Cost and Quality: How to Interpret

A RUFUS Reading Room Article - 1,617 words

 

Pricing and What It Means For Quality In The Pet Food Market

 

#1 - RUFUS BFF PRODUCT INGREDIENTS HIGHLIGHTS

Using premiere USA product sources and processing facilities ensures that there is no higher quality treat you can buy.  Sourcing and processing in the USA, in our opinion, are the most important points that can't be compromised. These higher costs of the premium USA ingredients sourcing, and processing, do factor into the pricing structure of RUFUS BFF products.

Some “old sayings” are as true today as they ever were.  "You get what you pay for” is one of them.

Vendors of any type of product must generate an adequate amount of profit to stay in business – this is basic economic law.  Another law of economics is that if higher quality ingredients are used, then the production costs, and subsequently, the price to the end-consumer will be higher. 

Costs that must be accounted for in the production of pet food and treats can, in general, be broken down into 4 major categories:  Product Ingredients Costs, Packaging Costs, Operations Costs and Marketing Costs.

As most of us with experience in shopping for anything know, a reasonable assumption is that the quality of a product is usually commensurate with its price – a Mercedes will be judged to be as a higher quality vehicle than a modest sedan that is $50,000 lower in price.  Is this always true? Absolutely not!  Marketing is responsible for convincing us of things that are not necessarily true or only marginally so.  But still, with most consumer goods, the pricing will imply the quality to a great degree.

More specifically, for consumer-packaged goods, a major concern regarding "getting what you paid for" is the utilization of undesirable ingredients.  An example of this would be the use of artificial dyes, undesired preservatives or flavoring chemicals.  The use of such additives is generally due to considerations involving costs and/or ease of production (which also directly impacts production costs).

Another concern is that of “are you getting what you think you are?”  Sometimes, a vendor who is, shall we say, not the most upstanding purveyor on the block, will name a food or treat in a way that is inappropriate, at best, or irresponsible. at worst.

An example of this would be to provide a food or treat with a marketing name such as “Chicken Yummie-Yums.”  The average consumer would, as a natural course, assume that vendor to be a scrupulous business and trust that chicken is, at least, a major ingredient.  Upon closer inspection, one could find that chicken is the next-to-last item in a 10-item ingredient list (with cheaper fillers and grains comprising most of the product).

A variation on this marketing tactic would be to see that there are “chicken flavored” items involved in the ingredients.  This might be actual natural chicken flavoring (such as a broth) or completely artificial flavorings.    Again, profit considerations are most often the reason for such mischief.

So, coming back to a vendor who is “cutting corners” to reduce production costs, it may or may not rise to a level of danger.  Should a vendor knowingly use an ingredient that is contaminated in some way, to avoid the loss that would occur due to throwing it out, that could very well be dangerous. 

If a vendor simply adds a lot of fillers or other cheap additives to save costs over using more expensive ingredients, then that will most likely result in an annoyance - and ultimately distrust in the consumer – but not really a danger. You are, though, once again NOT getting what you paid for nor what you thought you were.  In either case, your good ol' BFF isn't getting the safe, pure high-quality food or treats that you want them to have.

RUFUS BFF uses only USA Farm-Raised and USA Processed meats in its Beast Treats (with the lone exception of Smelt used to produce Smelt Fishies Snackers, which are sourced from the cold clear waters of the Canadian Northwest, Northeast and Canadian Great Lakes. These Smelt are then processed in the U.S.A. Canada is considered to have regulatory structures in place that equal those of the U.S.).  More information on this can be found in Rufus' Reading Room article, The Importance of USA Sourcing and Processing.

 

#2 - RUFUS BFF PACKAGING PRICING HIGHLIGHT

Our main packaging is made of Mylar instead of less expensive, inferior plastic materials that don't even approach its superior properties. Mylar is a more expensive packaging solution, and that cost must be accounted for in the end-consumer retail price.  Since this packaging comes into direct contact with Beast Treats, we believe that there is no compromising on the using Mylar for RUFUS BFF Beast Treats.

The major considerations of packaging involve the following:

  • Containers:  Bags, cannisters, jars, etc.
  • Packaging adjuncts (seals, oxygen absorbers, desiccants, etc.)
  • Labels, direct-to-package printing
  • Packaging procedures

Some costs of packaging are cosmetic and tied to the marketing and branding of a product.  These costs are typically involved in Labeling and Printing. 

