A year full of surprises

$ 45.4 billion was spent on pets in the U.S. in 2009, estimated the American Pet Product Association (APPA) at the beginning of 2010.Mars UK announced that it would no longer distribute the "Nutro" brand in Great Britain.North American Pet Products announced that it had acquired the assets of Casco Group (Cerritos, California). Existing facilities in Utah and Mexico would continue operations as usual.The US private equity group KKR agreed to acquire Pets at Home in a deal valuing the UK's leading supplier at GBP 955 mio. KKR owns several big retailers, including Toys R Us and Dollar General in the US and Alliance Boots in the UK.Bosch Saturn Tiernahrung took over the long-established dry food plant of insolvent company Rodi Petfood in Nettetal (Germany).Versele Laga enlarged its range of food for small mammals. One brand new product was the "Nature" line.Matthew Bubear acquired Casco Europe. The specialist pet and aquatic shopfitter is now totally owned by its CEO, following a recent acquisition of all issued share capital from the US shareholders. Matthew Bubear launched Casco Europe in 1997 on the back of the US model.US pet food manufacturer Grizzly Pet Products opened a new 15 000 square foot facility in Woodinville (Washington).The Austrian DIY store and garden centre operator Baumax opened its first Turkish store on a retail area in Samsun, 450 km north of Ankara.Radio Systems Corporation acquired Premier Pet Products, the maker of anti-bark collars and treat-dispensing toys. Later the company acquired the "Unleashed Technology" brand and the company Vet Ventures, which produces the "Drinkwell" pet fountains.Italian pet products company Croci acquired a holding in German firm Amtra Aquaristik. The newly created company trades as Amtra Croci GmbH. Ulrich Glaser and Dario Croci are the managing directors.Gimborn Pet Center announced its intention to open up to 25 outlets in Romania by the end of 2011 and 40 by the end of 2012.Mars Pet Care Europe pledged to use only fish from sustainable sources after 2020. A key milestone on this journey towards sustainability will be set in Europe by the introduction of pet food certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).SPF inaugurated its new plant SPF Thailand, 40 km south of Bangkok. It is equipped with the latest technologies for liquid palatability enhancer elaboration.The market research institute Euromonitor International expects the pet supplies sector to continue growing in the next few years - but…