David Sprinkle, publisher, Packaged Facts, shares new Packaged Facts research showing that, measured by bedrock pet owner population, a COVID-19-triggered spike in pet ownership among upmarket consumers was offset by pet ownership attrition among less prosperous or more budget-conscious demographics. This socio-economic pattern has created a disconnect between pet population and pet food sales levels, marked by increases in the number of dog/cat owners spending US$500 or more annually on pet food, but dips in the number spending at lower ranges. Sprinkle analyzes this altered pet food consumer landscape, the customers spending most on pet foods, the concerns and priorities that trigger higher spending and the performance of representative premium/superpremium pet food brands in this demographic and psychographic context.