Appealing packaging is usually more persuasive to the consumer, and most people respond positively to attractive well-done printing and/or labeling.  This can be thought of in the vein of "Is it important to my sense of esthetics or not?"  If so, then the increase in end-consumer pricing (due to higher production costs) is "worth" it to you; however, it does not directly impact the quality of the consumable goods, pet foods and treats in our case.

Some costs of packaging are important to the quality of the food/treat product, itself.  Any item of packaging that comes into contact with the actual product should be carefully considered for safety and efficacy.

Examples of this would be using cheap undesirable plastic bags instead of Mylar. Or omitting desiccant packages or oxygen absorbing packettes when they would help stabilize and preserve the food product - especially when the product is not laced with chemical preservatives.

RUFUS BFF uses high-quality food grade Mylar bags, from a U.S. manufacturer, for its bagged Beast Treats. Food grade Mylar is inert and does not react chemically with most foods, ensuring that the packaging material doesn't affect the taste or safety of the food.  It's best to avoid cheaper plastic food packaging such as BPA and BPS (so-called "bisphenols").

An extensive discussion of Mylar and other food package plastics can be found in Rufus' Reading Room.

The concern with cheaper problematic plastics isn't just theoretical; there's growing evidence linking them to health issues like reproductive disorders, and metabolic diseases. However, not all plastics within these categories are equally harmful, and some might be safer in certain conditions. Prudentially, the best practice is opting for alternatives, such as Mylar.

 

#3 - RUFUS BFF PACKAGING ADJUNCT PRICING HIGHLIGHT

Again, the additional cost of adjuncts, and more so, those of U.S. made high-quality, adds a bit to the end-consumer retail price.

Adjuncts are other parts of the packaging that are not integral to the main bag, jar, bottle, etc.  Items such as seals for jars and bottles or oxygen absorbing packettes or desiccant packettes fall into this category.

Some manufacturers, in order to shave cost use either lower quality adjuncts or omit them altogether.  Again, RUFUS BFF procures high-quality jar seals and oxygen absorbing packettes from companies making them right here in the U.S.

All our products, being dehydrated or freeze-dried, have very low moisture content and desiccants are not necessary; however, we do add oxygen absorbing packettes to our products.

(By the way, don't let your BFF eat this packette.  Oxygen absorber packets are generally safe for pets if inadvertently eaten in a small amount, but they are not intended for ingestion. The most common ingredient in oxygen absorbers is reduced iron, which could cause iron poisoning if ingested in significant amounts).

Oxygen absorbers are especially good for dry products such as Beast Treats. They help prevent mold and discoloration, keep food from spoiling and growing bacteria, and reduce or eliminate the need for preservatives.

 

     #4  RUFUS BFF PACKAGING PROCEDURES PRICING HIGHLIGHT

    Taking proper care to ensure that product filling and packaging is properly done in a clean and sanitary environment are labor costs that do add a bit more production cost to RUFUS BFF Beast Treats.  But, in keeping with our philosophy of only the best, we believe it is essential to use more assiduous practices. The mechanical procedures used in the actual placement of product into the packaging is relatively standard and does not vary much among manufacturers. 

    However, the care taken with the actual execution of filling and sealing is where lesser providers cut costs.  Such cost reductions can be realized by not hiring workers who are diligent and conscientious in their work.  Lax or inadequate training and monitoring of line filling staff can lead to contamination, improper sealing and deficient handling. 

    For our Mylar packaging and reusable glass shaker jar for Rabbit Crunchies Meal Toppers, we pay strict attention to storage and handling.  Bags and glass are only opened immediately before filling and oxygen absorbers and jar seals are immediately set in place, lessening chance of contaminants' entry. 

     

    THE BOTTOM LINE ON THE BOTTOM LINE

    We do our very best at keeping costs as low as possible so that we can bring you the very best in treats for your BFFs at a reasonable and fair consumer price.

    We do, however, insist on adhering to the brand philosophy of RUFUS BFF, and do not compromise on quality ingredients, packaging materials or packaging procedures.

    The bottom line is that we win by staying in business; you win with peace of mind knowing you are taking the very best care of all your buddies; and your BFFs win because, well . . . these Beast Treats are delicious! (they don't even need to know just how good Beast Treats are for them).