Delivering hyper-convenience for pet parents

By Carlos Hernandez, Global Head of Grocery & Retail, Just Eat Takeaway.com

Not too long ago, I posted here about the rapid growth and expansion of the on-demand delivery industry. Our conclusions were based on some in-depth research, which highlighted how much consumers value everyday convenience, especially when it comes to their shopping habits, and there’s no question that our sector plays an essential role in meeting their need for quick delivery. 

At JET, we aim to be the go-to ally for everyday convenience for consumers worldwide, and we’re conscious that pet owners are among those who benefit most from fast delivery. Our recent partnerships with Fressnapf/MaxiZoo in Austria and Switzerland, Just for Pets in the UK, Guaw in Spain, and AniCura in the Netherlands reflect how we’re bringing this vision to life.

In Europe, 46% of households have at least one pet and an impressive 86% of “pet parents” have shopped online at least once ¹ - a significant increase from 60% before the pandemic.² The growing pet care market, expanding at 6.1% annually, is expected to reach $350 billion globally by 2027³, and 77% of early adopters of on-demand delivery services expect to be shopping for pet care items on-demand.⁴

Millennials, who make up a third of pet parents, are especially focused on convenience. With busy lifestyles, they’re always looking for ways to make pet care easier. Items like luxury pet fashion and functional and healthy food options are becoming regular items in these shopper's baskets, and we are seizing a unique opportunity to meet their high expectations by delivering these specialty products that might not always be available at the grocery store. 

And it doesn’t stop there. As an on-demand delivery service, we’re offering hyper-convenience, stepping in when pet parents can’t leave home but need a big bag of pet food delivered straight to their doorstep. We’re also just a tap away when their pets are sick or a last-minute flea treatment turns into an emergency. 

These are some of the most popular items and consumer trends on our platform:

• Dog products account for 58% of consumer baskets, while cat products make up 37%. The other 5% accounts for other pets (fish, birds, rodents and reptiles)

• Dog and cat food are our bestsellers

• Cat litter is high on the top-sellers list, followed by treats (mostly chew and dental) and toys (primarily tennis balls and plush toys)

• 5% of sales are medicines and flea and worm treatments

• We’re noticing a growing interest in raw dog food from dog-specialized partners—a premium option for dog parents looking to go the extra mile

• There’s an increasing demand for special products during festive occasions, such as Christmas sweaters and holiday-inspired chewing toys and treats

We are here to deliver more than just food to households—we’re offering them a broad range of choices to make ordering as simple and easy as possible. And this is just the beginning.

¹ Euromonitor, Euromonitor from trade sources/national statistics - Data Exported 31/01/2024

²  Marketing For Pet care: The 6 Key Commands

³ Euromonitor, Euromonitor from trade sources/national statistics - Data Exported 31/01/2024

⁴ The Rapid Evolution: The transformative future of on-demand grocery delivery and beyond, 2024