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.
Albert Heijn
RetailerAlbert Heijn — Grocery retail / Supermarket company based in Netherlands, operating in Netherlands, Belgium.
♡Albert
OtherAlbert — Grocery retail / hypermarkets company based in Prague, Czech Republic, operating in Czech Republic.
♡Netherlands companies in Europe
Beukers Animal Nutrition
ManufacturerGlobal pet manufacturer. Website: https://www.beukersanimalnutrition.com/
♡Techni-Cal Internationaal B.V.
ManufacturerDutch producer and marketer of pet food and veterinary-diet products for cats…
♡Scholtus Special Products B.V.
ManufacturerDutch pet food and care products company serving the domestic pet supplies…
♡Mol B.V.
ManufacturerDutch private-label manufacturer and distributor of pet accessories and metal hardware components…
♡Hepromij BV
ManufacturerDutch manufacturer of 100% custom-made animal feeds and snacks under private label…
♡Sivomatic Holding B.V.
ManufacturerVertically integrated Dutch manufacturer of premium bentonite cat litter, producing for 30+…
♡Q-Petfood B.V.
ManufacturerDutch market leader in frozen fresh-meat pet food (Smuldier/PetFoodie), producing natural complete…
♡Mostert Absorbents B.V.
ManufacturerLeading Dutch producer of cat litter and bird sand with own Kitty…
♡Fokker Diervoeders B.V.
ManufacturerDutch manufacturer of premium natural dry dog and cat food under the…
♡Witte Molen B.V.
ManufacturerDutch producer since 1740 of bird, small-mammal, pigeon and poultry food; part…
♡Biofood Diervoeding B.V. / BF Petfood
ManufacturerFrisian family manufacturer of natural and organic dog and cat food, sheep-fat…
♡Waifs & Strays
ManufacturerDutch manufacturer of dog outerwear, beds, ceramic bowls, toys and collars for…
♡Newtechnics, Best Buddies
ManufacturerDutch manufacturer of dog treats and assorted pet accessories for retail and…
♡EHG Beheer BV - theTickBox
ManufacturerDutch producer of theTickBox flea, tick and pest-control products for dogs and…
♡pintotex bv
ManufacturerDutch manufacturer of dog nutritional supplements, pet hair pickup tools and cat…
♡⚖️ 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.