Plenty of light, some shade

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40 per cent of the British population own at least one pet. Of the 27 mio pets living in Britain, the most popular animal is the dog. The population figure of 7.3 mio is broken down into 5.6 mio pedigree dogs and 1.9 mio crossbreeds. The most popular breeds are the Labrador and the Border Collie (600 000 each), the Jack Russell Terrier (500 000) and the Yorkshire Terrier (400 000). Cats are also very popular in Britain, and the cat population of 7.2 mio comprises 0.5 mio pedigree cats and 6.6 mio crossbreeds. The number of small animals is put by the PFMA at 2.1 mio, including1.4 mio rabbits and 0.5 mio hamsters. The number of cage birds comes to 800 mio and the population of other pets to 1 mio.
Trends in pet foodThe biggest sub-market in Great Britain continues to be the market for canine products, which increased in 2007 by 4 per cent compared with the previous year to £ 912 mio (€ 1.147 bn). In the dog food segment, dry food sales grew by 3 per cent compared with the previous year to £ 400 mio (€ 503 mio). Sales of moist food increased by 1 per cent and came to £ 301 mio (€ 378 mio) in 2007. The market for mixer products, on the other hand, declined by 5 per cent in 2007 to £ 28 mio (€ 35 mio). The biggest rise of 10 per cent was experienced by treats, which accounted for sales of £ 183 mio (€ 230) in 2007.The market for cat products grew in 2007 by 3 per cent to £ 742 mio (€ 933 mio). Moist food continues to dominate this product segment. The single-serve segment grew by 10 per cent to £ 396 mio (€ 498 mio) in 2007, whereas the multi-serve segment, which includes canned products, declined by 10 per cent in 2007 to £ 159 mio (€ 200 mio). Compared with 2006, the dry food segment increased by 1 per cent to £ 173 mio, while sales of treats rose by 14 per cent, attaining a volume of £ 14 mio (€ 17 mio). However, the fastest growing market of all pet groups was that for small mammals, with sales up by 6 per cent to £ 56 mio (€ 70 mio).
Analysis“2007 has been a challenging year for the pet food industry,” comments PFMA Chairman Graham Baker in relation to the new market data. He cites high raw material prices and the consequences of exotic animal disease outbreaks such as Avian Influenza and Foot and Mouth Disease, which had negative effects on the pet sector also. In its market analysis the PFMA also stresses that sub-sectors such as health-enhancing and age-related products, sensitivity diets and…