Interest in the pond business growing

For years the UK, Germany and the Benelux states have been the leaders in the garden pond market. In France the market is growing gradually, which is due above all to increased efforts on the part of the garden centre chains and DIY stores. Even speciality chains like Animalis are taking a stronger interest in the pond segment. This is a trend that is also strongly perceptible in Germany, where speciality groups like Zoo & Co. and Futterhaus have considerably extended their investment in the pond business. Their range is no longer restricted to pond fish, fish food and care products, and in many stores large indoor ponds have been created that advertise this attractive hobby all year round. The cold water fish stocks are varied to take account of the season. Even the selection of equipment sold is deliberately being extended in close cooperation with suppliers loyal to the speciality trade.Koi have become the favourite of all garden pond enthusiasts worldwide.Considerable interest in ponds has also been evident in recent years in Eastern Europe, and both trade and industry anticipate strong growth in this sector in the next few years, especially in countries such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Whereas ponds were previously established primarily in the context of landscaping for hotels and public buildings, private households are gradually acquiring a taste for their own little oasis. Those familiar with the sector believe that this trend will continue, their optimism being based chiefly on the increasing involvement of DIY chains in the segment.Due to the lack of sufficient retail space, the classic pet product trade is only participating in the growth in the garden pond market with sales of some food, care products and a basic stock of accessories. Since the average retail area in the pet trade in Eastern Europe is only going to increase slowly over the next few years, it will probably be the DIY stores and garden centres multiplying in the Eastern European countries that provide any significant impetus for the garden pond business.Garden centres and some pet product stores have large indoor garden ponds advertising the pond as a hobby.A similar situation exists in Southern Europe. Here too garden centres and DIY stores account for the majority of pond business, especially with regard to the lucrative technical equipment sphere, while the sale of food and fish is left to the pet dealers. The market coverage of ponds remains small…