Planned Expansion of Competition for Fressnapf: 75 New ZooRoyal Outlets Envisaged - Anticipated rivalry in meal breaks: 75 additional ZooRoyal shopping outlets announced
The pet market in Germany is thriving, catching the eye of retail giants like the Rewe Group. Their small chain, ZooRoyal, is set for a major expansion throughout the country, with plans to open around 75 new stores by 2026. These locations will be handpicked and operated by independent Rewe retailers.
ZooRoyal has been under the Rewe Group's wing since 2014, starting as an online shop. Post-2022, they've expanded to four physical stores in the Hamburg area, hosting a vast collection of over 15,000 pet food and accessory items. Services such as dog washing stations, grooming, vet services, and pet accessory laundries are also available.
Eva Stüber, a member of IFH Cologne's management board, shares that the pet market is growing sustainably. In many households, pets hold the same value as children, a trend that contributed to the market's boom during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite price rises and economic restraint, pet industries broke the 7 billion euro turnover mark in 2023, a 9.5% hike from the previous year.
Cats remain the most popular pets in Germany, but dogs are a close runner-up. This sentiment is shared globally, with urban dwellers opting for cats due to their lower maintenance costs.
Premium and sustainable products, e-commerce, and tech innovations are shaping the future of the German pet market. Leading players like Fressnapf, Futterhaus, and Zooplus are at the forefront of these trends. Rewe Group, with its expansion plans, and ZooRoyal, with its focus on online retail, are poised to make splashes in the market.
To capitalize on these trends, companies might consider enhancing their e-commerce platforms, diversifying product offerings, embracing omnichannel retailing, and exploring strategic partnerships or acquisitions.
- ZooRoyal, with its expansion to 75 new stores by 2026, aims to offer pet products sustainably, aligning with the thriving and growing market trends.
- By 2026, as part of its expansion, ZooRoyal will incorporate eco-friendly practices in its new stores, ensuring that their shops contribute positively to the environment, just like their online shop.
- As ZooRoyal expands its physical presence, maintaining sustainable business practices is crucial for the retail giant to secure healthy margins in 2026, catering to the pet-loving population's growing demand for high-quality, environmentally conscious pet products.
