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Pet meals market development in 2026


Pet meals market development abstract

  • International pet meals market grows pushed by possession and premiumisation
  • Humanisation pattern leads house owners to undertaking private well being preferences onto pets
  • Demand rises for pure, minimally processed and tailor-made dietary pet merchandise
  • Sector faces value pressures, rising competitors and rising sustainability expectations
  • Manufacturers should adapt rapidly as customers prioritise wellness-focused premium choices

The pet meals sector is seeing important development. With international pet possession rising, demand for pet meals is powerful.

In response to statistics platform Statista, international pet meals development is important, with the market at present valued at $161.72bn (€138.2bn). It’s anticipated to develop at a CAGR of 5.01% between 2026 and 2030.

Whereas rising pet possession is a driver for this development, one other important issue is the premiumisation of pet meals, pushed by the ‘humanisation’ of pets.

‘Humanisation’ of pets

Pet meals will not be a brand new class. People have had pets since earlier than the invention of agriculture.

However, it’s altering, as increasingly customers see pets as absolutely fledged relations, and deal with them as such.

“The ‘humanisation of pets’ describes the psychological, ethical and shopper view of homeowners perceiving their pets as relations,” explains Beatriz Luz, knowledge researcher for shopper items at Statista.

Because of this human house owners usually undertaking their very own well being expectations and preferences onto their pets. Human meals traits, resembling pure, natural and even vegetarian, are being expanded to pets. Shoppers are looking for merchandise that improve psychological and bodily wellbeing for his or her furry buddies.

Additionally learn → Who’re the most important gamers in pet meals?

The pattern is already widespread. In response to Statista, a 2023 survey discovered that within the US, 67% of child boomers and greater than 80% of millennials noticed their pets as their youngsters.

Humanisation drives premiumisation

Pet meals premiumisation can be driving market development, pushing up the costs of particular person merchandise.

As a result of so many customers see pets as household, they usually wish to provide them with good high quality, wholesome meals. This can be a good alternative for premiumisation in pet meals.

In only one instance of this, a 2024 Statista survey discovered that 42% of US pet house owners noticed excessive protein as a key issue when selecting a pet meals model. Different well being advantages, resembling digestive well being, mobility, weight management and immunity, are additionally wanted by pet house owners.

“The premium pattern derives from the ‘humanisation of pets’, which drives demand for merchandise with pure or minimally processed elements, particular life-stage formulation and tailor-made diet. Such attributes usually sit at premium worth ranges,” says Luz.

Challenges confronted by pet meals

However, the sector will not be freed from challenges. For instance, pressures from power, rising uncooked materials prices, packaging and logistics can diminish revenue margins.

The sector can be experiencing fragmentation and growing competitors. Giants resembling Mars Petcare and Nestlé Purina Pet Care should face off towards numerous area of interest premium gamers and even non-public label manufacturers.

In the meantime, international e-commerce income has been rising, offering a risk to established gamers.

Lastly, there’s a strain for the business to be sustainable. The demand is there – based on Statista, round 64% of cat house owners globally favor sustainability when selecting cat meals.

“Pet meals firms should react to shopper calls for to maintain their relevance within the presently difficult pet meals sector,” concludes Luz.

Petcare
Petcare (Petcare)

Need to discover out extra about pet meals, significantly relating to diet? Be a part of our Efficiency Petcare webinar on March 31, a part of our Constructive Diet broadcast sequence.

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