Pet Industry: Chewy, Mars, Purina and Retail Results — 2026-10-09
European pet retailer Fressnapf has reached a major milestone by opening its 3,000th store in Paris, while Zoetis finalized a $160 million acquisition of Neogen’s animal genomics portfolio. Meanwhile, broader industry data reveals that while pet food M&A activity has slowed in volume, transaction values are rising as companies focus on portfolio expansion and margin protection.
Pet Industry: Chewy, Mars, Purina and Retail Results — 2026-10-09
Top developments
Fressnapf Opens 3,000th Store in Paris
On September 30, 2026, Fressnapf/Maxi Zoo opened its 3,000th location, which is also its 500th store in France. The new "Urban Store" concept in Paris highlights the group's strategy to expand into dense metropolitan areas. This milestone underscores the group's continued growth in Europe, where they reported €930 million in sales for Q2 2026, a 7.1% year-over-year increase
Zoetis Acquires Neogen’s Animal Genomics Business
In a deal announced just hours ago on October 9, 2026, Zoetis has agreed to acquire Neogen Corporation’s animal genomics business for $160 million. The acquisition includes DNA testing solutions for both livestock and companion animals. This move signals continued consolidation within the veterinary services and diagnostics sector, where corporate groups are increasingly acquiring specialized technology assets to integrate into broader health platforms
Pet Food M&A: Fewer Deals, Higher Values
Recent analysis indicates that while the number of pet food acquisitions has dropped in 2026, the total value of these transactions has increased. Companies are prioritizing strategic portfolio expansion and flexible processing capabilities over volume-driven buys. This trend suggests a maturing market where acquirers are willing to pay premiums for high-quality assets that offer specific technological or geographic advantages
Local view
German trade publication diyonline.de reported on September 14 that Fressnapf/Maxi Zoo achieved 7.1% growth in Q2 2026, reaching €930 million in quarterly revenue. For the first half of 2026, group sales hit €1.9 billion, up 6.9% year-over-year. This performance supports their aggressive expansion plans, including the recent milestone in France and upcoming urban store openings in Berlin and Munich
Context & numbers
- Veterinary M&A Multiples: In the second half of 2025, general-practice veterinary deals averaged 12.4x EBITDA, with corporate groups now owning approximately 75% of specialty and ER clinics.
- US Market Size: The US pet industry is projected to reach $165 billion in spending in 2026, up from $158 billion in 2025, according to APPA data.
- Global Forecast: The global pet care market is expected to grow from $289.17 billion in 2026 to $499.06 billion by 2034.
On the radar
- Mars US Expansion Completion: Mars Inc.'s $2 billion investment in US manufacturing is scheduled to conclude by the end of 2026, with several facilities likely nearing final operational status this quarter.
- Purina Capacity Ramp-Up: Nestlé Purina’s new $550 million factory in Batavia, Ohio, opened in August 2026 and will be ramping up production capacity through the end of the year, potentially impacting supply chain dynamics for premium brands.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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