Canada Pet Food Market Report 2025
Executive Summary
The Canadian pet food market is experiencing robust growth, driven by fundamental shifts in how Canadians view and care for their pets. In 2025, the market is valued at
USD 5.38 billion and is projected to reach
USD 7.04 billion by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of
5.53%Mordor Intelligence.
The market is characterized by the "pet humanization" trend, where pets are increasingly treated as family members. This mindset is driving demand for premium, natural, and functional pet foods that mirror human health and wellness trends. Despite persistent economic pressures, Canadian pet owners are willing to invest more in high-quality nutrition that offers tangible health benefits for their animals.
Market Size & Growth Projections
Current Market Valuation
Multiple sources provide slightly different valuations, but all point to significant market size:
| Source | 2025 Market Size | 2030 Projection | CAGR (2025-2030) |
|---|
| Mordor Intelligence | USD 5.38 billion | USD 7.04 billion | 5.53% |
| Market Research Future | USD 8.32 billion | USD 11.25 billion (2035) | 3.0% (2025-2035) |
| Agriculture Canada (Retail Sales) | CAD 7.24 billion | CAD 9.47 billion (2029) | 7.1% (2024-2029) |
The variance in figures reflects different methodologies and scope, but the consensus is clear:
the Canadian pet food market is on a strong growth trajectory through the remainder of the decade
Mordor Intelligence.
Market Segmentation by Pet Type
Dogs are the largest revenue drivers in the Canadian market:
- Contributing 37.8% of total market revenue in 2024
- Dog food sales projected to reach CAD 4.83 billion in 2025
- Expected CAGR of 6.8% through 2030
- Premium dry dog food forecasted to grow at 9.3% CAGR
- Premium wet dog food expected to grow at 10.3% CAGR (2024-2029)Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Cats represent the second-largest segment:
- Cat food sales projected to reach CAD 2.28 billion in 2025
- Expected CAGR of 6.2% (2024-2029)
- Premium wet cat food forecasted at 8.8% CAGR
- Premium dry cat food expected at 5.7% CAGRAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Other Pets (fish, birds, small mammals, reptiles) constitute a smaller but growing segment with projected sales of
CAD 129.1 million in 2025Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
Pet Ownership Landscape
Understanding market growth requires examining the underlying pet population trends.
Pet Population Statistics (2025)
| Category | 2025 Population | 2029 Projection | CAGR (2024-2029) |
|---|
| Total Pet Population | 29.8 million | 30.3 million | 0.4% |
| Dog & Cat Combined | 17.3 million | 17.8 million | 0.8% |
| Cat Population | 8.9 million | 9.1 million | 0.5% |
| Dog Population | 8.4 million | 8.7 million | 1.1% |
Household Ownership Patterns
- 39% of Canadian households own a dog
- 37% own a cat
- 13% own both dogs and catsMade in CA
Regional Preferences
Pet preferences vary significantly across Canada:
- Quebec: Cats are more popular (67% cat owners vs. 48% dog owners)
- Ontario & Atlantic provinces: Even split between dog and cat ownership
- All other provinces: Dogs are more popularTrupanion
The relatively modest growth in pet populations (0.4-1.1% CAGR) compared to market value growth (5.5-7.1% CAGR) demonstrates that premiumization and increased spending per pet are the primary drivers of market expansion, not simply more pets.
Key Market Trends Shaping 2025
1. Premiumization: The Dominant Force
Canadian pet owners are consistently choosing premium pet food over mid-priced and economy options. This trend transcends economic pressures, as
61% of Canadian pet owners are willing to spend more on pet foods with extra health and wellness benefits
Pet Food Processing.
Premium products are characterized by:
- Regionally sourced proteins
- Functional ingredients (probiotics, Omega fatty acids, joint support)
- Nutrient-dense formulations
- Human-grade or fresh food options
- Grain-free and limited ingredient diets
Brands like Champion Petfoods' Orijen and Acana command prices
15-25% above standard kibble, demonstrating consumers' willingness to pay for perceived superior nutrition
Mordor Intelligence.
