Sector continues to grow

The market research firm Assalco has published its 16th study of the Italian pet supplies market, covering 2022. According to the study, nearly 65 million pets, including almost nine million dogs and ten million cats, live in around 26.2 million Italian homes. “More than 40 per cent of Italian households now have at least one pet. The importance of our relationship with pets is undeniable,” said the president of Assalco, commenting on the latest figures.

Sales of cat and dog food alone in the Italian market are put at 2.759 bn euros in the study. The data was gathered from classic pet shops, pet store chains, food retailers and the pet departments of supermarkets. Compared with the previous year, sales increased in value terms by 11.4 per cent, which Assalco attributes in particular to the strong inflationary dynamic in all product categories. This is because the volume of pet food sold, at over 673 000 tonnes, equates to an increase of just 0.8 per cent compared with 2021.

Cat food accounted for 53.8 per cent of the overall value, with turnover slightly above 1.484 bn euros. Dog food, on the other hand, accounts for 46.2 per cent of the market as a whole or 1.275 bn euros.

Apart from dogs and cats, market researcher Euromonitor believes the Italian pet sector to include nearly 30 mio fish, 13 mio cage birds and almost 3.2 mio small animals and reptiles. The market for food for these pets increased by 2.3 per cent in volume and by 5.6 per cent in value, with sales of nearly 13.2 mio euros in the wholesale trade.

Bird food is the most important segment here, accounting for 43.7 per cent of the value and 47.6 per cent of the volume. Value sales increased by 6.3 per cent, while the volume is stagnating. This is followed by food for small animals, with a value increase of 7.7 per cent and a volume increase of 2.4 per cent compared with the previous year.

The market for hygiene products, toys and accessories – especially leashes, kennels, bowls, cages, aviaries, aquariums, terrapin tanks and various utensils – also recorded growth in 2022. Wholesale sales increased by 3.2 per cent to 80 mio euros, equivalent to an increase in units sold of one per cent. What is striking is that the hygiene segment, covering items such as moist wipes, shampoo, brushes, deodorants, care and beauty products, for instance, has experienced a massive…