Global Pet Expo 2024 Celebrates Record-Breaking Attendance at the 20th Annual Show

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) hosted the 20^th annual Global Pet Expo on March 20-22, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. The pet industry’s premier event showcased a sold-out show floor with over 1,100 exhibiting companies spanning 343,500 net square feet of exhibit space.

Total attendance reached nearly 20,000 attendees representing over 85 countries at the event known for delivering the latest in pet products, business connections and world-class education. The show, hosted at the Orange County Convention Center, brings in millions of dollars to the Orlando Metropolitan area each year, with Global Pet Expo 2024 delivering over $45 million in local economic impact. Global Pet Expo also gives back to the local pet community through its longstanding partnership with the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando to collect product donations after each event. This year, over 70 booths were donated to help serve the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando’s mission.

“It was exhilarating to see the pet industry come together at Global Pet Expo with record-breaking attendance. We spent an incredible week discovering new pet products hitting the market this year and celebrating the latest innovations our industry has to offer,” said APPA President and CEO Peter Scott. “The community we have built surrounding this event is incredible, and the energy on the show floor this year was electric. We look forward to hosting our pet industry peers alongside the greater Orlando community at the Orange County Convention Center each year.”

Additional highlights from Global Pet Expo 2024 include:

New Pet Product Innovations

The event showcased thousands of the latest pet products and innovations across trending consumer categories, from smart technology to at-home wellness solutions and sustainable products. The New Products Showcase displayed over 1,000 products across 13 product categories, with the winners of the 14^th Annual Awards announced during Global Pet Expo’s “Best in Show” Awards. VetChip, a biotechnology company dedicated to improving animal health and welfare through pioneering technology that monitors, analyzes and detects pet health issues, was selected as the grand prize winner of the 2024 Purina Pet Care Innovation Grand Prize. The company was one of five pet startups from across the U.S., Canada and Australia that pitched their businesses to a panel of judges during Global Pet Expo, including APPA’s Peter Scott.

Enhancements to the Show Experience

Global Pet Expo 2024 unveiled new activations at the event to elevate the attendee experience. Entrances to the show floor were redesigned to create an immersive sensory experience upon arriving at the event. The new Innovation in Motion Experience revealed a modernized New Products Showcase display, Spotlight Stage and Think Tank. The show floor also expanded to feature new specialty areas, including The Modern Pet, the Supplier Pavilion and the Sustainability section, in partnership with the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC).   

New Pet Industry Data

APPA announced the latest pet ownership and spending data during a media-exclusive press conference. According to APPA’s new State of the Industry report, the total U.S. pet industry expenditures reached $147 billion in 2023 and an overall economic contribution of $303 billion, a 16% increase from 2022. The expenditures were shared in conjunction with the first release of the association’s new quarterly reports launching this year.

World-Class Education

The Global Learning Series delivered over 50 hours of education across four days of sessions featuring topics shaping business decisions in 2024. “Participation in the Global Learning Series sessions neared 2,000 attendees this year,” said PIDA President Celeste Powers. “The excitement during the sessions and throughout the show floor was palpable, and the entire Global Pet Expo team was inspired seeing months of planning transform into a fantastic event for the pet industry.”

Unprecedented Media and Influencer Attendance

Media and influencer engagement with Global Pet Expo 2024 was record-breaking, with nearly 300 members of the media and influencers attending the show.

This year, Global Pet Expo will be honored by Trade Show Executive as one of the top fastest-growing shows in the U.S. for 2023 at the Trade Show Executive Fastest 50 Awards & Summit, May 8-10, 2024. The show was ranked in the Fastest 50 By Exhibiting Companies and Next 50 By Total Attendance and By Net Square Feet.

Global Pet Expo 2025 will take place on March 26-28, 2025, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.

ABOUT GLOBAL PET EXPO

Global Pet Expo, the pet industry’s premier event, is presented by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA). The show features more than 1,000 exhibitors, 3,500 booths and over 3,000 new product launches annually. Each year, the event gathers 6,000+ pet product buyers from around the world. Global Pet Expo is open to independent retailers, distributors, mass-market buyers, media and other qualified professionals. For more information, visit GlobalPetExpo.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok and YouTube.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN PET PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) is the leading trade association serving the interests of the pet products industry since 1958. APPA membership includes over 1,000 pet product manufacturers, their representatives, importers and livestock suppliers representing both large corporations and growing business enterprises. APPA’s mission is to promote, develop and advance pet ownership and the pet products industry and provide the services necessary to help its members prosper. APPA is also proud to grow and support the industry through the following APPA Gives Back initiatives: the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), Joybound People & Pets’ Pets & Vets Program and Pet Care Trust and Pets in the Classroom. Visit AmericanPetProducts.org for more information, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X and YouTube.

ABOUT PET INDUSTRY DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION

Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA) is the premier trade association representing the interests of pet product distributors since 1968. The mission of PIDA is to enhance the well-being of the wholesaler-distributor, to promote partnerships with their suppliers and customers and to work cooperatively with other organizations in fostering the human animal bond. PIDA is also proud to grow and support the industry through the following initiatives: the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) and Pet Care Trust and Pets in the Classroom. Visit PIDA.org for more information and follow us on LinkedIn.