According to a 2016 survey from the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, out of 631 respondents, 371 indicated they were using a hemp product for their dog. That was before the 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the grasp of the Controlled Substances Act…
While major retailers like Sephora and Neiman Marcus were quick to embrace CBD-infused products for humans on the heels of the Farm Bill, the retail heavyweights like Petco and PetSmart that are focused on our furry friends took things a bit slower.
Petco
Long after independently owned pet stores were stocking their shelves with CBD-infused products, Petco, with more than 1,500 locations across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, was the first one of the big-P’s to begin carrying cannabidiol-infused pet products in-store in over 20 states and online.
From Charlotte’s Web canine CBD products to Pet Releaf’s CBD treats and chews, a search for “CBD” on the Petco website yields 47 results.
A search for “CBD” onthe Petco website yields 47 results. (Screengrab via Petco.com)
Now, as of today, it looks like PetSmart is going green too.
PetSmart
PetSmart is officially set to begin carrying Mary’s Tails, part of the Mary’s Brands portfolio, as its first ever CBD brand. Initially set to be carried in 122 PetSmart stores throughout Colorado, Oregon, Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee, there are already plans in the works to expand to additional stores across the country by summer 2020.
Slightly larger than Petco, with over 1,650 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico as well as more than 200 in-store PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities, PetSmart is undoubtedly one of the largest sellers of pet products and services in the world.
According to the company’s announcement, PetSmart selected Mary’s Tails “due to its focus on transparency, quality, efficacy and pet-friendly delivery methods.” This is what’s necessary to combat the horror stories surrounding some of the many low quality CBD pet products on the market.
“PetSmart continues to build a world class shopping experience through merchandising, product selection, and service. We evaluated numerous CBD pet brands and selected Mary’s Tails to be the first CBD brand to be on shelf,” said Tim Milano, Vice President of Merchandising, PetSmart. “The addition of Mary’s Tails will answer the call from our consumers seeking options for a highly trusted hemp extract with naturally occurring CBD for pets.”
Conclusion
The two largest pet product retailers, Petco and PetSmart, are estimated to hold a combined 48% market share in the United States, with a whopping 37.7% attributable to PetSmart alone. With the CBD market expected to eclipse $23 billion USD in the near future, it comes as no surprise that these two pet product giants are eyeing it as the next big thing.
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