The pet market - United Kingdom

1.2 Global Market

The global pet care market has been valued at $***.** billion in **** and is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (***) of *.* percent from **** to ****. The growing trend toward humanization of pets and increased consumer spending in pet care categories are the main drivers of growth.  As a result, people are willing to spend more to ensure the best care for their pets. Therefore, pet care products, such as feeders, bowls, and watering troughs, have become more popular.

Fatturato globale del mercato degli animali di compagnia Mondo, ****-****, in miliardi di dollari Fonte: Grand View Research

The dog segment accounted for more than **% of sales in ****. The most popular pets are dogs, followed by cats. In addition, the cat segment is expected to register a CAGR of *.*% from **** to ****. 

North America accounted for the largest share of sales, accounting for about **% in ****. The increase in the number of pet owners in the region, combined with high disposable income, is creating demand for pet care products and services. According to the National Pet Owners Survey ****-**** conducted by the American Pet Products Association (***), about **% of U.S. households owned a pet in ****, up from **% in ****.

Asia-Pacific is expected to expand with ...

1.3 UK Market

 This statistic displays the value of the pet care market in the United Kingdom from **** to ****. Since ****, the UK pet care market value has increased, reaching *.* billion British pounds in ****. However, it decreased to *.* billion British pounds in ****, but grew again in **** reaching *.* billions of pounds.

Pet market value in the United Kingdom Uk, ****-****, in billions of pounds Source: ****

Moreover, according to the PFMA, current growth is being driven by Millennial and Gen Z consumers, with nearly two-thirds of new pet owners aged between ** and **. This is another positive sign for future growth, and one which is already having a significant impact on the sector, both in terms of the range of products on offer and the way in which they are sold.

The pet food and pet accessories markets, in particular, have seen a recent boom in online sales, with bespoke products, fast delivery and subscription models all proving popular with a young, digital-savvy and discerning consumer base. A greater focus than ever before on high-quality, nutritious and eco-friendly pet food and treats has provided opportunities for many new players to enter the market in recent years, with many firms specialising in sustainable options designed for specific pet breeds, ...

1.4 Covid Impact

The pandemic has been a positive development for the pet food and pet care retailing market. Extended periods inside have driven a new found appreciation for pets and the UK pet care market, driving engagement and underlined an upscaling of consumer spending.

**% of UK pet owners agree that their pet played a major role in their wellbeing since the pandemic began. **% of consumers owned a pet in the past year, an increase of *% s on the previous year.  **% of pet owners redirected money saved in other areas onto their pet in the past year. Changing consumer behaviour has had an impact; a survey by the PDSA found that *% of all pet owners acquired their pets between March **** and May **** A report by Pets*Homes found that at the peak of lockdown in May **** demand for puppies for sale rose by ***% compared to the previous year. Combined with a changing landscape in production, retail and trade, we could see lasting effects on the financial health of the pet industry throughout the months and years to come.

2.1 Pet ownership

The share of households owning a pet in the United Kingdom remained relatively stable between ****/** and ****/**, hovering around an estimated percentage of ** to ** percent. However, pet ownership levels peaked to an unprecedented high of ** percent in ****/**, likely as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and increased time spent at home.

Pet ownership in the United Kingdom (***) Uk ****-****, in % Source: ****

Based on the data of the Groomart Accademynwe can analize the pet ownership in the UK in ****. Specifically, we can analyze pet ownership by region. Below is the data regarding dog ownership. 

Below is the data regarding cat ownership. (***)

2.2 Consumer spending

Pet care is one of UK’s many thriving industries where consistent growth is happening year-on-year. The most recent figures published by the Office for National Statistics revealed that expenditure on pets and related products reached an annual value of *.** million British pounds in ****, representing a *** percent increase from the beginning of the survey period in ****. 

