Consolidation process in South-Eastern Europe

The consolidation in the pet supplies sector that was observed during 2022 has now also extended to the Balkan region. Last year, Europe’s leading pet store chain Fressnapf entered the Romanian market and has acquired the stores of the Czech retailer Plaček Group in Romania and Croatia as well (as reported by PET worldwide). 

Zoocity, the leading pet retailer in Croatia with 35 pet stores, is another retailer in the process of expanding. The chain, which is owned by the Croatian company Unconditional, has a partnership with Europe’s leading pet retailer Fressnapf. Zoo-city opened its first XXL-format store in Zagreb towards the end of last year. The store covers a floor space of more than 600 m² and also comprises a Zoo-city bakery which offers freshly baked biscuits for dogs. Its assortment includes over 7 000 products for all types of pets, among them many new brands. Having launched ten new stores in 2022, the aim is to open the same number of pet stores in 2023, for which Zoocity intends to invest 4 mio euros in people, equipment and assortment. In 2022, the company’s sales of pet food increased by 35 per cent and by 25 per cent relative to the overall range.

The Croatia-based pet store chain Pet Network International (PNI) also consolidated its market position in 2022. With operations in five countries in South-Eastern Europe already, the retail company has over 200 directly owned stores as well as e-commerce platforms in Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia and Bulgaria. The group sells pet food, treats and accessories, but also a growing offering of value-added services such as grooming and veterinary advisory services. In December, PNI announced the acquisition of the Bulgarian company Zoo Group Stefanov and Croatian speciality chain Zvjerinjak. “This expansion strengthens PNI’s position in the region and demonstrates that growth and investment are our biggest driver,” said Timo Tervo, CEO of PNI. He presented the company just recently at the International Pet Conference in Bologna.

Established in 2013, Zvjerinjak’s stores are located chiefly in…