Research into the attitudes and sentiments amongst the UK’s pet shop and store owners ahead of National Pet Shop Day 2026, has revealed a sector defined by passion and longevity but under sustained commercial pressure from every direction. More than half of respondents have been trading for over 20 years. One in nine has served their community for more than half a century. These are not businesses built for quick returns. They are built on knowledge, care and a genuine commitment to the welfare of the animals and owners they serve.
Online competition is cited as a significant challenge by 83% of those surveyed. Declining footfall troubles 81%. More than half are feeling the squeeze from supermarkets and discount chains. Rising business rates, energy costs and the National Insurance increase compound the pressure further. The picture is of a sector that loves what it does but is finding it increasingly difficult to make what it does pay.
The frustration is sharpest when it comes to products. Independent retailers are often the reason a customer discovers a brand, the person who recommends it, explains it and puts it in the right hands. But 76% say they are extremely concerned about manufacturers selling through online platforms, with a further 22% concerned. Nearly three quarters feel the same about manufacturers supplying grocery and discount chains. In response to the survey, one retailer wrote: “People often come in for guidance, then buy the product cheaper from Amazon or a big supermarket. Small pet shops provide the expertise, but the sale goes elsewhere.”
It is a tension that sits at the very heart of this year’s National Pet Shop Day campaign. Consumer research commissioned by Johnson’s Veterinary Products earlier this year found that 67% of pet owners say independent pet shops are important to their community, and 57% would be upset if theirs closed. The affection is genuine. But only 12% name an independent as their main source of pet products. The retailers surveyed here know that gap intimately.
What strikes most in the retailer research, however, is not the anxiety but the resilience. Far from waiting for things to improve, independent pet shops are reinventing themselves. Many have expanded into wellbeing and lifestyle products, developed own-label ranges, added grooming, training and other supplementary services, and forged closer ties with community organisations. One retailer wrote: “We believe success is reliant on change, innovation and making your own USP.”
The ask from retailers is not complicated. Over 85% want more competitive wholesale pricing and products exclusive to independents. Sixty one percent want lobbying and advocacy support, including national campaigns that champion their cause. They want to be given the tools to compete, and they want the industry that has benefited from their expertise to stand alongside them.
Paul Gwynn, Chairman of Johnson’s Veterinary Products, said: “For over a hundred years, Johnson’s has stood alongside independent pet retailers, and we know how much they mean to the communities they serve. This research shows that pet owners know it too. National Pet Shop Day is simply asking them to prove it.”
National Pet Shop Day, now in its third year and backed by Johnson’s Veterinary Products alongside supporters BIRA, PIF and OATA, takes place on Saturday 11th July 2026. It is a national moment that asks pet owners to turn the goodwill they feel into something the shops they value can actually take to the bank.
One retailer’s survey response perhaps said it most plainly: “If brands want us shops to survive, we need more support.”
Retailers can register to take part at nationalpetshopday.co.uk or by speaking to their local Johnson’s Area Sales Representative.
