As Japanese pet owners increase the humanization of their pets, they are beginning to consider what domestic pet food brands may have to offer that imports can’t match.
Thirawatana Phaisalratana I iStock.com
In Japan today, a growing preference for locally made dog food is now a clear trend that is splitting the market in half vis-a-vis imported pet food brands.
International pet food powerhouses Mars Petcare, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Nestlé Purina PetCare remain as market leaders with their functional pet food products, mainly dry kibble made abroad, that a majority of Japanese pet owners still regularly buy. But many in this consumer group also now shop for healthier pet foods that are mostly sourced locally. It's a pandemic-induced change that led Japanese pet owners to take a closer look at natural pet food, which many local companies are happy to provide.
