Pet industry trends in the UK. What is the economics of the pet industry? The UK pet industry is worth billions of pounds and is booming, with new trends constantly emerging. From fresh pet food to luxury accessories, there is something for every pet owner in the UK. In this article, we look at some of the latest trends in the UK pet industry so you can be sure your furry friend is living their best life.
Food and care for our four-legged friends. Fortunately, our love for our dogs and cats is on the rise, and with it, we desire to buy healthy food and new accessories for our pets.
The positive trend of pet food and pet care in the UK market seems unstoppable. The main items are dog and cat food, but in recent years, the accessories sector for our four-legged friends' daily care and management has also grown.
How big is the pet industry in the UK? Pet economy trends and news
When we talk about the “pet economy“, we refer to all those services and products that concern pets’ care, feeding and entertainment. It is one of the most profitable and successful strands and is undoubtedly the most fashionable.
However, among the products the British like most – besides the more traditional toys – are also carriers, scratching posts, prams, pillow dispensers, leashes and glamorous coats to show off on evening strolls in the city.
Also among the new trends are outdoor toys, dog sports equipment, and tracking and transport accessories compatible with and adaptable to cars, bicycles, and motorbikes.
In big cities such as Manchester and London, qualified dog sitting agencies are springing up, as well as specialised wedding dog sitters, ‘Wedding Dog Sitter‘, who make the couple’s dog the co-star of the wedding day.
Finally, the fragment related to the health of our beloved animals must be remembered, too. In recent years, ‘traditional’ cures have been joined by more modern ones, ranging from Bach flowers to beauty creams to deodorants for our furry pets. The British people’s growing need to share their lives, emotions and difficult moments with their four-legged friends is now widespread.
Our country has over 22 million pets (dogs, cats, and rabbits), according to the vet charity PSDA. The pet population in the United Kingdom also includes around 1.6 million indoor birds and more pets, for a total of 28.5 million pets—source: Statista.
The Cost of Owning a Dog in the UK
According to research by householdpets, the average annual cost of owning a dog in the UK is £1,183. This includes food, medical expenses, grooming, accessories and toys. The most significant expense is pet food, which costs an average of £400 annually. Medical expenses like vaccinations, check-ups and flea/worming medications add to approximately £565 annually. Additional costs for grooming, insurance, accessories and toys come to £218 annually. Overall, dog owners in the UK spend considerable time keeping their pets happy and healthy.
The costs of owning a dog extend far beyond food and medical care. Prospective dog owners should also budget for initial costs like supplies and training, extra expenses for puppies, insurance, lifetime healthcare and the invaluable price of love.
Researching and planning for these costs will help ensure your canine companion receives all the care they deserve. Their comprehensive guides cover everything from adoption fees to end-of-life expenses. When you’re ready, their research will help you create a realistic budget to enjoy years of fun with your furry friend.
Pet food: increasingly popular and healthier
In light of all this, it is not surprising that in England (as well as in other European countries), we now increasingly encounter pet spas, dog-friendly restaurants, delicious bakeries, and theme playgrounds. In light of all this, it is not surprising that in England (as well as in other European countries), we now increasingly encounter pet spas, dog-friendly restaurants, delicious bakeries, and theme playgrounds.
These realities are becoming increasingly refined and pet-friendly. But with a focus on ‘all-natural’ even in the bowl, lately, over-processed foods are arousing consumer suspicion.
These fears are inevitably transmitted into our pets’ diets, so much so that in recent years, there has been an exponential increase in demand for more natural and high-quality dog and cat food. Added to this demand is also the order of vegan or vegetarian consumers to be able to include their pets in the family diet.
New pet food trends include ‘fresh’ in addition to dry (cooked or frozen) and fruit in the form of organic crisps with apples, blueberries and bananas for dogs. Finally, insect meal-based treats, such as chocolate-flavoured snacks made with farmed crickets, have also been appearing lately for nature lovers to overcome increasingly frequent allergies.
The phenomenon shows no sign of abating: even beer, sweets, ice cream, and frozen food can be bought on the market. In particular, beer for dogs is an absolute must: in several foreign countries, such as the USA, Belgium, Brazil, and England, production is enjoying great success.
This is because the evolution of pet humanisation has led to various products inspired by human recipes and gourmet proposals made with superfoods.
