Pet-friendly trends drive retail growth in Ecuador and Peru

The growing presence of pets in households is significantly impacting the retail sectors in Ecuador and Peru. In Ecuador, shopping centers are increasingly adopting pet-friendly policies to align with changing consumer habits. At Ciudad Comercial El Recreo, administrators report that accommodating pets helps increase visitor flow and extends the time customers spend at the establishment, with an average of 1,500 pets visiting monthly.

In Peru, the pet market is expanding beyond food and veterinary services into lifestyle products. Data from the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI) indicates that 64% of Peruvian households own at least one pet. This trend is particularly visible during seasonal celebrations like Halloween, where demand for themed clothing and accessories is rising. The Lima Chamber of Commerce projects that small and medium-sized enterprises could see sales increases of between 8% and 12% during the October holiday period.