In 2020, the Italian pet food market exceeded EUR2.25 billion (US$2.73 billion) while growing in value and volume, according to a report by Italy’s National Association for Pet Food and Pet Care Businesses (ASSALCO) and Zoomark. The Italian pet food market grew 4.2% over 2019 with a volume increase of 2% to hit 626,600 metric tons (690,708 US tons). More than 60 million cats, dogs, small mammals, birds, fish and reptiles lived as pets in Italy last year.
Cat food makes up the largest portion of the Italian pet food market at 53.2% of the total value of the market in grocery, traditional pet shops and pet shop chains. Cat food sales grew 5.9% in 2020 to more than EUR1.2 billion (US$1.45 billion). Dog food sales value in Italy was 46.8% of the market total at EUR1.057 billion (US$1.28 billion), up 2.3% over 2019.
Small animal pet food sales in Italy exceeded EUR12 million. Products for birds and rodents made up the largest percentage of these sales. Pet bird food made up 42.1% of the market value and 50.5% of volumes. Rodent food made up 30% of the value and 38.9% of the volume.
Cat food tops German, French pet food retail sales 2020
After growth in pet ownership in 2020, Germany now has a pet in nearly half of all households, according to WZF GmbH, organizer of Interzoo pet trade fair. With higher pet ownership came an increase in pet food and treat sales, the German pet industry accounted for EUR 5.5 billion in 2020. Pet product retail sales grew 4.3% to reach EUR 4.513 billion in German brick-and-mortar retail outlets. Ready-to-eat pet foods made up EUR 3.460 billion of that total, an increase of 4.6% over 2020. Online pet product sales stood at EUR 822 million in Germany last year.
Pet food retail sales in Germany
Cat food remained the largest segment of the German pet food industry in 2020, with retail sales of EUR 1.680 billion, an increase of 5.3% over 2019. Cat treat sales grew 9.4% to EUR 268 million. Canned cat food retail sales were EUR 1.105 billion, up 5.0 percent. Dry cat food retail sales were EUR 307 million, up 2.7 percent.
Dog food and treats sales reached EUR 1.567 billion, up 4%. Dog treats grew 6% to EUR 602 million. Canned dog food reached EUR 502 million, up 3.1, while dry dog food reached EUR 463 million, up 2.4%.
The small animal food segment increased 4.6% to EUR 91 million in German in 2020. Fish food sales grew to EUR 55 million, up 3.8 percent. Pet bird food grew to EUR 67 million, up 3.1 percent. Wild bird feed sales reached EUR 128 million, up 2.4% over 2019.
Pet specialty retail increased its share of the pet food market in Germany in 2020. However, food, drug and mass market retail maintained a 61% share of retail sales channel for pet food, with revenues of EUR 2.120 billion.
Pet product online retail sales grew more than 16% in 2020, to hit EUR 822 million, an increase of EUR 117 million, in Germany.
Pet food sales in France 2020
Likewise in France, cat product retail sales drove growth the most in 2020, increasing by 8% over 2019 figures from industry association Prom'Animal reported. The overall French pet product industry grew by 6% in 2020 to exceed EUR 5 billion. Pet food sales accounted for 70% of that total. Pet specialty stores retail sales increased by 21% in France in 2020. Similarly, online retail sales grew 20%. Food, drug and mass market sales increased slightly, while home improvement store sales were static in 2020.
