PET FOOD SALES SOAR AS PET ADOPTION SEES AN UPSURGE

Helped by increase in pet adoption during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, pet food sales grew 20 per cent in 2020, with manufactures now looking to continue the momentum going ahead.

The growth came not only from traditional channels like pet food stores but also from e-commerce platforms. Encouraged by the surge in pet adoption, manufacturers are expanding their product portfolio in India and launching new TV commercials, digital campaigns and online-exclusive products.

"There has been a rise in pet products as an overall category and an increase in demand for pet food. During the lockdown, many pets were adopted and welcomed home and pet parents started stocking up on products, especially the large bags, treats, cat food, etc," Mars Petcare India General Manager Ganesh Ramani said.

There is an exponential surge in pet adoption as people are spending more time at home and alone. More younger people are opting for adopting pets. Puppy adoption rates have gone up in the range of 50100 per cent in 2020. The cat market has grown upwards of 40 per cent, he added.

On the growth in pet food segment, he said, "The market growth rate in India has accelerated since 2019 from 16-17 per cent growth (to) upwards of 20 per cent in 2020. Reasons that led to this were mainly people spending more time with their pets as they were stuck at home during the lockdown, adopting more pets, feeding stray dogs and cats around the city knowing that they were hungry, donating food to NGOs and many such factors."

In 2020, about 85 per cent of the domestic pet food market comprised of dog food, while the balance was cat food. —PTI