T. Ozbun
Research expert covering food retail and all food topics for Italy and Brazil
Get in touch with us nowThe sheer number of pets kept by Brazilians makes the country one of the main pet markets in the world. Brazil’s pet care industry accounts for nearly five percent of the global pet care market and it constitutes, by far, the largest pet food market in Latin America. Comprised of pet food, pet supplies, pet services, and vet care, the industry built around the needs of every family’s furry little friend is a thriving business in Brazil.
Talking figures: how much is Brazil’s pet care market worth?
The Brazilian pet care industry generated a revenue of over 35 billion reals in 2019, out of which the specialized retail segment – made up of 32 thousand pet shops – represented more than 80 percent. However, the leading sector in terms of workforce is pet breeding, which employs 84 percent of the total number of workers in Brazil’s pet industry.Like in many other industries, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought some changes for the Brazilian pet care market. For instance, e-commerce channels have become increasingly important during this crisis. Though only accounting for 3.7 percent of the pet care revenue in 2019, online sales of pet care items exhibited the highest revenue growth among all pet market categories in the first half of 2020. Sales of veterinary products in Brazil also showed a noticeable increase during that period.
Shops and clinics, major players
Over 60 percent of the Brazilian companies operating in the pet care sector are pet shops and veterinary clinics. Other top categories include pet food, pet accessories, and hygiene products. Based on market share, Mars Brazil is the leading pet food company, which operates household name dog and cat food brands as Pedigree, Champ, Whiskas, and Sheba. In the segment of pet accessories and hygiene products, Merial holds the largest market share. A subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim, Merial owns and markets the brand Frontline in Brazil, one of the best-known animal hygiene product lines in the country.
