Pet treat sales to reach $10 billion this year in the US?
After two years of double-digit growth, Packaged Facts predicts that retail sales of dog and cat treats will reach $9.87 billion by the end of 2021.
Treats have continued to outpace the other areas of the pet market and COVID has only accelerated it: “Pet owners spending more time at home with their pets has translates into more opportunities for treat-giving,” notes Packaged Facts analyst Shannon Brown, “and an increased focus on health and wellness has resulted in more interest in functional treats.”
Packaged Facts’ August/September 2021 Survey of Pet Owners shows that over one-quarter (27%) of pet owners have increased their own consumption of plant-based foods since the start of the pandemic, with over half (54%) of pet owners expressing interest in plant-based proteins in pet treats.
Although treats have traditionally been an impulse buy at the store, online sales have started catching up.
Dog treats still represent the majority, with an 80% market share. But cat treats are growing fast.