InMind: China’s Booming Pet Economy

China’s 200 million pets are more than just furry companions.  

Today, obsession with furry friends has taken China’s affluent youth by storm. Pets have become an inseparable part of families’ everyday lives and this trend is only set to grow. In recent years, there has been a steady increase of pet ownership in China, where the emerging pet industry (including pet food, pet health care, and other vertical services) achieved double-digit growth over the past three years and is expected to reach a valuation of 446 billion RMB by 2023. The majority of pet owners are millennials and Gen Z, made up of affluent or single-person households. More than 30% of pet owners are single and regard their pets as their companions.

To help brands tap into China’s booming pet economy, Mindshare’s next edition of InMind explores the owners behind these trends.  

Pet parents in China turn to multiple channels to acquire pet care resources, which can be a challenge given Chinese cities and retail establishments are still playing catch up with the demands of the pet economy. Offline channels, including pet stores and pet cafés stationed with animal trainers, are the primary information hub for pet owners, while digital channels like service verticals, eCommerce, influencers, and online communities provide considerable entertainment value on top of acting as a secondary information source. The rising popularity of pet celebrities, pet IPs, and pet-oriented OTV programs have helped fuel demand, making pets the hottest social currency among Chinese youth. 

Numerous brands across industries are already capitalizing on China’s love for pets. Home care brands have curated tailored marketing strategies to cater to pet owners’ needs to maintain a healthy home environment. Restaurants, travel, and transportation are also striving to become more pet-friendly, creating pet-focused products and activities. Even the beauty and luxury sectors are steping into pet fashion, leveraging pet-related content and partnerships to captivate affluent pet lovers. 

This issue of InMind report explores China’s emerging pet economy, dissecting the media behaviors of pet owners, while analyzing brand communications with pet lovers, as well as identifying key opportunities for the future. 

To learn how you and your brand can appeal to China’s pet lovers, email [email protected] to receive the full InMind report.

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