From The March 2002 Issue of Natural Grocery Buyer

Organic Pet Food Still Fetching Sales

Sales of organic pet foods increased rapidly in the late '90s, but now appear to be leveling off. Data from SPINS shows sales increased by 55 percent in 1999 to $20.7 million. Last year sales increased 13.8 percent to $29.4 million.

But even though sales are slowing, there are plenty of pets who need food. Here are some U.S. statistics from the Washington, D.C.,-based Pet Food Institute, which started keeping statistics in 1981.

• 55 percent of American households are shared with at least one pet;
  
• Cats are most popular, totaling 75 million, up 33 million since 1981;
  
• 34 percent of households are home to at least one cat;
  
• Dogs, apparently man's second-best friend, total 59 million, up more than 5 million since 1981;
  
• 37 percent of all households are home to a dog;
  
• 16.5 percent of households are home to both a cat and a dog.