With over 22,000 pet professionals and 1,100 exhibitors, SUPERZOO solidifies its status as the top event for driving exhibitor-buyer connections
submitted by Julie Franks, on behalf of SuperZoo
LAS VEGAS — SUPERZOO 2024 wrapped up another successful year at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. The event drew more than 22,000 registrants, surpassing last year’s record-breaking numbers with a 2% increase in key retailers, buyers and decision-makers and furthering its reputation as the premier event for the pet retail industry.
From August 14-16, pet professionals from around the world gathered to explore new products, engage in 65+ expert-led education sessions, and forge lasting industry connections. SUPERZOO attracted nearly 3,000 international participants and over 1,100 exhibitors from 79 countries, with a significant presence from Mexico, Korea, Japan, and Australia. This year’s event exceeded expectations, showcasing the strength and innovation of the pet industry.
Mike Karsting, Senior Vice President of World Pet Association, stated: “SUPERZOO 2024 surpassed our expectations, serving as the ultimate hub for trailblazing innovations and meaningful business relationships. The energy on the show floor was electric, with new trends like advanced pet nutrition and cutting-edge pet care technology taking center stage. We’re proud to see SUPERZOO continue to be the gathering place where new ideas flourish and the future of pet retail takes shape.”
Attendees and exhibitors alike shared enthusiastic feedback, highlighting the vibrant atmosphere and valuable experiences that defined SUPERZOO 2024:
- Scott Wilburn-Woods, Owner of Bark Avenue Pet Styling: “SUPERZOO is the best show to go to if you want to see everything about pet retail. It is everything about pets, not just dogs, not just cats, you’re going to see everything.”
- Mark Robokoff, Owner of AK Bark: “It’s nice to put faces to the names of people who we already work with but the main thing [that keeps us coming back] is probably looking out for brand new innovation. We want to be the first store to have the coolest new thing so that if it does blow up and become super popular, we’re the first place they sell at.”
- Sara Terrill, Manager, A&A Pet Supply: “It’s a great place to get to see new products. It’s a fun place to see everybody that I know from many years, you know of course the deals are definitely a big part of it and just you know the face-to-face time with the people I need to see.”
SUPERZOO 2024 HIGHLIGHTS
Show Floor Trends
As attendees navigated the expansive 334,000-square-foot show floor, they uncovered the latest trends across the pet industry. The show floor buzzed with energy, featuring specialized areas like the New Product Showcase, Emerging Brands, Natural and Health, Specialty and Lifestyle, Farm and Feed, Live Animals, Groomer’s Marketplace, and the International Pavilion. Each area offered unique insights and showcased breakthrough products, reflecting the evolution of the industry. A few of this year’s standout products included:
- PETKIT Purobot Ultra
- Tailr Luxury High Tech Pet ID Tag
- Durkha Dog Chew Yak Cheese Chews
- Brightkins Tough & Tumble™ Treat Dispenser
- Lord Jameson PB+J Organic Pill Hider Dog Treats
New Product Showcase
The highly anticipated New Product Showcase featured over 1,100 of the most cutting-edge and visionary products, propelling the $303 billion pet industry. A distinguished panel of industry experts evaluated each entry, awarding first-place and runner-up honors in 10 categories, along with a prestigious Judges Award for the Best New-to-Market Pet Product.
- Judges Award for Best Overall New Product:
- The Pupsicle, Woof
- Aquatics:
- 1st Place: TMC Kreisel Jellyfish Aquarium Series, Quality Marine
- 2nd Place: Fluval Liv, Hagen
- Bird:
- 1st Place: Buggy Buffet, Volkman Pet Products
- 2nd Place: Pumpkin Spice Nutri-Berries, Lafeber-EmerAid
- Cat:
- 1st Place: Berry Good Milk, Choolip
- 2nd Place: INPET (Cat health status tracking device), The Little Cat Co., Ltd.
- Dog:
- 1st Place: The Pupsicle, Woof
- 2nd Place: Always Full® Pet Water Bowl, Always Full Pet Water Bowl
- Farm and Feed:
- 1st Place: Booster Berries, Lafeber-EmerAid
- 2nd Place: FREEDOM FLY, Full Moon, Spot Farms, FlockLeader
- Grooming:
- 1st Place: Bugalugs Pet Care, Oatmeal No Rinse Paw Cleaner
- 2nd Place: Uproot 7-1 Pet Grooming Kit, Uproot Clean
- Herptile:
- 1st Place: Gourmet Tortoise Food Crumbles, Zoo Med Labs
- 2nd Place: Zoo Med’s Isopod Food, Zoo Med Labs
- Small Animal:
- 1st Place: Nibble Peapods Small Animal Chew Toy, Chongqing Pet Union Biologicial Technology Co., Ltd.
