2026 Fresh Pet Food Market
What drives the 2026 Fresh Pet Food Market?

The fresh pet food is becoming more visible in the market as consumers begin to seek refrigerated meals based on freshness, palatability, nutrition, and convenient feeding. Long-term pet ownership trends, pet humanization, and greater concern about pet health and wellness are identified by Freshpet as some of the key demand drivers for their business.

An immediate company indicator of growth is the financial performance of Freshpet in the second quarter of 2026. The company reported net sales of $305.6 million with a year-over-year increase of 15.5% with volume up 15.7%. Their adjusted gross margin was 48.6%. These numbers are reflective of the business Freshpet is operating and must not be considered the growth rates of the whole fresh pet food market globally.

What is fresh pet food exactly?

Fresh pet food can be defined as refrigerated pet food that is produced, packaged, distributed, and stored under temperature controlled environments. It is different from dry kibble and shelf-stable canned food in the sense that refrigeration is still an integral part of the process.

Why do consumers choose fresh pet food?

The consumer promise is driven by ingredient perception, feeding experience, assortment, and convenience. The Freshpet filings note that consumer trends that have been linked to the category include pet humanization and health/wellness.

Accessibility is also increasing in the form of package sizes and price points. Products described in Freshpet's 2026 filings include value packs, entry-level products, premium products, and many formats and sizes, implying that the fresh pet food category is developing for all households, not just high-end consumers.

Is fresh pet food a premium category?

Fresh refrigerated products tend to cost more than dry food since it requires the management of refrigeration, production, packaging, distribution, and storage at retail. The category is, however, segmenting itself in terms of price point, format, pack size, and occasions of feeding.

Value packs and entry-price products are included in Freshpet's 2026 strategy.

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