Global pet food sales grow 4 per cent in 2011

Keeping pace with the 4.4 per cent increase the entire pet product industry saw from 2009 to 2010, the 4 per cent increase in pet food sales in 2011 was fuelled by 11.9 per cent growth in eastern Europe and 9.3 per cent growth in Latin America, followed by 4.6 per cent in Australasia, 3.9 per cent for Asia Pacific and 3.5 per cent for North America. The Middle East and Africa recorded 2.4 per cent growth, while western Europe barely registered with a 1 per cent increase. That all added up to US$65.8 billion in sales worldwide, compared to US$63.3 billion in 2010.