$31 Billion: That’s One Big Doggie Bag

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There’s a lot of money to be made in pet food. Americans spent roughly $31 billion on pet food in 2021, according to PetKeen.

The three largest pet food sellers in the U.S. are: Mars Petcare (think Whiskas and Pedigree), Nestle Purina (think Alpo, Beneful and Friskies) and JM Smucker (think 9Lives and Kibbles ‘n Bits).

Thirty-one billion dollars seems like a lot of money. And it is! We love our pets, and our pets love to eat. How does $31 billion compare to other things Americans spend on? Consider these numbers:

$19.9 Billion. That’s the sales of athletic footwear in the U.S., according to statista. Apparently we spend nearly 56 percent more each year on pet food than our sneakers. That’s ironic considering we help wear out those shoes walking our dogs every day. (Not to mention the occasional pair lost as a chew toy.)

$2.45 Billion. That’s what American consumers spent on movie tickets in 2021. Maybe Tom Cruise and the new Top Gun: Maverick movie will help narrow the gap this year. (Not likely – unless they start selling tickets to our pets. With free concessions, of course.)

+$1 Billion. Americans burn up – literally! – 10 digits worth of cash every year on fireworks, according to Fortune Magazine. And fireworks aren’t even legal in many parts of the country. We love to mark our Independence Day with an explosion of color and light. Many dogs, however, are terrified of fireworks. We should take steps so they don’t become too stressed.

Ok, you get the picture. We spent a lot on what our pets eat. Just remember we also spend a lot more on other things too. Like this:

$75 Billion. That’s what revenue from smartphone sales are expected to be this year in the U.S. (It’s been higher some years!)

And why not? We need our phones to take all those cute photos and videos of our furry friends!

Until next time,

Hugs and Pug Kisses,

Candy

Sources and Links:

20 Largest Pet Food Manufacturers in the US (Updated: 2022) | Pet Keen

U.S. footwear market – statistics & facts | Statista

• U.S.: consumer spending on movie tickets 2021 | Statista

Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick Beats The Avengers’ Box Office Record (msn.com)

Americans Spend $1 Billion on July Fourth Fireworks Annually | Fortune