Pet News

The French pet food sector achieved a valuation of €4.8 billion in 2025, showing no change from the preceding year, following a robust 17% expansion in 2024. Exports are a cornerstone of the industry, contributing to almost half of the total output. Online platforms are maintaining a strong presence, representing 28% of dog food sales and 21% of cat food sales, while traditional supermarkets remain the leading distribution channel.

French Pet Food Market Performance and Distribution Channels

In 2025, the French pet food industry reached a stable valuation of €4.8 billion, consistent with the previous year's figures. This stability comes after a notable 17% growth observed in 2024 compared to 2023. Data from FACCO, the French association of pet food producers, reveals that the market has expanded by nearly €1 billion since 2021, marking an increase of over 23% during this period. While the market value remained steady, the sales volume experienced a slight dip of 0.04% year-on-year, totaling 1.19 million tons of pet food in France in 2025. Dry food constituted the majority of sales volume at 69.3%, followed by wet food at 28.2%, with other product types like supplements making up the remaining 2.5%.

The distribution landscape saw large and medium-sized retailers, including hypermarkets, supermarkets, and convenience stores, as the primary purchasing channels for both cat (68%) and dog (51%) food, maintaining similar levels as in 2024. Pet stores held the second position, accounting for 34% of dog food sales and 23% of cat food sales, showing a slight increase of 0.5 percentage points from the prior year. After a period of expansion, online purchases stabilized, representing 28% of dog food acquisitions and 21% for cat food. Other channels, such as drive-through services, hard discount stores, garden centers, veterinary clinics, and pharmacies, also contribute to the diverse purchasing options available to French pet owners.

Export Dynamics and Market Positioning

Exports played a significant role in the French pet food sector, with 48% of the country's production shipped internationally in 2025, amounting to 877,400 tons. This represents a 1 percentage point increase from the previous year, resulting in a positive trade balance exceeding €1.1 billion. Over the past two decades, this surplus has nearly doubled, driven by exports that grew from €888 million to €2.2 billion, as explained by Sylvain Bersinger, founder of Bersingéco consulting firm. Despite this growth, France lags behind the global pace of industry expansion. Bersinger notes that while French exports have increased 2.4 times in 20 years, global exports have more than quintupled, leading to a significant reduction in France's market share from approximately 20% in the mid-2000s to less than 9% in 2024.

A key factor contributing to this trend is France's reliance on the European market, which absorbs 80% of its exports. The main export destinations include Germany, Italy, the UK, and Spain. These countries are characterized by mature markets with slower growth rates compared to emerging regions like Asia and Latin America, which impacts both production and export performance. FACCO emphasized that international trade issues remained a central focus in 2025, particularly concerning health certificates under review, negotiation, or awaiting validation in various countries such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Argentina, and Japan. Progress was made in negotiations with Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico, Uruguay, Israel, and South Korea, addressing heat-treatment protocols, updated certificates, and new approval and registration procedures.

The 30th China International Pet Show (CIPS 2026), set to open in Guangzhou from November 12 to 15, signifies a milestone that extends beyond its three-decade anniversary. This edition of CIPS demonstrates the significant transformations both the exhibition itself and the international pet trade have undergone. With supply chains constantly shifting and retail channels becoming increasingly fragmented, businesses are now prioritizing careful selection of suppliers, precise product positioning, and the development of enduring partnerships. In parallel, trade shows are moving past their traditional role of simply showcasing products, becoming dynamic environments where buyers and suppliers can evaluate capabilities, understand market trends, and make crucial business decisions.

CIPS 2026 will span an impressive 120,000 square meters, hosting over 1,400 exhibitors and attracting more than 80,000 professional visitors from across 120 countries and regions. While sheer size remains a notable aspect, the underlying structure that supports this vast scale is gaining increasing importance. The event will feature suppliers covering a wide range of pet categories, including dogs, cats, aquatic life, reptiles, small pets, exotic animals, and birds. A significant majority, over 80% of exhibitors, including prominent names like Wanpy, Petstar, COLLAR, Ethical Products, EHEIM, and Tetra, are anticipated to possess comprehensive capabilities in design, research and development, and manufacturing. This emphasis is crucial as buyers now seek suppliers who offer not only production capacity but also product adaptability and seamless collaboration, making supplier evaluation and sourcing efficiency as vital as product discovery.

A diverse array of more than 40 concurrent activities, including conferences, competitions, and industry showcases, will enrich CIPS 2026, reflecting a broader change in buyer behavior. Companies are increasingly seeking not only products but also the deeper market context, eager to understand shifts in demand and identify new opportunities. A key highlight is the 2nd CIPS International Pet Industry Convention (CIPIC), scheduled for November 11, the day before the main exhibition. Under the theme “Renewal: Toward Shared Growth,” CIPIC has been expanded into an exclusive, executive-level meeting for crucial decision-makers throughout the pet supply chain. Discussions will concentrate on evolving global supply chains, the changing dynamics of collaboration between brands, manufacturers, and channels, and how stronger long-term partnerships can shape the next phase of industry growth. Additionally, the aquatics sector will play a significant role, with the 3rd Aquatic Industry Convention, co-organized with Ornamental Fish International (OFI), focusing on “Transforming the Aquarium Industry: Data, Technology and Retail Innovation.” This convention will explore topics from global trade and emerging markets to AI-driven aquaculture, social media-influenced demand, and new omnichannel retail models, featuring the OFI Global Aquarium Retail Awards to provide a robust retail and commercial perspective.

These discussions collectively underscore a fundamental truth: comprehensive market insights are becoming inextricably linked to effective commercial decision-making. Innovation and sustainability offer additional perspectives on the industry's future trajectory. As product cycles accelerate, discerning meaningful innovation presents a growing challenge for buyers. The CIPS Innovation Award has been significantly enhanced for 2026, introducing a more structured method for assessing innovation across both pet and aquarium categories. Alongside the NEWⁿ New Product Showcase Zone, this initiative helps buyers navigate new product launches more effectively, focusing not merely on novelty but on products that demonstrate clear technical advancements, practical value, and market relevance. Similarly, sustainability is evolving with clearer standards and measurable benchmarks. The 4th “Green Paw Prints, Love For Earth” initiative will feature an expanded showcase for exhibitors dedicated to lower-impact production and responsible sourcing. Since its inception in 2023, participation in this initiative has surged more than fivefold, with international exhibitors joining for the first time in 2025, reflecting broader industry commitment to verifiable sustainability practices. Selection criteria are based on practical aspects such as carbon reduction, eco-friendly materials, and waste reduction.

After thirty editions, CIPS has transcended its definition solely by size. Its evolving role increasingly involves seamlessly integrating sourcing, market insights, and industry dialogue into a single comprehensive platform, reflecting a broader transformation in what trade shows are expected to deliver. This shift signifies a commitment to fostering progress, collaboration, and informed decision-making, ensuring the pet industry continues to thrive responsibly and innovatively.