News

Human-animal bond drives US pet market A survey by Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com, has taken a close look at the sale of non-food pet supplies in the United States. The survey reports on success factors and external influences affecting this market, in addition to presenting the total sales figures for such products. PetSmart to open distribution centre PetSmart, the American speciality retailer of services and solutions for pets, will open a new distribution centre in Bethel, Pennsylvania, by April 2014. According to PetSmart, the new centre will bring approximately 300 jobs to the area in its first year and an estimated 500 jobs by the end of 2016. The company will add construction jobs this year and building of the $ 50 mio centre will commence in autumn 2012, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2014. Located within proximity of more high-volume stores, the new, build-to-suit 870 000- square-feet (78 300 m²) Bethel distribution centre will provide transport savings and enable a significant percentage of PetSmart’s 1 240-plus stores to be serviced from this location, says the company. New cooperation in the US Fetch…for pets!, the US-based manufacturer of innovative pet supplies, has reached an agreement with Benedent Corp., a manufacturer of high-quality dental products, to represent and manage all of its pet-related brands, including “Triple Pet” and “EZ Dog”, pet product lines of dental care products for dogs and cats. Central Garden increases flea & tick product sales The US firm Central Garden & Pet Company reported third-quarter net sales of $ 533.8 mio, an increase of 10 per cent from the same period a year ago. Third-quarter operating income was $ 49.0 mio, compared to operating income of $ 36.6 mio in the third quarter of 2011, a 34 per cent increase. Net sales for the pet segment increased 19 per cent, or $ 44.0 mio, from the same period a year ago to $ 271.3 mio, on strength across many of its categories, especially flea and tick. The pet segment’s branded product sales were $ 228.9 mio and sales of other manufacturers’ products were $ 42.4 mio. The pet segment’s gross and operating margins rose from a year ago, due primarily to a favourable change in the mix of sales including higher flea & tick product sales and lower third-party product sales. The pet segment’s operating income was $ 40.5 mio compared to operating income of $ 27.2 mio in the previous year’s period, an increase of $ 13.3 mio or 49…