The Italian pet economy is undergoing a transformation, with a notable shift from traditional pet supply businesses towards a greater focus on animal care services. Data from Unioncamere and InfoCamere reveals a stable overall number of businesses (27,000) over the past decade, but with significant internal changes.
The number of businesses offering animal care services has seen substantial growth (32% in the last five years, with nearly 1,400 new businesses). Veterinary services also experienced significant growth (+39.4%).
Conversely, businesses involved in pet sales and traditional pet food products have declined. This includes:
However, the production of pet food has shown a positive trend (+28% since 2019), with an increasing focus on high-quality, personalized pet food.
Lombardia leads in the number of businesses, followed by Campania and Lazio. Southern Italy shows a stronger presence in retail, while Northern Italy focuses more on animal care services.
Research from the London School of Economics and Kent University indicates that pet companionship has a comparable positive impact on well-being to that of a spouse or close social circle.