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- US Pet Food Market Report 2022
This report provides comprehensive and current information and analysis of the pet food market including pet food market size, anticipated market forecast, relevant market segmentation, pet food sales, and industry trends for the pet food market in the US.
Current us pet food market landscape
Inflation is driving sharp increases in pet food dollar sales but isn’t weakening pet owners’ resolve to feed their pets the best, supporting continued opportunities for premium products that deliver on quality and nutrition.
Highly attentive pet owners also want to ensure that their pets enjoy the feeding and treating experience, creating growth opportunities for treats, toppers and wet food.
Pet food market share and key pet food industry trends
- Dry food is still the default choice, but wet has room for further growth. While wet food has greater sales momentum for both dogs and cats, dry food remains a foundation of the market. More than eight in 10 owners report having purchased dry food in the past three months.
- Health and palatability more likely than savings to drive pet food switching. While rising prices may be making more pet owners open to the idea of switching to a less-expensive brand or variety of pet food, issues revolving around health and palatability are considerably more likely than money savings to motivate an actual change.
- A new generation of owners prioritizes sustainability in pet food. Health-related food and treat concepts draw strong interest relatively across all age groups, but concepts revolving around sustainability, including plant-based protein, insect protein and sustainable sourcing in general, appeal most strongly to younger pet owners.
Future market pet food industry trends
Ethical issues and sustainability have a growing impact on the human food market as more consumers expect retailers and manufacturers to take action to minimize food waste and environmental impact. That sentiment is also manifesting itself in the pet food market, creating opportunities for more sustainable alternatives.
Read on to discover more about the pet food market, read our US Pet Supplies Market Report 2022, or take a look at our other Pets research reports.
Quickly understand the pet food ingredients market
- Sales and market share trends across dog food, cat food, other pet food and treats.
- Pet food purchasers’ retail channel preferences and priorities when selecting food and treats.
- Opportunities for innovation in pet food and treats.
- Attitudes and behaviors toward pet food, treats and the feeding experience.
Covered in this pet food market report
Brands include: Nestlé, Mars, JM Smucker, ClifPet, Jiminy’s, Freshpet, Spring and Sprout, Walmart, PetSmart, Amazon, Chewy.com, Petco.com, Kroger, Safeway, Costco, Sam’s Club, Target.
Expert pet food industry analysis from a specialist in the field
This report, written by John Owen, a leading analyst in the Food and Retail sector, delivers in-depth commentary and analysis on pet food market research to highlight current trends and add expert context to the numbers.
Inflation is driving sharp increases in pet food dollar sales but isn’t weakening pet owners’ resolve to feed their pets the best. Quality, health and palatability are as important as ever. In addition, a new generation of sustainability-minded owners will demand options that are easier on the planet but still deliver on nutrition and taste.
John Owen
Associate Director
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Overview
- What you need to know
- This Report looks at the following areas
- Definition
- Market context
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Executive Summary
- Top takeaways
- Market overview
- Figure 1: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of pet food, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 2: Pet food category outlook, 2022-27
- Opportunities and challenges
- Dog and cat owners look for a balance in quality, health and palatability
- Figure 3: Pet food purchase factors, 2022
- Health and palatability more likely than savings to drive pet food switching
- Figure 4: Pet food behaviors – Food change, 2022
- Opportunity to increase treat incidence and frequency
- Figure 5: Pet food behaviors – Daily treating, 2022
- A new generation of owners prioritizes sustainability in pet food
- Figure 6: Pet food and treat innovation areas related to sustainability, by age, 2022
- Key consumer insights
- Online growth slows
- Dry dog food is still the default choice, but wet has room for further growth
- New generation of cat owners creates market for premium cats-only brands
- The limits of humanization
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Market Size and Forecast
- Short-term inflation-driven spike distorts moderate long-term growth trend
- Figure 7: Total US sales and fan chart forecast of pet food, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 8: Total US sales and forecast of pet food, at current prices, 2017-27
- Short-term inflation-driven spike distorts moderate long-term growth trend
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Segment Performance
- Dog and cat products account for most of category sales
- Figure 9: Share of sales of pet food, by segment, 2022 (est)
- Inflation lifts all segments; treats has greatest potential for further growth
- Dry food is still on top, but other forms have more momentum
- Figure 10: Total US sales and forecast of pet food, by segment, at current prices, 2017-22
- Dog and cat products account for most of category sales
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Market Factors
- Pet food is an economically resilient category
- Figure 11: Consumer Price Index change from previous year, 2020-22
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- Figure 12: Personal assessment of financial health, 2021-22
- Pet food is an economically resilient category
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Market Share/Key Players
- Top competitors see little share change
- Beyond top competitors, further premiumization
- Sales of pet food by company
- Figure 13: Multi-outlet sales of pet food, by leading companies, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
