Plant-based Pet Food Market By Product Type (Dry Pet Food, Wet Pet Food, Treats & Snacks, Supplements), By Ingredient Type (Soy-Based, Pea Protein-Based, Lentil-Based, Grain-Based, Potato & Sweet Potato-Based, Others), By Pet Type (Dogs, Cats, Birds, Small Mammals), By Application (General Health & Nutrition, Digestive Health, Weight Management, Allergy & Sensitivity Support, Skin & Coat Health), By Distribution Channel (Online Retailers, Pet Specialty Stores, Supermarkets & Hypermarkets, Veterinary Clinics & Pharmacies), Global Market Size, Segmental analysis, Regional Overview, Company share analysis, Leading Company Profiles And Market Forecast, 2025 – 2035

Industry Outlook

The Plant-based Pet Food Market accounted for USD 28.7 Billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 70.4 Billion by 2035, growing at a CAGR of around 8.5% between 2025 and 2035. Plant-based Pet Food Market accounted market segment specializes in developing pet food through plant-based materials that present vegan and vegetarian dietary choices to substitute conventional meat-based pet food.

The market grows because pet owners show greater concern about animal welfare alongside environmental sustainability and their pets' health when moving to plant-based diets. The market expands because pet owners worry about meat-based food emissions while preferring to treat their pets like family members and need food without allergens. Pet food is targeted toward customer groups who are environmentally sensitive owners vegans and vegetarians and allergy-sensitive pet owners who need alternative diets. The millennial and Gen Z demographic shows a strong preference toward sustainable and ethically produced products which makes them an important sector for the business.

Report Scope:

Market Dynamics

Pet owners treat their pets like family and seek high-quality, ethical, and sustainable nutrition.

Owning a pet increasingly means a new consideration: these cherished animals are family members and deserve good, ethical, and sustainable nutrition. Looking after them becomes, perhaps even more, important when they demand humanized alternative meat foods plant-based, cruelty-free, or green. An increase in awareness of the environmental implications of meat production has led many pet owners to seek sustainable options for their pets and reduce the pets' issues of carbon footprints.

Ethical problems regarding animal welfare in the meat industry force people to rethink their pet diets in favor of plant-based alternatives desperately. Besides, the health-conscious insist on diets free of chemicals, allergens, and fillers for their pets so that they can guarantee better nutrition and longevity. This class of consumers is inspired by the vegan or flexitarian lifestyle; correspondingly, they are keen to choose pet diets that reflect their values. Thus, the market is evolving along the responsible and health-conscious pet food choices fueled by demand.

More pet owners adopting plant-based diets for themselves are opting for similar diets for their pets

The movement towards dietary plants by pet owners drives the growth of plant-based pet food because individuals tend to apply their lifestyle values to their pet's dietary needs. The growing number of people following vegan, vegetarian, and flexitarian diets because of health, ethical, or environmental concerns leads them to find appropriate food choices for their pets. Millennials, Gen Z, and newer demographic groups let moral shopping values influence their purchasing choices.

Pet owners generally think that the health benefits from plant-based diets which benefit them would also provide advantages to their animals through improved digestion and reduced allergy exposure. Companies create high-protein plant-based pet feed formulas with nutritional balance to satisfy the health requirements of pets as well as owners' dietary needs. Market growth will be accelerated by increasing consumer demand.

Plant-based pet food is often more expensive than traditional pet food, limiting affordability for some consumers.

The advanced processing needs and premium plant ingredient costs make plant-based pet food more expensive than traditional meat-based pet foods during manufacturing and research to create nutritious diets for pets. Production expenses keep rising because pet feed companies must combine alternative protein ingredients made from peas, lentils, chickpeas, and algae with essential supplements required to fulfill pet dietary requirements.

The premium plant-based sourcing methods along with sustainable production and organic ingredients push competition toward higher price points of plant-based pet food products. Plant-based pet food costs exceed the budgets of budget-friendly pet owners thus restricting its reach to general consumer markets. The sensitivity to cost variations is greater in developing areas since pet owners favor spending on affordability instead of sustainable options. The reluctance of cost-minded customers to change could delay market acceptance of these products.

