Pet Grooming & Boarding in European Union 2026: Industry Statistics & Trends

The pet grooming and boarding industry in the European Union comprises specialized service providers delivering non-veterinary care, hygiene, and temporary accommodation for companion animals. Driven by structural shifts in pet humanization and expanding domestic animal populations, the sector has transitioned from a fragmented collection of artisanal shops into a increasingly formalized service market. Official data compiled by the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) in their 2025 report demonstrates that the broader European pet sector supported a population of 299 million companion animals across 139 million households in 2023 (FEDIAF Facts & Figures 2025). The industry's direc

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What does the Pet Grooming & Boarding in European Union industry cover?

The industry encompasses non-veterinary care activities dedicated to the physical upkeep, hygiene, and temporary housing of domestic pets, primarily dogs and cats. These services include hair clipping, washing, nail trimming, pedigree styling, and short- to long-term boarding via kennels, catteries, and urban pet hotels. It excludes primary veterinary medicine, surgical treatments, and commercial livestock breeding operations.

• •Primary service categories consist of standalone grooming salons, mobile grooming vans, and commercial boarding kennels.
• •The scope is technically bounded by government classification frameworks that separate personal pet care from clinical veterinary procedures.
• •Service lines increasingly include auxiliary non-medical care such as teeth cleaning, hydrotherapy, and daytime creche services.

Who operates in the industry and how is it structured?

The European Union's pet grooming and boarding market structure is highly decentralized, dominated by micro-enterprises, self-employed stylists, and independent family-owned kennels. While large retail chains have integrated grooming salons into their brick-and-mortar superstores to create service hubs, standalone independent operators still represent the vast majority of active establishments. Corporate consolidation is low compared to pet retail and manufacturing segments, though regional franchises are expanding.

• •Micro-enterprises with fewer than five employees constitute over 85% of total dedicated grooming storefronts across the EU.
• •Major European pet retail groups utilize in-store grooming salons as a customer-retention mechanism and multi-service destination strategy.
• •Co-working spaces for independent groomers and mobile app-based home services are changing traditional physical store dependency.

What drives demand in the industry?

Demand is primarily propelled by the steady rise in pet ownership rates and the compounding cultural trend of 'pet humanization', where companion animals are treated as family members deserving of premium care. Furthermore, urbanization and the proliferation of smaller living spaces in European metros drive the need for external boarding solutions when owners travel. The rising population of specific long-haired or high-maintenance dog breeds also mandates regular professional grooming intervals.

• •According to FEDIAF official 2023 data, approximately 49% of all European households own at least one companion animal.
• •Total pet population monitored by regional bodies reached 299 million animals in 2023, expanding the baseline addressable consumer market.
• •Disposable income levels and corporate travel frequencies directly correlate with peak seasonal demand for commercial boarding facilities.

Who are the notable companies in the industry?

The competitive environment features intense local competition among independent operators alongside structured service networks embedded within large corporate pet conglomerates. Publicly traded entities or large multinationals operate within this space chiefly through vertically integrated retail brands that offer grooming as an ancillary service line. Brand differentiation relies heavily on certified staff credentials, hygiene protocols, and localized convenience.

• •Fressnapf Holding SE operates an extensive network of grooming salons under its 'Fressnapf Salon' banner across Germany and multiple EU subsidiaries.
• •Pets at Home Group Plc, though centered in the UK, exerts regional influence and provides an established corporate model for integrated grooming operations.
• •Musti Group Oyj (acquired by Sonae), a leading pet retailer in the Nordic EU region, runs professional pet grooming services across its store network.
• •Cariapro SA operates specialized pet retail and care formats in Southern Europe, reflecting the institutionalization of pet services.

What are the recent trends and outlook?

The industry outlook is positive, characterized by the premiumization of basic services and widespread digital transformation. Operators are capitalizing on consumer willingness to pay for specialized treatments, organic coat products, and behavioral-adjusted grooming sessions. Digital platforms for real-time booking, kennel video monitoring, and pet profile management are becoming standard competitive requirements.

• •Premium service adoption includes specialized skin therapies, ozone baths, and breed-specific styling that command higher margins.
• •Kennel and boarding operations are transitioning toward 'pet hotels' featuring individual suites, webcam tracking, and personalized exercise regimes.
• •Labor shortages for certified, formally trained master groomers present an ongoing operational constraint across Western Europe.

How is the industry regulated?

Operators must navigate a complex multi-layered regulatory framework governing animal welfare, sanitation, and commercial establishment licensing. While general animal protection principles are unified under broader EU directives, specific operational licenses, facility dimensions, ventilation laws, and waste disposal mandates are dictated by national and municipal governments. Professional credentials, while historically voluntary, are facing increasing statutory formalization.

• •Establishments must comply with individual member state implementations of Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes where applicable to commercial holding.
• •Local environmental protection acts govern the disposal of chemical hair products, parasites treatments, and biological waste from grooming salons.
• •National trade associations, such as the European Grooming Association (EGA), work to standardize training, safety qualifications, and ethical handling practices.

Government, statistical and trade sources used for this Claight analysis.

• FEDIAF European Pet Food Industry Federation Facts & Figures 2025 ·
• Eurostat NACE Rev. 2 Statistical Classification of Economic Activities ·
• Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection of animals ·
• European Grooming Association (EGA) Operational Guidelines