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Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities
- Alternative proteins gain momentum
- Figure 14: Pet food and treat products featuring alternative proteins
- Appetizing opportunities in the cat food market
- Figure 15: US pet food/treat launches, by type of pet, 2018-22
- Alternative proteins gain momentum
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The Pet Food Consumer – Fast Facts
- Online growth slows
- Dry food is still the default choice, but wet has room for further growth
- Balancing quality, health and palatability is key on both sides of the aisle
- Health and palatability more likely than savings to drive pet food switching
- Opportunity to increase treat incidence and frequency
- A new generation of owners prioritizes sustainability in pet food
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Pet Food Purchase Locations
- Online growth slows
- Figure 16: Pet food purchase locations, 2022
- Desire for value and convenience drive pet food retailer choices
- Figure 17: Pet food purchase locations, by type of pet owned, 2022
- Online growth slows
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Dog Food and Treats Purchased
- Dry food is still the default choice, but wet has room for further growth
- Figure 18: Dog food and treats purchased, 2022
- Toppers strongest in specialty and online
- Figure 19: Dog food and treats purchased, by primary pet food retailer, 2022
- Dry food is still the default choice, but wet has room for further growth
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Cat Food and Treats Purchased
- Cat owners more likely to be dual-form purchasers
- Figure 20: Cat food and treats purchased, 2022
- Toppers skew strongly to specialty and online
- Figure 21: Cat food and treats purchased, by primary pet food retailer, 2022
- Cat owners more likely to be dual-form purchasers
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Pet Food Purchase Factors
- Gap narrows between cat and dog owners’ desire for quality, health and palatability
- Figure 22: Pet food purchase factors, 2022
- Premium cats-only brands stirred by next generation pet owners
- Figure 23: Cat food purchase factors, by age, 2022
- Specialty and online shoppers more likely to focus on product quality
- Figure 24: Pet food purchase factors – NET: dog or cat, by primary pet food retailer, 2022
- Gap narrows between cat and dog owners’ desire for quality, health and palatability
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Pet Food Behaviors
- Purchase shifts driven by health and taste before savings
- Figure 25: Pet food behaviors – Food change, 2022
- Room to grow treat incidence and frequency
- Figure 26: Pet food behaviors – Daily treating, 2022
- Cat owners more likely to be dual wet/dry feeders
- Figure 27: Dog and cat food types purchased, 2022
- Dual-feeding dog owners especially likely to mix wet and dry
- More dual-feeding cat owners feed wet primarily
- Figure 28: Pet food behaviors – Dual-form feeding, 2022
- Purchase shifts driven by health and taste before savings
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Pet Food and Treat Innovation Areas
- Health maintenance a key priority for pet food shoppers
- Figure 29: Pet food and treat innovation areas, 2022
- Sustainable pet food trends driven by a next generation of pet owners
- Figure 30: Pet food and treat innovation areas, by age, 2022
- Health maintenance a key priority for pet food shoppers
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Attitudes toward Pet Food and Treats
- The limits of humanization
- Figure 31: Attitudes toward pet food and treats, 2022
- Young pet owners’ limited budgets and high expectations point to premium private label
- Figure 32: Attitudes toward pet food and treats – Ethics, sustainability and price sensitivity, by age, 2022
- Health, sustainability outrank price for specialty and online shoppers
- Figure 33: Attitudes toward pet food and treats – Value, ethics and sustainability, by primary pet food retailer, 2022
- The limits of humanization
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Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Forecast
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
- Terms
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Appendix – The Market
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- Figure 34: Total US retail sales and forecast of pet food, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 35: Total US retail sales and forecast of cat food, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 36: Total US retail sales and forecast of cat food, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 37: Total US retail sales and forecast of dog food, at current prices, 2017-27
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- Figure 38: Total US retail sales and forecast of dog food, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 39: Total US retail sales and forecast of other pet food, at current prices, 2017-27
- Figure 40: Total US retail sales and forecast of other pet food, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 41: Total US retail sales and forecast of pet treats, at current prices, 2017-27
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- Figure 42: Total US retail sales and forecast of pet treats, at inflation-adjusted prices, 2017-27
- Figure 43: Total US retail sales of pet food, by retail channel, at current prices, 2017-22
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Appendix – Other Market Data
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- Figure 44: Multi-outlet sales of pet food, by subsegment, 2017-22
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Appendix – Companies and Brands
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- Figure 45: Multi-outlet sales of cat food, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Figure 46: Multi-outlet sales of dog food, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
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- Figure 47: Multi-outlet sales of other pet food, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
- Figure 48: Multi-Outlet sales of pet treats, by leading companies and brands, rolling 52 weeks 2021 and 2022
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