Japan Pet Food Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Japan Pet Food Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

The Japan pet food market is projected to register a CAGR of 3.1% during the forecast period (2022-2027).

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the market negatively due to the suspension of manufacturing, processing, and packaging activities of companies involved in the pet food market. This has resulted in limited availability of products, thereby hampering the pet food market. However, according to the USDA Japan Pet Food-2021 report due to COVID-19, the number of new pet owners through October 2020 for both dogs and cats increased compared to 2019. As of October 2020, the total number of dogs and cats in Japan was 18.13 million approximately.

In Japan pet is considered as a family member, therefore Japanese take good care of their pets. The major factors that are driving the Japan pet food market are ncreasing per capita income, rising disposable income and Pet humanization. This resulted in a shift toward focus on pet health and also increased consumer spending on a variety of premium and super-premium high-quality pet foods as well as specialized healthy and therapeutic pet foods . This is forcing manufacturers to produce high-quality foods with an eye on natural and organic content. In product segment, dry food is mainstream in Japan. However demand for wet food is on the rise owing to the high digestibility offered by wet food.

Key Market TrendsCat Food is Gaining Popularity in Japan

Japanese customers do spend a huge amount on buying premium dry cat food. Cats are gaining popularity, particularly due to the increasing urbanization and apartment living trend. The number of new pet owners in 2020 for cats increased compared to 2019 according to the survey conducted by Japan Pet Food Association (JPFA). With increase in cats as pets, there has been an increase in cat food manufacturers to provide increased cat food options. Gourmet products for cats are vital in driving growth as cat owners are also increasingly feeding their cats premium food treats and mixers, which is coupled with manufacturers entering the lucrative cat food market in Japan. Therefore, more varieties of luxury treats and toppers are hitting the shelves. Pet owners are hyper-aware of the origin of cat food ingredients sourced in the region and are willing to pay extra for higher-grade, locally sourced products. Therefore, this is estimated to increase the demand for cat food due to the growth of the pet humanization trend during the forecast period.

Store-based Retailing Dominates the Market

The shift among pet owners to take extra care in choosing pet products has positively affected the store-based pet food retailers in Japan. The most common distribution channel for pet foods in Japan is through importers and wholesalers to specialized pet food stores, and in some cases, secondary wholesalers to retailers. In the case of Japanese manufacturers that own production facilities abroad, products are imported directly inside the company or through its subsidiaries and then distributed to the retailers through wholesalers. However, there are also cases in which retailers buy directly from importers. The store-based retailers are focusing on the curated offerings, brand exclusivity, private labels, and aesthetic displays to attract pet owners. Some pet stores are incorporating services such as veterinary care and grooming that are encouraging pet owners to visit the retail stores.

Competitive Landscape

The Japan pet food market is consolidated, with the top global players occupying a major share in the market. The competition in the market is driven by consumer loyalty. The major players in the Japan pet food market are Mars Inc., Hills Pet Nutrition, Nestle Purina Petcare, Nutriara Alimentos Ltd, and Maruha Nichiro Holdings, accounting for more than half of the market share. Consisting heavily of large multinational players, the market studied also has many private label players. Apart from the presence of a loyal customer base, the major players benefit from great marketing and innovation capacities. Companies in the market are investing in product launches in response to the growing demand and to gain a competitive edge over the other players.

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• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
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