Huge opportunity for retailers as pet population booms in UK

A lockdown-driven boom in the UK pet population is creating huge opportunities for retailers owing to the addition of 1.5 million pets across the country, says a recent exclusive research by market-leading manufacturer Mars Petcare, which also adds that the 72 per cent of pet owners view themselves as “parents” rather than mere “owners” of pets.

As Brits sought out the mental health benefits and companionship of pet ownership during lockdown, the number of dogs and cats in the UK surged by 7 per cent year-on-year in 2020.

As revealed in Mars Petcare’s second annual petcare category report, Pet therapy: The retail opportunities of the pandemic pet boom, the surge in pet ownership is being driven by young urbanites, with 55 per cent of new pet owners living in cities and a third aged under 40.

This group is more likely to favour pedigree breeds of dogs and cats and has a particular penchant for smaller ‘toy’ dog breeds. The number of shih tzus, daschunds, pugs and chihuahuas living in the UK surged by 141 per cent, or 74,000 animals, between 2016 and 2020.

The number of pedigree cats in the country has also surged, with the British Shorthair (Britain’s most popular purebred pussy) population surging by 25.4 per cent to 1.1 million animals between 2016 and 2020. The number of Persian cats in Britain has more than tripled and Bengals are up 71 per cent.

Zoe Taphouse, Category & Market Activation Director at Mars Petcare UK, said, “Unprecedented growth in pet ownership and the shifting demographics of ownership are driving huge demand for specialist products that cater for animals’ specific needs and build closer bonds between owners and pets.

“The new generation of pet parents are spending more money on products that give animals optimum nutrition for the life stage they’re at. They’re giving pet food as much consideration as the food they eat themselves, and trends in human food and drink are being reflected in the category.”

Total sales of pet food and litter have surged by 10.8 per cent, a staggering rise worth £45m.

Mars Petcare’s Crave brand is named as the UK’s fastest-growing dog treat. Sale of its Protein Strips, Chunks and Chews dog treats up 257.2 per cent to £3.1m in the past year.

Natural Goodness range under the Cesar brand is the UK’s bestseller in premium wet dog food.