Pet food sales and retail shopping patterns: A side-by-side look

E-commerce and brick & mortar continue to grapple for share in an omnichannel market containing more players than ever.

May 22, 2024

Pet food shopping has far more consumer options than ever before, leading to a different experience for each pet owner depending on their needs.

Pet food shopping has far more consumer options than ever before, leading to a different experience for each pet owner depending on their needs.

Filimonov | iStock.com

In its just-released “U.S. Pet Market Outlook, 2024-2025,” Packaged Facts forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8% for pet products over the 2023-2028 period. In the pet products arena, in keeping with recent historical patterns, pet food will post higher growth rates than non-food pet supplies, and e-commerce gains will outpace brick-and-mortar growth.

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Pet Food Shopping In Store

How consumer priorities and economic pressures are shaping the pet food industry

Generational notes on pet food

The younger generations are firmly in the driver’s seat when it comes to pet food shopping trends.

Millennials are the current pet food purchasing powerhouse generation, but as more Gen Zers become adults, they’re throwing their preferences into the trends mix.

Cross-currents in pet food expectations

Pet owners provide clear preferences in surveys, but their actual purchases don’t always bear their thoughts out.

Pet owners treat their pets like family, and with that comes the same conflicts of desire vs. practicality in pet food purchasing that exist in human food purchasing.

Vets as pet care influencers are on a more crowded stage

Specialty pet shops and the internet have gained in influence in recent years.

Veterinarians remain a reliable source of pet information in pet owners’ eyes, but other sources of information are gaining ground among millennials and Gen Z.

Dry dog food update: Growth from ongoing premiumization

The top dog kibble companies continue to see growth in usage, as does the overall category.

Dog kibble brands continue to grow, alongside and perhaps in spite of novel ingredient and similar trends.

Sales performance, growth prospects in US pet food

The trends are shifting in terms of pet ownership and pet food sales influences.

Dogs and cats are vying for the top spot in pet owners’ hearts more than ever, shifting pet food sales trends to match.

Pet food marketers begin to cat(ch) up

The cat segment may finally be getting its due as investors and companies alike see the available opportunities.

Cat owners have long known their animals are worth it, and now the pet food industry may be catching up.

The prognosis for prescription pet foods

Pet owners continue to shift the channels through which they purchase their pets’ diets.

Veterinary diet purchasing directly through the veterinarian is down, but that doesn’t mean pet owners aren’t spending their money on specialty formulations for their pets.

Pet supplement sales push past US$2 billion

An increased focus on pet health has pet owners looking beyond food for solutions.

The pet supplement space continues to grow as COVID has heightened pet owners’ awareness of their animals’ needs.

It’s raining kittens: Cat adoption in the spotlight

Learn about current trends in cat adoption, including a comparison to dog adoptions and a focus on kittens.

Dogs have been well-represented in pet food since pet food began, and now cats are getting some well-deserved attention.

Market prospects: Puppy adoption vs. senior dog spending

Learn about age-related trends in the dog ownership space, including the demographics of puppy adoptions versus senior dog spending.

Dog ownership is seeing shifts, with multiple potential causes merging together to highlight senior pups.

Pet Food Market

What’s next for pet food: A generational perspective

Learn about the various pet food shopping patterns found among the generational demographics, especially millennials and Gen Z.

All the generations love their pets, but they may have different priorities when it comes to feeding their beloved animal.

Pet Food Market

Inflation drives pet food dollar growth

Learn about current inflation patterns and their effects on the pet food market.

Dollar moving up. Money finance growth chart graph stock market

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