Pet owners have embraced e-commerce and moved on to full autopilot as subscription services grow. From recurring shipments of 50-pound kibble bags to curated artisanal treat boxes, subscription e-commerce is no longer a side channel, Packaged Facts analysts wrote in Pet Food in the US, 19th Edition (November 2025).
“E-commerce leads the way in US retail sales of pet food, with brick-and-mortar (B&M) mass merchandisers/supercenters come in at a distant second place, followed by B&M pet specialty chains,” they wrote. “Packaged Facts expects the channel to continue pulling share away from others at a somewhat slower pace in the years to come, with the ongoing, intensive, competitive pushes of Amazon.com and the subscription-driven sales of Chewy.com driving the momentum.”
Across everyday categories like household goods, groceries and pet food, 27% of U.S. consumers now use some form of subscription or regularly scheduled delivery, according to Packaged Facts’ September 2025 survey. Usage climbs to 30%–36% among Gen Z, millennials and Gen X, but drops to 17% for Boomers, underscoring a strong, tech-driven generational divide. Younger pet owners are entering the market expecting “set it and forget it” replenishment as a baseline convenience.
Within pet, subscriptions have moved squarely into the mainstream. Packaged Facts’ January 2025 survey reports that 39% of pet product shoppers use the internet for at least one type of pet product subscription, with pet food the most common at 20%.
Pet owners want competitive pricing and convenience, and e-commerce subscriptions offer just that, they wrote. For brands and retailers, subscription sales create steadier business bases and more predictable revenue streams, while inherently generating demographic information about pets and their owners. That data can support better personalization, more targeted promotions and product development grounded in real-world feeding patterns. Subscriptions also reduce the constant pressure to acquire new, possibly one-and-done customers. Because subscription programs are built around individual households and evolving pet needs, they naturally mesh with loyalty strategies.
