The pet market - Spain

Companion animals are animals that accompany households for companionship, as opposed to working animals that are kept for profit. The main pets are: cats, dogs, but also fish, as well as some small reptiles and mammals. The pet market deals with accessories, hygiene and care products, but also pet food. Globally, the pet market is growing rapidly. Not only is the number of pets increasing, but spending per pet is growing faster, reflecting owners' growing concern for their pets. Among the leading multinationals in the sector are Mars Petcare, Netslé Purina Petcare, J.M. Smucker and Hill's Pet Nutrition. Spaniards had more than 28 million pets in 2019, and more than 40% of households had at least one pet. At the European level, Spain is 7th in the number of dogs (6.7 million), 10th in the number of cats (3.8 million) and 3rd in the number of birds (6.9 million). The covid-19 pandemic has not slowed this momentum, as many Spaniards are looking for larger living spaces close to big cities, which should continue to boost the sector. Sales are made in large food stores, but also in specialized stores such as Kiwoko.