Market Trends of uk pet diet Industry
Increasing preference for adopting cats in urban areas as they require lesser space, affordability, and maintenance
- The adoption of cats as pets has been increasing in the United Kingdom for the past 5 years, and the increase in the number can be attributed to an increase in the need for companionship during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing urbanization, and their ability to stay indoors without feeling cooped up. These benefits helped the cat population increase by 69.3% between 2019 and 2022.
- In the United Kingdom, only one region has a higher population of cats as pets than dogs. In 2022, London witnessed the highest cat ownership in the country, which accounted for 61% of the pets in London. London has the highest national share of cats adopted because of their affordability and lower maintenance requirements. Increasingly, people are living in small apartments and houses, which are better suited for cats than for dogs. The majority of the cats adopted in the country are found to be living in urban areas. The higher preference of people for adopting cats in urban areas is because they require less space than dogs and do not need to be taken on walks, which is difficult in busy cities such as London. Cats are also relatively quiet creatures, which is required while living in flats, making them a preferred choice for pet parents.
- There is a high potential for the growth of the cat population in the country, with 250,000 stray cats in the urban areas of the country that can be adopted by pet parents in the coming years, which will help in increasing the pet population and also the demand for the cat food products during the forecast period.
- The rising cat population due to the growth in urbanization, lower maintenance, and the potential of adoption of cats increasing in the future are anticipated to help in the growth of the pet food market in the country.
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The growing trend of premiumization and increasing availability of veterinary diets through various distribution channels (particularly online channels), making access easy for consumers, are driving pet expenditure in the country
- In the United Kingdom, there has been a consistent upward trend in pet owners' spending on various pet products. Between 2019 and 2022, there was a substantial increase of about 13.3% in pet expenditure. This growth can be attributed to the expanding pet population in the country, which rose from 21.5 million in 2019 to 38.4 million in 2022. Furthermore, the growing trend of pet humanization has resulted in a higher demand for premium products, including natural and grain-free pet foods.
- Expenditure on pet veterinary diets accounted for about 16.3% of the average pet food expenditure per pet in 2022. The pet veterinary diet expenditure per pet in the country increased from USD 224.4 in 2017 to USD 282.3 in 2022. This increase is mainly attributed to the growing incidence of pet diseases, increasing pet humanization, a higher number of pet owners spending on preventive care, and the various health benefits associated with pet veterinary diets. Among pet animals, the pet veterinary diet expenditure on dogs is the highest, valued at USD 107.9 per dog in 2022. This is followed by cats and dogs, which were valued at USD 97 and USD 77.4, respectively, in the same year.
- Offline retail channels, such as pet shops, vet clinics, and supermarkets, are the preferred distribution channels for purchasing pet food products in the country. However, e-commerce has gained popularity in recent years, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pets at Home is one of the leading pet food retailers in the country and operates more than 452 stores. Growing awareness about the benefits of high-quality pet veterinary diets and the increasing premiumization of pet products are projected to continue driving pet expenditure in the country.
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OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- Rising adoption of dogs from animal shelters and rescue organizations and benefits, such as providing companionship, increased the dog population
- Low maintenance and other pets occupying limited space have increased the adoption of other pets
