Central’s pet sales decreased by 5%

The Californian-based pet supplier announced that net sales reached $909 million (€‎822.6M) in Q2 FY 2023, covering January to March 2023. In the same period of 2022, net sales accounted for $954 million (€863.6M).

Sales for the pet segment totaled $475 million (€430.6M) compared to $498 million (€451.51M) in 2022.

The company said sales of dog and cat treats and small animals, pet birds, aquatics, and reptiles increased. The revenue for outdoor cushions went down in the period reflecting the “macroeconomic uncertainty,” including factors such as inflation and a change in consumer behavior.

Sales in Q2 FY 2022 increased by 2%, while in 2021, in the middle of a pandemic, it jumped by 33%.

Less demand

The company also attributed the decrease in sales due to the discontinuation of low-profit private-label pet bed product lines and the lower demand for durable pet products.

“Durable pet products, such as fish tanks and small animal enclosures, continue to decline as new pet adoptions slowed, lapping the strong COVID bump. We expect durables to continue to be a headwind through the balance of the year,” said CEO Tim Cofer.

The earnings also mentioned workforce, supply chain, and energy as some of the most relevant challenges. 

Central’s pet segment operating income also decreased by 9% to $55 million (€49.7M).