Rising demand for premium, natural, and allergen-friendly nutrition drives strong global growth in the grain-free pet foods industry.
The global grain-free pet foods market is entering a high-growth phase, with new projections from Towards FnB indicating the sector will expand from USD 52.32 billion in 2025 to USD 92.22 billion by 2034, reflecting a 6.5% CAGR over the forecast period. The surge is strongly linked to the worldwide shift toward natural, premium, and specialized nutrition for pets.
According to the report—released by Towards FnB, a sister firm of Precedence Research—the market was valued at USD 49.13 billion in 2024 and continues to accelerate as more pet owners adopt grain-free diets based on perceived health and allergy-related benefits.
Why grain-free pet food is gaining popularity
Grain-free formulations exclude common grains such as wheat, rice, barley, and corn—often replaced by ingredients like chickpeas, lentils, and potatoes. These diets initially emerged as a response to rising concerns about food allergies in pets and have since become a mainstream choice for pet owners seeking “natural,” “clean-label,” and minimally processed nutrition.
AAFCO food trial certifications have further strengthened confidence in grain-free diets for both dogs and cats.
Key market insights
• North America dominated the market with a 39% share in 2024, driven by rapid pet population growth.
• Asia Pacific is expected to record the fastest growth between 2025 and 2034 due to rising spending on premium pet food.
• Dogs accounted for 71% of the market in 2024, while the cat segment is projected to show strong future growth.
• Dry pet food (kibble) held a 49% share in 2024, but freeze-dried and fresh foods are gaining momentum.
• Animal-based proteins represented 68% of ingredient usage in 2024; exotic and insect proteins are expected to scale rapidly.
• Adult pets held a 60% share, while the senior segment is expanding due to rising demand for joint- and digestion-supportive diets.
• Pet specialty stores were the leading distribution channel in 2024, although online sales and subscription models are growing quickly.
Global trade activity shows strong momentum
Between June 2024 and May 2025, the world imported 203 shipments of grain-free pet food, marking a 37% year-over-year increase.
The top global importers were:
- India (255 shipments)
- Indonesia (119 shipments)
- Chile (93 shipments)
Major suppliers included Italy, the United States, and the Czech Republic.
Trends shaping the future of grain-free pet nutrition
• Growing pet ownership, especially among millennials and Gen Z
• Personalized nutrition, human-grade ingredients, and supplements
• Demand for transparency and high-quality sourcing
• Rising popularity of less-processed formulas such as fresh, raw, and freeze-dried foods
• Rotational feeding strategies mixing grain-free and grain-inclusive diets
• Increased use of prebiotics and postbiotics to improve gut health
Recent industry developments
• Marsapet & Calysta launched the first dog food using FeedKind Pet protein (March 2025).
• WySE Products introduced the Total Pet Kitchen Multicooker for preparing human-grade pet meals (June 2025).
• Nature’s Logic released Pure Naturals, a high-protein dog food line free from artificial additives (October 2025).
• Leaf Foods entered the pet nutrition space with its Alfalfa Protein Concentrate (October 2025).
• Actor Kevin Hart unveiled his premium pet nutrition brand “Hartfelt” (July 2025). As premiumization, human-grade nutrition, and allergy-focused diets reshape consumer expectations, the grain-free pet foods market is set to remain one of the fastest-expanding segments in the global pet nutrition industry.
