Pet Food Industry Statistics 2026: Market Size, Premium Trends & What’s Growing

The pet food industry is the largest segment of the pet economy — and it’s transforming fast. Here’s the data on market size, premiumization, fresh/raw trends, recalls, and what’s driving growth. Data from APPA, Packaged Facts, FDA, and AAFCO.

Pet food industry statistics — dog food bowl with pet paws

📅 Last Updated: May 2026

ðŸū Key Numbers at a Glance

$56.4BU.S. pet food market (2023)
$143BGlobal pet food market
35%Premium food market share
$1.5B+Fresh/raw food segment
$9.2BTreats market
23Class I/II recalls (2023)

Jump to Section

  1. Market Size & Growth
  2. Premium & Fresh Food Trends
  3. Brand Rankings & Market Share
  4. Dog Food Segment
  5. Cat Food Segment
  6. Treats & Functional Foods
  7. Recalls & Safety

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Market Size & Growth

$56.4B
Total U.S. pet food market in 2023 — the largest segment of the entire pet industry, surpassing vet care.
Source: APPA 2023-24 Industry Report
$143B
Global pet food market in 2023, projected to reach $225 billion by 2030. North America holds the largest share.
Source: Grand View Research / Industry Forecasts
$225B
Projected global pet food market by 2030 — driven by premiumization, humanization, and growing pet populations worldwide.
Source: Grand View Research 2024
$67.8B
Estimated U.S. pet food spending in 2025 per APPA — continued growth as premiumization pushes up per-unit prices.
Source: World Animal Foundation / APPA 2025
35%
Premium and super-premium pet food now holds of the total market — the fastest-growing price tier.
Source: Packaged Facts Pet Food Trends
15%
Private label and store brand pet food market share. Growing fastest at specialty pet retailers.
Source: PetfoodIndustry Market Analysis

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Premium & Fresh Food Trends

$1.5B+
Fresh and raw pet food segment — growing 30%+ annually. Brands like Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, and JustFoodForDogs are leading the shift.
Source: Packaged Facts Fresh Pet Food Report
30%+
Annual growth rate of the fresh/raw pet food segment — the fastest-growing category in pet food.
Source: PetfoodIndustry / Packaged Facts
$500M+
Combined revenue of human-grade pet food brands (Ollie, Farmer’s Dog, JustFoodForDogs). The segment has exploded since 2018.
Source: PetfoodIndustry / Industry Estimates
35%
Premium/super-premium pet food market share — owners increasingly willing to pay more for higher-quality ingredients.
Source: Packaged Facts Pet Food Report
5-8%
Of new pet food product launches are plant-based. Still a niche, but growing as eco-conscious owners seek alternatives.
Source: PetfoodIndustry / Product Launch Data
Peaked
Grain-free dog food peaked in 2018-2019 and has since declined after the FDA’s DCM investigation — though no causal link was confirmed.
Source: FDA DCM Investigation Update

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Brand Rankings & Market Share

#1
Hill’s Science Diet — most recommended by veterinarians and a top seller in both prescription and OPC channels.
Source: Veterinary Industry / Vet Survey Data
#2
Royal Canin — leader in breed-specific and condition-specific formulas. Strong prescription diet presence.
Source: Veterinary Industry Rankings
#3
Purina Pro Plan — mass market leader with strong science backing and the widest distribution network.
Source: PetfoodIndustry / Market Share Data
15%
Private label and store brand market share. Growing as retailers like PetSmart and Chewy expand their house brands.
Source: PetfoodIndustry Analysis
$9.2B
Pet treats — a separate market segment larger than fresh/raw but growing more slowly than premium main meals.
Source: APPA Industry Report
DTC
Direct-to-consumer pet food brands (Farmer’s Dog, Ollie, Nom Nom) now represent a meaningful and fast-growing market channel.
Source: Packaged Facts DTC Pet Food Report

🐕

Dog Food Segment

$42.5B
Dog food market size in the U.S. in 2023 — the largest pet food subcategory, accounting for roughly 75% of total pet food sales.
Source: APPA State of the Industry
$1,547
Average annual spending per dog, including food. Food is the #2 expense after vet care for most owners.
Source: Forbes Advisor 2026
$339
Average annual food spending per dog owner — but premium and raw diet owners spend much more.
Source: Forbes Advisor 2026
+20%
Growth in premium dog food spending since 2020. Owners trading up to higher protein, limited ingredient, and specialized diets.
Source: Packaged Facts Dog Food Report

ðŸą

Cat Food Segment

$20.1B
Cat food market in the U.S. in 2023 — smaller than dog food but with higher per-serving prices and loyalty to specific formats.
Source: APPA Industry Data
85%
Of cat owners feed some wet food to their cats. Cats are more texture-sensitive than dogs, driving strong demand for pates and shreds.
Source: PetfoodIndustry Cat Food Trends
53%
Of cat owners buy grain-free cat food — significantly higher than dog owners, in part because DCM was not linked to cats.
Source: Packaged Facts Cat Food Report
$253
Average annual veterinary spending per cat — significantly less than dogs, but cat food spending is a higher portion of total per-cat cost.
Source: Forbes Advisor 2026

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Treats & Functional Foods

$9.2B
U.S. pet treats market — a substantial subcategory separate from main meal food, with different purchasing patterns and margins.
Source: APPA Industry Trends
Fastest
Functional treats — joint, dental, calming, and digestive health — are the fastest-growing treat segment as owners seek health benefits.
Source: Packaged Facts Functional Treats
Dental
Dental treats are the most popular functional treat category, with VOHC-accepted products commanding premium pricing.
Source: AVMA / Veterinary Oral Health Council
+15%
Annual growth rate for functional treats — outpacing both standard treats and main meal food growth rates.
Source: PetfoodIndustry Trends Analysis

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Recalls & Safety

23
Class I or II pet food recalls in 2023 (FDA). The most serious recalls involve Salmonella contamination and nutritional deficiencies.
Source: FDA Recall Database
Salmonella
Salmonella contamination is the single most common cause of pet food recalls — affecting both dry and wet foods across multiple brands.
Source: FDA Recall Data
DCM
202 pet dogs reported with DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) linked to grain-free diets as of FDA 2022 update. Investigation ongoing.
Source: FDA DCM Investigation
AAFCO
AAFCO sets U.S. nutritional standards for pet food. All complete and balanced foods must meet their nutrient profiles or pass a feeding trial.
Source: AAFCO Pet Food Regulation

📋 Methodology & Sources

Statistics on this page were compiled from industry research organizations including the American Pet Products Association (APPA), Packaged Facts, FDA, AAFCO, and PetfoodIndustry.com. Additional data from Forbes Advisor, Grand View Research, World Animal Foundation, and veterinary industry surveys. All stats reflect the most recently available data as of May 2026. Where possible, links go directly to original sources. If you spot an outdated stat, let us know.

More pet resources: Pet Ownership Statistics • Dog Ownership Statistics • Veterinary Cost Statistics • Busy Pet Parent Blog