Annual sales of pet food products in Europe reached EUR 29.2 billion in 2022, a small increase over previously reported data for the year by the European Pet Food Industry Federation’s (FEDIAF). Reported volume dropped to 9.9 million metric tons from 10.5 million metric tons of pet food sold in Europe in 2022. Annual growth in volume dropped to 2% from 3.5% in the previous report. The estimated annual growth rate of the pet food industry, considering the average value of the past three years increased to 9%, up from 5.1%.
FEDIAF changed its timeframe for gathering data for its most recent report and advised against making year-to-year comparisons between the new 2022 data and previous years’ reports. FEDIAF will now report pet food industry data from two years before publication.
The Federation’s estimated number of pet food companies based in Europe climbed to 375 from 150 in the previous report. Likewise the number of pet food production plants increased to 480 from 200. In 2022, the pet food industry directly employed 283,000 people in Europe, with another 2,300,000 employed indirectly.
European pet food industry
The European pet food industry serves one of the world’s largest markets, characterized by significant regional diversity. While growth in some European countries’ pet food sectors may not match the rapid expansion seen in developing economies, the overall market in Europe is well-established and often sets trends that are followed globally.
In response to the twin trends of humanization and premiumization, European consumers have become increasingly aware of the ingredients in their own diets, prompting them to seek the same high quality in the pet foods they purchase. This has driven the market for premium, natural and organic pet food products.
Additionally, European pet owners have been at the forefront of demanding sustainability in the pet food industry. To meet these expectations, European pet food manufacturers are increasingly utilizing sustainably sourced ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging.
