Sales of pet products at Epicenter increase by 80% in three years

The pet products market in Ukraine has grown by more than 50% over the past three years, sales of pet products at the Epicenter chain have increased by 80%, the retailer's press service told Interfax-Ukraine.

As reported by Svitlana Lisanti, Director of Development of the Lapki project of the Epicenter chain, as of November 2024, Epicenter is recording an annual growth rate of 15% in the pet products category, despite the restrained forecasts at the beginning of 2024.

She noted that the war has changed attitudes towards pets: Ukrainians often choose higher quality food, in particular holistic food, as well as products to create a comfortable environment for their pets.

In the sales structure, the top positions are occupied by food and treats for cats and dogs, sales of which have grown by 23% this year. Since 2021, they have grown almost 2.5 times for dogs and by 73% for cats, almost equal in volume to 2024. At the same time, products for other animals, such as fish, rodents and birds, are declining, which emphasizes the unwavering love of Ukrainians for cats and dogs.

Pet care remains a priority for Ukrainians, even despite the unfavorable economic conditions in the country. The company seeks to support this trend by strengthening the connection with pet owners. Thus, for World Pet Day, which is celebrated on November 30, Epicenter organized an open day for all visitors with animals. On this day, they receive gifts from the event's partners: Animall, Purina, Monge, Farmina, Basttet`o Holistic, and HiDog.

"It is important for us to support the positive attitude of Ukrainians towards pets. We share love and care for them and want to be a true friend to their owners. That is why we open our doors to all visitors with pets, striving to make the overall shopping experience comfortable and enjoyable," notes Svitlana Lisanti, Director of Development of the Lapki project of the Epicenter chain.

The Epicenter Group of Companies is an omnichannel ecosystem uniting the Epicenter and Nova Linia retail chains, the epicentrk.ua online store, the Epicenter-Agro agricultural holding, the Epicenter Ceramic Corporation ceramic tile factories, the Osmoloda woodworking enterprise, and logistics facilities.

Before Russia's full-scale invasion, the Epicenter retail network included over 80 shopping centers across Ukraine. Seven locations were destroyed by the war in Mariupol, Nikopol, Bucha, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson (two centers). Three additional locations (in Melitopol, Kramatorsk, and another in Kharkiv) remain closed due to occupation, shelling, or proximity to conflict zones.

Currently, the group's retail network comprises 71 stores in Ukraine.

According to Ukraine's Unified State Register of Legal Entities, Epicenter K LLC's shareholders include Oleksandr Hereha (51.3%), Halyna Hereha (47.97%), and Tetiana Surzhyk (0.73%).