Investment company acquires Arken

Arken Hemdjurshandlarna AB is the largest pet retailer in Sweden with 36 stores. The new owner Braganza, which also owns the airline companies Malmö Aviation and Transwede, is in turn owned by the airline entrepreneur Per G. Braathen, who has plans for rapid expansion. The Arken chain is set to have at least 100 stores (25 per cent of the market) in Sweden by 2010. There are also plans for expansion in the rest of the Nordic countries. “With such a financially strong and long-term committed owner like Per G. Braathen, Arken now has the strength to carry out a vigorous expansion policy,” says Lars Bergkvist, who will remain in his position as Arken's CEO.