Pet market analysis in Poland
Our analysis of the pet market in Poland shows a large, stable industry that is increasingly focused on exports. Polish homes have more than 8.2 million dogs and almost 7.5 million cats. The whole market for pet products is estimated to reach PLN 9.6 billion in 2025. At the same time, Poland is one of the world's leading exporters of dog and cat food.
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How big is the pet market in Poland?
The market for pet products in Poland has grown by about 14% a year in recent years and is expected to reach PLN 9.6 billion in 2025.
The pet market covers products and services for pets. The largest segment is food and treats. The market also includes accessories, care and hygiene products and veterinary services. Pet sitting, training and behaviourist services are becoming more important. The youngest area is pet tech, meaning technology for animals and their owners.
According to available analyses, the market for pet products in Poland has grown by about 14% a year in recent years. In 2025 it is expected to reach PLN 9.6 billion. This figure covers food, accessories and services. Dog and cat food alone is worth PLN 4.7 billion, roughly half of that amount.
02
How many pets are there in Poland?
According to European industry data, in 2024 Poland had 8.28 million dogs and 7.46 million cats. Poles also kept 1.29 million small mammals and 1.14 million ornamental birds. Homes also had 404 thousand aquariums and 219 thousand terrariums. Poland stands out especially for the number of dogs. In 2023, 49% of Polish households had a dog. This was one of the highest figures in Europe, next to Hungary (50%). For comparison, the European average was 25%. What is more, the pet population is still growing. Since 2019 Poland has gained almost 700 thousand dogs and over 1.1 million cats.
03
How big is the pet food market in Poland?
According to consumer panel data, Polish households bought almost 381 thousand tonnes of pet food in 2025, worth more than PLN 4.7 billion.
Pet food is the largest and best-researched part of the market. According to consumer panel data, Polish households bought almost 381 thousand tonnes of pet food in 2025. Its value exceeded PLN 4.7 billion. 53.1% of households bought dog or cat food.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Value of pet food purchases | PLN 4.7bn |
| Volume of pet food purchases | 381 thousand tonnes |
| Households buying pet food | 53.1% |
| Average annual spend per buyer | PLN 640 |
| Pet food bought per buyer per year | 51 kg |
| Purchases per buyer per year | 28 |
In 2025 the average buyer bought 51 kg of pet food and spent about PLN 640 on it, making purchases in this category 28 times a year on average. About 36% of households buy dog food and about 36% buy cat food. Dog food leads in volume, while cat food generates higher spending. The segments are growing at different rates. In 2025 the volume of dog food purchases fell by 5.6% year on year, while the volume of cat food grew by 3.7% year on year. As a result, cats are now the ones bringing in new buyers.
Compared with Europe, the Polish market still has room to grow. Pet food sales in Europe reached EUR 29.4 billion and 8.6 million tonnes in 2024. The value of the European market grew by 4% year on year and volume by 1%. Across Europe 140 million households, or 49% of all households, have a pet. Poland is also a large pet food producer. According to sector analyses, the value of dog and cat food production was PLN 7.6 billion in 2023. Preliminary data for 2024 show that almost 1.2 million tonnes of pet food were produced, 21% more than a year earlier.
04
How much pet food does Poland export?
Polish pet food exports reached about PLN 11 billion in 2024, or about EUR 2.2 billion, with Germany remaining the main buyer.
Exports are the strongest side of the Polish industry. According to available data, pet food exports reached about PLN 11 billion in 2024, or about EUR 2.2 billion. Dog and cat food accounted for PLN 9.6 billion, 9% more than a year earlier. As a result, Poland moved up to 4th place among the world's exporters of dog and cat food, ahead of France. Its share of world exports was about 9%, compared with 7.6% in 2022. Germany remains the main buyer, receiving pet food worth PLN 3.4 billion in 2024. The United Kingdom was second (PLN 839.5 million), followed by France (PLN 528.4 million), the Czech Republic (PLN 469 million) and the Netherlands (PLN 379 million).
| Country | Exports (PLN m) |
|---|---|
| Germany | 3,400 |
| United Kingdom | 839.5 |
| France | 528.4 |
| Czech Republic | 469 |
| Netherlands | 379 |
Export growth continued in 2025. According to government data, pet food sales outside the European Union reached EUR 680 million in 2025, 16% more than a year earlier. Poland is also a large importer of pet food. In 2024 pet food was the largest imported agri-food product by value. Most of the trade is with Germany. In 2024 Poland exported pet food worth EUR 846 million (329 thousand tonnes) there, while importing pet food worth EUR 791 million (431 thousand tonnes) from Germany. The balance was positive in value but negative in volume. Export growth is driven by investment from foreign producers. Companies operating in Poland include Nestlé Purina PetCare, Royal Canin, United Petfood and Josera.
