Walmart announced an expansion of its pet care services, including several new pet service centers.
The retail giant announced Tuesday (October 8) that it is expanding access to in-person and virtual veterinary care, grooming services, pet prescription delivery and groceries.
“The pet category continues to be one of the most dynamic in retail, with annual spending growth projected to grow 7% by 2030 and household spending expected to reach $1,445 per pet by 2026. ,” Walmart said in a news release. “Veterinary services are now the second-largest pet spending category after supplies, and are expected to continue to grow as pet owners prioritize the health of their pets.”
Walmart announced that it is expanding its pet service centers with new centers in Cumming and Alpharetta, Georgia, and Chandler, Glendale, and Mesa, Arizona.
Additionally, on October 18, the company will officially launch Walmart+ benefits with Pawp, giving members of the subscription program free 24-hour access to Pawp’s team of veterinarians.
According to a PYMNTS Intelligence study, consumers are hesitant to cut back on pet products even when they’re feeling the financial pinch.
According to the “Consumer Inflation Sentiment Report: Consumers are lowering transaction prices to save money,” which surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. consumers, 47% of shoppers said they are paying at least 1% more because of inflation. found that they were choosing to buy their groceries from cheaper outlets. While 33% downgraded where they buy personal care products and 32% downgraded where they buy snacks, just 19% of grocery shoppers said they looked for cheaper alternatives when it came to pet food and supplies.
“People are still adding pets to their families, and the rate is increasing,” Jonathan Weinberg, general manager of Synchrony’s pet business, said in an interview earlier this year. “And they’re spending more.”
PYMNTS wrote earlier this year about the brand’s efforts to respond to pet parents’ desire to provide human-level luxury for their four-legged family members.
This comes shortly after Lyft announced the launch of its pet ride service, which matches passengers with drivers (those who are okay with pet passengers) for a $4 fee.
“At Lyft, we believe everyone belongs, and that includes our four-legged family members,” Audrey Liu, Lyft’s executive vice president of rider experience, said in a statement. . “Pet Ride makes it easier than ever for pet owners to go where they want to go with their pets, while also encouraging responsible pet ownership and adoption.”
Taking luxury to another level is BarkBox’s Bark Air. This allows dog owners to book a flight on a Gulfstream 550 private jet and have their pet travel in the main cabin rather than the cargo hold.
See More: Dog Grooming, News, Pawp, Pet Care, Pet Retail, Pets, PYMNTS News, Retail, Synchrony, Veterinary Services, Veterinarians, Walmart, Featured Information
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