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.
Switzerland companies in Europe
Hutter und Schmid AG
ManufacturerSwiss producer of organically certified pet food, manufacturing and trading dog and…
♡Purrfect Pets GmbH
BrandSwiss pet-product company active in the B2B pet trade, distributing and branding…
♡Swiss Pet Solution (Granovit AG)
ManufacturerSwitzerland's largest dry pet-food maker, producing private-label and own Iso-dog/Iso-cat brands with…
♡naturaPET AG
ManufacturerSwiss manufacturer and private-label producer of natural dog and cat food under…
♡Thalmann Tiernahrung
ManufacturerSwiss producer of dog and cat dry food, supplying the domestic pet…
♡Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Media & KnowledgeFrontiers in Veterinary Science — Veterinary research journal based in Switzerland.
♡Delphin-Amazonia AG
WholesalerDelphin-Amazonia AG (operating as SP Trading AG) is a Swiss wholesaler and distributor of aquarium products and ornamental fish supplies, based in Muttenz. It serves aquarium retailers and hobbyists.
♡LANDI Schweiz AG
RetailerLANDI Schweiz AG is a Swiss cooperative retail organisation serving farmers and rural communities. Its stores sell agricultural, garden and household goods and include a pet-care and pet-food assortment for dogs, cats and small animals.
♡Birgma
DistributorBirgma is a purchasing and distribution company serving the Biltema retail concept, sourcing and supplying a wide range of consumer products including tools, home, automotive and pet accessories across European markets.
♡LANDI
BrandLANDI is a Swiss retail group and private-label operator spanning gardening, outdoor, home, pet and agricultural supplies. Revenue is undisclosed, but it has strong domestic channe
♡Petcenter.ch AG/petcenter.ch holding AG
MarketplacePetcenter.ch AG / petcenter.ch holding AG — Switzerland. Founded 2010; Swiss retailer,…
♡⚖️ 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.