The shift in Chinese consumer attitudes toward pet ownership is accelerating, moving from a focus on satiety to nutritional quality, and now toward science-backed feeding regimens. According to a research report from GTHT, brands like Royal Canin, with its specialized breed, functional, and prescription diets, are increasingly gaining traction among domestic pet owners.

As the concepts of science-based feeding and precision nutrition gain wider consumer acceptance, GTHT analysts suggest that breed-specific foods with even more functional subcategories will represent the next major evolution in pet food. The firm believes that brands with strong product power, built on deep research in canine and feline basic science, product development, and accumulated production advantages, are best positioned to maintain leadership.

Key Drivers Behind Global Leaders

GTHT reviewed the development histories of Mars (core brand Royal Canin) and Nestlé Purina (core brand Pro Plan). Royal Canin was founded by a veterinarian. In 1994, the company shifted its strategy from price competition to brand building, focusing on specialized canine and feline nutrition. After being acquired by Mars, it leveraged the group's resources to accelerate its entry into the prescription diet market. Nestlé Purina started as a feed company, pioneered the extrusion process for pet food, and has expanded globally with the support of the Nestlé Group.

Royal Canin: Precision Nutrition

Royal Canin's innovation path is built on providing precision nutrition for the entire life cycle of pets. Its core development principle is "precision nutrition," with products segmented by health needs, breed, age, size, and lifestyle.

Pro Plan: Science-Based Nutrition

Pro Plan positions itself around "science-based nutrition," covering all product categories for dogs and cats. It builds a highly professional evidence-based research system and systematically segments its products according to life stage, size, and specific health needs.

Four Core Advantages

GTHT identifies four core advantages that have made Royal Canin and Nestlé Purina global leaders: R&D Advantage: deep accumulation in basic canine and feline research and continuous validation through formula iteration; Production Advantage: world-class manufacturing facilities that lead the industry; Supply Chain Advantage: global supply chain management; Channel Advantage: deep ties with upstream breeders and downstream veterinary channels.

Risk Factors

Risks include fluctuations in raw material prices, exchange rate volatility from overseas operations, intensified domestic market competition, increased US-China trade friction, food safety incidents, and the risk that product sales may fall short of expectations.