehydrated food, remind them to store it in a cool, dry place and keep the package sealed after opening. Recommend using a clip or airtight container to prevent moisture from getting inside.
How eTailPet POS Can Help Manage Your Pet Food Inventory
Managing pet food inventory can be tricky, especially with the variety of food types, expiration dates, and stock levels you need to keep track of. This is where eTailPet, a point of sale (POS) software designed specifically for pet store owners, comes in.
With eTailPet, you can easily track the dates your food came in, making it easier to monitor freshness and know exactly how to store pet food to ensure it stays in top condition. The software allows you to see which products are selling the fastest, and it can even automatically generate purchase orders to keep your shelves stocked.
For added convenience, eTailPet helps you set up and manage pet food subscriptions. This is perfect for customers who need the ultimate convenience — like those with disabilities, limited transportation, or busy lifestyles — ensuring they never run out of food for their pets.
To add extra value for customers spending a lot on food, consider using the Astro Loyalty program. Reward customers for their continued business with incentives like a free bag of dog food after every ninth purchase or offering a free item when they contribute to a canned food drive in your store. These rewards can help keep your customers coming back.
All of this — and more — can be managed with eTailPet, the premier POS software built specifically for pet store owners. Ready to streamline your pet food inventory, customer rewards program, and subscription services? Schedule a free demo today.
