Global Pet Expo 2025 Opens Today in Orlando, Showcasing Latest Pet Industry Innovations

ORLANDO, FL, March 26, 2025 — The Global Pet Expo 2025, the pet industry’s premier event, opened its doors today at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Hosted by the American Pet Products Association (APPA) and Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), the three-day expo, running March 26-28, brings together more than 20,000 pet professionals from around the world to explore over 1,000 exhibiting pet brands across more than 3,500 booths.

The event kicked off this morning with an inspiring keynote address from Bert Jacobs, CEO (Chief Executive Optimist) and Co-Founder of Life is Good®, who shared his 30-year entrepreneurial journey and the power of optimism in business. This marks the first of two keynote sessions in the expo’s new keynote series, with CNBC’s Tyler Mathisen set to moderate a panel of industry executives tomorrow on economic outlooks for pet retailers.

“Global Pet Expo continues to set the standard for delivering the latest in pet innovation, business connections and world-class education for pet professionals from around the globe,” said APPA President and CEO Pete Scott. “This year, we’re thrilled to introduce expanded specialty areas and new educational opportunities, reinforcing our commitment to empowering pet professionals with the tools and insights they need to succeed.”

Visitors to this year’s expo will discover several new and enhanced features, including expanded specialty areas on the show floor. The Aquatics & Exotics section now serves as a hub for all things aquatic and reptile, while the Pet Sustainability area has been expanded to showcase Pet Sustainability Coalition accredited companies. A Start-Up Pavilion in the What’s New! Section spotlights early-stage innovations.

The expo floor also features multiple thought leadership venues, including the Spotlight Stage for panel discussions and award ceremonies, the Catalyst Stage for networking and insights from top suppliers, the Sustainability Theater for education on industry sustainability practices, and the Tails of Joy Theater celebrating partnerships with organizations such as the Animal Policy Group and The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI).

Media attendees will receive an exclusive look at APPA’s latest pet ownership data during today’s Press Conference and Luncheon at 1:00 PM, where the 2025 State of the Industry Report will be presented.

Tonight’s Unleashed Party, sponsored by Hill’s Pet Nutrition, will offer attendees a chance to network while enjoying food, drinks, entertainment, games, and prizes. The party runs from 5:00 to 8:00 PM on Level 3 at the Main Stage.

Celeste Powers, CAE, president of PIDA, emphasized the expo’s importance for industry relationships: “At PIDA, we are dedicated to strengthening relationships between pet product manufacturers and distributors, and Global Pet Expo remains the premier venue for fostering those critical connections.”

The show continues through Friday, March 28, with the Best In Show Awards for New Product Showcase Winners scheduled for Friday morning at 10:00 AM on the Spotlight Stage.

For more information about Global Pet Expo 2025, including the exhibitor list, floor plan, and special events schedule, attendees can download the Global Pet Expo Mobile App from the App Store or Google Play Store, or visit www.globalpetexpo.org/attend.