Pet care in 2025: The big picture
Pet care in Japan is set to continue to rise in retail current value terms in 2025. In 2023, the country experienced a sharp increase in pet food prices, a trend that continued in 2024, and has also continued into 2025 (although at a slowing rate of increase), which is expected to contribute to value growth.
2025 key trends
In Japan, the cat population is expected to continue to rise in 2025, while the dog population, particularly large breeds, has experienced a long-term decline due to modern living environments and lifestyles that do not accommodate larger pets. Although there was a surprising uptick in the number of large dogs in 2024, this number is expected to fall in 2025, as is the overall dog population.
Competitive landscape
Unicharm remained the leading player in pet care in value terms in 2024, thanks to its wide range of brands across price platforms, including Gin No Spoon, Grand Deli, and Neko Genki. However, while Unicharm saw a slight share decline in this year, second-placed Inaba Pet Food saw share growth with its Ciao brand (the leader in overall pet care), and its Inaba brand, therefore the gap between the two leaders narrowed to less than one percentage point.
Retail developments
The pet care retail landscape in Japan is witnessing significant changes, particularly in terms of health and beauty specialists (health and personal care stores) and retail e-commerce, which are set to see the highest value share growth in 2025. One player in health and personal care stores has taken sales of pet care products a step further.
What next for pet care?
In the forecast period, pet care is set to see a low positive retail value CAGR at constant 2025 prices. Pet food is expected to maintain growth, mainly due to a solid performance for cat food, due to premiumisation, and as the cat population is set to continue to slowly rise.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Pet Care industry in Japan with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Cat Food
- Dog Food
- Other Pet Food
- Pet Products
If you're in the Pet Care industry in Japan, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Pet Care in Japan report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Pet Care in Japan?
- Which are the leading brands in Pet Care in Japan?
- How are products distributed in Pet Care in Japan?
- How is the rise of e-commerce impacting the retail environment and consumer engagement?
- How are fashions and values in human food echoed in food for pets?
- How has COVID-19 impacted consumer demand? To what extent have lockdown, home seclusion and stockpiling boosted sales? Will the longer term economic repercussions of the pandemic stimulate or suppress future growth?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Pet Care in Japan
Pet care in 2025: The big picture
2025 key trends
Competitive landscape
Retail developments
What next for pet care?
DISCLAIMER
Cat Food in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Increase in cat ownership boosts both volume and value sales
Inaba Pet Food Co Ltd leads, and dominates cat treats and mixers
Premium cat food trends in Japan: A shift towards quality and transparency
Growth for cat treats and mixers set to continue, but will slow
Regulating sales of therapeutic pet food in Japan
Emerging concepts will continue to shape the future
Dog Food in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Decline in the dog population continues, thus impacting sales of dog food
Players respond to consumer demands
Trend towards smaller pack sizes continues, as does the trend towards online sales
Negative volume trend in dog food set to continue
Expansion of frozen dog food
Royal Canin’s sales restrictions likely to impact therapeutic dog food
Other Pet Food in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Volume decline but value growth for other pet food
Kyorin Food Ind Ltd continues to lead
Retail e-commerce continues its gradual rise
Popular dog and cat food concepts expand to other pet food
Growth hampered by maturity of the other pet population
High protein trend starting to penetrate other pet food
Pet Products in Japan
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Pet toilet supplies continue to perform well
ST Corp acquires Nyantomo business from Kao Corp
Retail e-commerce maintains its growth trend
Cat litter set to drive growth as the cat population rises
Pet products to be launched by players from other industries
Expanding experiences for pet-friendly activities
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Pet Care
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- Cat Treats and Mixers
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- Economy Dry Cat Food
- Mid-Priced Dry Cat Food
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- Premium Therapeutic Dry Cat Food
- Premium Non-Therapeutic Dry Cat Food
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- Economy Wet Cat Food
- Mid-Priced Wet Cat Food
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- Premium Therapeutic Wet Cat Food
- Premium Non-Therapeutic Wet Cat Food
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- Dog Treats and Mixers
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- Economy Dry Dog Food
- Mid-Priced Dry Dog Food
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- Premium Therapeutic Dry Dog Food
- Premium Non-Therapeutic Dry Dog Food
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- Economy Wet Dog Food
- Mid-Priced Wet Dog Food
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- Premium Therapeutic Wet Dog Food
- Premium Non-Therapeutic Wet Dog Food
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- Bird Food
- Fish Food
- Small Mammal/Reptile Food
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- Cat Litter
- Pet Healthcare
- Other Pet Products
Why buy this report?
- Gain competitive intelligence about market leaders
- Track key industry trends, opportunities and threats
- Inform your marketing, brand, strategy and market development, sales and supply functions
This report originates from Passport, our Pet Care research and analysis database.
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