BLACKBURN, UNITED KINGDOM — English pet food manufacturer Pets Choice Ltd. announced May 1 it has agreed to acquire Vet’s Kitchen from parent company Pets’ Kitchen, effective June 1. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
The acquisition will allow Pets’ Kitchen to divest its operations in the pet food manufacturing sector in favor of focusing on its Vet’s Klinic network of clinical veterinary practices.
“We have just opened our second, state-of-the-art Vet’s Klinic veterinary practice in Reading and we have been seeking to divest our pet food division whilst maintaining an ongoing association,” explained Laura Shears, managing director of Pets’ Kitchen. “We are delighted that we can hand over the Vet’s Kitchen brand to Pets Choice and to continue with a collaboration agreement for the long-term benefit of both companies. We look forward to seeing the Vet’s Kitchen brand go from strength to strength under Tony’s fantastic team.”
Pets Choice will now integrate Vet’s Kitchen’s suite of dry dog and cat food brands, including Webbox, Bob Martin, Felight, TastyBone and B-Calm, into its own portfolio. The company will distribute Vet’s Kitchen brands in the grocery, independent and pet specialty retail channels, as well as online and through the veterinary channel.
“This is a fantastic acquisition for Pets Choice as we continue our drive in both product premiumization and into the vet sector,” said Tony Raeburn, chief executive officer of Pets Choice. “We’re excited to onboard the Vet’s Kitchen team and pair their knowledge with our own.”
The addition of Vet’s Kitchen brands is expected to enhance Pets Choice’s presence in the “premium and advanced nutrition sectors,” of the UK pet food market, the company shared.
“Our expertise in growing brands perfectly complements Vet’s Kitchen’s use of professional insight in its product formulations, and we believe this acquisition will act as a real partnership and deliver even better premium food for pets,” Raeburn added. “The acquisition will also mean customers and listings alike will benefit from Pets Choice’s distribution network, making Vet’s Kitchen products all the more accessible to all. Vet’s Kitchen will complement our existing portfolio of growing brands entering us into the premium sector which is extremely exciting.”
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