Fressnapf grows even in times of crisis

Even if the growth in sales is probably considerably smaller when adjusted for inflation, Europe’s leading pet store chain has still impressively demonstrated its crisis resistance with these figures. In like-for-like terms, the group recorded growth of nearly eight per cent in a year-on-year comparison.

The corporate group achieved a sustainable increase in all 13 countries, according to a trading statement relating to the previous year’s trend. Poland (+53 per cent) and France (+25 per cent) stood out in particular on account of the huge growth in sales and significant expansion. In Ireland, sales revenue was boosted by around 43 per cent by the acquisition of a competitor. In the statement, Fressnapf did not set out the performance in the German pet supplies market separately, prompting the conclusion that growth there did not quite attain the level achieved in many other country markets.

The high sales growth was accompanied by a significant expansion in the store network, with the European market leader adding approximately 130 branches to its network in 2022. Internationally, the company will grow more strongly in future through holdings, joint ventures and cooperative initiatives, as already shown last year by the merger of the Arcaplanet Group with Maxi Zoo and the stake acquired by Fressnapf in Croatia’s Unconditional Group. Online sales totalled 329 mio euros in 2022, increasing by 34 per cent over the previous year, and are expected to rise steeply in future.  

Fressnapf’s success has not just fallen into its lap, however, stresses company founder and owner Torsten Toeller: “One crisis has followed another. Regardless of whether trade conflicts, the pandemic, supply chain problems or raw materials shortages are the issue, the only constant is change and that has demanded everything of the management. We have prepared ourselves properly for this and as a financially stable company we are benefiting from our resilient business model and our strategy of an omnichannel eco-system.”

“We are growing sustainably in all countries and channels,” underlines Dr Johannes Steegmann, CEO of the Fressnapf Group. “Nevertheless, our customer base has become considerably more price-sensitive due to inflation and rising energy costs along with the increasing cost of living. With…