Our obsession with better looking and better smelling companion animals drove U.S retail sales of pet grooming products to $165 million in 2004, reflecting annual average growth of 5.3 percent since 2000, according to a new study by Packaged Facts (New York), a division of MarketResearch.com.

“Market Trends: Pet Grooming and Spa Products” estimates that grooming preparations such as shampoos, conditioners, between-bath spritzes and wipes account for more than two-thirds (69 percent) of the market, followed by manual grooming tools (17 percent) and electric grooming tools such as clippers (14 percent).

“Pet grooming products tie into two of the most important trends driving the overall market for pet products—the ‘humanization’ of pets and the related trend of pet pampering,” said Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged Facts. “Products that have been ‘humanized’ to appeal to people—e.g., shampoos with gentler formulations and pleasing botanical scents, brushes with more comfortable grips, spa/gift-style products, etc.—are at the forefront of this market.”

The report shows that pet specialty stores are driving sales growth for pet grooming products at the expense of traditional retailers such as supermarkets, drug stores and mass-merchandisers. Petco Animal Supplies Stores Inc. (San Diego) and PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix), for example, are maintaining their market share for grooming products by expanding their services and product offerings. However, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (Bentonville, Ark.) probably will maintain sales growth for pet grooming products above the overall market average due to its expansion in store locations, its range of pet products, its large department sizes and its private-label efforts.

For details about the report, visit www.packagedfacts.com/pub/1087708.html or www.marketresearch.com. [January 2006 PET AGE]