Speciality trade takes market share from the supermarkets

Compared with the previous year, sales in the pet supplies sector increased by just 0.1 per cent in 2005 to € 3.154 bn. The dog and cat product groups experienced a decline (- 0.1 per cent each), as did the aquatics sector(- 1 per cent). On the other hand, an increase compared with the previous year was recorded for the ornamental bird (+ 3 per cent), small mammal (+ 2.2 per cent) and garden pond (+ 2.3 per cent) product groups. The growth in the ornamental bird segment in particular is a surprise; after all, this entire segment worldwide suffered considerably from the effects of bird flu in the previous year.There was also some movement in market share with regard to distribution channels. The declining importance of moist food for dogs and cats had a negative effect on supermarket sales too last year, and 2005 saw the revenues of Carrefour, Auchan & Co. in the pet pro-duct sector fall by two per cent to € 1.813 bn. Their market share is now 58 per cent. Garden centres, on the other hand, made gains here with sales of pet products totalling € 352 mio, equivalent to growth of 4 per cent compared with the previous year. Rural trading organisations also improved their position, with sales up by 3.2 per cent last year. Other channels that performed well include the organised speciality trade (+ 4 per cent), veterinarians (+ 4.6 per cent) and DIY stores (+ 2.3 per cent). A decline in sales of 0.6 per cent was recorded for independent pet product dealers.The drop in sales of moist food in the supermarkets was responsible for a decline of 0.3 per cent in the overall market for pet food, which had a volume of € 2.138 bn in 2005. This equates to a market share of 73 per cent. In contrast the care and hygiene segment, with a volume of € 307 mio, recorded strong growth of 2.5 per cent. These products account for a market share of 10 per cent. The accessories segment still tends to be underdeveloped on a European scale and sales in this segment last year amounted to € 528 mio, equivalent to a share of 17 per cent of the market.maj Speciality trade takes market share from the supermarkets (download pdf-file)