The 'Cat Food' Market Surpasses 700 Billion Won... Industry Competition Accelerates

Cat Food Market Expected to Surpass 1 Trillion Won by 2027
Premium Cat Food Products Attracting Food Industry Entries

Due to social changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in single-person households, the population of people raising cats has nearly doubled. The companion cat market is also showing significant growth, with the 'cat food' market exceeding 700 billion KRW and experiencing rapid expansion.

Dongwon F&B Nutri Plan, Premium Wet Can for Cats 'Dish'

According to market research firm Euromonitor on the 2nd, last year the domestic companion cat food market size was recorded at $551 million (approximately 702.8 billion KRW). The domestic companion cat food market, which was around $269 million in 2018, grew to $393 million in 2020, and with the increase in the companion cat population, it is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 8.5% over the next five years, reaching $889 million (approximately 1.134 trillion KRW) by 2027.

The domestic companion cat population continues to increase every year. Last year, the number of companion cats in Korea was 2.54 million, a 12.7% increase compared to the previous year (2.25 million). The domestic companion cat population was about 1.28 million in 2018 but nearly doubled over four years through the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, restrictions on outdoor activities and social isolation increased emotional dependence and intimacy toward pets. Unlike dogs, cats do not require regular walks, which fits well with modern lifestyles, making cat care relatively convenient and contributing to the rise in the companion cat population.

As the companion cat population grows, the cat food market is naturally expanding. Especially with the increase in single-person households, aging population, and rising income levels, pets are increasingly seen not just as animals but as family members and friends, rapidly increasing demand for premium products.

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the proportion of functional pet food patents among all pet food patent applications increased from 12.7% in 2016 to 17.6% in 2020. Recently launched products have evolved beyond preventive health maintenance to include nutritional supplementation, immune system enhancement, joint and dental health, gut health using probiotics, cognitive disorder syndrome and eye disease management, and dementia prevention.

Reflecting food trends, as the cat food market grows with an emphasis on functional premium products, food and pharmaceutical companies are accelerating their entry into the related market to secure market leadership.

Dongwon F&B, which entered the market in 2014 with the pet food brand 'Nutri Plan,' is focusing on wet canned food for companion cats based on the technology of Korea's number one tuna company. Dongwon F&B's wet canned food for companion cats has sold over 40 million units annually domestically and internationally, with cumulative sales exceeding 600 million units, establishing itself as an industry brand.

This year, Daesang has accelerated its market approach by establishing Daesang Pet Life as a new subsidiary in February and launching the functional food brand 'Dr. Neuto' last month.

A Daesang representative said, "We have launched a differentiated pet food brand that offers not only nutrition but also taste and feeding convenience," adding, "Based on Daesang's 66 years of food manufacturing expertise, we will open a new horizon for functional foods dedicated to companion animals."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.