No.3735
New Pet Businesses in Japan: Key Research Findings 2024
Total Value of Markets for Fresh Pet Food and Pet Supplements Continues to Demonstrate Double-digit Growth, Achieving 19,980 Million Yen in FY2024, With A CAGR of 20. 8% Between FY2021-2027
Yano Research Institute (the President, Takashi Mizukoshi) has conducted a survey on the emerging businesses in the pet business market, and found out the trends by segment, the trends of market players, and future perspectives. This press release highlights trends regarding fresh pet food, pet supplements, and teleadvice/online veterinary consultations.
Market Overview
On the background of improved awareness of pets as companion animals and growing consciousness about pets’ health in recent years, new products and services have emerged as a game-changer in the pet market. This press release highlights trends regarding fresh pet food, pet supplements, and teleadvice/online veterinary consultations.
The total value of the fresh pet food market and the pet supplements market (based on the sales of businesses) is projected to reach 19,980 million yen in FY2024 and is forecasted to grow to 37,078 million yen by FY2027. This market is expected to exhibit substantial growth, with a CAGR of 20.8% from FY2021 to FY2027. Notably, the fresh pet food market has been demonstrating double-digit growth, thereby contributing to the overall market size for fresh pet food and pet supplements.
Nonetheless, owing to the popularity of automatic feeders, the distribution of fresh cat food occurs at a slower rate compared to that of dog food. Furthermore, besides the elevated product costs, preservative-free fresh pet food that is available frozen may not be a feasible choice for pet owners, as it necessitates thawing, freezer space, and in-person delivery of packages. Similarly, for producers of pet supplements, the difficulty is in marketing, given that pet supplements are not allowed to assert any medical advantages.
Noteworthy Topics
Teleadvice/Online Veterinary Consultation Market Anticipating Growth With Establishment of Government Guidelines
Supported by the increasing acknowledgment of pets as family members and a heightened awareness concerning pet health, the market for teleadvice/online veterinary consultation is experiencing rapid growth. In December 2024, subsequent to the evaluations of online veterinary services conducted by stakeholders in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Japan Veterinary Medical Association in June 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries established the “Guideline for Properly Providing Online Veterinary Consultations for Pet Animals”, which is anticipated to enhance the acceptance of teleadvice and online veterinary consultations starting from FY2025. This initiative not only aids veterinary hospitals in improving profitability, streamlining operations, and becoming a “family doctor” but also provides advantages to pet owners by reducing stress associated with veterinary appointments. We believe the introduction of teleadvice and online veterinary consultations will yield a beneficial influence on the overall veterinary industry.
Future Outlook
The rise of new pet businesses was facilitated by the increasing acknowledgment of pets as family members and a growing awareness of pet health. Nevertheless, the scale of each market remains limited as numerous products and services have yet to achieve widespread recognition.
Emerging pet enterprises are set to expand with offerings that address the requirements of pet owners. Fresh pet food companies will broaden their customer base by catering to various customer demands, such as providing items for cats, products that may be stored at ambient temperature, and enhancing offline sales at brick-and-mortar establishments. Pet supplement firms anticipate moderate growth in demand by enhancing pet owners’ awareness of the effectiveness of pet supplements through endorsement by veterinarians, dissemination of information at pet retail stores, and word-of-mouth among pet owners.
Meanwhile, motivated by the forthcoming revision of the legal framework set to take effect in FY2025, which delineates the scope and conditions of teleadvice/online veterinary consultation services, there will be an increase in the adoption of teleadvice/online veterinary consultation services among verinarians, which will, in turn, result in a greater number of pet owners utilizing these services.
Research Outline
2.Research Object： Manufacturers of fresh pet food and pet supplements, businesses of smart solutions for pets, pet DNA test providers, etc.
3.Research Methogology： Face-to-face interviews by our expert researchers, interviews by telephone, and literature research.
What are the New Pet Businesses?
In the main survey, new pet businesses refer to enterprises that have emerged as a game-changer in the pet market, which offer fresh pet food, pet supplements, subscription boxes (services that deliver a variety of toys, apparel, etc., on a subscription basis), teleadvice/online veterinary consultations, pet vital sign monitoring devices, pet genetic testing, e-commerce platforms for pet-care products, pet-friendly entertainment and leisure activities, as well as pet-friendly residences created by construction material and housing manufacturers. Nonetheless, this press release highlights the trends concerning businesses in fresh pet food, pet supplements, and teleadvice/online veterinary consultations.
Fresh pet food: In this survey, fresh pet food refers to human grade pet foods using domestic produce, with no food additives, cooked at a lower temperature.
Pet supplements: In this survey, pet supplements are characterized as products that are incorporated into a pet's standard diet, containing ingredients aimed at sustaining or enhancing health. In a more specific context, it pertains to supplements presented in forms such as tablets, capsules, powders, or liquids in dropper. In a wider context, it encompasses treats (such as jerky, gum, biscuits, etc.,) that contain functional ingredients. It is important to note that standard pet foods containing functional ingredients are excluded from this definition.
Teleadvice/online veterinary consultations: In this survey, online veterinary consultations are defined as telemedicine services through which pet owners may communicate with a veterinarian remotely using video calls or messaging platforms to obtain diagnoses and prescriptions. Teleadvice solely offers pet owners general information pertaining to the pet's health or recommends scheduling an in-person visit with a veterinarian.
＜Products and Services in the Market＞
Fresh pet food, pet supplements, subscription boxes, pet vital sign monitoring devices, pet genetic testing, pet-friendly residences, pet-friendly entertainment and leisure activities
Published Report
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