American Pet Products Association (APPA) analysts calculated that sales of pet products and services in the United States reached US$95.7 billion in 2019. Pet food and treats made up the largest portion of the total with 2019 sales of US$36.9 billion, led by dog and cat food. The APPA attributed some of this growth to the rising popularity of pet food mixers and toppers contributing to increased sales, along with an increase in subscription pet food delivery programs. APPA analysts forecast that the pet food and treats category sales would increase 4% in 2020.
"Consumers are more educated than ever about the ingredients that go into their pets' food, which means they're willing to pay more for quality products," said Steve King, CEO of APPA, in a press release. "As the demand for natural, minimally-processed ingredients continues, we expect to see steady growth in this category."
King announced the survey results during Global Pet Expo, the annual pet products trade show presented by APPA and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA).
APPA analysts based their figures on a review of the most recent data from research firms studying the pet industry: Nielsen, Euromonitor and Packaged Facts. The analysts confirmed this data with insights from industry experts and leading pet retailers.
The overall sales figures are higher than those in previously reported industry expenditures, which is a result of APPA's efforts to refine and improve its research methodology. In some cases, categories have been revised to include services or products that were previously excluded, as reliable data was difficult to obtain.
U.S. pet product and service sales data for 2019
APPA analysts divided their information into four categories:
- Pet food and treats
- Supplies, live animals and over the counter medicine
- Vet care and product sales
- Other services
Vet Care & Product Sales came in at US$29.3 billion, a significant jump from previously reported spending figures.
Following Vet Care and Product Sales, Supplies, Live Animals and OTC Medicine sold at retail accounted for US$19.2 billion in 2019.
New to APPA's pet spending data, this category also includes estimated retail sales of fish, reptiles, small animals and birds, which had previously been broken out as a separate category.
The Other Services category contributed US$10.3 billion to industry sales last year and received the second highest year-over-year growth (6%), just behind Food and Treats. Services include boarding, grooming, insurance, training, pet sitting and walking and all services outside of veterinary care.
