Pet Industry Pulse (II): Manufacturers Deliver Growth Despite Uneven Market Conditions
AIThis post was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).

TL;DR

Six of seven publicly traded pet companies in GlobalPETS’ sample reported higher sales in results covering roughly the second quarter of 2026. Growth ranged from 0.3% at Nestlé to 15.5% at Freshpet, while Central Garden & Pet’s reported sales fell 19% after it exited pet distribution. Profit results were mixed, and the supplied report excerpt does not include the full range of company guidance.

Six of seven publicly traded pet companies analyzed by GlobalPETS reported sales growth in results covering roughly the second quarter of 2026, with increases ranging from 0.3% to 15.5%. Central Garden & Pet was the exception: its reported pet sales fell 19% year over year after it exited the pet distribution business, while the report describes organic sales growth in its remaining portfolio.

Freshpet posted the largest increase in the sample, with net sales up 15.5% year over year to $305.6 million. The company attributed the rise to volume, including a 5% increase in household penetration, higher purchase rates and broader channel reach. Thailand-based i-Tail Corporation reported sales growth of 13% to $152 million, driven particularly by cat food, including functional and health-oriented products. Both companies also reported higher net income: 19% at Freshpet and 21.3% at i-Tail. The report says one-off items contributed to those profit increases, including an equity investment linked to a prior divestiture at Freshpet and tariff refunds at i-Tail.

Among companies with more modest gains, Hill’s Pet Nutrition increased net sales 3.4% to $1.2 billion, with Colgate-Palmolive citing e-commerce and omnichannel activity for its premium Prescription Diet line. Spectrum Brands’ Global Pet Care division grew 3.3% to $263.7 million; the company pointed to pricing, product mix and share gains in several categories. J.M. Smucker’s US retail pet food sales rose 1% to $371.7 million, supported by volume and mix, cat food and double-digit growth in soft and chewy snacks. Nestlé PetCare sales increased 0.3% to $5.6 billion, with the company citing cat food strength, better dog food performance and pricing.

Central Garden & Pet’s reported pet sales declined to $400 million from the year-earlier period, which GlobalPETS attributes to the company’s exit from pet distribution at the start of the quarter. Its organic net sales, as reported in the source, rose 2% to $380 million. CEO Niko Lahanas said the divestiture would continue to reduce reported revenue over coming quarters. Profit measures were uneven across the sample: J.M. Smucker’s pet segment profit fell 2%, while Central’s adjusted EBITDA declined 2.3%. Other companies reported different measures or periods, limiting direct comparisons.

At a glance
reportWhen: Results released for periods roughly eq…
The developmentGlobalPETS reported that six of seven sampled pet companies increased sales in results covering roughly Q2 2026, despite uneven growth and mixed profit performance.

Growth Masked Uneven Profit Results

The sales figures point to demand and distribution gains across much of the sample, but they do not show a uniform improvement in underlying performance. Companies cited volume, pricing, product mix and channel expansion as contributors, while costs, marketing outlays, tariffs and portfolio changes affected profit measures. Freshpet and i-Tail’s net income gains included one-off contributions, so those increases do not by themselves establish a comparable improvement in recurring earnings.

For retailers, suppliers and investors, the spread between a 0.3% increase and a 15.5% increase highlights how results depend on product categories, geography and company strategy. Central Garden & Pet’s case also shows how a business exit can sharply reduce reported sales even as organic sales in the continuing portfolio rise. Those distinctions matter when comparing companies or judging demand across the wider pet market.

ukeetap Extra dicke Silikonmatte, wasserdicht mit erhöhtem Rand, 48,3 x 30,5 cm, BPA-frei, rutschfeste Hunde- und Katzenfuttermatte, Futtermatte für Futter- und Wassernäpfe, auslaufsichere Matte zum

ukeetap Extra dicke Silikonmatte, wasserdicht mit erhöhtem Rand, 48,3 x 30,5 cm, BPA-frei, rutschfeste Hunde- und Katzenfuttermatte, Futtermatte für Futter- und Wassernäpfe, auslaufsichere Matte zum

  • Premium Material: BPA-free, food-grade silicone
  • 100% Leak-proof: High raised edges contain spills
  • Easy to Clean: Smooth surface for quick cleaning

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

Different Companies, Different Periods

GlobalPETS reviewed the latest results from seven publicly traded companies. The periods covered were roughly equivalent to calendar Q2 2026, but companies do not all use the same fiscal calendar. The report also notes that pet food manufacturers broadly tracked retailers in the sector: all retailers in the separate group it analyzed posted second-quarter revenue growth. That retailer comparison concerns a different sample and should not be read as a result for every company in the industry.

