Global pet food sales reached $152.9 billion in 2025, according to Statista's "Retail Market Worldwide" study. The figure confirms a sustained growth trajectory that has nearly doubled the market value in fifteen years: in 2010, sales were around $59 billion, and by 2019, they exceeded $93.9 billion. Companies like Mars, Nestlé with its Purina line, and specialized chains like Petco and PetSmart lead a market that shows no signs of slowing down.
The fundamental change is not only in volume but also in consumer mindset. More and more people consider their pets part of the family and are willing to spend proportionally more on their food and well-being. This has driven a trend of premiumization within the category: consumers no longer seek just basic food, but natural formulas, organic products, veterinary nutrition, and functional snacks. Global brands have responded by expanding their specialized lines, while new companies enter the market with health and animal welfare-focused proposals.
Ecommerce has been a decisive accelerator for this category. Platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and Asian marketplaces have turned pet food into one of the strongest recurring purchases within online retail, favored by subscription models and home delivery that generate high purchase frequency and customer loyalty. Logistics and delivery have also adapted: many consumers prefer to receive food directly at home periodically, making this category a generator of predictable income for ecommerce operators.
One of the most valued characteristics by retail is its resilience: the pet industry has maintained its growth even during periods of inflation and economic slowdown, something that few categories can sustain. This makes it an attractive bet for supermarkets, retailers, and digital platforms seeking categories with high purchase frequency and low brand abandonment.
The broader context is also relevant: Statista's study projects that global ecommerce could approach $9 trillion by 2030, and pet food will continue to be one of the categories with the highest share of that growth.
From the analysis of next+, the case of pet food illustrates a pattern worth observing closely: categories that combine high purchase frequency, brand loyalty, premiumization, and resilience to economic cycles are exactly those that major retail and ecommerce operators prioritize in their expansion strategies. For brands operating in this space, the message is that the market is not only growing but maturing towards higher value and higher recurrence segments, where the proposal for animal health and welfare is already as relevant as human health was for retail a decade ago.