Global Pet Food Stores makes aggressive expansion into Western Canada

Global Pet Food Stores Inc. is making a major push into Western Canada. With six stores in Southern Alberta already, the largest Canadian-owned chain of specialty pet food and supply stores expects to open an additional five to six stores in Calgary over the next 18 months. 

"Western Canada has been the fastest growing portion (of the chain's expansion) over the course of the last probably 18 months," said Global Pet Food Stores president, Jim Walker. 

According to a report by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in July 2011, the pet food industry is a growing market in Canada. The overall pet food market in the country jumped from $1.347(US) billion in sales in 2005 to $1.633(US) billion in 2010.

The Consumer Trends, Pet Food in Canada report said it’s estimated that 35 per cent of Canadian households owned a cat in 2010 and Canadian cat food sales are expected to grow to $738 million in 2015.

It’s also estimated that 32.3 per cent of Canadian households owned a dog and dog food sales are projected to grow to $1.1 billion in 2015.