Pet Food Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity and Forecast, By Pet Type (Dog, Cat, Others), By Sales Channel (Pet Specialty Store, Supermarket/Hypermarket, Online, Others), By Region & Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 204.11 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	7.58%
Fastest Growing Segment	Online
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 316.41 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Pet Food Market will grow from USD 204.11 Billion in 2025 to USD 316.41 Billion by 2031 at a 7.58% CAGR. Pet food is defined as specialized plant or animal material manufactured to meet the specific nutritional requirements of domesticated animals, primarily dogs and cats. The market’s robust expansion is fundamentally underpinned by the humanization of pets, where owners view companion animals as integral family members and prioritize high-quality, health-centric nutrition. Furthermore, rising global disposable incomes enable consumers to purchase premium formulations, thereby supporting sustained demand for nutritionally balanced and therapeutic diet options.

Despite these positive drivers, the industry faces a significant challenge in the form of raw material price volatility and supply chain disruptions, which increase production costs and pressure retail pricing. These economic factors can constrain market volume, particularly in price-sensitive regions where inflation impacts consumer spending power. Demonstrating the sector's substantial economic footprint, according to the Pet Food Institute, in 2025, the United States pet food sector reported $51.7 billion in sales for the 2024 fiscal year.

Key Market Drivers

The Rising Trend of Pet Humanization and Parenting acts as a primary catalyst for market growth, fundamentally altering consumption patterns as owners increasingly regard companion animals as family members. This cultural shift translates into a higher willingness to spend on premium, human-grade nutrition, effectively moving the sector from basic sustenance toward indulgence and emotional satisfaction. Consequently, consumers are upgrading to higher-priced formats, ensuring consistent revenue expansion even in mature markets. Highlighting this economic impact, according to the American Pet Products Association, March 2024, in the 'State of the Industry: Strategic Insights from the National Pet Owners Survey 2024', United States pet owners spent $64.4 billion specifically on pet food and treats in 2023.

Simultaneously, Heightened Consumer Awareness of Pet Health and Veterinary Wellness is reshaping product formulation, with a distinct surge in demand for functional ingredients that address longevity and specific medical conditions. Owners are proactively seeking diets enriched with probiotics, omega fatty acids, and superfoods to mitigate veterinary costs and improve quality of life, effectively merging the pet food and healthcare sectors. This focus on nutritional parity is evident; according to Pet Worldwide, January 2025, in the article 'ADM unveils global consumer survey', 85% of pet owners globally believe that proper nutrition and supplements are as important for their pets as they are for themselves. Demonstrating the extensive scale of this value-driven market across different regions, according to FEDIAF, June 2024, the European pet food industry generated €29.2 billion in annual sales revenue.

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Key Market Challenges

Raw material price volatility and supply chain disruptions represent a substantial impediment to the sustained expansion of the global pet food market. The industry is heavily reliant on a consistent flow of agricultural inputs, including proteins, grains, and vegetables, making it acutely vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity costs driven by geopolitical instability or climate-related harvest issues. When these input prices spike, manufacturers face increased production costs that compress operating margins. To maintain viability, companies are often forced to transfer these expenses to the consumer, resulting in higher retail prices that can stifle demand, particularly in price-sensitive economic regions where discretionary spending is already under pressure.

This volatility disrupts the stability required for long-term market planning and investment. Furthermore, logistical bottlenecks can lead to inventory shortages, preventing brands from fulfilling orders and causing immediate revenue loss. The magnitude of this dependency on the agricultural supply chain creates significant financial exposure for the sector. According to the Pet Food Institute, in 2025, U.S. pet food manufacturers purchased $13.2 billion in farm products during the 2024 fiscal year. Such a massive financial reliance on raw materials underscores how supply chain instability can directly hamper the industry's ability to maintain affordable pricing and consistent market growth.

Key Market Trends

The rapid mainstreaming of fresh, freeze-dried, and raw diet formats is reshaping the market as owners increasingly prioritize minimally processed alternatives to traditional dry kibble. This trend is driven by a demand for higher nutrient density and palatability, prompting manufacturers to invest in cold-chain logistics and advanced preservation technologies that maintain the integrity of whole-food ingredients. The shift toward these premium, refrigerated, and dehydrated options is outperforming broader category growth, validating the commercial viability of high-maintenance formats. Highlighting this robust expansion, according to Freshpet, February 2025, in the 'Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Financial Results', the company reported that full-year net sales reached $975.2 million, representing a significant 27.2% increase over the prior year.

