Cats continue to lead the way

The market research company Les Echos Etudes carried out the annual survey of Promojardin, an association which promotes gardening and the improvement of the environment and the habitat of flora and fauna. Together with its Prom'animal section, which is dedicated to pets, the association estimates from the survey that the sale of pet products yielded 4 billion euros in 2017, a rise of 2 per cent compared with 2016.
The cat segment, which tops the list with 43 per cent of overall sales, increased its sales by 3 per cent compared with 2016. Here non-food products recorded a bigger increase (+ 5 per cent) than food (+ 2 per cent). Apart from treats, sales of which are static, all cat products grew in 2017. 

Dogs accounted for 37 per cent of overall sales and remained steady compared with 2016. Food sales stayed at the same level, while sales in the non-food segment fell by 1 per cent. Only treat sales continued to grow (+ 2 per cent).The aquatics segment was in decline, accounting for 4 per cent of overall sales (- 4 per cent). Small animals experienced a downturn also, accounting for 5 per cent of overall sales (- 2 per cent). The bird segment, which is responsible for 3 per cent of overall sales, declined by 2 per cent, although products for animals in the wild recorded growth of 10 per cent. The reptile segment delivered a poorer performance, declining by 2 per cent.

E-commerce (+ 16 per cent compared with 2016 and 9 per cent of overall sales) and pet store chains (+ 8 per cent compared with 2016 and 12 per cent of overall sales) are the two distribution channels accounting for the majority of sales. The good performance of the pet store chains is explained in part by the expansion of store retail parks in the French market.