2. Natural & Organic Ingredients
There is significant demand for natural and organic pet foods with minimally processed formulas:
- 39% of Canadian pet owners prefer natural formulationsGlobal Growth Insights
- Consumers scrutinize labels, seeking whole-food based formulations
- Strong preference for products without artificial additives or fillers
- Growing awareness of environmental impact drives demand for sustainably sourced ingredients
3. Functional Health Foods
The fastest-growing product category is
pet nutraceuticals and supplements, projected to grow at
9.2% CAGR through 2030Mordor Intelligence.
Pet owners actively seek functional foods supporting:
- Digestive health
- Joint mobility and arthritis management
- Anxiety reduction
- Cognitive function and longevity
- Immune system support
Functional formulations featuring probiotics, Omega-3s, glucosamine, and other targeted ingredients are becoming mainstream rather than niche products.
4. Minimally Processed & Fresh Options
A high-growth segment includes:
- Air-dried and freeze-dried meals
- Fresh, gently cooked food
- Raw food options
- Dehydrated alternatives to traditional kibble
Subscription-style fresh food delivery services are gaining traction, offering small-batch, refrigerated pet food that aligns with human meal kit trends. These services cater to the desire for convenience combined with premium, personalized nutrition
Pet Food Processing.
5. Transparency & Sustainability
Modern pet owners demand:
- Traceability: Clear information about ingredient sourcing and manufacturing processes
- Sustainability: Lower carbon footprint, alternative proteins (lentils, chickpeas, insects)
- Ethical manufacturing: Environmental stewardship and responsible production
- Canadian-made products: Strong preference for homegrown brands with locally sourced ingredients
Younger pet owners particularly equate sustainability with modernity and responsibility, making it a key purchasing driver
Pet Food Industry.
Competitive Landscape
Market Concentration
The Canadian pet food market exhibits a
moderately consolidated structure, with global multinational corporations dominating. The top five players collectively accounted for
53.6% of the market share in 2024Mordor Intelligence.
Leading Companies & Market Share (2023/2024 Data)
Mars, Incorporated - Market Leader
- Overall pet food sector: 24.7% value share (CAD 1.5 billion)
- Dog food: 24.3% market share
- Cat food: 26.9% market share
- Cat treats and mixers: 45.9% market share
- Key brands: Pedigree, Whiskas, Acana, Orijen, Royal Canin, Iams, Nutro, TemptationsAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Nestlé SA (Purina)
- Overall pet food sector: 16.7% value share (CAD 1.0 billion)
- Dog food: 13.8% market share
- Cat food: 23.7% market share
- Key brands: Dog Chow, Friskies, ONE, Beneful, Alpo, Pro Plan, Cat Chow, Fancy FeastAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The J.M. Smucker Company
- Overall pet food sector: 5.2% market share
- Dog food: 7.3% market share
- Dog treats and mixers: 37.7% market share
- Key brands: Milk-Bone, Pup-Peroni, Snausages, Meow Mix, Jerky TreatsAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Colgate-Palmolive Company (Hill's Pet Nutrition)
Other Major Players
- General Mills Inc.
- Schell & Kampeter, Inc. (Diamond Pet Foods)
These established players benefit from strong brand equity, deep product portfolios, advanced R&D capabilities, and robust distribution networks that create significant barriers for new entrants.
Distribution Channels
The Canadian pet food distribution landscape is evolving rapidly, with a clear shift toward online platforms while specialty stores maintain their stronghold.
