“Up to 70 new stores in 2025”

Maxi Zoo France, the national subsidiary of the Fressnapf Group in France, will increase the number of its stores by over 50 to 380 this year. There are even plans to open 60 to 70 stores next year. The aim is for pet owners to need a maximum of 20 to 25 minutes to get to a Maxi Zoo France store in future. This was announced by Jan Wejbrandt, CEO of the company, in an interview with the online business platform Républik Retail Le Média.

However, Wejbrandt admits that 2024 will also be a difficult year for Maxi Zoo France. He has noticed a noticeable reluctance among customers to buy, particularly in the accessories sector. His company's like-for-like sales will therefore only increase slightly compared to previous years. In 2023, Maxi Zoo France generated sales of 538 mio euros.

In addition to opening new brick-and-mortar stores, Maxi Zoo France is also aiming for further growth in its online shop. Wejbrandt: "We are continuing to develop online services, such as click & collect, but our strategy remains focused on physical development. Nevertheless, we are achieving double-digit online sales."