According to a recently published report by Future Market Insights, global demand for small breed dog food is expected to reach a market valuation of USD 35 million by the end of the year 2023, accelerating at a CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period (2023 to 2033). By the end of the said period of assessment, sales of small breed dog food are expected to total USD 54.35 million.
The small breed dog food market is relatively niche and is experiencing utmost and rapid growth, owing to the demand from small breed dog owners to feed their dogs with food specially formulated for dogs weighing less than 20 pounds. The market is supported by:
North America, followed by Europe, is the major market for Small Breed Dog Food, owing to the increasing awareness about the health risks associated with unhealthy dog diets. Due to this, the regional market is experiencing a high demand for premium and specialty pet food products.
The market in Europe is driven by the increasing pet ownership and awareness of pet health in countries such as the UK, Germany, and France.
Apart from North America and Europe, the Asia Pacific region is experiencing massive expansion of the retail and foodservice industry, increasing population and urbanization leading to a rise in disposable income are targeted towards massive market development. Due to this, consumers are adopting pets and becoming increasingly interested and are willing to pay for Small Breed Dog Food.
Key producers are working on manufacturing Small Breed Dog Food in order to gain a greater market share. Both domestic and international players are utilizing advanced technology to boost their commercial capabilities and gain a significant share of revenue. Some of these companies include Mars Petcare, Nestle Purina Petcare, Hill's Science Diet, Wellness Pet Food, and Blue Buffalo.
The market for small breed dog food is highly competitive, with a large number of companies vying for market share. These companies have a strong presence in the market and are utilizing various strategies to gain an advantage, such as emphasizing product quality and pricing, developing new Small Breed Dog Food-based products, and building a strong brand reputation and distribution network.
Competition in the market is fierce, with companies competing to offer better product quality, lower prices, a stronger brand reputation, and wider distribution network.
For instance, ORIJEN announced the launch of Small Breed, a specially formulated dog food for small breeds, offering big flavor in small bites. With 85% high-quality animal ingredients in a freeze-dried, delicious kibble, it meets the unique needs of smaller dogs.
The food is protein-rich to support high energy levels and a healthy weight, and includes ingredients to support the immune system, joints, skin, and coat. ORIJEN Small Breed uses WholePrey ratios of free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish and quail, with the top 10 ingredients being fresh or raw, making up 2/3rd of the animal ingredients.
| Data Points | Key Statistics |
|---|---|
| Anticipated Market Value of Small Breed Dog Food in 2023 | USD 35 million |
| Projected Market Value of Small Breed Dog Food in 2033 | USD 54.35 million |
| Global Growth Rate (2023 to 2033) | CAGR of 4.5% |
Pet parents of the younger, millennial generation around the world are following the trend of putting off home ownership and sticking with condos or apartments. This is an integral part of the changing lifestyle of the young generation and this, ultimately has a paramount impact on pet ownership trends.
Adopting or owning small breed dogs is gaining popularity among millennials as they show immense compatibility with the changing lifestyle of the working population. This has a direct influence on the pet food industry, and consequently, the demand for small breed dog food is growing at a healthy pace.
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Increasing growth of the pet food industry is giving rise to new trends, and the growing culture of pet parenting is contributing to the boosting the popularity of these trends. Pet parents from the millennial generation are becoming more and more alert about the needs and requirements vis-a-vis nutrition for their small breed dogs.
Catering to these needs, leading players in the small breed dog foods market are devising new business strategies. Launching premium and specialty dog food products for small breed dogs is emerging as a popular trend in the market, as end users are choosing products critically to suit the nutritional needs of their dogs.
Pet owners are experimenting with the diet recipes and are also willing to spend more on the same, and this is triggering market players to introduce specialty dog food products with unique diets such as raw diets, home-cooked pet meals, and grain-free diets.
Furthermore, growing awareness about the allergies in small breed dogs is also triggering the demand for specialty dog food products among end users in the market. Pet owners’ awareness about the food that their dogs are sensitive to is further boosting the profitability aspects of specialty and premium small breed dog food products.
Leading players in the small breed dog food market are taking a lead in the global landscape by concentrating their brand strategies around product innovation. Growing attention towards nutrition as well as palatability of pet food products is triggering the trend of innovating around the ingredients as well as flavours of small breed dog food products.
This is triggering leading manufacturers in the small breed dog food market to increase research & development activities to discover unique ingredients that can improve nutritional properties as well as the flavour of their offerings.
In recent years, the demand for savoury flavours in small breed dog foods has increased significantly across the world, and the trend is expected to sustain in the coming years as well.
Furthermore, the sales of small breed dog food with freeze-dried and grain-free ingredients are also booming around the world. Such ingredients in small breed dog foods that can keep small dogs fuller for a longer period of time are becoming prevalent in the market.
Manufacturers will continue to invest their efforts in introducing unique and healthier ingredients to expand their offerings and gain an edge in the small breed dog food market.
Based on the geographical factors, the small breed dog food market is broadly segmented into seven regions - North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and Middle East & Africa.
With the increasing growth of the pet food market in the United States, the growth prospects of the small breed dog food market in North America.
Pet parents in the region are gaining more awareness about the distinct health conditions and nutritional needs of small dogs that are different that normal-sized or large dogs.
In addition to this, the rise in concerns among them regarding the health of their dogs along with the palatability are among the critical factors that are likely to influence the growth parameters of the small breed dog food market in North America, in the coming years.
The pet care industry is also booming in the European region, and the demand for small breed dog food is growing rapidly in most European countries.
Small breed dog owners in the region are more inclined towards dog food products that are both scrumptious as well as nutritional. This is expected to drive major trends in the European market for small breed dog food in the coming years.
Mars Petcare - an American global manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products and a provider of animal care services - is a leading player in the pet food industry. The company has nearly 28 pet food brands for cats, dogs, horses, fish, and birds, including Cesar®, IamsTM, Whiskas®, and EukanubaTM.
Blue Buffalo - a leader in premium quality, all-natural pet nutrition based in Connecticut, USA - offers healthy, natural, and holistic pet foods & treats. The company also provides grain-free pet food products for kittens or puppies or for adult or senior pets, along with the products with protein-rich or limited ingredients for various needs such as joint health, weight control, skin and coat health, and digestive care foods, as well as treats.
WellPet LLC - a leading pet care production company that offers grain-free protein-focused formulas, biscuits, and nutritional pet food products. The company manufactures as well as supplies pet food products worldwide, and the company’s flagship brands include Wellness, Old Mother Hubbard, Holistic Select, and Eagle Pack.
Small Breed Dog Food Market: Competitive Landscape (this is an indicative list, full list available upon request)
The small breed dog food market can be segmented on the basis of the following:
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Small Breed Dog Food Market
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