Problems with brick-and-mortar pet food retailers in China boost online sales, but also present opportunities for pet food industry growth, according to Warren Rickard, co-founder of veterinary medicine company Anivive. Rickard shared his observations during his presentation at Petfood Forum China 2018 on August 21 in Shanghai.
Several aspects of the Chinese pet food market contribute to the growth of online pet food sales in the Middle Kingdom. Online pet food sales in China outpace the United States because consumers want quality brands that they can only trust and find online, said Rickard.
Pet food consumers in China may not live near a trusted pet store, said Rickard. To find the pet foods they want, consumers look online, he said. Similarly, pet food sold in brick-and-mortar pet stores limited and sometimes not authentic.
Opportunities for Chinese pet food retailers
The problems with retailers in the Chinese pet food market may create three opportunities.
- Rickard noted that there exists an opportunity for the establishment of big box pet food retailers in China. These retailers could spread nationwide.
- Another opportunity in China’s brink-and-mortar retail space is to make quality pet food brands more readily available in convenience stores, grocery stores and other markets, Rickard said.
- Online pet food retailers could create more specialty pet e-commerce sites, he said. These sites would educate pet owners, not just focus on selling products.
About Petfood Forum events
Petfood R&D Showcase is scheduled for October 9-11, 2018 at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Registration is now open.
Petfood Forum is the not-to-be-missed trade show event for pet food professionals from around the world to network, exchange ideas and do business with one another and with the industry's leading pet food manufacturers and suppliers. Petfood Forum 2019 will take place at the Kansas City Convention Center in Kansas City, Missouri, USA on April 29 – May 1, 2019. Super early bird registration is now open for Petfood Forum 2019.
