Page 24 - PET worldwide issue 1/2021

Markets

pet in their home were forced to
adapt and make their purchases
on the Internet in order to con-
tinue to treat their dogs and cats
as members of their family. Pet
food producers and distributors
noticed the migration to online
shopping and started invest-
ing in their e-commerce perfor-
mance.
With sustained growth of 6
per cent per year, according to
Euromonitor International, and
a projected increase in market
value from 1.9 bn dollars to 2 bn
dollars, it seemed that the pan-
demic could not have come at a
worse time, but the coronavirus Many small shops must adapt if they are to survive in the market in future.
has apparently benefited the pet
food industry. It is quite possible adapt to the pandemic. Fortu- answer is to adapt to change,
that older generations would nately, they have done it quickly closely follow trends, and not
have preferred to live in auster- and successfully, either through give in to the pandemic, which,
ity and feed their pets home- their own online stores or recog- while it soon appears to be un-
made leftovers before investing nised e-commerce sites such der control, may still catch us off
in balanced pet food. However, as Mercado Libre or Amazon guard. Businesses in the indus-
try should view e-commerce not
as a temporary option, but as a
”LATIN AMERICA IS ABOUT TO MAKE A LEAP TO DIGITAL
SHOPPING AS THE FIRST OPTION FOR BUYING FOOD FOR PETS“ business alternative that is here
to stay.
Younger generations have
shown interest in the well-being
as I have already mentioned, 30 that have managed to increase of their pets, that is, their family
per cent of the Latin American sales of pet food and other prod- members, and they will not hesi-
population are young people, ucts. Sales of cat food via the tate to invest more and more
who have a strong preference Internet increased by 401 per money in getting super-premium,
for animals and their well-being, cent and the sale of accessories grain-free food and more besides
a factor that undoubtedly favours grew by 175 per cent, according if it can be delivered to their front
the industry. to research carried out by Cri- doors.
Another reason why the pan- terio, an agency specialising in Without a doubt, change is
demic did not affect sales of pet e-commerce. These data tell us difficult and this has been one of
food negatively, but instead as- that one thing is certain: Latin the most abrupt we have experi-
sisted their annual increase, was America is about to make a leap enced, but it is up to us to learn
online sales. to digital shopping as the first from the pet food industry and
option for buying food for pets. heed the lesson: the world is for
How companies adapted But what should small and those who are able to change,
Companies in the sector have medium-sized businesses in adapt and make quick decisions.
had to reinvent themselves and the pet food industry do? The n

24 PET worldwide 1|2021

PWW2021-01_Buch.indb 24 12.02.2021 13:03:46