The global market for pet dry food and treats is poised for positive growth, reaching $138.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to exceed $246.4 billion by 2035, with a 6.1% CAGR. The growth is primarily driven by a rise in pet ownership, premiumization, and market demand for functional benefits and human-grade nutrition. Currently, consumers are interestingly looking for pet food enriched with probiotics, omega-3 and 6 benefits, joint support, dental support, and natural ingredients, as well as products that feature clean labels and sustainable packaging.
Global Pet Dry Food & Treats Market: Functional Ingredients & the Rise of Human-Grade Nutrition
The global market for pet dry food and treats is poised for positive growth, reaching $138.9 billion in 2024 and is expected to exceed $246.4 billion by 2035, with a 6.1% CAGR. The growth is primarily driven by a rise in pet ownership, premiumization, and market demand for functional benefits and human-grade nutrition. Currently, consumers are interestingly looking for pet food enriched with probiotics, omega-3 and 6 benefits, joint support, dental support, and natural ingredients, as well as products that feature clean labels and sustainable packaging.
The top markets include the United States (US) ($67.8 billion), China ($9.02 billion), the United Kingdom (UK) ($7.47 billion), Brazil ($6.879 billion), and Germany ($5.863 billion). These countries lead in product innovation, veterinarian recommendations, and online pet retail. India, while smaller, is among the fastest-growing markets expected to reach over USD 1.05 billion by 2031. Across all regions, a shift from basic feeding to health-focused, customized, and personalized nutrition is reshaping the pet food landscape. [1].
Key Trends in Pet Dry Food & Treats
The key trends observed in pet dry foods & treats include:
- Innovation in ingredients: Pet food formulation is evolving by including functional components that address specific health needs. These include prebiotics and probiotics for a healthy digestive system and immune system; omega-3 & 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and heart; blueberries and kale as antioxidant-rich superfoods, and glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
- Human-grade nutrition: Increasingly, pet owners are choosing human-grade food for their animals as these are formulated with high-quality ingredients, safe processing methods, strict regulatory and health-focused approach like human food.
- Gen Z and nuclear families: Premium, healthy products are desired, particularly by younger generations such as Gen Z and nuclear families. They are willing to pay for food with clean labels that not only offer health benefits for pets but also are sourced and produced by sustainable and ethical processes.
- Pet Food with health benefits: Foods specific to health issues are becoming increasingly popular with an emphasis on:
- Use of omega-rich oils to maintain healthy skin and hair
- Glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain joint health
- Specific diets to manage diabetes and obesity
- Recipes tailored to specific breeds: Customized diets that satisfy the unique needs of different breeds, age groups, and health conditions are becoming increasingly common. To ensure that each pet gets the best possible nutrition, brands like Royal Canin are now offering personalized food based on a pet’s age, size, and level of activity.
Functional Ingredients Shaping Modern Pet Nutrition
Functional ingredients are ingredients that are added to food to provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. These ingredients have now become an integral part of pet food formulation and are often added to provide specific benefits like enhancing digestive health, immunological function, skin and coat health, joint health, dental health, and other benefits. Below are some examples of functional ingredients that are currently found in pet food formulation:
- Immunity and gut health: Pumpkin, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and probiotics (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium) are a few ingredients that aid in immune support and digestive health. Brands like The Honest Kitchen are using pumpkin and probiotics to support digestive and gut health.
- Joint, skin, and coat Health: Collagen peptides, salmon oil, and the green-lipped mussel are used to support joint mobility and healthy skin and coat.
For instance, Blue Buffalo senior foods contain glucosamine and chondroitin for joint maintenance, while Open Farm uses salmon oil in their dry kibble to promote healthy skin and coat. - Psychological and stress assistance: Nowadays, valerian root, L-theanine, and L-carnitine are added to lower stress and improve cognitive function. Brands like Hill’s Prescription Diet are specifically formulated with L-tryptophan to lower stress levels in animals.
- Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant: The green tea extract, berries, spirulina, and astaxanthin are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Wellness CORE includes spirulina in its formula to provide antioxidant support.
- Muscle and Metabolic Health: Glucosamine, chondroitin, and eggshell membrane are often added by many brands to support muscles and joints.
- Superfoods and micronutrients: The most critical micronutrients and vitamins for overall wellness can be found in coconut oil, kale, and carrots. For instance, Orijen uses broccoli and kale to provide natural nutritional benefits.
Human-Grade Nutrition: Redefining Pet Food Standards
Human-grade pet food is made from ingredients meant for human consumption and processed in the same facilities as human food with the highest standards of quality and cleanliness. For example, Open Farm produces human-grade dry kibble and fresh foods with superfoods, sustainable vegetables, and meat.
- The Reason Behind the Trend: As pets are considered family members, pet owners are looking for high-quality, clean-label pet food. To meet this consumer demand for healthier food, products are now formulated with human-grade ingredients and production methods. For example, FreshPet, a refrigerated dog food sold as “made with fresh, human-grade ingredients,” is one such product that contains real meat and vegetables.
- Expansion of Treats and Dry Food: Advancement in process method and technology, made it possible to develop human-grade treats, kibble, and dry canine food.
- Bond with Practical Nutrition: Functional ingredients like probiotics, omega-3s, and antioxidants, which promote digestive, joint, and immune system health, are included in pet foods that can be consumed by humans.The Honest Kitchen uses ingredients like probiotics and salmon oil, which contain omega-3 fatty acids, to guarantee healthy skin, a healthy coat, and a healthy digestive system.
- Labeling and Regulation: Although the term “human-grade” in labeling is regulated in some regions (e.g., in the United States by AAFCO) with stringent conformity to human food standards, the definition will vary from region to region. For example, The Farmer’s Dog meets FDA standards in the U.S., and its manufacturing processes and labeling are transparent.
- Future Outlook: Human-grade pet foods are continuously growing in the premium dry food and treat segment, driving innovation in sustainable sourcing and functional ingredients. For example, there is more demand for human-grade food from JustFoodForDogs, and they are adjusting their original formulation by adding probiotics and superfoods.
Regional Market Performance & Regulatory Landscape
Regional Market Overview
Region | Market Share (2027) | Key Trends | Growth Drivers | Challenges | Trending Products |
North America | Largest Share | – High pet adoption rates- Demand for premium pet food – Focus on human-grade nutrition – Trend towards clean-label, organic pet food | – Strong consumer willingness to pay for premium quality – Increasing awareness of pet health | – High competition among pet food brands – Consumer education on functional ingredients | – Human-grade dry food (e.g., The Honest Kitchen) – Grain-free treats – Probiotic-rich snacks |
Europe | Strong Growth | – Shift towards functional, nutrient-rich ingredients – Increased adoption of sustainable practices – Rising popularity of grain-free options | – Growth in pet ownership – Increased health awareness among pet owners – Preference for natural, clean-label ingredients | – Regulatory restrictions on certain ingredients – Price sensitivity in some European markets | – Grain-free dry food (e.g., Acana, Orijen) – Omega-3 enriched treats – Vegetarian snacks |
Asia-Pacific | Rapid Growth (Emerging) | – Increased pet ownership in emerging markets – Growth in e-commerce and online pet food sales – Rising demand for affordable premium options | – Expanding middle class – Increasing focus on pet wellness and human-grade nutrition – Urbanization and higher disposable incomes | – Market education and awareness challenges – Cultural differences in pet food preferences | – Affordable premium dry food (e.g., Hill’s Science Diet) – Rice-based treats- Probiotic snacks |
