South Africa Unites for Pets: Mars, Pick n Pay, Takealot & Pet Express Join Forces for World Animal Day 2025

For the first time in South Africa, Mars – home to leading pet care brands – is partnering with Pick n Pay, Takealot, and Pet Express in a nationwide initiative dedicated to advancing pet well-being.

Timed to coincide with World Animal Day 2025, the campaign extends Mars’ A Better World for Pets™ mission beyond products to include education, adoption opportunities, and responsible pet care guidance.

Cape Town Hosts the Largest World Animal Day Gathering

The collaboration will come to life at Sea Point Promenade, Cape Town, on Sunday, 5 October 2025, where non-profit Paws-A-While will host South Africa’s largest World Animal Day event with support from the City of Cape Town.

More than 1,000 attendees and over 20 welfare organisations, including the SPCA, will gather for a day of community celebration, learning, and compassion. Highlights include:

• Pet adoptions with local shelters
• A pet-friendly market with local brands
• Educational activations on nutrition, health & wellbeing
• Live entertainment and family food stalls

Tangible Impact for Pets

As part of the initiative, Mars, its subsidiary Royal Canin, and the retail partners will:

• Donate nearly 1,000kg of pet food to welfare organisations
• Support the expansion of sterilisation campaigns in underserved communities
• Use national retail and digital platforms to promote adoption, awareness, and responsible care in the lead-up to World Animal Day.

A Growing Love for Pets

With over one billion pets worldwide, the global love affair with companion animals is stronger than ever. Mars’ 2024 global pet parent study found that:

• 56% of people identify as pet parents
• Nearly half are first-time owners
• 1 in 3 respondents consider their pet the most important part of their life

This rise in pet ownership is reshaping South African consumer behaviour, with pet food now one of the fastest-growing retail categories.

Voices for Change

• Suraya Hamdulay, Mars Sub-Saharan Africa:
  “Our mission is to create a Better World for Pets. This collaboration is a unique opportunity to bring education, awareness, and support to pets and their families across South Africa.”
• Phillip Gittins, Pick n Pay:
  “We’ve been a trusted pet partner for decades. Through initiatives like Pet Club, we’re proud to support responsible ownership while helping families care for the pets they love.”
• Karla Levick, Takealot:
  “This partnership shows how digital engagement can extend beyond convenience into compassion, creating measurable impact for pets and families nationwide.”
• Carolyn Dudgeon, Paws-A-While:
  “With support from Mars, Takealot, Pet Express, and Pick n Pay, we can scale compassion so that more pets and families can find each other every World Animal Day.”

Why It Matters

World Animal Day 2025 is more than a celebration – it’s a movement to transform pet care across South Africa. By combining the reach of leading retailers with Mars’ pet-care expertise, this initiative sets a new benchmark for collaboration, community impact, and compassion.