Italian Pet Food Market Growing

WASHINGTON - Apr 5/10 - SNS -- The pet food industry in Italy has been undergoing significant changes in recent years as birth rates decline and pets occupy a more important place in people's lives.

Looking at the sector, the U.S. agricultural attache for Italy said the pet food continues to grow despite the economic downturn.

"Among leading factors for this growth are an increased importance of the role of pets in Italian families, and a more pro-active role of distribution (both through the grocery store channel - supermarkets and hypermarkets) and in specialized pet shops, including garden centers, which are devoting more space to pet products.

"In Italy, there are now 60 million pets in a country of 58 million people. In particular, Italy occupies a top position among European countries regarding dog and cat populations. Cats are the most common pets in Italy. According to the most recent estimates, there are 7.5 million cats and 7 million dogs in Italy. Six out of ten Italian families own a pet, while 33% of them own either a dog or a cat," the agricultural attache said.