Industry
Pampered pets Australians are splashing out on premium products, driving revenue growth for retailers. Words Tim Calabria OVER THE course of the COVID-19 pandemic,
booming Australian Pets and Pet Supplies Retailers
with a pet. And, since the first lockdowns of
cent in 2020-21, more than doubling the previous
to feel that their lives would be improved if shared March 2020, Australians have spent more than
ever on their animal companions. Amid ongoing
disruptions to daily life, many people experienced a sense of sadness, loss, or loneliness,
which is reflected in bleak statistics, Tim Calabria, Industry Analyst, IBISWorld
including higher rates of anxiety and depression. The remarkable uptick
in pet acquisitions across Australia is a bright spot in an otherwise
“The remarkable uptick in pet acquisitions across Australia is a bright spot in an otherwise challenging period.” – Tim Calabria, Industry Analyst, IBISWorld
This sudden influx of pets has flowed on to the
huge swathes of the Australian population came
challenging period.
Animal Medicines Australia
estimates that Australians had 5.1
million pet dogs and 3.7 million pet
cats in 2019. By 2021, the number of
pet dogs had increased by 1.2 million, to 6.3 million, while the number of pet cats had risen by roughly the same figure, to total 4.9 million.
Although cats and dogs constitute
the vast majority of pets in Australia,
exotic animals like ferrets, lizards and
cockatoos also grace more homes than ever before. 50 Pet Industry News | May/Jun/Jul 2022
industry. The industry’s revenue grew by 11.6 per year’s growth. The initial purchase of a pet only
accounts for 4.5 per cent of total revenue for industry retailers, which include pet stores of varying sizes.
