Retailer Focus: Pet Valu’s 50th Anniversary

This year, Pet Valu has accomplished a major triumph within the pet industry—reaching 50 years of serving pet owners and their beloved pets. The road has been paved with adept leaders guiding the company, intentional mergers and acquisitions and judicious decisions to expand across provinces while having sharp instincts to know when it was prudent to scale back. All of these facets combined to make Pet Valu an enduring, trustworthy and distinguished force within pet retail. 

Renowned for its position as Canada’s leading retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies, Pet Valu has grown into more than 800 corporate-owned or franchised locations across Canada. The family of Pet Valu stores is made up of Pet Valu, Bosley’s by Pet Valu, Total Pet, Tisol Pet Nutrition & Supply and Chico. Last summer, Pet Valu parted ways with Roark Capital, which took Pet Valu private 16 years ago. Even in the midst of that, Pet Valu remembered its purpose for being in pet. The company takes its responsibility to pets’ wellness and the faith pet owners place in their expertise seriously. For decades, Pet Valu franchisees and store associates have attained pet parents’ trust in their product knowledge and suggestions. Remarkable customer service, a curation of 10,000 prime supplies and foods, relevant in-store services and attentive store staff that build a genial bond with pet owners have all made the difference. The impact Pet Valu has made on pet specialty retail and the Canadian pet market is a lasting one. 

Pet Valu has forged affiliations with pet supplies manufacturers that share the common purpose of keeping pet products that are a cut above within pet owners’ reach. 

Companies like Open Farm won’t forget how Pet Valu believed in Open Farm back when it was a fledgling supplier intent on opening pet owners’ eyes to foods that are ethically sourced and traceable. “Our relationship with Pet Valu is truly foundational,” said Amy Horton, Chief Sales Officer at Open Farm. “They believed in Open Farm early on and helped introduce our brand to Canadian pet parents long before ‘ethically sourced, fully traceable’ was part of the mainstream pet food vocabulary. With hundreds of locations across Canada and a strong omnichannel presence, Pet Valu gives us the ability to reach pets in major cities and small communities alike, while keeping the experience incredibly local and personal. What makes them such a strong partner is how deeply invested they are in doing things the right way. Pet Valu’s Animal Care Experts are genuinely passionate about pet health and trained to help pet parents navigate specialized nutrition and new formats. That’s critical for a brand like ours that leads with transparency, animal welfare, and sustainability. Their teams take the time to understand our sourcing standards, our traceability tools, and our innovation pipeline—and they bring that knowledge to life at the shelf and in conversations with pet parents. Layer in strong joint business planning, data-driven category work, and open communication, and you have a partnership that feels truly collaborative rather than transactional.”

At the start, Weruva perceived Pet Valu as out of its reach. However, a leader from Pet Valu turned into an admired and valued coach who helped Weruva to realize its worth. Today, the partnership is a collaborative one built on mutual respect. “It’s a true ‘shoulder-to-shoulder’ partnership,” said Anthony Giudice, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Weruva. “In our early days, Pet Valu was intimidating in its scope, but a now-retired, wonderful mentor there held our hand and gave us the confidence to step onto the shelf. That spirit of mentorship and mutual success has defined our relationship for more than 15 years.”

Forming an alliance made sense because the retailer and RC Pet Products share common values and standards. “Pet Valu has been a strong partner because they value quality, service, and relationships—the same principles RC Pets was built on,” Rory Carr, Owner of RC Pet Products. 

“The partnership has been very good between Pet Valu and Heloïse Laboratoire for many years,” said Marie-Gabrielle Lamoureux, Owner of Heloise Lab. “Pet Valu represents Heloïse Laboratoire across Canada. The company pays the bills on time, and the collaboration is very easy with their buyers.”

The partnership forged between Pet Valu and Canada Pooch is built on a foundation of assurance and clarity. “Our partnership with Pet Valu is built on strong, ongoing communication and a shared focus on the customer experience,” said Vice President of Sales, Cody Rossi. “We value how collaborative and responsive the Pet Valu team is, and how aligned they are with delivering products that truly serve pet parents and their dogs. That level of trust and transparency makes them a very solid partner for us.”

“Pet Valu has been serving pets and pet parents with safe, trusted brands for more than 40 years,” said MidWest Homes for Pets’ VP of Sales Brad Cantwell. “At MidWest Homes for Pets, we believe experience and excellence go hand in hand, and we have been exceeding pet owner expectations since 1921. Together, our long-standing partnership with Pet Valu continues to be a crucial part of our business. Pet Valu and MidWest share key principles that foster mutual success and long-term value. Pet Valu has a deep understanding of its market, Canadian consumers, and pet parents. Their exceptional ACEs and customer-facing sales teams are highly attuned to trends, maintain strong community relationships, and provide valuable in-store expertise across our MidWest product assortment. Pet Valu has the right teams in place to collaborate seamlessly with our teams at MidWest, aligning around shared goals and a commitment to delivering excellent products to the communities we serve.”

