Premium dry food, wet cat food, and premium snacks are key growth drivers for the pet food market in the future, according to Betagro Plc, a Thai integrated food company.
Somcharn Suphapitiporn, chief operating officer of Pet Business at Betagro, said Thailand's pet market continues its robust growth despite intense competition, primarily driven by pet humanisation and a growing preference among smaller households for pets over children.
According to Euromonitor and Pet Marketing Intelligence, Thailand's pet market was valued at 43.4 billion baht in 2025, growing at an average annual rate of 12%.
The market is forecast to reach 49 billion baht in 2026, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 13%.
While dry food retains its highest market share, wet food and snacks are outpacing overall market growth, making them appealing segments for producers.
Mr Somcharn said premium food, wet cat food and premium snacks will become key drivers of future market growth.
"The share of dog food and cat food is expected to be equal in the next 3-5 years as the cat population rises and cats become a popular choice for many households. Pet owners also want to pamper their pets with snacks," he noted.
He added that the pet food penetration rate in Thailand is about 40%, compared with over 90% in Japan and the United States, underscoring significant room for expansion.
To capitalise on this opportunity, the company plans to broaden its premium pet nutrition portfolio, boost brand awareness through brand ambassadors, celebrities and influencers in the domestic market, and pursue new international markets.
Betagro continues to expand its high-value-added product portfolio, including therapeutic products, wellness items and innovative snacks, all made with human-grade ingredients.
The company aims to raise the premium segment's contribution to 54% by 2028, up from 45% in 2026.
Last year, Betagro's pet business reported sales of 2.7 billion baht, a 25% year-on-year increase. This momentum continued into the first quarter of 2026, driven by capacity expansion, distribution channel growth and rapid international expansion, resulting in sales of 721 million baht, up 22%.
In 2025, domestic sales surged 18% and export sales jumped 43%. Major export markets include Japan, the Philippines and Malaysia, and Betagro is actively exporting products to new markets such as Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, Hong Kong, South Korea and the US.
Mr Somcharn said the company targets 5.6 billion baht in pet business sales by 2028.
Currently, the company is operating at 75% of its maximum capacity of 9,000 tonnes per month.
The company is considering boosting capacity by installing new machines at its current facility.