Increasing awareness of pet health, sustainability, and ethical concerns is driving demand for plant-based alternatives.

The market potential of plant-based pet food arises from rising awareness about pet wellness, environmental responsibility, and animal morality because they drive customer preferences toward novel choices. The quantity of pet owners currently realize how traditional meat-based pet food impacts animal wellness together with environmental concerns while raising ethical concerns regarding factory farming operations.

The ethical belief of protecting other animals from harm matches perfectly with the perspectives of vegan and vegetarian pet owners. People have become more aware of pet food alternatives so the market demands unique plant-based products for pets. Companies that teach consumers about their formulations while backing up nutritional value through science will find a way to benefit from this market shift. The market will expand substantially as awareness rises so brands operating in this space will gain numerous lucrative business prospects.

Advancements in plant-based proteins, alternative ingredients, and fortified nutrition create opportunities for new product development.

Plant-based proteins along with alternative ingredients and fortified nutrition enable strong market opportunities for Plant-based Pet Food because they enhance product quality together with taste and nutritional value. Pet owners who focus on their pets' dietary requirements now have sustainable digestible meat alternative options such as lentils, chickpeas, quinoa, algae, and insect proteins available for their pets. The inclusion of necessary amino acids as well as omega fatty acids and probiotics in fortified nutrition enables pets to get nutritionally complete diets free of deficiencies.

New technological developments solve nutritional and palatable challenges in plant-based pet food thus making them both more sanitary and more attractive to pet owners. Companies can succeed in today's market since consumers increasingly search for specialized diet choices that include grain-free and allergen-free options. Product development through evolution leads to rising market opportunities distinct brand positioning and increased trust from consumers.

Industry Experts Opinion

“We know and expect aggressive resistance from the meat industry on the launch of this industry-pioneering vegan cat food, but we know there are a lot of cat parents looking for healthier plant-based and more sustainable options and we want to be the leader in providing them with that choice.”

• Ryan Bethencourt, chief executive officer of Wild Earth

“Almost half (47%) of those surveyed are first-time owners, signaling a new era of pet parents. We know that pet parents are evolving, and we need to evolve with them, which means embedding pet parent centricity into our DNA to transform the experience and build lifelong relationships with the 455 million pets and pet parents we reach.”

• Ikdeep Singh, Global President of Mars Pet Nutrition

Segment Analysis

Based on Pet Type, the Plant-based Pet Food Market has been classified into Dogs, Cats, Birds, and Small Mammals. The Dogs segment is the fastest-growing in the Plant-based Pet Food Market due to the rising awareness among pet owners about the health benefits of plant-based diets for dogs. Most consumers think plant-based diets could relieve people of allergies, help with digestion, and improve wellness in general. With the increasing humanization of pets, owners have gradually begun moving their precious pets toward sustainable and ethical food choices, which they usually enjoy having with their diet. Veterinary endorsements and scientific advances in plant-based nutrition increased confidence in the products. The diverse varieties and high quality of plant-based dog food, ranging from dry kibble and wet food, have made it easy to adopt.

Based on Product Type Plant-based Pet Food Market has been classified into Dry Pet Food, Wet Pet Food, Treats & Snacks, and Supplements. In the Plant-based Pet Food Market, the Wet Pet Food segment is experiencing the fastest growth. The market demand for nutrient-rich fresh foods resembling conventional meat-based diets increases because pet parents want foods that their animals enjoy better. Wet food provides superior hydration benefits through its moisture content and maintains urinary health which appeals to consumers focused on pet healthcare. The premium status of wet food matches the modern pet humanization trend because owners provide high-quality nutritional solutions to their pets. Manufacturers adapt their food production by elaborating on their wet food product range while introducing multiple plant-based components to comply with rising market interest.

