Merger in France

In France, too, the level of concentration in the pet supplies sector continues to increase. Compared with its neighbours Germany, Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands, where a few big players set the pace, there are only very few strong companies in the French pet sector with outlets across the country that can compete with the big supermarket groups, which account for the majority of pet food sales.

That could soon change. By its acquisition of Rapid Croq, Botanic has succeeded in doubling the size of its pet store chain Médor et Compagnie at a stroke. The merger makes sense, as both companies pursue similar strategies and concepts. They each focus on pet food and do not sell any pets. According to newspaper reports, the acquisition was preceded by eight months of negotiations that led to the desired outcome in mid-January. 
Based in Saint-Romain-le-Puy (Loire), Rapid Croq was established in 2001 by Eddy Cathaud and now has 22 stores, eight run by the company itself and 14 as franchises. Two new openings are to take place shortly.

Médor et Compagnie was foun­­ded by Eric Bouchet, the general director of Botanic, in 2003. It has 21 stores, 16 of which are operated by the company and five as franchise outlets. With the takeover of Rapid Croq, Médor et Compagnie has expanded its number of stores to nearly 50. Experts in the sector estimate that the sales of the combined chains will be around € 30 mio.
Changeover in April
Since April the former Rapid Croq stores have been undergoing a makeover to the colours of the new owner. Luc Blanchet, the pre­sident of Botanic, has announced that 66 of the company's own garden centres are to be modernised too. It is planned to integrate an organic store and a "Plants for Health" zone into these stores in future, an initiative in which Botanic intends to invest € 20 mio.Botanic employs 2 200 people. Its sales were in the order of € 394 mio in 2016.