The pet industry is poised to swell from $320 billion today to nearly $500 billion by 2030, according to a new report from Bloomberg Intelligence.
The report finds that this growth is boosted by:
- A growing pet population worldwide.
- The premiumization of food and services resulting from the continued humanization of animal companions.
The analysis finds that the U.S. is positioned to continue to remain the largest pet market, with sales approaching $200 billion by the end of the decade. This growth is driven by an increase in spending on pet-related healthcare — including veterinary care, diagnostics, and pharmaceuticals — that has created longer pet lifespans that require more expensive elderly care. This advancement and prioritization of elderly care may in turn lead to an increase of the US pet population by 13%, according to the report.
Other emerging markets may see outsized growth due to the increase in nuclear families in urban areas, single-person households, and a rise in per capita disposable income.
More from the report:
Alongside this longer pet lifespan comes a larger investment in increasingly complex drugs like monoclonal antibodies, which could make the pet pharmaceutical market top $25 billion by 2030. The analysis predicts that increased animal longevity and healthcare improvements might accelerate the use of preventive-care diagnostics as well, with the potential to become a $30 billion global market. Europe represents that largest growth opportunity with a total addressable market around $12 billion with just 8% penetration.
BI finds that positive trends in the largest pet industry category, alongside elevated levels of stickiness as pet owners continue to be reluctant to switch diets for their pets, may allow the global pet food market to top $135 billion by the end of the decade, an increase of 52% from current levels. This increased spending is expected to remain the largest expense for pet owners in the US, as food spending remains consistent even throughout economic downturns. The report also predicts that premium fresh frozen food, which only accounts for 1% of the market, may outpace other categories as awareness of health effects of food on pets continues to grow.
Ann-Hunter Van Kirk, Bloomberg Intelligence Senior Biopharmaceutical Analyst and co-author of the report said: “Increased pet nutrition is leading to longer pet lives around the world. With this comes an increased need for spending relating to expensive healthcare for aging pets, and we project that this spending on lasting health for pets will continue to swell over the next decade.”
Diana Rosero-Pena, Bloomberg Intelligence Consumer Staples Analyst and co-author of the report said: “We’re seeing a profound increase in consumer spending on pets and expect to see this continue through 2030. Consumers are willing to pay more for items for their pets, with the pet food market having the potential to grow more than 50% from current levels by the end of the decade.”
With the push towards increasingly expensive pet care in the US being driven by younger consumers, newer means of acquiring pet goods continue to grow in popularity, with Bloomberg Intelligence estimating that US sales from e-commerce will double to nearly $60 billion by 2030. This would grow US e-commerce market share to around 30% compared to its existing 22%. This headway is thanks to digital native retailers’ investments to reduce friction that are increasingly popular among consumers.