Consumer spending on pets and related products in the UK Uk, ****-****, in billions of pounds Source: ****

With such affection towards pets also comes the need to care for them. Indeed, over the last decade, spending on veterinary services in the UK rose tremendously, particularly in **** when veterinary and other pet care related services reached over four billion British pounds.  

This statistic shows total consumer spending on veterinary and other services for pets in the United Kingdom from **** to ****. In ****, expenditure totaled over four billion British pounds, compared to *.* billion British pounds in ****.

Consumer spending on veterinary and other pet services in the UK Uk, ****-****, in billions of pounds Source: ****

2.3 Trend: Pet Humanization

Belonging to the contemporary era and becoming increasingly popular is pet humanization, the tendency to regard one's pets as effective members of the family by caring for them as equals, 'dressing' them up as we do, even feeding them with products in many cases similar to or derived from those for human use.

According to a survey carried out in the summer of ****, almost ** percent of surveyed cat and dog owners in the United Kingdom stated that their pet is best described as a family member. Some six percent of cat owners and two percent of dog owners perceived their animals as just a pet.

How owners perceive their pets in the United Kingdom UK, ****, in % Source: ****

According to a survey carried out in the summer of ****, some ** percent of respondents from the United Kingdom who said that having a pet impacted their health positively, stated that their mental health had improved. Just over one-third of respondents stated that both their physical and mental health had improved.

Positive health impacts of having a pet in the United Kingdom UK, ****, in % Source: ****

2.4 How owners acquired their pets

The most common places for people to get their dogs, cats and rabbits from have remained largely the same over the last ** years of PAW Report data. Dog owners were most likely to get their pets from a breeder (***).

However, there have been some changes within the data, particularly around the proportion of owners who got their pet from a UK rescue centre rehoming UK pets. The proportion of dog owners who acquired their pet from this source has decreased from **% in February **** to **% in ****. similarly, the proportion of cat owners who acquired their cat from a UK rescue centre for UK cats has fallen from **% in Aug **** to **% in ****, and for rabbit owners, the proportion has decreased from **% in August **** to **% in ****.

The proportion of owners getting their pet from a breeder (***).

New* owners were more likely to have acquired their pet from a private seller (***).

How owners acquired their pets UK, ****, in % Source: ****

The proportion of pets coming from abroad has continued to increase in ****, with *% of owners telling us that their pet was imported compared to *% in **** and *% in August ****. The increase is across all three species, but is particularly marked in cats and rabbits. One concern this ...

2.5 Trend: Digitalization

Prospective pet owners use the internet both as a source of information and as a place to find their new pet. **% of owners looked on the internet before choosing their pet (***). 

**% of owners found their pet online, with a higher proportion of dog owners finding their pet this way (***).

This highlights the importance of the work that organisations like the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (***). Despite rules prohibiting such activity being in place on some of these platforms, the lack of any formal regulation and oversight of these channels means this is a concerning finding which we will continue to monitor.

Did you find your pet online? UK , ****, in % of owners Source: ****

3.1 Market Structure

Pet food was the category with the largest market value in the pet care industry in the United Kingdom (***), generating a market value of *.* billion British pounds in ****. Veterinary services had a market value of *.* billion pounds in that year. 

Value of the pet market in the United Kingdom (***), by category Uk, ****, in billions of pounds Source: ****

This statistic displays the growth rate of the pet market in the United Kingdom in ****, by category. That year, the veterinary market showed the largest growth, growing at ** percent.

Growth rate of the pet market in the United Kingdom (***) in ****, by category UK, ****, % Source: ****

There are a total of **** pet shops in the UK. With a further **,*** in Europe, each with their own unique specialities. Pet shops contribute a large amount to the value of the UK pet  market. (***)

3.2 Vet sevices market

In ****, vet services amounted to a total market value of *.* billion British pounds, an increase of *** million on the previous year (***). However, the period when market had its peak value was in **** when it was worth *.* billion punds.

