Western Europe

Consumers are facing increased pressure from rising prices as global inflation reaches 7% in 2023. The impact of higher costs of living is felt from top earners in developed markets to struggling households in emerging and developing countries.…

Cat food recorded further growth in current value terms in 2023, despite a double-digit decline in volume. This was mainly due to inflationary pressures, as manufacturers passed on the rising costs of raw materials to consumers. The trend towards…

Sales of cat food are expected to register a moderate rise in value terms in 2024. The cat population in Belgium continues to rise albeit at a slower rate than the rate seen in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. However,…

In 2024, cat food in Denmark is poised for growth, albeit slightly below the level seen in 2023. This subdued performance is partly due to a reduction in the cat adoption rate, linked to Danes returning to pre-pandemic routines and grappling with…

Trading down did not have a significant impact on sales of cat food in 2023 despite price increases and a sharp rise in the cost of living. The quality of the cat food remains a top priority for Finns and thus they are generally reluctant to trade…

There are far more cats than dogs in France and while the cat population decreased in 2023 it is expected to stabilise in 2024 and could even increase slightly. Local associations reported a drop in pet adoptions in 2023 whilst abandonments remained…

As inflation throughout Europe has risen as a consequence of the war in Ukraine since 2022, the general price level of goods and services has also increased, including pet products such as cat food. Shrinking purchasing power among local consumers…

There has been a growing demand for high-quality customer service when owners go shopping for their cats, with people increasingly looking for treatments and services as well as food and products for their beloved pets. Pet City, which is the leading…

In 2024, cat food in Ireland is expected to continue to see retail current value growth stem from price escalations. However, the rise in the average unit price of cat food is projected to be slower than in 2023. This is predicted to lead to a lower…

Sales of cat food recorded moderate volume growth across all categories in 2023. This was accompanied by strong growth in current value terms which was largely the result of elevated inflation and price increases introduced by retailers and companies…

Cat food manufacturers saw raw material and production costs surge in 2022 and while several players initially opted to delay passing cost increases on to consumers so as not to undermine their competitiveness this strategy become unviable for most…

Cat food maintained retail volume and current value growth in Portugal in 2023, and this trend is expected to continue in 2024, with growth across both wet and dry cat food, and across all price segments. The cat population rose throughout the review…

Cat food continues to see confident growth in Spain in 2024, in both value and volume terms, with sales outperforming those seen in dog food. This is supported by the rising number of cat-owning households in Spain, along with consumers owning more…

In 2024, retail value sales were positive in cat food, with cats being the most prevalent pet choice in the country. However, cat ownership has reached a stable phase, with the growth in adoptions showing signs of plateauing compared to the surge…

Cat food is set to see growth in both volume and value terms in Switzerland in 2024. Cat food sales are benefiting from the expansion of the cat population in the country. Swiss cat owners are tending to adopt bigger cat breeds, such as the Main…

In cat food in the Netherlands, mid-priced brands like Whiskas have benefited as some consumers previously buying premium options, especially in wet cat food, traded down. As cats are often more sensitive than dogs to changes in their diet,…

In 2023, the UK experienced a marginal decline in the cat population, whereby the rate of abandonment surpassed the rate of adoption, resulting in an overall retail volume decline for cat food. Despite the increasing popularity of cats as companions,…

2024 is seeing the continued preference of cats over dogs in Turkey, benefitting sales in cat food. Cats are smaller than most dogs and so require less food and less space and are generally much lower maintenance, supporting rising cat ownership as…

After the spike in demand seen in Western European cat food sales in 2020, followed by another above-average performance in 2021, growth was slowing in 2022. Home seclusion due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) saw pet adoptions spike, although cat…

The briefing introduces the Cities Households Necessities Spending Index. The index ranks 1,075 cities by household expenditure on non-discretionary items, namely food, housing, and clothing and footwear. This analysis focuses on 160 major cities.…