Global Pet Expo 2025 to spotlight emerging trends in booming pet industry

USA – The 21st edition of the Global Pet Expo, a premier event for the pet industry, is set to take place from March 26-28, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. 

Hosted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), the event will bring together more than 20,000 pet professionals, including independent retailers, distributors, mass-market buyers, media representatives, and influencers.

The pet industry continues to experience rapid expansion, driven by increasing pet ownership and consumer spending. According to Forbes, as of 2024, 66% of U.S. households (equivalent to 86.9 million homes) own a pet. 

This includes 65.1 million dog-owning households, 46.5 million cat owners, and 11.1 million freshwater fish owners. 

With pet ownership increasing, pet food and treats spending is also increasing. Grand View Research projects that the U.S. pet food market, valued at US$61.83 billion in 2025, will grow at a 6.04% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), reaching US$82.13 billion by 2030.

Against this backdrop of industry growth, Global Pet Expo 2025 intends to provide a vital platform for stakeholders to explore the latest developments, exchange insights, and discover new opportunities. 

This year’s event will feature over 1,000 exhibitors and 3,500 booths, showcasing over 3,000 new product launches from leading brands such as Compana Pet Brands, Elanco, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Purina, Royal Canin, and Woof. 

With thousands of industry leaders in attendance, the expo offers a unique environment for networking and collaboration.

A key highlight of this year’s event is the introduction of a new keynote series designed to provide deeper industry insights. 

On March 26, Bert Jacobs, CEO and Co-Founder of Life is Good®, will deliver a keynote speech, setting the stage for discussions on innovation and leadership in the pet industry. 

On March 27, CNBC’s Tyler Mathisen will moderate a panel discussion examining critical economic factors—including tariffs, interest rates, and artificial intelligence (AI)—and their impact on the pet sector. 

These sessions aim to equip attendees with valuable perspectives on market trends and future challenges.

The Pet Summit 

Running alongside the expo, The Pet Summit will offer additional learning and networking opportunities for industry professionals. 

Bringing together experts and visionaries, the summit focuses on advancing the pet industry through next-generation business strategies and professional development. 

Sessions will cover a range of topics, including business marketing for pet brands, pet industry data insights, sustainability in pet products, content creation strategies, and entrepreneurship in the pet space.

The event will also feature sessions powered by the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC), highlighting sustainable practices in packaging, ingredient sourcing, and corporate responsibility.

Building on the success of previous editions, Global Pet Expo 2025 follows in the footsteps of a record-breaking 2024 event, which took place from March 20-22, 2024, in Orlando. 

The 20th edition of the expo featured a sold-out show floor spanning 343,500 net square feet, with over 1,100 exhibiting companies and nearly 20,000 attendees from more than 85 countries. 

The event also generated an estimated US$45 million in local economic impact for Orlando, further cementing its role as a key driver of industry growth.

Beyond business opportunities, Global Pet Expo has consistently demonstrated its commitment to community support. 

In 2024, the event partnered with the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, donating pet products to local animal shelters. 

Reflecting on last year’s success, APPA President and CEO Peter Scott remarked, “The energy on the show floor was electric. It was exhilarating to see the pet industry come together in record-breaking numbers, discovering new products and celebrating innovation. The community we have built around this event is truly remarkable.”

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