Channel Performance Overview (2024)
| Distribution Channel | Market Share | Growth Rate (CAGR) | Key Characteristics |
|---|
| Specialty Stores | 32.7% (revenue) | 9.0% (2019-2024) | Premium focus, expert advice, curated brands |
| Supermarkets | 24.8% | 9.3% (2019-2024) | Convenience, mainstream brands |
| Hypermarkets | 23.2% | 9.7% (2019-2024) | Wide selection, competitive pricing |
| Pet Shops/Superstores | 26.2% | 9.1% (2019-2024) | Specialized product mix |
| Online/E-commerce | 11.8% | 18.5% (2019-2024) | Fastest growing segment |
| Warehouse Clubs | 2.0% | 24.1% (2019-2024) | Bulk purchasing |
| Veterinary Clinics | 1.6% | 8.6% (2019-2024) | Therapeutic diets |
Specialty Stores: Maintaining Leadership
Specialty stores command the largest market share at 32.7% due to their ability to:
- Offer extensive product selection of premium and niche brands
- Provide specialized expertise in pet nutrition
- Curate veterinary diets that mass retailers cannot replicate
- Deliver educational merchandising and personalized recommendations
Recent consolidation, such as Legault Group's acquisition of Ren's Pets and partnership with Homes Alive Pets in 2023, is expanding geographic footprints and strengthening this channel's position
Mordor Intelligence.
Online Channels: The Growth Engine
E-commerce is the
fastest-growing distribution channel, projected to expand at
7.3% CAGR through 2030Mordor Intelligence.
Growth drivers include:
- Convenience of home delivery
- Subscription services and auto-replenishment programs
- Wide product variety and easy price comparison
- AI-driven personalized recommendations
- Enhanced product information and customer reviews
- Mobile shopping app adoption
Major players like Chewy Canada and Amazon.ca have captured significant market share through competitive pricing, extensive selection, and seamless delivery experiences
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
The Omnichannel Future
The most successful retailers are adopting omnichannel strategies that integrate online and in-store experiences. Pet Valu and other leading retailers emphasize that
omnichannel customers spend more and visit more frequently than online-only customers, highlighting the value of integrated retail approaches
Retail Insider.
Regulatory Environment
2025: A Year of Significant Regulatory Change
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is implementing a major overhaul of pet food regulations in 2025, with the new
Feeds Regulations, 2024 published on July 3, 2024
SourceNutra.
Key Regulatory Changes
New Licensing Regime (Effective December 17, 2025)
- Feed businesses must obtain licenses if they:
- Export feeds
- Import feeds for sale
- Send or convey feeds across provincial/territorial boundaries
- Imported feeds must be imported by a license holder once requirements are in effectCFIA
Enhanced Packaging Standards (Effective June 17, 2025)
- Stricter safety and sanitation standards for all pet food packagingSourceNutra
Preventive Control Plans (PCPs)
- New outcome-based requirements for feed safety
- Enhanced traceability expectations
- Stronger quality control protocols
Updated Import Documentation (Effective January 21, 2025)
- For U.S. imports: Importer's Statement of Compliance no longer required
- Each shipment must include shipping document and zoosanitary export certificate from USDA-APHIS
- Three-month transition period until April 21, 2025CFIA
Impact on Market Dynamics
These regulations create both challenges and opportunities:
Challenges:
- Higher compliance costs, particularly for smaller manufacturers
- Product reformulation requirements may delay new launches by 6-12 months
- Increased administrative burden for traceability and documentation
Opportunities:
- Favor established brands with robust quality systems
- Raise barriers to entry, protecting market share of compliant companies
- Enhance consumer confidence in product safety and quality
- Drive consolidation as smaller players struggle with compliance costsMordor Intelligence
Market Challenges
Despite strong growth prospects, the Canadian pet food market faces several significant headwinds:
1. High and Volatile Input Costs
- Beef prices increased 12% year-over-year in Q3 2024
- Wheat and corn prices varied by 8-15%
- Weakness of Canadian dollar against USD amplifies imported ingredient costs
- Results in margin compression for mass-market brands
- Limits investment in innovation and new product developmentMordor Intelligence
2. Stringent Regulatory Compliance
- New labeling standards require product reformulation
