A retail theater

How would you describe the current state of the European pet retail market?

The pet retail market is not as strong as it has been in recent years. Like many other sectors, it is feeling the pressure of the cost-of-living crunch combined with the rise in the cost of pet ownership – not only food in and accessories but also in veterinary and medicine costs.  

That said, it is still an extremely positive industry with lots of growth potential. The European pet market overall is seeing growth and is expected to make up nearly a third of the global pet market, 152bn euros by 2030, with Germany, France, and the UK being significant players.

How have customer needs evolved?

I think customer needs have significantly evolved, as more pet owners view their pets as integral members of the family. This has led to customers wanting high-quality pet care services and products. Key themes, such as the humanization of pets, the premiumization of specialized food, and supplements will only continue to grow.

On the topic of the humanization of pets, I believe there will be a shift to customers looking at adopting smart technologies – we are already seeing things like smart feeders, automated water fountains, or interactive toys to keep your pet mentally stimulated. We are also seeing a rise in wearable trackers as owners want access to real-time health metrics of their pets that can provide data on early disease detection, safety, and their well-being.  

There is also the shift to pet owners moving to online shopping, with customers demanding convenience, accessibility, and affordability at the press of a button. Pet retailers need to be more aware of evolving trends and give their customers relevant and targeted content and products, both online and instore.

Are there any noticeable trends in enclosure design?

Modularity has always been something pet retailers focus on. For the bigger corporate retailers who have large estates and roll-out programs, they want modularity, consistency, and obviously, affordability.  

We know that European pet retailers do not cut corners when providing the appropriate environment for their animals, which is why Casco Pet has always focused on modularity, sustainability, and smart features. With that said, we are also seeing pet retailers paying far more atten tion to these elements than they perhaps did five to 10 years ago.  

What steps are you taking to make your enclosures more environmentally friendly?

At Casco Pet, the majority of our materials – glass, aluminium, wood, and plastics – are recyclable and more sustainable. We are sourcing materials locally where possible, and have implemented sustainable initiatives across our facilities, such as investing in electric vans to support our workforce and installing solar panels at our Centre of Excellence in Portugal.  

We also use LED lights on all our fixtures, apart from for birds who need certain wavelengths of UV light to flourish that only fluorescents can currently provide.

Low-energy pumps have been a staple on our aquatic fixtures for almost a decade, but we are always looking to drive our innovations forward and provide pet enclosures that benefit pet welfare and are environmentally friendly.  

We know the demands European pet retailers are facing to meet their environmental targets, which is why we are always looking to make our enclosures more environmentally friendly to help support them.

Where do you see major growth opportunities?

Expansion and growth into non-live fixtures, such as joinery and cabinetry, are major growth opportunities. Take the veterinary practice environment, where we are adding helpful features like our sloped roof cat caps fixed to the top of cabinetry, IV stands, pet lockers, and foot-operated waste bins to support the practice and veterinary teams by optimising space and enhancing workflow.  

We launched our veterinary cabinetry range last year at the London Vet Show (LVS), and we have already started to see interest from across the globe, but it is still early in our journey.

Are you looking at new markets or partnerships?

We are always exploring new markets and partnerships, particularly within Europe, Scandinavia, and Iberia. We see significant opportunities for global growth, working with partners who share our vision.

What future challenges and opportunities do you see for the pet industry?

Whilst I am obviously biased, I hope that physical pet retailers make the smart choice to continue providing live pets for their customers, rather than the short-term choice of cutting costs by removing them.  

Within some of the stores’ physical footprint, there is an opportunity to invest in the store environment and create that all-important retail theatre, a new retail experience that showcases expertise and builds a long-lasting relationship with customers.  

The industry is resilient but must continually innovate and invest to differentiate from online competitors. I do think that the pet industry will thrive and continue to grow without doubt, but only if it seizes the opportunity on offer.