新华社沈阳2月23日电 题："携宠团聚"成更多中国人过年新选择 2026年2月3日，在吉林省长春市一家火车车厢主题的宠物餐厅，几只宠物狗坐在窗边等待"宠物年夜饭"。新华社记者 许畅 摄 在辽宁省鞍山市状元训犬基地，训犬师们用指令训练小狗学习坐卧行走，以便它们更好融入社会。训犬师代宏静介绍，不少主人在春节带宠 物探亲访友之前，会先让它们来上课，把基本行为控制好。 近年来，中国"它经济"持续升温，宠物在越来越多人的生活中占据着不可或缺的位置。《2026年中国宠物行业白皮书（消费报告）》显示， 2025年城镇宠物（犬猫）数量达1.26亿只，消费市场规模达3126亿元，预计2028年将达4050亿元。 宠物经济也正成为中国春节消费市场新增长点。"什么值得买"平台数据显示，今年该平台年货节期间，宠物服饰、洗护美容、玩具商品交易 额分别同比去年增长115.60%、40.35%和18.51%，宠物相关商品消费量创历史新高。 新华社记者李宇佳、崔师豪 在辽宁沈阳一家餐厅，"00后"宋汝晴趁着春节假期和朋友们小聚。她的宠物狗"麦子"在餐厅专门提供的场地里自由玩耍。 "朋友特意挑了一个可以带宠物就餐的地方，今年我们过年聚会，'麦 ...

Core Viewpoint - The pet economy, while appearing lucrative with a market size of 300 billion and gross margins reaching 50%, is proving to be a challenging business for large companies, as evidenced by the failures of several high-profile entrants [6][7]. Group 1: Profitability and Business Challenges - Pet food is the hottest category in the pet economy, with domestic brands achieving gross margins of 40%-50%, but the actual profitability for companies is often much lower, with leading firms like Zhongchong Co. reporting a gross margin of only 28.16% and a net margin of 9.33% in 2024 [9][10]. - The high gross margins in the pet economy are often offset by significant marketing and operational costs, such as rising sales expenses for companies like Guibao Pet, which increased from less than 100 million in 2017 to over 1 billion in 2024, reflecting a 46.31% year-on-year increase [10][11]. - The emotional value associated with pet products does not translate into sustainable profits for companies, as the costs of marketing through KOLs and maintaining physical stores can erode margins significantly [17][18]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Competition - The pet economy is characterized by a reliance on personal relationships and trust between pet owners and service providers, making it difficult for large companies to replicate the success of smaller, independent operators [27][30]. - Many businesses in the pet economy, such as grooming and veterinary services, thrive on the expertise and personal touch of individual operators, which large companies struggle to scale effectively [19][26]. - The challenges faced by large companies in the pet economy mirror those in other high-margin industries like beauty and medical services, where the core value often lies in the individual professionals rather than the corporate structure [20][22].

Core Insights - The pet economy in China is rapidly growing, with the market size surpassing 700 billion yuan in 2022 and projected to reach 1.15 trillion yuan by 2028, indicating a significant shift in consumer behavior towards pet ownership and related services [1][2] - The trend of "pet-friendly" commercial spaces is emerging, with shopping centers like Suhewan MixC and Xijiao Bailian adapting to attract pet owners by offering various pet-related services and amenities [2][4] Industry Trends - The pet ownership rate in China has reached over 30%, marking a transition from a nurturing phase to a more widespread acceptance of pet ownership [2] - The U.S. pet economy is valued at approximately $150 billion, with about 70% of households owning pets, showcasing a global trend towards pet-friendly environments [2] Commercial Strategies - Shopping centers are increasingly incorporating pet-friendly features, such as dedicated pet areas, pet services, and events to enhance customer experience and drive foot traffic [4][5] - Suhewan MixC has created a pet-themed area offering services like grooming, pet food, and photography, while also hosting community events to engage pet owners [2][5] Consumer Engagement - Events like "Tail Wagging Season" and the "Pet Love Land" initiative have successfully increased foot traffic by nearly 35% and revenue by 10% year-on-year, demonstrating the effectiveness of community engagement strategies [5] - The focus on creating a welcoming atmosphere for both pet owners and non-pet owners is crucial for balancing the needs of diverse customer groups [6] Regulatory Developments - Shanghai is developing the first local standards for pet-friendly spaces, indicating a move towards more structured and regulated environments for pet-related businesses [7]