Every story we've run.
303 stories on the business of pet retail. Browse by section.
Chile's Specialty Pet Channel Is Losing to Supermarkets, And It's Not Price
48% of Chilean pet owners buy food at supermarkets. The shift isn't price-driven, it's convenience, and US independents should pay attention.
5 min read · Jul 24
Why Most Stores Left Money on the Table During Neighborhood Pet Store Day
Last year's event delivered a 42% sales lift and 36% new customer growth. The numbers set up 2026.
4 min read · Jul 23
SuperZoo 2026: What 1,180 Exhibitor Listings Say About Where Pet Retail Is Heading
SuperZoo 2026 opens August 12-14 at Mandalay Bay. We pulled all 1,180 exhibitor listings and read the floor as a dataset: the category breakdown, the international manufacturing mix, and what the ratio of brands to manufacturers to tech vendors says about where independent pet retail should spend its three days.
6 min read · Jul 23
The Private-Label Opportunity on the SuperZoo 2026 Floor
Sixty exhibitors at SuperZoo 2026 list themselves as manufacturers or private-label suppliers, and another twelve finished-goods brands quietly run private label on the side. That is 72 potential house-brand partners in one building, three weeks out, and the cheapest sourcing trip an independent retailer will take all year.
6 min read · Jul 23
Pooch & Mutt's Cat Pivot Tests Whether Dog Brand Equity Transfers
Purr & Meow relaunched with new recipes and a two-range architecture. The real test: can dog brand equity crack specialty cat?
5 min read · Jul 23
Atomic Bubbles Came to SuperZoo Arguing for Fewer SKUs
Most brands pitch more SKUs. Atomic Bubbles is bundling bestsellers into tighter footprints, and the impulse rack math is worth watching.
4 min read · Jul 23
Phillips Pet Names New CEO as Founding Leader Transitions to Executive Chairman
Blaine Phillips moves to Executive Chairman after 40 years. Nick Christensen steps into CEO role. What this means for your distributor relationship.
5 min read · Jul 23
CVS Put Pet Prescriptions in 9,000 Pharmacies and Took Your Trip
The prescription brought them through the door. The rest of the basket paid your rent. CVS removed the reason they had to come back.
5 min read · Jul 23
PET AI Is Launching at SuperZoo and You Cannot Buy It
The new AI platform debuts at SuperZoo with three closed pilots. What that structure tells you about where the category actually is.
4 min read · Jul 23
Just for Pets Bets Shelf Space on UK Craft Suppliers, Margin Risk or Moat?
The retailer is allocating real shelf space to handcrafted UK goods. The bet: premium local sourcing drives enough lift to justify the operational mess.
5 min read · Jul 23
Scenthound's C-Suite Build Signals Franchise Operators Want Proof, Not Promises
When a franchise adds a CFO, chief commercial officer, and chief development officer in one quarter, it's not celebrating, it's preparing for a different investor conversation.
5 min read · Jul 22
BetterBone's Four-Country Push Signals Specialty's Next Margin Threat
When a brand goes global before saturating the channel that built it, you're not a partner, you're a proof of concept.
5 min read · Jul 22
The One Forecast Every Pet Retailer Should Read Before Reordering Senior Dog and Kitten SKUs
CATalyst's updated forecast held. Puppy visits down 10.5% YoY, kitten visits up 1.3%. The demographic shift is real, and your assortment decisions should reflect it.
6 min read · Jul 22
Why Vet AI Wins Matter to Pet Retailers Who Can't Hire Fast Enough
Clinic capacity crunch pushes health questions into retail. If AI compresses wait times, you lose browsing windows and need a new plan.
6 min read · Jul 22
Pet Supplies Plus Locks Oma's Pride Into 200 Doors. Watch the Margin Math.
A fourth-gen raw brand landed a multi-year franchise deal. That structure says something about frozen's new weight class.
4 min read · Jul 22
Pet Fair Asia Sold Out. What US Specialty Missed.
The 2026 show closed its exhibitor list. Your supplier booked their booth. You haven't decided if you're going yet.
4 min read · Jul 22
What IndiePet's Origin Story Says About the Gaps Legacy Trade Groups Left Open
The group formed because retailers who incubated emerging brands needed operational systems existing organizations weren't providing.
5 min read · Jul 22
Delaware Backs Off Pet Store Closure Bill, But the Amendment Bans New Entrants
The amended bill keeps current operators alive but blocks new stores and family transfers. Other states are watching.
6 min read · Jul 22
Store Brands Hit 23.8% Unit Share as National Brands Lost Volume
PLMA's midyear data shows store brands hit an all-time high in unit share while national brands declined. The pet care number is the one to watch.
6 min read · Jul 21
Freshpet Names New President as Co-Founder Steps Back After 20 Years
Scott Morris is moving to an advisory role. Nicki Baty takes over as President and COO. What that means for the refrigerated set.
4 min read · Jul 21
A Pet Product Sells on TikTok Shop UK Every 15 Seconds
One pet product sells every 15 seconds on the platform. Mars posted 454% growth. That velocity reaches specialty.
5 min read · Jul 21
Zoomark's 2027 Floor Plan Names the Categories Europe Is Betting On
When a trade show dedicates permanent zones to categories two years out, it's not a guess, it's a supply-chain bet your assortment should account for.
5 min read · Jul 21
A Grooming Franchise Opened in Montclair Selling Memberships, Not Grooms
A membership grooming franchise opened in Montclair with plans for 26 locations statewide, which reshapes your referral network.
6 min read · Jul 21
Austin and Kat Bets Mushroom Powders Can Carry Margin CBD Used To
The Seattle CBD brand launched a full mushroom line at the same price point, betting retailers stock a second wellness category without cannibalizing the first.
6 min read · Jul 21