“When it comes to innovation, Pet Valu always wants to stay on the cutting edge of that,” said Matt Grigg, Senior Sales Director of Key Accounts, for Pure Treats, home of PureBites. “They’re not afraid to try new things, and they definitely want to diversify themselves against competitors. Pet Valu is a fantastic partner.”

These manufacturers and Pet Valu have had harmonious compatibility.

“Our goals are incredibly aligned—we both believe that doing right by pets should also mean doing right by communities and by the planet,” Horton said. “When a pet parent chooses Open Farm at Pet Valu, they’re supporting two Canadian organizations working to create better outcomes for animals, from the farm and fishery level all the way to the rescue organizations in their own neighbourhoods.”

“We both lead with heart and education,” Giudice said. “Weruva is a family brand that obsesses over our relationships at all levels. We share a simple, powerful goal: providing the very best nutrition to pets while supporting the people who love them.” 

“We’re aligned in our belief that great pet products start with purpose—whether that’s thoughtful design, sustainability, or supporting independent-minded pet retailers. That alignment makes collaboration easy and meaningful,” Carr said. 

“The objectives of Heloïse Laboratoire are to use alternative natural solutions to take care of our pets,” Lamoureux said. “Pet Valu’s mission is identical to ours in several respects: to encourage local products first and foremost and to give its customers a choice alternative.”

Canada Pooch and Pet Valu are determined to solve problems that in turn better pets’ lives. “We’re aligned on the importance of quality and product excellence, with a shared appreciation for innovation that genuinely improves life for pets and their owners,” Rossi said. “Pet Valu values thoughtfully designed and well-made products that solve real needs, which makes our partnership feel natural and easy to build on.”

MidWest Homes for Pets admires Pet Valu for having similar values when it comes to being rooted within the communities they serve. “Pet Valu is deeply committed to giving back through fundraising, charitable initiatives, and adoption events,” Cantwell said. “Similarly, MidWest is dedicated to keeping pets in loving homes by providing products that help pet parents keep their dogs safe and well-managed. We also support charitable efforts and provide crates to communities in need during emergencies such as fires or flooding. MidWest recognizes and appreciates Pet Valu’s strong commitment to quality, which closely mirrors our own. Together, we focus on delivering the safest, most thoroughly tested products while continuing to innovate to meet the evolving needs of pets and pet parents. Pet Valu’s dedication to the communities they serve is truly impressive and is a standard we value and expect from our partners.”

“Our goals and values are inherently aligned from top down,” Grigg said. An accomplishment which he admires most about Pet Valu is how the company has grown into a national solution. “Canada is a big country, and as far as a pet specialty national retailer, they’re it. They’re the one. All the other big retailers are regionals because Pet Valu went into Quebec last year with their purchase of Chico. To give you that national solution is another feather in their cap that they bring to us. When it comes to goals and values, it’s always going to be putting the pet first and putting their nutrition first. Pet Valu is not afraid to try something that differentiates them versus their competition, and they can make things happen very efficiently. They’ve always been willing to try new things to build the basket out while always making sure to put the pets first. Also, three out of four Canadians live within 5km of a Pet Valu—it’s pretty impressive.”

Pet Valu’s road to success has been filled with careful planning and calculated risks that paid off by entering new regions neither losing its identity of being capable in size and scope, nor the warmth of a neighborhood store. 

In 2009, Pet Valu was acquired by Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm, for $143.7 million. At the time of the acquisition, Pet Valu had a hold in both Canada and the US. It operated 295 corporately owned and franchised stores throughout Ontario and Manitoba and 61 stores in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware. Pet Valu Founder Geoffrey Holt retired as CEO and was replaced by Tom McNeely.

In 2010, Pet Valu acquired Bosley’s Pet Food Plus, a small-format specialty retailer. This transaction marked Pet Valu’s first add-on acquisition since the company was taken private by Roark the year prior. Bosley’s continued operating under the Bosley’s trade name.

At the time of the acquisition, Bosley’s was considered the premier independent pet retail chain in British Columbia and operated 23 stores in and around Vancouver, BC. With decades of experience, Bosley’s specialized in holistic and specialty brands with a focus on pet health and providing stellar customer service. 

The acquisition was a boon to Pet Valu who had already established itself in Central and Eastern Canada. The Bosley’s store locations provided a platform for Pet Valu to expand into Western Canada. 

Tom McNeely, then CEO of Pet Valu, said, “Bosley’s is a well-known, respected brand in Western Canada that shares Pet Valu’s commitment to providing its customers with the highest quality pet products and unmatched customer service. We are excited to help carry on its legacy and further grow the brand.” 

