ALEXANDRIA, VA. — The annual Pet Industry Leadership Summit will become the Pet Industry Leadership Digital Summit in 2021 due to continued COVID-19 concerns. The summit will be held entirely online Jan. 25 and 26, 2021.

This on-line event is open to everyone. Previously, only members of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) and World Pet Association (WPA) were allowed to attend.

The two-day virtual conference will feature two keynote presentations with live Q&A sessions following each. On Monday, Jan. 25, Brian Beaulieu of ITR Economics will present the first keynote address focusing on the economic impacts of 2020 – an election year, the pandemic, and other factors affecting the market and consumer trends.

Also on Monday, Mike Bober of PIJAC, Dana Brooks of Pet Food Institute and Steve Feldman of HABRI will lead a discussion about “Pets, Presidents and Policy: What Changes in Washington Will Mean for the Pet Care Community.”

Patrick McGinnis, a venture capitalist, will present the second keynote address on Tuesday, Jan. 25, entitled “Practical Decision Making for the New Normal.” That will be followed by two presentations: one on IndiePet (the Independent & Neighborhood Pet Retail Association) and how manufacturers and distributors can engage with the new organization, and another on “Pet Ownership During the Pandemic,” presented by Julie Springer, market research analyst for APPA.

Read more about pet food and treat industry events.