In recent years, despite the economic crisis, the number of French households owning pets has remained rather stable: around 25% of the French families own a dog and 28% a cat. The trends of the last years are confirmed: a little decline in the dog population, an increase in small size dogs against large ones and a growing trend for pet sedentariness.

If the French still feed their furry friends with table scraps, a large part of them buy industrial dog and cat food as well, and mix it with scraps and homemade food.

The majority of pet food sales are recorded in the mass market channel. Supermarkets and hypermarkets account for 55% of all dog and cat food sales (cat food representing 60% of total sales and dog food 40%), whereas the specialised channel accounts for 45%.

Sales in the specialised retail are divided as follows: 25% in large garden centres, agriculture stores, diy stores and specialised supermarkets and chains; 15% in small food stores and through breeders; 5% in independent stores (small garden centres, pet shops, grooming salons, seed shops).

From Animal Distribution, March-April 2012