Regional Analysis

Regionally, North America has been leading the worldwide Plant-based Pet Food Market and is anticipated to continue in the dominant position in the years to come. The market dominance emerges from widespread pet ownership as owners view pets as family members who want health-conscious premium food choices. The people of this area display environmental consciousness and follow plant-based eating so they seek comparable pet food that sustains their animals' health. The market expansion gets additional support from leading industry participants who dedicate resources to research development for creating innovative formulations that target pet dietary requirements.

The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market for plant-based pet food, driven by several key factors. The huge spurts in pet ownership, particularly in countries like China and Japan, have subsequently increased demand for pet foods from a more diversified range. Humanization in pets has also created an effect whereby, due to increased interest, pet owners spend much more money on health-conscious products meant for pets, some of them including plant-based products. Regarding an increasing awareness of sustainability and the environment, many have also opted for vegan and vegetarian diets for their pets.

These variables above explain how the Plant-based Pet Food Market of the Asia-Pacific region is gazing at excellent growth. More online sales channels started to procure these specialized products and reach more audiences.

Competitive Landscape

Key operating players in the Plant-based Pet Food Market are Benevo, Wysong, Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company, Nature's Recipe, My Aistra, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Cannapple, Eco Dog and Cats, Nature's Diet, Dr. Goodpet, Wild Earth, Oatly, Mars, Inc., Amì Pet Food, Yarrah Organic Pet Food. The successful plant-based companies in the pet food market are associated with having very good brand power, continuous innovations, and the promise of high-quality sustainable ingredients.

Research and development have gone very long in developing nutritionally balanced formulations that meet a pet's dietary needs for many companies pioneering plant-based pet nutrition. Their wide distribution networks online and in retail stores have facilitated access to a rapidly growing customer base. Furthermore, strong marketing strategies; endorsements from veterinarians; and increasing consumer education around ethical and environmental benefits have enhanced the market position of the companies.

Plant-based Pet Food Market, Company Shares Analysis, 2024

To explore in-depth analysis in this report - Request Free Sample Report

Recent Developments:

• In October 2024, Modern Plant-Based Foods, based in Vancouver, acquired AnimalKind, a Richmond-based company specializing in sustainable, plant-based pet treats. This strategic move allows Modern Plant-Based Foods to diversify its product offerings and enter the plant-based pet food sector.
• In February 2024, PawCo Foods, a plant-based pet nutrition brand, announced a $2 million seed funding round led by Elevate Ventures. The funding aims to scale operations, open a second production facility, and invest in research and development to enhance their plant-based dog food products.

Report Coverage:

By Product Type

• Dry Pet Food
• Wet Pet Food
• Treats & Snacks
• Supplements

By Ingredient Type

• Soy-Based
• Pea Protein-Based
• Lentil-Based
• Grain-Based
• Potato & Sweet Potato-Based
• Others

By Pet Type

• Dogs
• Cats
• Birds
• Small Mammals

By Application

• General Health & Nutrition
• Digestive Health
• Weight Management
• Allergy & Sensitivity Support
• Skin & Coat Health

By Distribution Channel

• Online Retailers
• Pet Specialty Stores
• Supermarkets & Hypermarkets
• Veterinary Clinics & Pharmacies

By Region

North America

• U.S.
• Canada

Europe

• U.K.
• France
• Germany
• Italy
• Spain
• Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

• China
• Japan
• India
• Australia
• South Korea
• Singapore
• Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

• Brazil
• Argentina
• Mexico
• Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa

• GCC Countries
• South Africa
• Rest of the Middle East & Africa

List of Companies:

• Benevo
• Wysong
• Evanger's Dog & Cat Food Company
• Nature's Recipe
• My Aistra
• Nestle Purina PetCare
• Cannapple
• Eco Dog and Cats
• Nature's Diet
• Dr. Goodpet
• Wild Earth
• Oatly
• Mars, Inc.
• Amì Pet Food
• Yarrah Organic Pet Food

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)