Pets at Home is the largest specialist pet supplies retailer in the UK. It has a nationwide network of 450 superstores offering a one-stop-shop for pet-related products (such as food, toys, bedding, medication and accessories) and services.
Since opening its first store in Chester in 1991, the business has boomed – it acquired Petsmart UK in 1999, bringing 140 stores under its branding. The retailer is now listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the FTSE 250 index.
Pets at Home also operates the UK’s largest small animal veterinary business with around 470 practices, more than 300 of them within stores. It is also the UK’s leading provider of grooming services, with 70% of its stores hosting units.
Turnover has soared in recent years, driven latterly by its rapidly growing veterinary services arm. Chief executive Peter Pritchard is aiming to generate 50% of revenues through services by 2024 and is accelerating the rollout of a pet centre format from 2020.
You will be relieved to hear that I’m not writing about the current situation – we’re all deluged with information already and anything I wrote would be out of date before you read it.
Pets at Home has backed the CaRe20 fundraising initiative, donating £100,000 to the cause.
Retail always has been and always will be a people industry. People are the heart and soul of this sector and help make it such a vibrant and dynamic trade for us, as journalists, to have the pleasure of covering.
Pets at Home will post earnings just ahead of expectations for the financial year just ended but sales in the next year are likely to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tesco boss Dave Lewis and Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner were among the winners of the Retail Week Awards 2020 sponsored by Salesforce.
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