- 2nd Place: Happy Habitats Tiny Treats, Happy Habitats
- Point of Purchase:
- 1st Place: Barkworthies Hickory Smoked Floor-Stand Display, Barkworthies
- 2nd Place: Polkadog Floor Display, Polkadog
- Accessories & Gifts:
- 1st Place: Coloring Bandana, The Paws
- 2nd Place: LuvMyFido Collection, PawzNDogz
To view the full list of New Product Showcase winners, click here.
Education
SUPERZOO offered an extensive education program with over 65 sessions led by industry experts, focusing on the specific goals of pet professionals. Attendees benefited from specialized tracks for retailers and groomers, gaining insights on the latest developments in pet care, AI marketing strategies, navigating negative customer reviews, and enrichment for animals. The program also featured key panel discussions on live animals in retail, influencer marketing, and the contributions of women in the pet industry.
Networking
SUPERZOO featured a variety of networking opportunities that allowed pet professionals of all experience levels to make valuable connections. The always-popular SUPERZOO Beach Party, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, was a standout event, offering a lively evening of music, entertainment, and camaraderie at Mandalay Bay Beach. The Young Pet Professionals Mixer also provided an engaging setting for emerging leaders in the pet industry to exchange ideas and foster new relationships. This year’s networking events left a lasting impression on attendees:
- Jusak Wang Bernhard, Co-Founder of Wag Heaven: “It takes a village to succeed as a retailer, so SUPERZOO is our village. This is where we meet our manufacturers and our friends, this is where we seek our support and why it’s important to be here.”
Competitions
SUPERZOO hosted another successful year of the Pitch Competition, presented by Leap Venture Studio and Black Pet Business Network, where start-up companies could pitch their innovative pet care ideas competing for a $10,000 prize. The 2024 winners include:
- 1st Place Grand Prize: Jerrica Fletcher, PawGone Good
- 2nd Place: Srihas Sampath and Tejashree Sawant, Skona Pet Food
- 3rd place Jeanette Eng, Social Paws
The Launch Pitch Competition in collaboration with the Pet Care Innovation Prize and Purina at SUPERZOO 2024 provided a platform for pet care startups to shine. Winners received over $10,000 in prize packages. The event showcased new ideas and innovative thinking in Pet Care to bridge access of early-stage companies with investors and industry executives.
- 1st Place Grand Prize: Uproot Clean
- Finalists include: Jope and ShopDot
Pet-styling professionals also showcased their creativity and expertise while competing for over $37,000 in prizes. The grooming competitions spanned multiple divisions for breed classes and special awards, celebrating the exceptional talent and innovation within the grooming community. The full list of winners can be found here.
Karsting concluded, “We extend our sincerest gratitude to our incredible sponsors and partners, ADM, BOXIE, Health Extension Pet Care, HICC Pet, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Nerf Dog, North American Pet Products, Patchwork Pet, Pet Parents, Petland, Purina, Royal Canin/Eukanuba, Skout’s Honor and Tuesday’s Natural Dog Company, whose unwavering support made SUPERZOO 2024 a tremendous success. Their contributions are key to providing a platform for innovation and growth within the pet retail industry. We appreciate their dedication and look forward to continuing our collaboration to drive the industry forward.”
This year, SUPERZOO contributed $55 million in economic impact to Las Vegas and excitement is already building for next year’s event, set to take place from August 13-15, with educational sessions starting on August 12, 2025. Attendees can look forward to another engaging and immersive experience, designed to spark innovation, strengthen industry connections, and propel the pet industry forward.
For more information about SUPERZOO and to stay updated on upcoming events, visit www.SUPERZOO.org and follow SUPERZOO on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About SUPERZOO
SUPERZOO boasts the most buyer participation of any trade show for the pet retail industry in North America. SUPERZOO provides pet retail and industry professionals with leading-edge education and access to the most comprehensive array of market-ready products for retailers to competitively differentiate themselves. For the ninth consecutive year, SUPERZOO has grown in exhibitor space and square footage and has been listed among Trade Show Executive’s “Gold 100” trade events since 2014. Produced by World Pet Association (WPA), this annual event attracts retailers, product suppliers and service providers. For more information: www.SUPERZOO.org.
About World Pet Association
Founded in 1950, World Pet Association (WPA) is the pet industry’s oldest nonprofit organization. WPA connects and informs pet professionals through industry-defining trade shows SUPERZOO and GROOM’D (formerly Atlanta Pet Fair and Conference). Through WPA’s Good Works program, proceeds from these events are funneled back into key industry organizations and nonprofits with the goal of making it easier for pet industry professionals to do business. WPA’s mission is to support the business needs of pet retailers and to promote responsible growth and development of the pet industry by providing thought leadership on consumer and legislative issues; leading efforts in the public sector to inform consumers and ensure safe, healthy lifestyles for all animals; and providing business resources, education, content and services to ensure pet product retailers have the support they need to be competitive. For more information about WPA, visit www.worldpetassociation.org.
