"We are giving everything"

Torsten Toeller opened the very first Fressnapf store on 18 January 1990 in Erkelenz in North-Rhine Westphalia/Germany. The success­ful entrepreneur has now just opened his 1 500th store in Pontault-Combault, close to Paris - even though he was speaking on the day before at the International Pet Conference in Budapest, over 1 000 km away (!).
In fact, Toeller has lost none of his eagerness, his passion or his sheer boundless creativity, even 28 years after the creation of his company. And he still harbours ambitious plans: well over 100 new Fressnapf and Maxi-Zoo stores are being opened during the year in Europe, while annual sales are set to break the two-billion-euro barrier for the first time.

Growth is being driven in particular by other countries in Europe: 
Poland: six new openings up to August increased the number of outlets there to 26. In terms of sales, Fressnapf has grown by over 66 per cent since the beginning of the year.France: with more than 150 stores and annual sales of around 180 mio euros, it is the second-biggest market after Germany. 31 new stores have opened since the start of the year, with at least 15 more to follow by the end of 2018.Italy: the number of stores increased to 95 by August. Sales in the most southerly market of Fressnapf have increased since the start of 2018 by a proud 12.5 per cent.
At the opening of the 1 500th store, Toeller pointed out that online sales at Fressnapf are growing disproportionately as well as sales in bricks and mortar stores. The online shop currently operating in Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Denmark is to be rolled out across Europe in the next few years. Austria has been added to the network at the end of October.

The Fressnapf Group's strategy for future growth is called Challenge 2025 and embodies a vision entitled "Happier Pets. Happier People". Toeller says: "We want to consolidate our position as European market leader and pursue sustainable, profitable expansion. To do this, we will take the right steps for a digital, rapidly changing retail environment by ourselves. We will continue to focus on the customer and concentrate on our mission. We are giving everything to make the coexistence of man and pet simpler, better and happier."