Pet Food Market Report 2026

The pet food market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $78.48 billion in 2025 to $83.51 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to rising pet ownership rates, humanization of pets, expansion of organized pet retail channels, increased spending on pet wellness, wider availability of commercial pet food.

The pet food market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $109.63 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing demand for functional and therapeutic pet diets, growing preference for natural and organic pet food, expansion of e-commerce pet food sales, rising awareness of pet nutrition science, innovation in alternative protein sources for pets. Major trends in the forecast period include premiumization of pet food products, rising demand for specialized and functional diets, expansion of natural and clean-label ingredients, growing focus on breed- and age-specific nutrition, increasing innovation in pet food formulations.

The increase in pet ownership is expected to be a driving force behind the growth of the pet food market in the coming years. Pet ownership involves the act of caring for and being responsible for one or more animals kept as pets. The rising trend of pet ownership and evolving attitudes toward pets as integral family members have spurred the demand for high-quality, specialized, and convenient pet food products. For instance, in March 2023, according to Improve International, a UK-based training provider, there are 38 million pets residing in approximately 57% of UK homes (16.2 million), reflecting a 9% increase from 35 million in 2022. Hence, the surge in pet ownership is a significant factor propelling the growth of the pet food market.

Major companies in the pet food market are increasingly focusing on innovative solutions, such as AI-powered dog food, to provide personalized nutrition tailored to the specific needs of individual pets. AI-powered dog food encompasses specialized nutrition products formulated using advanced artificial intelligence algorithms and data analysis. For instance, in January 2024, PawCo Foods, a U.S.-based operator of a subscription-based food platform, launched two innovative plant-based dog food products: InstaBites, a fresh shelf-stable option that combines the convenience of kibble with high-quality nutrition, and LuxBites, a premium fresh food enriched with postbiotics and fermented protein to enhance gut health and immunity. Both products feature PawCo's proprietary GreenMeat, the first fully plant-based meat designed for dogs, and utilize artificial intelligence to optimize nutrition and improve taste. This development reflects the growing trend of leveraging technology to meet the evolving demands of pet owners for healthier and more personalized pet food options.

In December 2024, General Mills, Inc., a US-based food manufacturing company, acquired Whitebridge Pet Brands’ North American premium cat-feeding and pet-treating business for US$1.45 billion. Through this acquisition, General Mills aimed to strengthen its position in the rapidly growing pet food market by expanding its pet care portfolio and enhancing its capabilities in premium cat food and pet treats. Whitebridge Pet Brands is a US-based pet food company specializing in premium cat feeding solutions and pet treat products.

Major companies operating in the pet food market are Mars, Incorporated, Nestlé S.A., The J.M. Smucker Company, Colgate-Palmolive Company, General Mills, Inc., Diamond Pet Foods Inc., Unicharm Corporation, Saturn Petcare GmbH, Tiernahrung Deuerer GmbH, Nippon Pet Food Co. Ltd., Marukan Co. Ltd., Riverd Corporation Inc., Yantai China Pet Foods Co. Ltd., Real Pet Food Company, Monge & C. S.p.A., Burgess Pet Care, GA Pet Food Partners, Partner in Pet Food, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Elmira Pet Products Ltd., Brazilian Pet Foods S/A, Natural Pet Foods.

North America was the largest region in the pet food market in 2025. Western Europe was the second-largest region in the pet food market. The regions covered in the pet food market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the pet food market report are China, India, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The pet food market consists of sales of dry dog food, dog treats, wet dog food, wet cat food, dry cat food, cat treats, and other pet food. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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