- Can delay new product launches by 6-12 months
- Disproportionately burdens smaller manufacturers
- High costs for preventive control plans and enhanced traceabilityMordor Intelligence
3. Intense Competition
- Market is crowded with established players and private labels
- Top 10 players accounted for 78% of total market revenue in 2024
- Price wars make differentiation difficult
- High barriers to entry protect incumbents but limit innovationEIN Presswire
4. Consumer Price Sensitivity
While pet owners prioritize quality, persistently high prices are driving value-seeking behavior:
- Trading down to mid-tier brands
- Exploring private label options
- Buying in bulk to reduce per-unit costs
- Balancing quality aspirations with budget realitiesPet Food Processing
5. Supply Chain Complexities
- Fragmented supply chains increase costs
- Perishability of raw ingredients leads to quality inconsistencies
- Cold-chain logistics challenges for fresh food segment
- Need for enhanced inventory management systemsLinkedIn
Market Opportunities
1. Functional Nutrition Innovation
With 61% of pet owners willing to pay more for health benefits, the functional food segment presents enormous opportunity:
- Digestive health formulations with probiotics
- Joint support with glucosamine and chondroitin
- Cognitive function support for aging pets
- Anxiety reduction ingredients
- Immune system boostersPet Food Processing
2. Localism and Canadian-Made Products
Strong preference for homegrown brands and locally sourced ingredients creates opportunity for:
- Highlighting Canadian provenance
- Regional protein sources (bison, wild-caught fish)
- Farm-to-bowl transparency
- Supporting local agriculture and economyPet Food Industry
3. Alternative Proteins and Sustainability
Growing interest in environmental impact opens doors for:
- Plant-based protein alternatives (lentils, chickpeas, pea protein)
- Insect protein formulations
- MSC-certified sustainable fish
- Upcycled ingredients and circular economy approaches
- Reduced carbon footprint formulationsProtein Industries Canada
4. Fresh and Minimally Processed Segments
High-growth opportunity in:
- Subscription-based fresh food delivery
- Freeze-dried and air-dried formats
- Gently cooked meal options
- Raw and dehydrated alternatives
- Human-grade ingredient formulationsPet Food Processing
5. Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Models
Bypassing traditional retail allows brands to:
- Showcase differentiated products
- Defend higher margins
- Build direct customer relationships
- Gather valuable consumer data
- Offer personalized nutrition solutionsMordor Intelligence
Strategic Outlook for 2025
What Success Looks Like
Companies positioned for success in the Canadian pet food market will:
-
Embrace Premiumization: Develop products that justify premium pricing through superior ingredients, functional benefits, and transparent sourcing
-
Invest in Compliance: Build robust quality systems that not only meet but exceed new CFIA regulations, turning compliance into a competitive advantage
-
Adopt Omnichannel Strategies: Integrate online and offline experiences to meet consumers wherever they prefer to shop
-
Lead with Transparency: Provide detailed traceability and sustainability information that resonates with younger, environmentally conscious consumers
-
Innovate Continuously: Develop functional formulations that address specific pet health needs while exploring alternative proteins and minimally processed formats
-
Leverage Canadian Identity: Emphasize local sourcing, Canadian manufacturing, and regional ingredients to build trust and national pride
The Bottom Line
The Canadian pet food market in 2025 is characterized by strong fundamentals: steady pet population growth, rising spend per pet, and fundamental shifts toward premium and functional nutrition. While challenges around input costs and regulatory compliance exist, the opportunities for brands that can deliver on quality, transparency, and innovation are substantial.
The market is expected to reach
CAD 7.24 billion in 2025 and continue its upward trajectory toward
CAD 9.47 billion by 2029Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. With premiumization, functional nutrition, and omnichannel retail as primary growth drivers, the Canadian pet food market presents compelling opportunities for both established players and innovative new entrants who can navigate the evolving regulatory landscape and meet the sophisticated demands of Canadian pet owners.