How are natural pet health, care and food sales holding up in these turbulent economic times? Check out these facts and figures from SPINS, Packaged Facts and Nielsen.

-Despite a slumping economy, sales of natural pet food and pet care products within the naturals channel were up 2.5 percent to $56.4 million in the 52 weeks leading up to May 16. Sales in the conventional channel were up 17.3 percent to $198.7 million during the same period. Source: SPINS

-The fastest growing natural pet categories in the conventional channel were natural dog food, growing 63 percent to $45.2 million, and other natural pet food, growing 30 percent to $1.6 million. Within the natural channel, sales of natural pet supplies grew 13 percent to $3.2 million. Source: SPINS

-Sales of natural pet supplements within the conventional channel fell 50 percent to $1.3 million, likely due to consumers choosing premium pet foods with healthy additives over purchasing separate supplements. Source: SPINS

-The total pet market is projected to reach $57 billion by 2010, up from $51 billion in 2008. The relatively low projected growth of six percent for 2009 should leave pet market sales near $53 billion for the year. The two categories likely to be hardest hit by the 2009 recession are non-food pet supplies and pet services other than veterinary, due mainly to their discretionary nature. Source: Packaged Facts

-Pet owners spend 26 percent more when shopping than do non-pet owners, or $47 per trip for pet owners vs. $38 per trip for non-pet owners. Source: Nielsen Custom Channel Facts 2008

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