Pet Valu kicked off 2015 by finalizing the acquisition of Jack’s Pets and its e-commerce business, PetSolutions. The acquisition was Pet Valu’s first transaction in the US.

At the time of the deal, Pet Valu was the third largest pet specialty chain in North America, with a footprint of 623 stores in Canada and the US, comprised of 450 Pet Valu locations in Canada, 150 storefronts in the US and 23 Bosley’s locations that were recently acquired. 

Jack’s Pets’ 33 stores in Ohio, Indiana and Northern Kentucky joined Pet Valu’s massive footprint while reinforcing Pet Valu’s presence across the eastern US and online with PetSolutions.

Jack’s Pets’ locations were transformed into Pet Valu’s Midwest operations and Jack’s Pets’ 100,000-square-foot corporate office and distribution center in Beavercreek was repurposed into Pet Valu’s Midwest region headquarters. 

Scott Brenner, the former owner and president of Jack’s Pets, was named vice president of Pet Valu’s Midwest operations, and his brother, Chris Brenner, was appointed the company’s senior director of e-commerce.

The acquisition aligned with Scott Brenner’s goals to grow the company at an accelerated clip. He planned to expand to 100 stores in the next few years, with a focus on expanding in Ohio and neighboring states. “This allowed for us to have the capital to expand, especially in this region, while allowing all of our employees to stay on, and even creating additional roles for future employment options in this area,” Brenner explained in media reports.

That same year, Roark representatives announced they had acquired Pet Supermarket, a prominent pet specialty retailer that had established itself in the southeast region of the US. Upon being acquired, Pet Supermarket operated 155 retail stores across 11 states, with an emphasis on premium and holistic pet consumables. 

Pet Valu rounded out 2015 with the purchase of Tisol Pet Nutrition & Supply, the third acquisition for Pet Valu that year. Founded in 1974, Tisol had nine locations throughout the Lower Mainland, including Burnaby, Richmond, Langley, South Surrey and three locations throughout Vancouver.

Pet Valu strengthened its presence in British Columbia with the acquisition of Total Pet, an 18-store pet specialty retailer. Founded in 1974, Total Pet carried consumables and supplies for companion animals, along with reptiles, birds, salt and fresh water fish and small animals.

By the summer of 2016, Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket announced the two entities had merged, forming the third largest pet specialty retailer and the largest small-format, neighborhood, pet specialty retailer in North America, ranking third in the North American pet supplies market after retail titans Petco and PetSmart. The stores operated as either Pet Valu or Pet Supermarket stores. 

The combined company was named Pet Retail Brands with an impressive footprint of 930 stores across the US and Canada. Pet Retail Brands’ expansive retail footprint stretched from the East Coast to the West Coast and from Miami to Vancouver, positioning itself for continued growth.

Combining two of the fastest-growing pet specialty retailers formed a compelling and dynamic platform to share resources and best practices to support both Pet Supermarket, Pet Valu and their loyal customers. The combined entity was expected to generate roughly $1 billion in system-wide retail sales throughout North America. 

“The combination of these two highly complementary businesses, both long-established brands with strong cultures and deep commitments to local communities and helping pets, will create the leading community-focused pet specialty retailer in North America,” Ezra Field, managing director of Roark Capital, parent company to both Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket, said in a statement. “Together, both brands will benefit by sharing infrastructure, resources and best practices to deliver superb value to both Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket’s loyal customers, committed employees and business partners.”

Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket offered pet parents a convenient one-stop shop filled with premium pet food, supplies and services with knowledgeable store associates on hand to guide pet owners to the right products to align with their pets’ needs. 

Pet Valu was taken private by an affiliate of Roark Capital in 2009, and then in 2015, Pet Supermarket was acquired by an affiliate of Roark Capital. Pet Retail Brands had headquarters in Markham, Ontario and Pet Supermarket operations continued in Sunrise, FL. The merger brought on reshuffling with Pet Valu CEO Thomas McNeely assuming leadership of Pet Retail Brands while Pet Supermarket President and CEO Diane Holtz retired as a result of the merger.

The negative impacts of the Covid pandemic took their toll on retailers. By late 2020, Pet Valu officials announced they planned to wind down operations at its headquarters in Pennsylvania and close all of its 358 stores and warehouses across the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Even though the pandemic spurred a surge in pet adoptions, pet parents ventured to big box giants Petco and PetSmart and online players like Chewy for pet supplies because they swiftly provided curbside pickup and delivery and telehealth services in light of pandemic restrictions. 

“The company’s stores have been significantly impacted by the protracted Covid-19-related restrictions,” Jamie Gould, Pet Valu’s Chief Restructuring Officer, said. “After a thorough review of all available alternatives, we made the difficult but necessary decision to commence this orderly wind-down.”

