Japan Dog Food Market

Market Overview:

The Japan dog food market size reached USD 3.0 Billion in 2024. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach USD 4.3 Billion by 2033, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.89% during 2025-2033.

Dog food is generally produced from water, poultry, fish, meat, cereals, and grains and available in various forms, including snacks, liquid supplements, gravy, and treats. It assists in boosting immunity, strengthening muscles and bones, maintaining a healthy weight, and minimizing the risk of allergies and digestive disorders among domesticated dogs. It also aids in improving the skin, maintaining dental health, and minimizing the body and stool odor among dogs.

Japan Dog Food Market Trends:

Health and Wellness Trends

Japan’s dog food market is strongly influenced by the growing focus on health and wellness. Pet parents are increasingly becoming aware about the importance of nutrition and are opting for products that cater to specific health needs, such as weight management, digestive health, and skin care. This trend is leading to a rise in the demand for dog food formulated with natural and functional ingredients, like probiotics, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. Rising preferences for grain-free and raw food diets particularly for pets with sensitivities is impelling the Japan dog food market growth. There is an increase in the need for specialized food targeting senior pets’ health. Companies are developing formulations aimed at improving joint health, enhancing cognitive function, and promoting a longer and healthier life. Pet parents are willing to spend on premium products for their pet’s enhanced well-being.

Aging Pet Population

With advancements in veterinary care and better overall pet health management, dogs in Japan are living longer than ever before. As a result, dog food market in Japan is rising in order to cater to the needs of older pet population. Aging dogs have unique nutritional needs, requiring food that supports their joint health, digestion, immune system, and cognitive functions. This is driving the demand for specialized senior dog food formulas that include ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega-3 fatty acids, which help alleviate common age-related issues such as arthritis and reduced mobility. Key market players are introducing products that cater to specific health conditions like weight control for less active dogs and easy-to-digest formulas for pets with sensitive stomachs. This is further expected to provide a positive Japan dog food market forecast in the coming years.

Increasing Number of Pet Parents

The rising number of pet parents in Japan is contributing to the market growth. As people increasingly view pets, especially dogs, as companions that provide emotional support, more households are adopting dogs. In addition, with declining birth rates, young professionals are adopting pets as an alternative to starting families. Pet parents are seeking both essential and premium products for the overall well-being of their pets. Apart from this, the expansion of online platforms is increasing the Japan dog food market share.

Key Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the Japan dog food market report, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels from 2025-2033. Our report has categorized the market based on product type, pricing type, ingredient type and distribution channel.

Breakup by Product Type:

• Dry Dog Food
• Dog Treats
• Wet Dog Food
   

Breakup by Pricing Type:

• Premium Products
• Mass Products
   

Breakup by Ingredient Type:

• Animal Derived
• Plant Derived
   

Breakup by Distribution Channel:

• Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
• Specialty Stores
• Online
• Others
   

Breakup by Region:

• Kanto Region
• Kinki Region
• Central/ Chubu Region
• Kyushu-Okinawa Region
• Tohoku Region
• Chugoku Region
• Hokkaido Region
• Shikoku Region

Competitive Landscape:

The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players.

Japan Dog Food Market Recent Developments:

• 4 September 2023: Unicharm Corp. and major confectionary producer Morinaga & Co. developed the Gran-Deli Marie Biscuits for dogs in Japan. The shape and design of the biscuits for dogs are the same as the human Marie biscuits, but just smaller. They are available in 3 different flavors including milk, cheese, and sweet potato.
• 13 March 2024: Hills Japan announced first new nutritional food brand in 20 years that will be offered exclusively at veterinary clinics and pet specialty stores. The company aims to keep pet dogs and cats as healthy as possible for a longer time.

Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the Japan dog food market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the Japan dog food market?
• What are the key regional markets?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the product type?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the pricing type?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the ingredient type?
• What is the breakup of the market based on the distribution channel?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the industry?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the industry?
• What is the structure of the Japan dog food market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the industry?