Focus On - Pet Care

Page 4 Category Insights and Performance As the cost of living rises, people are being more careful with their spending. However, pet owners are hesitant to alter their pets’ diets and remain loyal to trusted brands. They are also exploring various options to find the best prices, often influenced by promotions. Retailers should prioritise o–ering a wide range of high-quality brands across various product groups and running promotions to meet the needs of in-store shoppers. Half of pet food shoppers plan exactly what they are going to buy before they get to store and are generally looking for pack sizes that provide around a week’s worth of food. While medium-size packs are essential, provide small packs for the “need it now” distress mission where possible. 5 Wet cat food is important for Symbols and Independents, accounting for 72% of all cat food sales. Cat pouches alone make up over 79% of wet cat food sales, so making sure you have the right range available is essential. 6 Luxury wet cat food continues to show strong growth, increasing by over 12% year-on-year, meaning it’s important to be included on your fixture, Luxury Wet Cat Food includes brands like Gourmet, the top brand, followed by Sheba. 7 Wet dog food makes up 49% of dog food sales. The category is evolving, with pouches accounting for 10% of wet dog food sales in 2020 and increasing to 16% this year. Retailers should stock a mix of cans, pouches, and trays to meet shoppers’ preferences e–ectively. 8 Retailers should think about adding dry dog food for small breeds to their shelves. Small and mini breeds have specific nutritional requirements, so expanding the dry dog food selection to include options for small dogs will attract a broader range of shoppers. Treats are now a key part of pet food sales. Treating in both cat and dog boosted sales by over £3.2 million in Symbols and Independents compared to last year. A strong cat and dog treat selection o–ers independent retailers a significant opportunity to expand their pet food ranges and drive incremental sales. 9 Pet owners value the potential health benefits of their pets’ food and products that carry health benefits are in strong demand. Advanced Nutrition Dry Cat food saw 28% growth in Symbols and Independents, making it a great choice for attracting new shoppers. 10 5 IGD Pet Food Category Benchmark research 2023. 6 Circana Market Advantage, Total Cat Food, Symbols and Independents UK, Value Sales, 52 w/e 23 March 2024 7 Circana Market Advantage, Luxury Wet Cat Food, Symbols and Independents UK, Value Sales, 52 w/e 23 March 2024 8 Circana Market Advantage, Total Wet Dog Core Main Meal by package type, Symbols and Independents UK, Value Sales, 52 w/e 23 March 2024 & 52 w/e 28 March 2020 9 Circana Market Advantage, Total Core Non-Main Meal, Symbols and Independents UK, Value Sales, 52 w/e 23 March 2024 10 Circana Market Advantage, Advanced Dry Cat, Symbols and Independents UK, Value Sales, 52 w/e 23 March 2024 Shopper Cat Food Dog Food Treats Health www.planforprofit.co.uk @PlanforProfitRetail @Plan_for_Profit Page 4 www.planforprofit.co.uk @PlanforProfitRetail @Plan_for_Profit