Farewell thoughts

“Stop when it’s at its most beautiful” is an old saying. I will take this advice and retire on 1 August, as already announced. I can look back on over 30 years during which I have had the opportunity to describe, analyse and comment on developments in the pet industry. It has been an exciting time! I clearly remember the 1990s, when large, modern pet stores started appearing in increasing numbers in the US and Canada. The concepts behind PetSmart, Petco and Super Pet also fascinated pet retailers outside of America. Nowadays, pet owners all over the world buy food and accessories in pet stores.  

At the end of the 1990s, the pet industry embraced online shopping. Leading pet store chains responded by developing into omnichannel retailers, offering pet products to customers both in-store and online. I am fascinated by the flexibility and dynamism with which the pet industry responds to problems and crises. From the dot-com bubble in 2000 and the financial crisis in 2008/2009 to the ongoing consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, the pet industry has consistently demonstrated its resilience and ability to overcome any challenge. Even after the economically challenging year of 2024, the outlook is positive again this year. The optimism and confidence palpable at Zoomark in Bologna are certainly encouraging and give cause for hope.

As editor-in-chief of the two trade magazines pet and PET worldwide, I always knew that I could rely on the competent team at Dähne Verlag to support me in all matters and ensure the publication of each issue. Thank you very much!  

Over the years, I have also had the privilege of meeting many fascinating personalities from the worlds of trade and industry. Some have stood out for their unerring sense of current market trends; others have impressed me with their perseverance in turning their ideas and visions into reality; and others still have impressed me with their ability to transform companies and prepare them for a successful future. The trust that many industry players have placed in me has been invaluable in helping me report on and analyse developments in the pet industry and make complex interrelationships easier to understand.

I would like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported me with advice and…