Pet care industry alive and kicking

On 25 and 26 February, Kortrijk Xpo hosted Anido for the 23rd time. This year, the biennial trade fair for the pet care sector in Benelux and the north of France attracted a total of 135 exhibitors and 4 906 visitors – an increase of 11 per cent compared with the 2022 event. This also helped Anido get back on track and achieve the same visitor numbers as in 2020, when the pandemic was not yet an issue.  

In addition, there was a strong synergy between Anido and DIY, Pro & Garden, which were held at the same time on the Monday, with a staggering 17 per cent of visitors to DIY, Pro & Garden, the trade fair for Belgian DIY stores and garden centres, visiting both events. First feedback from both exhibitors and visitors indicates that this year’s event was very satisfactory. The comprehensive range of products on show, the relaxed yet professional atmosphere and the many innovations also confirm that the pet care industry is very much alive today.

Although Anido is primarily aimed at Belgian professionals working in pet stores and garden centres, there is no denying that the trade fair also has an international following. This was clearly demonstrated by the fact that almost half of the exhibitors and over 28 per cent of the visitors came from abroad. The most striking increase was in the number of visitors from the Netherlands (16.2 per cent) and France (10.2 per cent).

Sustainability remains a crucial concern for a lot of manufacturers and suppliers, who therefore opt for raw materials, packaging, production processes and the like that have the lowest possible impact on the environment. This is due to the fact that an increasing number of consumers prefer to buy items that are good for people, for animals and for nature.  

Another prominent trend that emerged at Anido was the increased focus on pet health and welfare. This was reflected by several exhibitors who launched all-natural products or supplements that promote general animal health or address specific problems. Various exhibitors also showcased accessories, thanks to which dogs and their owners can exercise together, allowing the animals to keep their body moving. Increased longe­vity has led many pet owners to adopt a more budget-conscious approach. They particularly limit (or even postpone for a while) spending on accessories. Exhibitors tried to address this by introducing products that offer excellent value for money and by providing retailers with displays and concepts that help maximise impulse purchases or that are perfect for use as second placements. Finally, the show demonstrated that the humanisation of pets is still going strong. As such, several brands launched plant-based and even vegan food/treats. The rise of collagen-based dog treats is also part of this evolution. Incidentally, several of these trends are reflected in the results of the New@Anido competition.

The winners of the New@Anido competition were announced at the end of the first day of Anido. In the food category, the winner was BestFriendPost by Van der Bosch Trading. BestFriendPost is an edible postcard, specially printed for dogs using edible ink on edible, bacon-flavoured paper. Second place went to Cavalor Sportmash Recup by Versele Laga, a pro­tein-rich mash designed to help horses recover after exercise. Third place went to the Woofelicious Christmas dessert by Woofelicious. The trend of pet humanisation is thus clearly reflected in the innovations launched onto the market, including in food.  

In the accessories category, first prize went to TouchMe Pet by Fixmer Belgium. This is a perfume, with a patented formula for animals, which contains nano­capsules that will adhere to the fur and release a pleasant fragrance when you start stroking it (meaning the scent is only released when you touch the animal!). Flamingo Pet Products earned second place thanks to its Karao audio button, which permits communication with a dog by recording instructions on it. In third place was D&D Home X I Love Happy Cats by Laroy Group. Designed by cat behaviourist Anneleen Bru, this collection is focused on the needs and behaviours of cats, as opposed to the conventional approach, which consists in manufacturing pet products based on human needs.  

Finally, the company Frenky Lewis was awarded the natural & sustainable award for its 100 per cent natural dry shampoo & conditioner spray in 1, a natural and vegan shampoo. Frenky Lewis is a company that is committed to making sustainability part of every decision it makes. The ingredients used to make these vegan grooming products, for instance, are 100 per cent natural and sustainably produced, using both recyclable and renewable materials, which leads to 99 per cent less plastic being used. Moreover, the products are manufactured in a sheltered workshop. The Eco Friendly chicken feed by Hobby First came in 2nd place. Circular and/or local raw materials are used to produce this chicken feed, thereby keeping the carbon footprint low. Snoety snuffling toys, which are made from sustain­able raw materials and manufactured in Belgium by the company Cool4Pets BizZ, finished third.

On the Meet the Experts stand, visitors had the opportunity to attend inspiring sessions, including a testimonial from fellow entrepreneur Nicolas Koe­voets (Goe Beestig). Various guest speakers also discussed trends in sustainability, the positive influence of pets on families, the buying behaviour of Belgian pet owners in 2024, and so on. Also new this year were the live aquascaping and hamsterscaping demos, which were well received by a truly niche audience.  

Anido 2026 will take place in Kortrijk on 25 and 26 January 2026.