Research and Markets: US Pet Food and Pet Care Products Market Experienced Decline in Mid-Priced and Economy Brands in 2004

DUBLIN, Ireland -- February 3, 2005 -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c12434) has announced the addition of Pet Food and Pet Care Products in United States to their offering.


The proliferation of pet superstores has been a significant growth factor for the market, as they provide a convenient, pet-friendly shopping experience. These outlets have continued to expand in 2004, offering pet grooming, boarding, obedience training, and veterinary assistance on site, as well as an ever increasing variety of pet products. Supermarkets and other mass-market retailers have responded by changing the configuration of their pet aisles to include more impulse items like treats and accessories. Pet superstores, in particular, have been attracting customers by encouraging them to bring their pets along, creating a shopping experience unique to this channel that often leads to more purchases than just browsing.

The US pet food and pet care products market saw declines in some mid-priced and economy brands in 2004, but these were outpaced by strong growth in premium brands across each sector. The review period saw an increasing number of new products in the premium segment, often promising value-added benefits in terms of healthcare and nutritional value, designed to make these foods attractive despite their higher prices.

In 2004, the most prevalent type of value-added benefit was foods formulated for weight loss or weight maintenance in pets. Much like the human population in the US, dogs and cats are becoming overweight in record numbers. Several new low-fat, low-carb, high protein pet foods were introduced in the latter part of the review period that encourage pet owners to monitor more closely their pets’ eating habits and maintain healthy weights, in order to avoid future pet health problems.

The “humanisation” of pets is a continuing trend, whereby pets (particularly dogs and cats) are increasingly cared for according to human patterns, and human aesthetic standards are applied to pets. Pets are increasingly regarded as family members, and are often considered as equivalent to children in the level of attention and care they gain from pet owners. This has led to a heightened awareness of the special health needs associated with pets at different developmental stages, and an increased tendency to pamper pets with toys and treats that are not really needed from a care or nutritional standpoint. The continued development of cosmetics for pets is an example of this trend, with new products such as bath wipes, scented shampoos and aromatherapy candles. Other pet-related product markets continued to utilise this desire to extend human provisions, such as pet insurance, pet clothing, pet energy bars, and even things like a cat-oriented cafe and pet yoga classes.

This Pet Food and Pet Care Products in the United States report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (1998-2003), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2008 illustrate how the market is set to change. Product coverage includes dog food, cat food, other pet food and pet care products.

Contents Include:

-- Pet Food And Pet Care Products

-- Dog Food Retail Sales

-- Cat Food Retail Sales

-- Other Pet Food Retail Sales

-- Pet Care Products Retail Sales

-- Published Industry Statistics

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c12434

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