05
What trends are shaping the pet market in Poland?
The main trend is pet humanisation, which makes specialised food and premium products more important; only 7% of consumers plan to cut spending on pet products, while 39% intend to increase it.
The role of pets in Polish homes is clearly changing. A dog or a cat is more and more often a member of the family, not just a pet. In a 2023 survey, owners rated this statement at 4.33 on a 1–5 scale. This is called pet humanisation. Humanisation translates directly into purchases. Owners read pet food labels more often and look for products that match their animal's needs. This is why specialised food, treats and premium products are becoming more important. Supermarkets and pet shops have a larger share of sales value than of volume, which means customers buy more expensive products there.
Consumers also do not plan to save on their pets. According to surveys, only 7% of consumers plan to cut spending on pet products, while as many as 39% intend to increase it. For comparison, 28% of consumers are considering spending less on restaurants. Price still matters a lot, though. More than half of pet food volume is retailers' private labels. The best known include Kitty (Biedronka), Winston (Rossmann) and Coshida (Lidl).
06
Where do Poles buy pet food?
Discount stores are the main channel for buying pet food, used by 40% of pet food buyers in 2025, followed by supermarkets (26%) and hypermarkets (about 15%).
Discount stores remain the main channel for buying pet food. In 2025, 40% of pet food buyers used them. Discount stores lead both in sales value and in volume. They are followed by supermarkets (26% of buyers) and hypermarkets (about 15%). In addition, over 8% of buyers shop in brick-and-mortar pet shops and over 4% in online pet shops.
However, the internet matters more than online pet shops alone suggest. Estimates show that Poles buy almost 30% of all pet products online, which puts Poland second in Europe, after the United Kingdom. The figures are not fully comparable: the first refers to pet food buyers in online pet shops, the second to all purchases of pet products.
Consumer surveys from 2023 confirm the strength of this channel. As many as 85% of pet owners bought products for their pets online. The most common reason was attractive prices, named by 48% of online shoppers. The growth of e-commerce has also made subscription models possible, where orders renew automatically.
07
What is pet tech?
Pet tech is a young and varied part of the market. It covers mobile apps, service platforms, veterinary telemedicine and smart devices. Collars and harnesses with GPS, activity trackers or vital-sign sensors are especially popular. They let owners track their animal's health, activity and safety.
The range of automatic feeders and filtered water fountains is also growing. They let owners feed their pet on a schedule and reduce food waste. In most cases the devices work together with an app on the owner's phone.
Digital services still have a lot of untapped potential. In 2023 only one in four owners (26%) booked services for their pet online, for example a groomer appointment. At the same time, 39% of respondents would like to do so if it were possible.
08
What are the risks for the pet market in Poland?
The main risks are rising prices (pet food prices rose by 5.7% year on year in August 2026), weakening demand in the dog segment, and competition and dependence on Germany.
The first risk is rising prices. According to data from August 2026, pet food prices rose by 5.7% year on year. It was the second fastest-rising category in shops, after household chemicals. Producers are passing higher costs on to customers. The second risk is weakening demand in the dog segment. In 2025 the volume of dog food purchases fell by 5.6% year on year. In addition, the strong position of private labels increases price pressure on branded producers. The third challenge is competition and dependence on one market. Meat producers looking for higher margins are entering the industry. Germany accounts for almost one third of the value of Polish pet food exports, so an economic slowdown there could clearly weaken foreign sales.
09
What are the forecasts for the pet market in Poland?
According to an OC&C forecast, the market for pet products in Poland will grow by a third over four years and may reach almost PLN 13 billion in 2029.
Forecasts remain optimistic. According to an OC&C forecast, the market for pet products in Poland will grow by a third over four years and may reach almost PLN 13 billion in 2029. Growth is expected to be driven by the rising number of pets and by humanisation. PKO Bank Polski is more cautious. Its forecast says the dog and cat food market will keep growing, but somewhat more slowly than in recent years. In short, both forecasts expect growth but differ on its pace.
10
Who leads the pet food market in Poland?
In 2024 the leaders of the dog food market were Biedronka, Mars and DNP, with over 40% of the segment's value, while Mars, Nestlé and Biedronka led in cat food.
The pet food market is concentrated. In 2024 the leaders of the dog food market were Biedronka, Mars and DNP, which together held over 40% of the segment's value. In cat food the leaders were Mars, Nestlé and Biedronka. Among manufacturer brands, Whiskas, Purina Felix and Purina Gourmet were the most popular. Among private labels, Kitty, Winston and Coshida led. The largest players also produce in Poland. The Royal Canin plant in Niepołomice, a brand owned by Mars, serves 24 markets.
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Source: MarketHub, "Pet market analysis in Poland", markethub.pl, 10.2026