Latin America | Moderate Growth | – Growth in pet adoption- Rising interest in organic and natural pet food – Expansion of local and international pet food brands | – Urbanization and higher disposable incomes – Growing awareness of pet health and nutrition | – Economic instability in some countries – Limited availability of premium pet food products | – Natural ingredients dry food (e.g., Nutro Natural Choice) – Chicken-based treats – Natural snacks |
Middle East & Africa | Steady Growth | – Increased focus on high-quality pet food – Demand for premium and functional pet food products – Rising urbanization | – Growing number of pet owners – Increasing focus on pet wellness and premium pet food options | – Limited access to specialized pet food brands – Price sensitivity in emerging markets | – High-protein dry and breed specific food (e.g., Royal Canin) – Functional treats for joint health – Grain-free snacks |
Image source: Gathered from brand websites and E-commerce listings. | |||||
Functional Ingredients by Region, Regulation & Breed Needs
Functional Area | Key Ingredients (Brands) | Regulation & Limits (USA/EU/India) | Breed/Phenotype Relevance (as per regulation) |
Gut Health & Immunity | Pumpkin, probiotics (Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces) Brands: The Honest Kitchen, Hill’s Prescription Diet, Solid Gold | USA (AAFCO): Provided list of strains to be used in animal feed within limits. EU (FEDIAF): Probiotics approved only with strain dossier. India (FSSAI): Allows “supports gut health” but no therapeutic claims. | Labradors & Retrievers: Prone to digestive issues. Indian Pariah: Naturally robust gut flora, excess probiotic dosing beyond required is unnecessary. |
Skin, Coat & Joint Health | Salmon oil, green-lipped mussel, glucosamine Brands: Blue Buffalo, Ziwi Peak, Open Farm | USA: Omega-3 oils (DHA/EPA) content must be within prescribed limits to use the related beneficial claim; glucosamine-related health claim should be used when it meets the effective dose. EU: Strict omega-3:6 ratio (5:1 to 10:1). India: Only general “supports coat health” claim allowed. | Huskies & Shepherds (EU): Need high omega-3 for dense coat. Indian breeds: Require lighter oil blends. |
Psychological & Stress Support | Valerian root, L-theanine, L-carnitine Brands: Hill’s Prescription Diet, Royal Canin Relax Care | USA: Botanical adaptogens allowed but must follow GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) list. EU: Requires scientific evidence for behavioural claims. India: Limited to AYUSH-approved botanicals like valerian. | High-energy breeds (Border Collies): Benefit from L-theanine calming effect within EU-approved dosage Indian breeds: Low-stress temperaments make high-dose adaptogens unnecessary. |
Antioxidants & Anti-inflammatory | Spirulina, berries, green tea extract Brands: Wellness CORE, Orijen, Acana | USA: Natural antioxidant levels must not exceed feed additive caps. EU: Polyphenol levels capped India: Requires safety proof for botanicals. | Working breeds (German Shepherds): Need higher antioxidants for oxidative stress; EU caps ensure no over-supplementation. Indian breeds: Lower activity means lower antioxidant dosing is sufficient. |
Micronutrients & Superfoods | Coconut oil, kale, carrots Brands: The Honest Kitchen, Orijen | USA/EU: Must declare vitamin/mineral%, fat% of RDA when using claim related to it. India: FSSAI permits only listed plant-based superfoods. | Indian dogs: Tolerant of plant micronutrients well. Western breeds: Require higher fat energy; oil dosage regulated under AAFCO fat% guidelines. |
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Conclusion
Increased demand for human-grade nutrition and functional ingredients is fuelling the fast-paced growth of the global pet dry food and treats industry. The market is expected to grow at a 6.1% CAGR with a demand for additional health benefits such as joint support and immunological function.
Sustainable sourcing, clean-label foods, and advancements in functional nutrition will define the future, while intelligent packaging and AI-formulated foods will customize pet food. Additionally, environmental challenges will be addressed by alternative proteins like insect proteins and plant proteins. The market’s future is promising, driven by sustainability, health, and personalization.
Our Food Research Lab aims to supply state-of-the-art, market trend, product formulation, and ingredient sourcing research in the pet food industry. We help pet food companies by supplying geographically focused market analysis, product development assistance, and understanding of changing consumer trends in the pet nutrition.