More or less impacted by the recession

To what extent was your company affected by the recession in 2009? How would you judge 2009 in terms of its impact on the pet supplies business and on your company? What plans do you have for 2010? "Market lead in Sweden" 1. Not at all. Arken Zoo increased sales by 34 per cent this year and by 17 per cent in like-for-like stores. We started up 11 new stores during 2009. 2. The pet supplies sector as a whole has had a hard time, but Arken Zoo has taken the market lead in Sweden. 3. We will increase sales by 35 per cent and we will have around 70 stores by the end of 2010. Lars Bergkvist, CEO, Arken Zoo
"We were able to extend our market share" 1. The economic crisis has only had a slight impact on us so far in 2009. This may be due to a large extent to our ranges being based in the classic mid-price segment and benefiting from pet owners switching from the premium to the mid-price segment for financial reasons. On the other hand, a stronger shift towards economy products has also become noticeable in the last few months. 2. From the viewpoint of both the pet sector as a whole and in relation to our company, 2009 should be assessed positively overall. We have succeeded in extending our market share in a strongly competitive market and in establishing new products such as gluten-free special food for dogs. 3. In 2010 we will continue to work on our product range. Changing our premium dog food line over to a new packaging design with enhanced recipes is a significant task for us. It should be of interest to retailers that the number of products and pack sizes is not being expanded, but reduced. We are catering for the growing dry food market for cats by adding new varieties and innovative mixtures to the ?Sanabelle? adult and sensitive product range. We would like to respond to the heightened price sensitivity of dog and cat owners in tough economic times with price stability in 2010, in spite of the relaunch. Werner Frank, authorised officer, Bosch Tiernahrung
Plans to expand range 1. Even if the financial crisis has not made a marked impression on sales in Germany, it is noticeable that on the one hand pet supplies retailers have run their stocks down, and on the other they are more cautious. Both reactions are naturally understandable and even sensible. It?s also evident that price has come more to the forefront, and many manufacturers are trying to generate sales with new ranges. This automatically results in more predatory competition. 2. 2009 was a…