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
Nederma BV / Sanal
ManufacturerDutch manufacturer of Sanal cat litter and pet care products, producing hygiene…
♡Holland Diervoeders BV
ManufacturerDevelops and produces high-quality animal feed for pets, birds and rodents; offers…
♡Alltech Coppens
ManufacturerAlltech Coppens is a European pet food manufacturer producing premium dry and…
♡Sivomatic B.V. (Minerals Technologies / SIVO)
ManufacturerSivomatic B.V. (Minerals Technologies / SIVO) is a pet industry manufacturer based…
♡GlobalPETS Directory
Media & KnowledgeGlobalPETS Directory — Pet company directory based in Netherlands.
♡PETS International
Media & KnowledgePETS International — International pet trade publication based in Netherlands.
♡GlobalPETS Forum
Industry OrganizationGlobalPETS Forum — Pet industry networking forum based in Netherlands.
♡Witjesverzendhuis-Euro-Petdiscount Import-Export
ImporterDutch pet-products importer and distributor (Witjesverzendhuis / Euro-Petdiscount), founded in 1987, supplying pet food, accessories and discount pet goods across the Netherlands and Europe.
♡Warmako B.V.
Distributor & WholesalerDutch distributor and wholesaler (Warmako B.V.) of pet products, founded in 1990 and based in the Netherlands, supplying pet shops and retailers with a broad pet-product range.
♡FARM
BrandFarm Food is a Dutch pet food brand whose products have been produced since 1982, offering premium dog and cat food manufactured in the Netherlands. It is positioned in the high-end pet nutrition segment.
♡Dayes BV
Distributor & WholesalerDayes B.V. is a Dutch distributor and wholesaler of pet care products, founded in 1899 and based in Zevenaar. With over 200 employees, it serves the international pet trade with a broad assortment of pet supplies.
♡D.A.VAN DE WATERING
OtherD.A. van de Watering is a Dutch company; public records primarily associate the name with fruit and vegetable importing, with no confirmed dedicated pet-products activity. Its pet-industry relevance therefore remains uncertain.
♡A.K. for Pets B.V.
Distributor & WholesalerA.K. for Pets B.V. is a Dutch wholesaler and distributor of pet supplies, founded in 1992 and based in Nieuwkuijk/Heusden. It imports and distributes a broad range of pet products to pet shops and retail customers, with a small team...
♡Van Cranenbroek ELC bv
OtherVan Cranenbroek ELC B.V. is a Dutch home-improvement, garden and household retail chain with around five branches in the Netherlands and Belgium. Its assortment includes a pet-supplies (dierbenodigdheden) section alongside tools, outdoor living and workwear.
♡Ijsvogelretail b.v.
OtherIjsvogel Retail B.V. is a Dutch pet-retail company that operates the Pets Place and Boerenbond pet-store chains across the Netherlands, offering food, accessories and services for dogs, cats, birds, fish and small animals. It is one of the country's largest...
♡Handelsonderneming Gebr. de Boon B.V.
Distributor & WholesalerHandelsonderneming Gebr. de Boon B.V. is a Dutch wholesaler and distributor of pet products, supplying pet shops and retailers with accessories and supplies for dogs, cats, birds, aquaria and small animals from its base in the Netherlands.
♡Adriaanse import&export bv
Distributor & WholesalerAdriaanse import & export B.V. is a Dutch trading company that imports and exports home, gift and lifestyle products. While not exclusively a pet business, it is included as a general distributor and wholesaler in the pet-industry directory.
♡Intratuin Trade
OtherIntratuin is a Dutch garden-centre retail chain with stores across the Netherlands and Belgium, offering plants, home and garden décor and a dedicated pet-care assortment for dogs, cats, birds, fish and small animals. Intratuin Trade is the buying and trading...
♡Witte Molen
ManufacturerWitte Molen is a Dutch pet-food company based in Meeuwen, Netherlands, with…
♡Ahold Delhaize
RetailerAhold Delhaize is one of the world's largest food retail groups, serving 50+ million customers weekly in the US and Europe through ~7,000 stores under local banners including Alber
♡⚖️ 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.