European pet numbers on the rise: Sales numbers of petfood market report steady growth

The European petfood market continued to grow in 2022, according to the latest market data from FEDIAF EuropeanPetFood. One of the biggest drivers of sales was an overall increase in the pet population in Europe.

Pets lived in 46 percent of European households in 2022. The total number of animals, aquariums and terrariums amounted to 340 million, according to FEDIAF, the European Pet Food Industry Federation. The federation’s annual report confirms a steady growth of pet ownership in Europe: 91 million European households own one or more pets. Compared to the previous year, there were about 27.5 million more pets, aquariums and terrariums in Europe in 2022, an increase of 8.8 percent. Europe's most popular pet remains the cat: 127 million cats lived in 26 percent of households. In second place followed 104 million dogs in 25 percent of households.

Petfood in Europe: A market growing year by year

The increase in the pet population is reflected in the growth of the petfood market: the European petfood market grew by 3.5 percent in 2022, rising to total turnover of 29 billion euros (previous year: 27.7 billion), according to FEDIAF. The growth rate of the industry is 5.1 percent. In addition, there are services and non-food commodities related to pet care that also benefit from the development with an accumulated turnover of 24.5 billion euros (plus 4.5 percent).

Further facts and figures from the FEDIAF-report

Employment in the petfood sector also increased last year: 118,000 people were directly employed in the petfood sector and 950,000 worked indirectly for the sector. However, the number of companies and businesses in the petfood sector has remained unchanged: FEDIAF counts 150 manufacturers and 200 petfood production factories within Europe.

Summary of facts and figures

• 340 million pets in Europe
• 91 million households have pets (46 percent)
• Petfood industry market growth in 2022: 3.5 percent
• Petfood industry growth rate: 5.1 percent
• Petfood sales 2022: 29.1 billion euros
• Sales of services and non-food: 24.5 billion euros (plus 4.5 percent)

Interzoo: meeting place for the petfood industry

Exhibitors and visitors from within the petfood industry have always been an integral part of Interzoo. Currently, the product segment of petfood technology records continuous growth in numbers. According to the visitor survey at Interzoo 2022, 32 percent of all respondents said they were interested in products from the petfood technology - the second highest figure of all product segments. Hence, petfood manufacturers from all over the worlds use the world's leading trade fair, Interzoo, to maintain business relationships, present their products and make new contacts.

According to the 2022 visitor survey, 15 percent of the trade visitors come from the petfood segment and a further 6 percent from manufacturing. It is therefore no surprise that Interzoo 2024 (7-10 May 2024) is one of the most important events for the petfood industry as a platform for global innovations and international networking. As in 2022, the trade conference Petfood Forum Europe will also be held at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre in cooperation with WATT Global Media on the day before Interzoo opens. The most important one-day event for the European petfood industry will bring together acknowledged industry experts and decision-makers from the petfood industry in Nuremberg on 6 May 2024.