Developments in the French market

In previous years, the speciality trade was always on the fringes of the French pet supplies market. The big supermarket groups like Carrefour, Auchan and others, with their various formats covering the market across the country, were the ones who dictated the tune.
Although nothing has changed substantially as regards the dominance of the French supermarkets, other distribution channels, especially pet stores, are gradually gaining ground. There are several reasons for this. For one thing, the number of pet stores in France has increased steadily in recent years, not least due to the arrival of the Fressnapf Group in the market. Now many pet owners don’t have to drive miles to shop in a pet store. Most of these stores are located in well-frequented shopping centres with extensive car parking.
Another reason for the growth observed in the French pet supplies trade lies in the more sophisticated demands of many pet owners. Dogs and cats have become fully-fledged family members in many households, for whom only the best is good enough in terms of pet food and accessories. And there are a growing number of single people, for whom these pets are the main object of affection.

The majority of the premium pet food brands that are becoming increasingly popular with consumers are only available from speciality retailers, however. Such outlets include not only pet shops and stores, but also agricultural stores (Lisas) and garden centres. The selection of accessories, along with care and pharmaceutical products, is also much greater there than in the supermarkets. Another feature exclusive to these speciality retailers is the provision of advice, which is becoming increasingly important to consumers.
Whether French pet product retailers will ever be able to break the dominance of the grocery trade remains to be seen. We must also wait to see how online shopping develops in the pet sector. Its market share is currently estimated at just 2 per cent, but that should change in the next few years, as the experience of other countries shows.
tend to introduce their own online shops. That will surely raise their profile and their prominence in the market as a whole, and give further impetus to the pet supplies trade in France.
Ralf Majer-Abele
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