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.
Sainsbury's
RetailerSainsbury's — Retail company based in London, England, UK, operating in United Kingdom.
♡E.Leclerc
RetailerE.Leclerc : présentationE.Leclerc est une entreprise du secteur animalier (animalerie, alimentation et…
♡Companies in Europe
Healan Ingredients Ltd
ManufacturerUK supplier of speciality ingredients to the pet food and animal nutrition…
♡Blankney Estates
Manufacturer14,000-acre arable estate growing crops for animal feed and pet food ingredients.
♡Beneo Animal Nutrition
ManufacturerSupplies functional carbohydrate and prebiotic ingredients for pet food formulations.
♡Barentz UK LTD
ManufacturerDistributes ingredients for animal nutrition, personal care and pharmaceutical markets in the…
♡Alltech
ManufacturerGlobal animal-nutrition company supplying supplements and ingredients to the UK pet food…
♡Vetnique Limited (VetIQ)
ManufacturerGlobal consumer pet-health brand (formerly Mark+Chappell) making preventative care and functional treats.
♡WHM Pet Group
ManufacturerSixth-generation family business: animal feed, pet food, wild bird food, feeders and…
♡Topspec (VetSpec)
ManufacturerNutritionist-owned brand producing canine and equine premium diets to European standards.
♡Trouw Nutrition GB (Frank Wright)
ManufacturerAnimal nutrition ingredients and specialty solutions for pet food manufacturers.
♡Premier Nutrition Products Ltd
ManufacturerBespoke premixes, blends, finished supplements and feed materials; private-label co-manufacturing.
♡Johnston & Jeff LTD
ManufacturerFeeding birds since 1880; avian nutrition and wild/cage bird food manufacturer.
♡Johnsons Veterinary Products LTD
ManufacturerUK maker of supplements, worm/flea treatments for cats, dogs, birds, small animals…
♡Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc
ManufacturerScience-led pet nutrition (Prescription Diet, Science Plan) with UK operations.
♡Henry Bell & Co Grantham Ltd
ManufacturerSince 1825 agricultural supplier of seed, fertiliser and cereals for animal feed.
♡Health & Happiness (H&H) UK Ltd
ManufacturerPremium quality dog and cat supplement producer (Swisse/H&H group).
♡Harvest Wildlife Products
ManufacturerLeading British manufacturer of high-quality wild bird food with 125+ years expertise.
♡Gel Systems Ltd
ManufacturerGlobal supplier of premixes, gelling agents and stabilisers to pet and food…
♡Freshpet Europe LTD
ManufacturerProduces fresh, refrigerated real-food meals for dogs and cats for the UK/Europe…
♡DSM Nutritional Products UK Ltd
ManufacturerSupplies vitamins, nutrients and nutritional solutions to the pet food industry.
♡Devenish Nutrition Ltd
ManufacturerManufactures prepared feeds and nutritional solutions for the animal feed sector.
♡⚖️ 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.