Behind the scenes
How Switzerland cleans: spring start trends and figures
by Alex Hämmerli
Are we a cat or a dog country?
9.3.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin
During the pandemic, a number of people opted to get a pet. Subsequently, sales of pet food and other pet supplies went through the roof at Galaxus. This upward trend has continued through the post-Covid era, with customers buying 57 per cent more products for their furry friends in 2022 than the year before. Most of this went to cats and dogs, but which of these animals took the undisputed lead?
Are you a cat person or a dog person? In Switzerland, the answer is cut and dried: the majority of people are cat-lovers. Almost two million cats live in Switzerland – more than three times as many as dogs.
According to current statistics, there were more cats living in Switzerland in 2022 than in any of the preceding decades. As for their canine counterparts, the dog population hit a peak of 623,000 in 2014.
Pets are generally a big hit in Switzerland; the top five being cats, fish, dogs, reptiles and birds. The pet population as a whole is estimated to be 3,958,000, with the number of pet owners reaching well over double that at 8.773 million in 2022.
17 Eiffel Towers worth of pet food
The nation’s dogs, cats and fish have healthy appetites, devouring food by the tonne. 170,000 tonnes in 2022, to be precise. That’s equivalent to the weight of 17 Eiffel Towers. Sales of Sheba, Pedigree and similar brands are forecast to increase by another 27,000 tonnes by 2027.
It’s little wonder that sales of pet supplies on Galaxus, including feed, has increased in recent years. In 2020, during the Covid pandemic, sales of pet supply products grew by 236 per cent. In the years that followed, customers ordered more and more products for their furry, scaly and feathered friends. In 2022, 57 per cent more pet supplies were purchased than in the year before.
Cat food takes priority
Galaxus’ most frequently ordered pet products of 2022 were cat food, dog food and food bowls. These three product groups also generated the most sales in the pet supplies category last year. What stands out is that the ten best-selling items are all for cats or dogs – from cat food, to dog toys, to litter boxes.
Incidentally, 2022’s greatest sales growth in the pet supplies segment was generated by equipment for small animal homes, such as hamster wheels or animal-friendly mouse traps, as well as pet carriers and dog food.
By the way, animal lovers are most likely to compensate the CO₂ generated by their Galaxus order. Just under 20 per cent of customers who order pet supplies choose to offset their emissions. That’s more than with any other product group. Apparently, a love of animals goes hand in hand with a love of the planet.
Do you have a pet? If so, what kind 🐱 🐹 🐎 🦜 🐢 🐍? What was the last product you bought for your furry friend? Or are cats and dogs just not your bag?
Stephan Kurmann
Senior Communications Manager
Stephan.Kurmann@digitecgalaxus.chStudies claim that we have a shorter attention span than goldfish. Ouch! My job is to get your attention as often and for as long as possible. How? With content you enjoy. Outside of the office, you’ll find me on the tennis court, curled up with a book, Netflixing or travelling.
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