Simultaneously, the integration of upcycled and ethically sourced ingredients represents a pivot toward sustainability, transforming agricultural by-products into premium nutritional components. By repurposing nutrient-rich materials—such as organ meats, surplus vegetables, and rendered fats—companies are establishing a circular economy model that reduces food waste while securing a stable supply of high-quality protein. This approach allows brands to meet rigorous environmental standards without compromising on nutritional value. Demonstrating the scale of this sustainable sourcing, according to Petfood Industry, April 2025, in the article '2025 pet food ingredient report reveals $51.7B market, rising demand for premium nutrition', in 2024, manufacturers incorporated more than 3 million tons of upcycled ingredients specifically into dog food formulations.

Segmental Insights

The Online segment constitutes the fastest growing sales channel within the Global Pet Food Market. This expansion is primarily driven by the convenience of direct home delivery and the increasing adoption of automated subscription models that ensure consistent product availability. Digital platforms provide consumers with access to an extensive variety of niche and premium dietary options often lacking in physical retail locations. Moreover, the capacity to easily compare detailed nutritional information and ingredient sources online supports the rising demand for transparency and informed purchasing choices among modern pet owners.

Regional Insights

North America maintains a dominant position in the global pet food market, primarily driven by the rising trend of pet humanization and high disposable income. Consumers increasingly demand nutritious and organic products, treating pets as integral family members. The region benefits from a strong concentration of key market players and established distribution channels. Additionally, strict adherence to safety regulations enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ensures product quality, thereby fostering high consumer trust. This combination of economic capacity and regulatory assurance solidifies North America as the leading regional market.

Recent Developments

• In December 2024, Wellness Pet Company announced a partnership with Best Friends Pet Care to distribute its premium nutrition products across a network of pet care and boarding facilities in the United States. Under this collaboration, the company will supply its scientifically formulated dry and wet food recipes, along with dental treats, to dogs and cats staying at the partner's locations. The initiative is designed to ensure that pets have access to high-quality, natural nutrition while away from home, enhancing the service standards of the hospitality provider. This agreement illustrates the increasing industry trend of integrating premium dietary options into broader pet care services.
• In August 2024, Mars Petcare initiated a strategic collaboration with Big Idea Ventures to launch the Next Generation Pet Food Program. Partnering also with AAK and Bühler, the company established this pilot initiative to identify and support startups that are developing sustainable protein and fat technologies for the pet food industry. The program aims to accelerate the creation of eco-friendly solutions, such as novel ingredients and upcycling processes, to reduce the carbon footprint associated with pet food production. Through this partnership, the organization seeks to drive innovation in sustainability and address the growing environmental demands of the market.
• In July 2024, the United Kingdom-based cultivated meat company Meatly achieved a significant regulatory milestone by receiving approval to sell its lab-grown chicken pet food in the UK. This authorization, granted following a comprehensive safety assessment by the Food Standards Agency and the Animal and Plant Health Agency, made the firm the first in Europe to be cleared for the sale of cultivated meat specifically for pet consumption. The approval allows the company to commercialize its sustainable protein source, which is produced directly from animal cells without traditional farming methods. This development represents a major breakthrough in the research and application of alternative proteins for the global pet food market.
• In January 2024, Hill's Pet Nutrition introduced a new range of therapeutic products within its Prescription Diet line, designed to address specific health conditions in dogs and cats. The company launched innovations such as the z/d Low Fat Hydrolyzed Soy Canine formula, which targets food and fat sensitivities, and the c/d Multicare Low Fat Canine diet, aimed at supporting urinary health. These new offerings incorporate the organization's proprietary ActivBiome+ ingredient technology, which utilizes a blend of prebiotics to activate the gut microbiome and promote digestive well-being. This product expansion reflects the firm's strategy to provide science-led nutrition that assists veterinarians in managing complex clinical needs.

Key Market Players

• Schell & Kampeter, Inc.
• Nestlé S.A.
• Mars, Incorporated
• Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc.
• Blue Buffalo Company Ltd.
• Wellness Pet Company, Inc.
• Simmons Foods, Inc.
• Unicharm Corporation
• The J.M. Smucker Company
• Affinity Petcare, S.A.U.

By Pet Type	By Sales Channel	By Region
Dog Cat Others	Pet Specialty Store Supermarket/Hypermarket Online Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Pet Food Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Pet Food Market, By Pet Type:

• Dog
• Cat
• Others

• Pet Food Market, By Sales Channel:

• Pet Specialty Store
• Supermarket/Hypermarket
• Online
• Others

• Pet Food Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE