On March 3, the international exhibition Zooindustry 2026 opened at EXPOFORUM. One of the first events in the business programme was a presentation by Alexander Kolchin, Content Director of the Zooinform Information and Publishing Centre and a sales business coach, titled “2025 results and 2026 trends: where can the pet business make money?”
According to the expert, the global pet products market experienced its peak growth in 2022–2023, and growth rates are now returning to normal. Estimates of the global market range from 243 billion USD to 346 billion USD. The North American and Western European markets are growing moderately, while Latin America and Eastern Europe are seeing the fastest growth, both in value and volume terms.
“One of the trends is the growth in cat food sales. All segments are growing: wet food, dry food, treats, raw and frozen food. For dogs, all segments are declining except raw and frozen food. Interestingly, according to Cat Owner Rate 2025–2026, Russia ranks first in the world in terms of the share of households with cats: cats are present in 59% of households,” he noted.
The Russian pet products market was worth 510 billion RUB in 2024 and 590 billion RUB in 2025. According to the Zooinform Information and Publishing Centre, consumers continue to shift from offline to online shopping. However, it is not marketplaces that are growing, but the online divisions of specialised pet stores.
The expert reported that 70–75% of the Russian pet products market consists of food for cats and dogs; including treats and other types of feed, this figure reaches up to 82%. In 2025, the domestic pet food market reached 487 billion RUB, growing by approximately 16%, including 458 billion RUB in dog and cat food.
Alexander Kolchin also spoke about pet food consumption patterns in Russia. Only 33% of cats are fed exclusively with commercially produced pet food; 58% receive both commercial pet food and home-prepared food. 40% of dogs are fed natural food, while 59% receive it in combination with commercially produced pet food. In the expert’s view, the market has enormous potential for pet food manufacturers.
“We have reached an advanced stage of pet humanisation: pets are members of the family. Most Russians already own pets, and a significant share—especially among young people—plan to get one. Cats are the top choice, and nutrition is becoming a marker of quality. There is a major shortage of services that help people care for animals, creating enormous demand for pet sitters, boarding services, and pet hotels. Many people take animals in from the street but do not know how to care for them. If you can find a way to become a bridge between a homeless animal and its owner, it will be in demand,” he stressed.
Alexander Kolchin also reported an increase in the average purchase value for almost all pet products, as well as rising pet food prices. He noted that agricultural enterprises—both Russian and international manufacturers—are entering the pet products market. Exports of food for non-food-producing animals are developing: in 2025, Russia exported 100,000 tonnes of pet food, almost twice as much as it imported.
According to estimates by the Zooinform Information and Publishing Centre, Russian consumers are optimistic and willing to spend money on their pets. On average, a pet owner spends around 4,500 RUB per month on food, treats, hygiene products, and veterinary medicines. Price remains important for 56% of pet owners, while 42% read reviews when choosing products.
“Consumption is stable, spending is moderate but growing, omnichannel retail is the norm, and price is a key—but not the only—factor. Customers are becoming more conscious, and trust matters more than loud advertising. Channel optimisation is also important: you need to engage customers through the channel where they expect to find you. We have more prospects than negatives,” Kolchin noted.
The international exhibition Zooindustry 2026 is taking place at the EXPOFORUM Convention and Exhibition Centre from March 3 to 5.