A total of 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association. That means the country now has 17 million pet-owning homes, the association says. Young people are the main drivers of this trend, with more than half of new owners aged 16 to 34, the PFMA says. Many have bought pets in response to social isolation, but there are concerns about animal welfare, it adds. UK supermarkets have already noted an "unprecedented" rise in pet ownership and have warned that it is causing a shortage of some dog and cat food products. Helen Warren-Piper, general manager of Mars Petcare UK, which makes Pedigree and Whiskas, said: "We recognise retailers are experiencing unusual demand for pet food during lockdown." The pandemic boost to pet ownership has led retail chain Pets at Home to raise its profit forecast yet again as demand for pet products continues to soar. The company, which has 451 outlets across the UK, says full-year profits will be £85m, up from a previous estimate of £77m. It said trading over the past eight weeks, during the latest lockdown, had been better than expected.
