Fressnapf is the PET Retailer of the Year

The German pet store operator Fressnapf is the PET Retailer of the Year. The proprietor and managing partner, Torsten Toeller, received the award yesterday at the International Pet Conference in Amsterdam. PET in Europe, the trade journal published by Dähne Verlag, Ettlingen, organises the contest every two years to give recognition to the most innovative international speciality retail concept.
The jury, composed of four industry experts, was impressed by the company's rate of expansion. The reason cited for choosing Fressnapf to receive the award was that in just 18 years the founder, Torsten Toeller, has succeeded in turning Fressnapf into Europe's leading pet supplies chain. The jurors recognised the company's coherent franchise concept, which ensures continuous development of its products, services and external image and thus turns the retailer into a real "innovation machine". Its considerable adaptability to current consumer trends has allowed Fressnapf to develop into a full-range supplier of articles for pets. The retail spectrum thus extends from themed shopping and travelling with a dog, for example, to veterinary practices and grooming salons in stores.
Fressnapf opened its first store in Erkelenz in 1990. Since then its retail operation has grown to encompass 950 stores in twelve European countries. In fiscal 2007, the company increased its sales by 16.7 per cent to € 935 mio.
For the competition for the PET Retailer of the Year award, the trade journal PET in Europe canvassed the opinions of nearly 300 suppliers in the international pet supplies sector. A shortlist of the four most frequently nominated retail firms was drawn up, and from this a jury of acknowledged industry experts chose the winner. Dähne Verlag succeeded in obtaining the services of Ron Segboer of Karlie Heimtierbedarf, Eric Lambrecht of Versele Laga and Mats Danielsson of the Swedish trade association Zoorf as jurors; the final member of the jury was Ralf Majer-Abele, managing editor of PET in Europe.
The second edition of the International Pet Conference took place in Amsterdam this year. It is organised by Dähne Verlag in conjunction with Management Forum. Around 160 representatives of the international pet supplies sector attended the conference to learn about current trends in the PET market and exchange information. In more than 20 presentations and panel discussions, speakers and delegates focused on the key topics of "New Speciality Retail Concepts", "Sustainability", "Central and Eastern Europe", "Internationalisation and Medium-Sized Companies", "Quality, Premium and Organic" and "New Media". The programme was complemented by two practice-oriented parallel sessions, and three special guests also featured. The PET World 2008 trade exhibition was also staged concurrently with the conference.