Prevention nutrition designed to respect the predatory nature of dogs and cats
Virbac has developed kibbles that respect the specific physiological needs and meet the nutritional requirements of dogs and cats that are carnivores by nature.
Veterinary HPM presents two lines: Preventive and Diets.
- Preventive is dedicated to healthy dogs and cats and is intended as preventive nutrition because a healthy, balanced diet is the basis for optimum health.
- On the other hand, the Diets line goes beyond managing a specific health problem and completely satisfies the nutritional requirements, thus bringing your pet back to health and fitness.
To learn more about Virbac’s food products, ask their veterinary doctors for advice and get the Veterinary HPM diet best suited to your pet. Website: https://uk.virbac.com/
The new trends: accessories and clothing for pets
To cater for a wide variety of needs, all kinds of pet accessories can now be found in the shops: clothes, jewellery, bowls, kennels, and actual art objects with a pet theme and use.
Fashion has also adapted to market demands: new trends in accessories include matching outfits for owners and pets. So, with identical jumpers or mackintoshes harnesses paired with purses, quilts for cots matching our home blankets and much more, we are spoilt for choice.
Purchases also span the luxury market, with rhinestone collars, luxury leashes, customised kennels and jewellery. See the recent case of Moncler, which has caused chaos on the web, where a dog Gilet goes up to £380.
I do not forget the bibs with the designers’ logos or the beauty products used by the owners, which are also available in a pet version.
Furthermore, in the cities, there is a proliferation of chic pet groomers (also mobile with the van), which have various purposes: cleaning, calming, catering to all the needs of our ‘furry ones’ and also providing additional services such as mobile spas, yoga sessions for dogs, hydrotherapy, home services or acupuncture.
Pet industry, The Pet-proof cleaning
In a market increasingly attentive to home cleaning in “animal format”, brushes and detergents designed for four-legged friends and roll-ons of various sizes could not be missing, with accessories capable of collecting the most impacting wetsuits of the seasons.
Furthermore, in recent months, the requests for floor cleaners based on natural ingredients and insecticides rich in vegetable oils have increased; they are harmless to our family pets but can repel ants and cockroaches.
Without forgetting, sanitisers, disinfectants, cosmetics, products and equipment for home grooming are specially designed for dogs’ and cats’ needs. But that’s not all: household appliances, too, have gradually adapted to consumers' needs, adding the “pet” function to vacuum cleaners and domestic washing machines.
Food and care for our four-legged friends, the Pet cosmetics
The pet domestics sector is also a booming market segment. In particular, there has been a surge in sales since the focus on well-being that people had on themselves has been extended with the same intensity to our four-legged friends as well.
Owners tend to consider their pets family members, which translates into investing in quality products to improve the lifestyle of the “critters.“
And the fact that our pets are often “humanised” inevitably affects purchases. For example, CBD (cannabis extracts) supplements for animal use that boast calming properties and can be chewed by pets suffering from anxiety or pain have sprung up in America in recent months. As a reminder, the law in England prohibits this except in a few rare exceptions and always under strict veterinary supervision.
Source: Veterinary Medicines Directorate
Finally, it should also not be underestimated that animals are becoming the new faces of beauty brands. Big brands are increasingly choosing them to boost sales, lead digital marketing campaigns, or collaborate with testimonials and “influencers.”
New trends: used and bartered
However, keeping a dog or cat costs money, so to limit expenses, various associations or Facebook groups are springing up throughout England that promote bartering, swapping, or selling used accessories.
Initiatives (commercial and voluntary) aimed at helping families save money and recycle goods and services purchased for pet lovers have also increased to make up for rising prices and greater environmental awareness.
Since the pandemic, about 8 million Brits have acquired or adopted a dog or cat; according to the PDSA, a dog over its lifetime can cost us up to about £12,000 for its upkeep if we divide this amount by the average years of a dog, about 14, we have an estimated cost of £857, not to mention that the first year will surely be more because of the accessories, which will have to be bought all at once, such as bed, bowls, food, collar, brush, and so on.
Therefore, pet owners have been growing in the habit of bartering or donating discarded accessories, often also through vets, breeders, boarding houses, groups, associations, or specialised apps for selling local goods or services.
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