Several reported growth drivers appeared across more than one company. These included favorable price and volume combinations, demand for cat food and treats, gains in premium or diet products, and wider access through e-commerce or store distribution. Regional conditions differed: Nestlé said US growth was affected by retailer inventory reduction, while it reported gains in Europe for premium wet cat food and e-commerce. Hill’s CEO Noel Wallace linked weaker Science Diet dog performance to a shift in ownership toward smaller breeds.

“Wallace attributed the Science Diet dog sales exception to a shift in dog ownership from larger to smaller breeds.”

— Noel Wallace, Colgate-Palmolive chief executive

Hoki Found wasserdichte Futtermatte für Hunde und Katzen, aus Silikon, rutschfest

Hoki Found wasserdichte Futtermatte für Hunde und Katzen, aus Silikon, rutschfest

  • Material: Ungiftiges, temperaturbeständiges Silikon
  • Einfache Reinigung: Spülmaschinenfest und schnell trocknend
  • Erhöhte Lippe: Verhindert Verschütten auf dem Boden

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

Comparisons Have Limits

The figures cover periods that vary with companies’ fiscal calendars, and reported profit measures are not consistent across the group. Some companies provided operating profit, others adjusted EBITDA, segment profit or an underlying first-half measure; these metrics and time spans are not directly comparable. The report also identifies one-off contributions to earnings at Freshpet and i-Tail but does not provide enough detail here to assess how results would compare without them.

The supplied report excerpt cuts off during its discussion of full-year guidance. It says six of seven companies expected performance to increase for their fiscal year, but the remaining text, including the stated range of sales-growth expectations, is unavailable. The excerpt therefore does not establish the complete guidance outlook or how companies’ forecasts compare.

Hundefuttermatte für Futter und Wasser, personalisierbar

Hundefuttermatte für Futter und Wasser, personalisierbar

  • Personalized pet feeding mat: Customizable with your pet's name
  • Highly absorbent diatomaceous mat: Quickly soaks up spills and splashes
  • Non-slip bottom for stability: Prevents movement during feeding

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

Full-Year Guidance Remains Incomplete

The next useful milestone is the companies’ subsequent quarterly reporting, which can show whether the cited sales drivers continue and how costs and portfolio changes affect profitability. Investors will also be able to compare updated guidance with actual results, while keeping each company’s fiscal period and profit measure in view.

GlobalPETS’ supplied excerpt indicates that six of the seven companies expected full-year performance to increase, but it does not include the full guidance range. A complete account of those expectations requires the report’s missing final passage or the companies’ own guidance disclosures.

FXW Rollick Unleashed Hunde-Laufstall für Innenbereich, Hof, Wohnmobil, Camping, 61 cm, 8 Paneele, für kleine und Welpen, patentiert

FXW Rollick Unleashed Hunde-Laufstall für Innenbereich, Hof, Wohnmobil, Camping, 61 cm, 8 Paneele, für kleine und Welpen, patentiert

  • 【Eine Win-Win-Lösung】 Der FXW Hunde-Laufstall wurde entwickelt, um...
  • 【Freischalten Sie Ihre Freiheit, genießen Sie den Moment】...
  • 【Super einfach zu montieren】 Es dauert nicht länger...

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.

Key Questions

How many companies in the sample grew sales?

Six of seven companies analyzed by GlobalPETS posted sales growth in results covering roughly Q2 2026.

Which company had the fastest sales growth?

Freshpet led the sample with a 15.5% year-over-year increase in net sales to $305.6 million.

Why did Central Garden & Pet sales fall?

GlobalPETS attributed the 19% decline in reported pet sales to Central’s exit from pet distribution. The company’s organic net sales measure rose 2% to $380 million during the period.

Did profits rise across the group?

No single pattern is established. Some firms reported profit increases, while J.M. Smucker’s segment profit and Central Garden & Pet’s adjusted EBITDA declined. The metrics and periods disclosed differ, so direct comparisons are limited.

What did companies expect for the full year?

The available excerpt says six of seven expected full-year performance to increase. It ends before giving the full range of sales-growth expectations, so that range cannot be confirmed from the supplied material.

Source: rss

Pet-care content is informational — consult your veterinarian for advice about your animal.
You May Also Like

Boss Dog Brand Donates More Than 8,000 Meals And Treats To Whatcom Humane Society

Boss Dog Brand donated more than 1,000 bags of dog food and 7,000 frozen yogurt cups at Whatcom Humane Society’s Dog Days of Summer.

Meet These Cats And Dogs At OC Animal Care That Are Up For Adoption

A listing of cats and dogs up for adoption at OC Animal Care is drawing renewed reader interest; details of the animals and the cause are unconfirmed.