French market growing substantially

The French pet supplies market grew by 6 per cent in 2020 to a sales volume of over 5 bn euros, according to the latest figures from the industry association Prom'Animal.
In the association's study, the cat segment was found to be the principal growth driver, expanding by 8 per cent compared with the previous year. Sales in the small animal category also increased by 8 per cent compared with 2019, while hobby farming sales rose by 9 per cent.
Accounting for a share of 70 per cent, pet food remains the main source of sales in the pet supplies sector. Accessories are responsible for nearly a quarter of the overall market and pets account for three per cent. The only segment that showed no growth in sales in the last year is aquariums.
One striking point emerging from the study was that pet stores were one of the most successful distribution channels, with sales up by 21 per cent and online retailing experiencing sales growth of 20 per cent. In contrast, sales of pet products in supermarkets and DIY stores only exhibited a modest increase, while those of garden centres were static in 2020.