Specialist trade catching up

The specialist pet product trade now has a share of 32 per cent of the pet food market, instead of 25 per cent as before. This emerges from the latest figures published by the Industrieverband Heimtierbedarf (IVH). This marked increase is attributable not so much to an increase in sales by the specialist trade as to a new data basis: the GfK market research institute, which plays an important part in compiling the IVH figures, has taken the sales of the high-turnover Fressnapf Group into account for the first time in its analyses for 2002.
Market for pet food 2002
(pdf-Datein zum Herunterladen)
This paints a completely different picture, and the data that have just been published are only comparable to a limited extent with the previous year’s figures.
In spite of this, some conclusions can be drawn from the new figures:
The pet food segment is growing much faster than the accessories sector
Cat products are selling better than those for dogs
The aquatics segment is stagnating, while the rodent sector continues to develop dynamically
The decline in the bird segment seems to be unstoppable
The market share enjoyed by the food retailing sector fell markedly last year from 75 per cent to 68 per cent. This substantial drop has certainly not taken place only in the last year, but probably happened earlier and is a direct consequence of the structural change in the pet product trade. For years, the market share of the specialised trade has been put at around 30 per cent by experts – and not 25 per cent, as officially stated. The new figure in the IVH market data takes account of this change. However, it must also be taken into consideration that the food retail sector has had a poor year in the pet food segment and has thus lost further market share. The sales figures in the specialist trade should have appeared more welcome.
Market for non-food products for pets 2002 (in mio. euro)
(pdf-Datein zum Herunterladen)
Sales by type of outlet 2002
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However, a differentiated approach must be applied here too. The specialist trade, which according to IVH also includes DIY stores, garden centres and agricultural credit cooperative stores, may have gained as a whole, but for many specialised businesses last year was the poorest for a long time. Market experts estimate that last year alone 150 to 200 businesses closed owing to the bleak sales situation. At the same time, however, operators of other shops and stores achieved high growth, accounting for…