Market Trends of russia pet food Industry
Russia holds third place in the global cat population, fueled by cultural preference and their adaptability to smaller living spaces
- Globally, Russia has the third-largest population of cats as pets, and the country has a growing trend to have more than one cat in their homes. The pet cat population has the largest share of Russia's pet population, which has grown steadily over the last few years. In 2022, the cat population accounted for 41.4%. It grew at a rate of 3.1% between 2017 and 2022 because of the cultural preferences in the country, as they are considered lucky and can adapt to smaller living spaces and stay indoors for a longer time without feeling cooped up.
- There was a growing trend of pet humanization among cat parents during the historical period. There is an increase in pet humanization as more than 85% of pet parents, including cat parents, consider their pets family members, friends, or children. Therefore, these trends are expected to help boost the population of cats in the country that are fed pet food products.
- There is an increase in the consumption of pet food in the urban and rural areas of the country, attributed to growing awareness among pet parents about providing a healthy diet to their pets. For instance, in 2021, about 16% of cat parents identified their pet's health issues, thus boosting the consumption of pet veterinary diets. The growth of cat food in urban areas is also expected to be higher as more than 60% of domesticated cats live in the cities. Therefore, the increase in pet humanization, growing awareness about the benefits of providing healthy diets, and the country adopting more than one cat are anticipated to help in the growth of the pet population and pet food in the country during the forecast period.
Increasing pet humanization, coupled with the growing demand for premium pet food, is driving pet expenditure in Russia
- There has been a significant upward trend in pet food expenditure in Russia, with an increase of 23.0% between 2019 and 2022. Despite slow growth in dog and cat populations, pet expenditure continues to rise due to increasing pet food prices. For instance, the cost of wet pet food per metric ton surged from USD 1,613.7 in 2020 to USD 2,279.4 in 2022, reflecting a significant 41.3% increase over two years. This price surge, coupled with the rising popularity of pet humanization and premiumization, has contributed to the growth in pet expenditure.
- Between 2019 and 2022, expenditure on pet dogs increased by 22.5%, while spending on cats grew by 22.8%, and expenditure on other pets rose by 9.1% in Russia. Pet humanization is becoming increasingly popular, particularly among high-income pet owners who are driving sales by opting for natural ingredients and premium pet products. The demand for specialized nutrition that addresses safety and health concerns is also rising, resulting in higher average unit prices, especially in the premium segments.
- The political conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2022 significantly impacted pet food prices, leading to challenges in sourcing raw materials and importing pet foods. Consequently, this factor has directly affected pet expenditure in the country.
- In terms of sales channels, offline retail stores, including supermarkets, specialty stores, and convenience stores, accounted for 90.7% of pet food sales in 2022, while e-commerce comprised the remaining 9.3%. The ongoing trend toward high-quality and premium pet food, along with the growing awareness of its benefits, is projected to drive the growth of pet expenditure during the forecast period.
OTHER KEY INDUSTRY TRENDS COVERED IN THE REPORT
- Growing pet humanization and the COVID-19 pandemic boosted the dog population in Russia
- Shift in the preference of pet owners toward non-traditional pets and ability to fit in small spaces are driving their adoption