Pet food market value in the United Kingdom (UK) 2023, by type

The value of the dog food market in the United Kingdom (UK) reached around 1.84 billion British pounds in 2023, making it the most lucrative market segment. Cat food followed in second place with a market value of 1.43 billion British pounds.

The pet food market in the UK

The growth rate of the pet food market in the UK stood at around nine percent annually in recent years. The growth rate of the pet food market slightly edges the growth rates of other pet market segments, such as those of veterinary and retail. The value of dog and cat food imports to the UK amounts to nearly 1.4 billion U.S. dollars annually. The majority of the UK’s dog and cat food imports come from France and Germany. Moreover, the UK also exports about 370 million U.S. dollars’ worth of dog and cat food annually. In general, countries from the European Union remain the UK’s main trading partners for both imports and exports of dog and cat food.

Dog population in the UK

The number of dogs kept as pets in the UK stood at approximately 12 million. The pet dog population has increased by almost 40 percent within the last decade. Close to one-third of households in the UK own at least one dog. A noticeable jump in dog ownership rates was seen in the year 2021 when the share of household-owning dogs increased by ten percent as compared to the previous year. It is important to note that the survey changed from face-to-face from online at this time. This sudden growth in dog owners could also be related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common ways to purchase a dog in the UK are through breeders and private sellers. About 20 percent of dog owners receive their pet from a rescue or rehoming center/shelter.