Market value of vet services in the United Kingdom Uk, ****-****, in billions of pounds Source: ****

3.3 Pet food market value in the United Kingdom

This statistic displays the value of the pet food market in the United Kingdom from **** to ****. The market has continuously grown since ****, reaching a new high of *.* billion British pounds in ****. 

Value of the pet food market in the United Kingdom UK, ****-****, in billions of pounds Source: ****

4.1 Average cost of owning a pet

Owning a dog cost an estimated *,*** British pounds a year in the UK as of January ****. Two weeks of boarding was estimated to cost *** British pounds per year, making up the largest share of total dog expenditure. 

Estimated annual cost of owning a dog in the UK, by expense type Uk, ****, pounds Source: ****

Cats typically live for around eighteen year. The typical annual cost of a cat is around £**** per year. The table below is a guide to the basic costs of cat ownership.

Estimated annual cost of owning a cat in the UK, by expense type UK, ****, in pounds Source: ****

The average cost of dog insurance is around £**.* per month or £*** per year for a 'Lifetime' policy (***) more than these figures, as the cost of pet insurance is highly variable depending on pet age and breed. 

The cost of cat insurance starts from around £** a month, with female cats costing around *% less to insure than males. 

Source: ****

4.2 Minimum cost of owning a pet

According to the results of an annual survey on pets and pet wellbeing in the UK, the estimated minimum monthly cost of pets varied between ** British pounds for rabbits and ** British pounds for dogs and cats in ****. 

Estimated minimum monthly cost of keeping pets UK, ****, in pounds Source: ****

Three-quarters (***) of pet owners estimated a lower amount than the minimum monthly cost* for their type of pet.

Approximately a quarter (***) of owners told us that owning a pet is more expensive than they thought it would be. **% of owners who agreed that their pet was more expensive than thought said that they got them because their children wanted a pet, compared with **% who disagreed with this statement.

Percentage of owners who underestimated the minimum monthly cost of their pet Uk, ****, in % Source: ****

4.3 Consumer price index (CPI) of pets and related products and services

This statistic shows the Consumer Price Index (***) as an annual average from **** to ****, where the year **** equals ***. In ****, the annual average price index value of pets was measured at ***.*.

Consumer price index (***) of pets and related products and services UK, ****-****, based on ***=**** Source: ****

4.4 Top online stores in the Pet supplies segment in the UK

Petsathome.com is the online shop with the highest eCommerce net sales that is selling products in the Pet supplies e-commerce market in the UK, with a revenue of US$*** million in **** generated in the UK, followed by zooplus.co.uk with US$*** million. Third place is taken by viovet.co.uk with US$** million. Animeddirect.co.uk is the fourth biggest Pet supplies online store in the UK with US$** million in ****.

Top online stores in the Pet supplies segment in the UK UK, **** in millions of dollars Source: ****

5.1 Regulations

Animal Welfare Act ****

The Animal Welfare Act **** is the principal animal welfare legislation. Under the Animal Welfare Act ****, powers exist for secondary legislation and codes of practice to be made to promote the welfare of animals. The government is considering a number of specific issues including updating or bringing in new regulations or codes. Until such new provisions are made, existing laws will continue to apply.

The Pet Animals Act **** (***)

This act protects the welfare of animals sold as pets. It requires any person keeping a pet shop to be licensed by the local council.

Before granting a licence the council must be satisfied that:

the animals are kept in accommodation that is both suitable and clean that they are supplied with appropriate food and drink are adequately protected from disease and fire

The local council may attach any conditions to the licence, may inspect the licensed premises at all reasonable times and may refuse a licence if the conditions at the premises are unsatisfactory or if the terms of the licence are not being complied with.

Councils are responsible for enforcing the law in this area and anyone who has reason to believe that a pet shop is keeping animals ...

6.1 Segmentation

• Pets at Home
• VioVet
• Zooplus UK
• IVC Evidensia France
• VetPartners
• Pets Corner
• Jollyes Retail Group
• Kennelgate Pet Superstores