A month later in December, Pet Supplies Plus rounded out its year with the purchase of 40 Pet Valu locations throughout Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. 

At the time of the purchase, Pet Supplies Plus operated more than 500 stores in 35 states, and was recognized as one of the fastest-growing and largest independent pet retailers in North America. In spite of its size and scope, Pet Supplies Plus remained rooted in serving its neighborhoods with warmth and friendly store associates.

The former Pet Valu stores were repurposed as a mix of corporate and franchisee-owned Pet Supplies Plus locations. Transforming and rebranding some of these store locations to Pet Supplies Plus was expected to save jobs that might otherwise have been eliminated while also keeping pet parents content by not interrupting the stellar customer service they’ve grown to expect from these retailers. These store conversions presented a turnkey business opportunity for potential franchisees to step in and operate the stores with a significantly shortened store opening timeline, take advantage of established real estate and benefit from minimal build out expenses vs. building a brand new brick and mortar location. Potential franchisees will also benefit from inheriting an established neighbor base in need of pet foods, goods and services, according to a company press release. 

“I would like to extend gratitude to the Pet Valu team, who have been nothing but professional and supportive throughout this entire process,” Nick Russo, senior vice president of franchising and store operations for Pet Supplies Plus, said in reports. “This exemplifies the type of culture Pet Valu has developed, and we are excited to offer many Pet Valu associates a new home with us.”

Russo said Pet Supplies Plus thrived largely because of increased pet adoption rates and subsequent spending on pet supplies during the pandemic, coupled with rising demand for franchising opportunities. Russo expected Pet Supplies Plus to open 100 new stores in 2021, which included the previously operated Pet Valu stores they purchased, more than doubling the number of stores opened in 2020. 

“We chose locations where we knew Pet Supplies Plus will make the biggest positive impact, especially for pet parents who need a community retailer to depend on for their pet needs,” said CEO Chris Rowland. “We’re honored to provide these neighborhoods with a large assortment of quality pet products and services with knowledgeable team members ready to help make pet ownership easier.” 

Pet Valu leaders had the business acumen to know when to scale back and when to strike. In early 2022, Pet Valu purchased Chico, marking its entry into Québec.

Chico is Québec’s largest franchisor of pet specialty stores, with 66 locations across the province. Founded in 1983 by Pierre Charbonneau and Michel Joly, Chico has a long heritage of serving devoted pet lovers in Québec. The brand has been consistently growing its store count and same store sales, and in 2021, generated system-wide sales of approximately $79 million and revenue of approximately $7 million.

“Entering Québec marks a key milestone in our mission to be Canada’s preferred pet retailer,” Richard Maltsbarger, then President and Chief Executive Officer of Pet Valu, said at the time. 

Aligning with Pet Valu’s principles, Chico’s stores provide engaging retail experiences, with a focus on expert advice and premium quality products, all within local, small-format locations averaging 3,000 square feet. 

Chico operates as a separate subsidiary led by a devoted management team based out of Montreal, with founders Pierre Charbonneau and Michel Joly continuing to be active in the business. 

“I have long envisioned seeing Chico expand across Québec, to provide a place for discerning pet owners to seek expert advice and high-quality products from dedicated, neighbourhood-based franchise owners,” said Pierre Charbonneau, Founder and President of Chico. 

The partnerships Pet Valu has cultivated throughout the years are invaluable. The respect and appreciation manufacturers have for Pet Valu speaks to the retailer’s sterling reputation and influence it has made on the industry. 

“Pet Valu offers the best of both worlds—the reach of a major retailer with the soul of a neighborhood pet shop,” Giudice with Weruva said. “They don’t just put products on a shelf; they invest in our story and help us connect personally with pet parents in every community they serve.”

“Working with Pet Valu allows us to combine our product expertise with their retail insight and customer reach—ultimately creating a better experience for pet parents,” Carr with RC Pet Products said. 

“Pet Valu helps us reach pet parents across Canada while still feeling local and community-focused,” Canada Pooch’s Rossi said. 

Pet Valu combines the scope, resources and capabilities of a large retailer with the warmth and loyalty of a smaller company. For decades, Pet Valu has proven that hard work and dedication makes a lasting impact. Built on a strong foundation, Pet Valu has a long future ahead and will continue shaping the industry.

Pet Valu’s broad scope throughout Canada, coupled with the company’s ability to bring communities together, are characteristics which MidWest values in their partnership. 

“MidWest understands Pet Valu’s extensive reach across Canada and their ability to bring a strong focus on quality and community engagement to nearly every region of the country,” Cantwell said. “Working alongside the dedicated ACEs and corporate teams who consistently add value to the lives of pets and their parents is a pleasure. We greatly appreciate our relationship with Pet Valu and look forward to continuing to grow together well into the future.”