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Changing attitudes
to pet ownership drive pet food sales -
16 Mar 2005
Author: Jacqueline Zhuang, Euromonitor Shanghai
Pet
ownership in China is on the increase and attitudes towards pets are changing,
with Chinese people demonstrating greater love and care towards their pets, according
to the latest report from Euromonitor International. China?s
fast-paced economy and increasing levels of disposable incomes are having a positive
impact on the pet industry. New research from global market analyst, Euromonitor
International, shows that pet ownership in China substantially increased between
1999 and 2004. Driven by the growing population of pets, demand for pet food products
has also been stimulated to a large extent. Although small in scale compared with
Western developed countries, the Chinese pet food market offers high growth potential
as it becomes increasingly regulated. Growth
of Pet Food Owing
to the Government?s relaxed control in the breeding of cats and dogs, dog and
cat ownership grew rapidly between 1999 and 2004. Euromonitor?s latest research
shows that the percentage of the Chinese population owning dogs and cats increased
from 5% and 14% respectively in 1999 to an estimated 7% and 15% in 2004, which
indicates the increasing popularity of dogs and cats in China. Hence, Euromonitor
International estimates sales of dog and cat food reached nearly RMB1.6 billion
in 2004, representing current value growth of 13% over the previous year. Sales
of other pet food such as bird food and fish food were valued at RMB3.9 million
in 2004, up by 11% in current terms from 2003. Market
Insight China?s
pet population has grown by a remarkable 20% in five years, from 240,799,000 in
1999 to 291,315,000 in 2004. Euromonitor suggests that the first contributing
factor is associated to one-child households and a growing ageing population.
Smaller family sizes have helped to create a greater demand for pets, which are
seen not just as animals, but as true extensions of the family. In this context,
the family pet is seen as a companion to the child and then, when the child grows
up and leaves home, a source of comfort to the parents. Second, a change in perception
is taking place with pets increasingly being seen as companions particularly for
many urban dwellers, who, with their higher levels of disposable incomes, are
willing to spend more on their pets. Third, as Chinese society is going through
an unprecedented transformation, interpersonal relationships have become more
complicated than ever. As result many people now depend on their pets to relieve
stress and loneliness. Finally, Euromonitor?s research shows that for many young
adults, keeping a pet also stands as a fashion and identity statement. With
the further development of the above factors, Euromonitor forecasts that the pet
population will continue to grow strongly between 2004 and 2009, thus creating
lucrative sales opportunities for the pet food industry. Sales of pet food are
mostly generated in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Major
Players in the Market The
US-based food giant Mars dominates the pet food market in China with its two famous
brands, Pedigree and Whiskas, owned by Effem Foods (Beijing) Co Ltd. The company?s
wide choice of products and high brand awareness among consumers helped it to
take the lion?s share of 58% of retail value sales of dog and cat food in 2004. Other
pet food products are mainly produced by domestic manufacturers and typically
sold in outdoor markets. Unpackaged and semi-processed plant seeds and crops are
generally sold as bird food. The absence of dominant national or multinational
players makes other pet food highly fragmented in various regions across China. Owing
to the heavy presence of local players, foreign other pet food producers were
at a disadvantage in terms of price competition. They also had to face restrictions
on import and distribution rights as well as local rampant protectionism. Euromonitor
International does not expect this situation to change in the short to medium
term as foreign players are still adopting a wait-and-see strategy and are wary
about the local erratic customs regulations. Through
mergers and acquisitions, global players strengthened their product offerings
and beefed up investment in production facilities, thus further reinforcing their
competitiveness in the local market. Domestic players are making efforts to improve
product quality and vie for sales opportunities in the medium price segment. However,
due to low brand awareness, local brands still mainly cater to low-end and mass
consumer needs. Prospects
for the Market According
to Euromonitor International the outlook for pet food market in China is set to
be promising. Sustained economic growth and increasing pet ownership hold the
key to continued growth over the next five-year period. Pet food, especially dog
and cat food, are expected to develop as foreign major players increasingly see
China as a lucrative pet food market. As a result, Euromonitor expects that a
wider variety of new products will enter the market to cater to the progressively
sophisticated tastes of Chinese pet owners. | 
