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Six of seven publicly traded pet companies in GlobalPETS’ sample recorded sales growth in periods roughly corresponding to calendar Q2 2026. Growth ranged from 0.3% to 15.5%, while Central Garden & Pet’s reported sales fell 19% after it exited pet distribution; profit results were mixed.
Six of seven publicly traded pet companies in GlobalPETS’ review recorded sales growth in the second quarter of 2026, with reported increases ranging from 0.3% to 15.5%. Central Garden & Pet was the exception, reporting a 19% decline after leaving the pet distribution business, while profit trends across the group were mixed.
Freshpet posted the largest increase in the sample: net sales rose 15.5% year over year to $305.6 million. The company attributed growth mainly to sales volume, citing a 5% rise in household penetration, higher customer buying rates and broader channel reach. Net income increased 19%; Freshpet attributed the result to one-off payments, including an equity investment connected to a previous divestiture.
i-Tail Corporation reported a 13% increase in net sales to $152 million, led by cat food, particularly functional and health-oriented products. Treats remained its fastest-growing segment. Net income rose 21.3%, which the company attributed to tariff refunds. Hill’s Pet Nutrition increased sales 3.4% to $1.2 billion, supported by e-commerce and omnichannel activity for its premium Prescription Diet range. Spectrum Brands’ Global Pet Care division grew 3.3% to $263.7 million, citing pricing and product mix, with market-share gains in several categories.
J.M. Smucker’s US retail pet food segment grew 1% to $371.7 million, helped by favorable volume and mix, cat food, and double-digit growth in soft and chewy snacks. Nestlé pet care sales edged up 0.3% to $5.6 billion, as cat food remained strong and dog food improved. Central Garden & Pet’s reported pet portfolio sales fell to $400 million, but the company said organic sales increased 2% to $380 million. Adjusted EBITDA for the portfolio declined 2.3% and was also affected by the divestiture.
Growth Drivers Varied by Company
The results show that growth across the sample did not come from a single market trend. Companies cited volume, pricing and product mix, stronger demand for cat food and treats, gains in premium or specialized offerings, and wider access through e-commerce or stores. That variation matters when comparing reported growth: the same headline increase can reflect different products, sales channels and company decisions.
Sales growth also did not guarantee stronger profits. Freshpet and i-Tail reported higher net income, with each pointing to one-off items. J.M. Smucker’s segment profit fell 2% amid higher costs and marketing spending. Hill’s reported a 2% operating profit for the quarter, while Spectrum reported adjusted EBITDA, which increased 91.8%. Those measures are not directly comparable. Nestlé disclosed first-half underlying trading operating profit for the segment, down 4.6%, rather than a quarterly figure.
A Sample With Different Reporting Periods
GlobalPETS reviewed the latest results from seven publicly traded companies. The periods covered are roughly equivalent to calendar Q2 2026, but can differ because companies set their own fiscal quarters. The figures therefore offer a snapshot of manufacturers during broadly similar months, not a perfectly aligned set of reporting periods.
The report compared manufacturers with retailers covered in a separate sector review, where all retailers in that analysis reported second-quarter revenue growth. That comparison provides wider industry context, but the two samples are distinct. Central Garden & Pet’s figures also require care: its 19% reported decline followed an exit from pet distribution, while the company’s stated organic measure showed growth.
“The company attributed its sales growth mainly to volume, citing higher household penetration, increased customer buying rates and expanded channel penetration.”
— Freshpet
Profit Comparisons Remain Limited
The review does not provide a uniform quarterly profit measure for all seven companies. Some reported net income or segment profit, while others disclosed operating profit, adjusted EBITDA or a first-half measure. The figures reflect different scopes and definitions, so they cannot be read as a like-for-like ranking. The source material also does not provide the complete range of company sales guidance: its discussion says six of seven expect full-year performance to increase, but the detailed guidance passage is incomplete.
It is also unclear from the available information how much of each company’s growth came from changes in prices versus underlying unit demand. Several companies cited a favorable price-volume mix without providing a common breakdown. Company explanations describe their own results; they do not establish a single cause for performance across the industry.
Full-Year Guidance Will Be Key
Investors and industry watchers will have to compare later quarterly reports with companies’ full-year expectations to see whether the varied growth rates persist. GlobalPETS reports that six of the seven companies expect full-year performance to increase, but most guidance covers entire businesses with operations beyond pet products. The available source does not specify the full range of expected sales growth.
Central Garden & Pet said the distribution exit will weigh on reported revenue in coming quarters, making its organic and reported sales measures important to follow separately. Future results may also clarify whether pressure from costs, marketing spending and regional inventory adjustments changes the mixed profit picture.
Key Questions
How many companies in the review increased sales?
Six of the seven companies recorded sales growth in periods roughly equivalent to calendar Q2 2026, according to GlobalPETS.
Which company had the fastest reported sales growth?
Freshpet led with a 15.5% year-over-year increase in net sales to $305.6 million.
Why did Central Garden & Pet’s reported sales fall?
The company’s pet portfolio sales declined 19% to $400 million after it exited the pet distribution business. It also reported 2% organic sales growth to $380 million.
Did profits rise alongside sales?
Not consistently. Freshpet and i-Tail reported higher net income, while J.M. Smucker’s segment profit and Nestlé’s first-half underlying trading operating profit declined. The measures and reporting periods differ across companies.
Source: rss
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