Europe Pet Market
Europe is the world’s second-largest pet region, with roughly 299 million pets across 139 million households (FEDIAF). Mature markets such as Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy anchor the region, while Central and Eastern Europe are expanding rapidly. The market is shaped by premium nutrition, sustainability, veterinary services and strict pet-food regulation.
Pet Population · Europe
Pet population estimates for Europe, sourced from the European pet food industry federation's annual statistical report.
| Dogs (pet population) | 91,205,000 |
| Cats (pet population) | 110,861,000 |
| Aquaria (fish) | 27,749,000 |
| Terraria (reptiles & amphibians) | 9,882,000 |
| Total pets (all species) | 239,697,000 |
| Total pets (excl. aquaria)* | 278,406,000 |
Source: FEDIAF Facts & Figures 2026 (2026). *FEDIAF reports "total pets" excluding aquaria; the all-species total above is summed from the four pet-type columns.
Featured Companies
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Notable businesses shaping the Europe pet market.
Ireland companies in Europe
Approved Raw Pet Foods
ManufacturerIreland's licensed manufacturer and distributor of raw, human-grade pet food with full…
♡Premier Petfoods Limited
ManufacturerIrish manufacturer of pet food and related products aimed at providing value…
♡Frozzys Ltd
ManufacturerNorthern Ireland manufacturer of dog treats and edible pet products for the…
♡RiRaw Healthy Pet Treats
ManufacturerIrish manufacturer of healthy dog treats and meat-based pet products for the…
♡Linhurst Manufacturing Ltd
ManufacturerIrish manufacturer of dog treats and chews supplying the B2B pet and…
♡TRM Pet / Mervue Laboratories
BrandIrish animal-health group producing pet nutritional supplements and care products under TRM…
♡Creavens Premium Pet Foods
ManufacturerIrish manufacturer of premium dry dog and cat food and puppy and…
♡C&D Foods
ManufacturerMajor European private-label pet-food manufacturer producing wet dog and cat food for…
♡Sabre Pet Food Ireland Ltd
BrandIrish brand owner of air-dried pet treats including Alpha Spirit, manufacturing and…
♡Irish Dog Foods Ltd
ManufacturerVeteran Irish manufacturer of dry, moist and treat pet foods in BRCGS…
♡Kaya Pet Foods Ltd
ManufacturerIrish pet-food manufacturer and brand owner producing dog and cat nutrition for…
♡Connolly's RED MILLS (Red Mills Pet)
ManufacturerIrish manufacturer of premium dog and cat food and animal nutrition, exporting…
♡Research and Markets
Industry OrganizationResearch and Markets — Market research marketplace based in Ireland.
♡HOME STORE AND MORE
RetailerHome Store + More is a leading independent Irish homeware retailer founded in 2004 and headquartered in Dublin, with stores in Ireland and Scotland. Its range includes a Pets & Leisure section offering pet beds, toys, crates, leads, harnesses and...
♡Petstop Retail Ltd
Pet Chain StorePetstop is Ireland's largest and most trusted pet store chain, established in 1995 and family-owned. It operates 14 pet superstores across Ireland and sells online, stocking over 12,000 products across dog, cat, small animal, bird, reptile and aquatic categories, including...
♡⚖️ Europe Pet Regulations & Compliance
Knowledge Center →🍖 Pet Food Regulation (EU framework)
Pet food is legally "feed" under EU law: Regulation (EC) 767/2009 (labelling/marketing), Feed Hygiene Reg. (EC) 183/2005 and the Animal By-Products Reg. (EU) 142/2011 (pet-food provisions added by Reg. (EU) 2017/2279). Labels must state complete vs complementary feed, FBO details, batch, additives and a consumer helpline. Additives need EFSA-authorised approval under Reg. (EC) 1831/2003.
🧸 Pet Product Standards
Pet accessories fall under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988 (from Dec 2024) and REACH (Reg. 1907/2006) for hazardous substances. Pet toys are explicitly outside the Toy Safety Directive and covered by GPSR. Electronic pet devices follow RoHS.
📥 Import Requirements (third countries)
Animal-derived pet food is an animal by-product: it may enter the EU only from TRACES-listed countries and establishments, with a veterinary health certificate and pre-notification via CHED-P ≥24h before arrival at a Border Control Post. HS 2309 retail dog/cat food faces ~9.6% MFN duty; goods from Russia/Belarus face 50%.
📤 Export Requirements
EU exporters need an Export Health Certificate and EU TRACES listing. Intra-EU/EEA trade is free. FEDIAF reports ~€29.4B EU pet-food sales and 8.6 Mt sold in 2024 (140M households, 49% pet-owning).
🚢 Europe Pet Trade & Export Intelligence
📥 Key Import Segments
- Pet food & treats~5.7–6.8 Mt (≈US$15–17.6B, 2024); top extra-EU sources China (~23% share in 2023), Thailand, Brazil, Turkey.
- Toys & accessoriesSignificant intra-EU trade.
- Health & supplementsGrowing import demand.
📤 Key Export Segments
- Manufactured pet productsDominated by intra-EU trade.
- Private-label pet foodStrong EU manufacturing.
- IngredientsSignificant outbound.
🌍 Trading Network
- Germany / France / NetherlandsCore EU producers
- United KingdomMajor non-EU partner (post-Brexit)
- Thailand / Brazil / ChinaKey extra-EU suppliers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pet companies are listed in Europe on GlobalPetIndex?
GlobalPetIndex indexes thousands of pet businesses across Europe — spanning manufacturers, brands, distributors, wholesalers and pet retail chains. Use the country and company-type filters above to narrow the list to the exact segment you need.
What pet business types operate in Europe?
The Europe pet market covers the full value chain: pet food and treat manufacturers, brand owners, distributors and wholesalers, mass-market retailers, and specialty pet chain stores. Browse them by type using the icon hub on this page.
Can I filter Europe companies by country and type?
Yes. The right-hand filter lets you drill into a specific country within Europe and a specific company type (Manufacturer, Brand, Retailer, Distributor, and more) at the same time, so you only see the relevant suppliers and buyers.
How do I list my Europe pet company on GlobalPetIndex?
Register a free GlobalPetIndex account, add your company profile with type, country and product focus, and publish. Verified and Premium members unlock contact details, richer profiles and higher placement in recommendations.