“A mission of uncon­ditional care for pets”

From its humble beginnings in 1974, the company has grown into a market leader with 50 Zoocity retail stores in Croatia, wholesale operations in Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia, and nearly 450 employees. Founded by Vatroslav Varda, Unconditional (formerly known as Zoo Hobby) began as one of the first specialised pet stores in Croatia. With his expert advice and service, Varda laid the foundations for a business that is now run by his son, Edvard Varda.

“The challenges my father faced in the early years of the business have shaped our foundations. Through his sincere relationships with customers and expert advice, he managed to keep the business going,” says Varda. He began working full-time in his late teens and took over the business completely in 1999. Today, after 25 years at the helm, Unconditional is recognised as a great place to work and grow, with a constant focus on innovation and keeping up with trends.

The pet industry has grown by an average of three to five per cent a year over the last 30 years. Today, pets have become part of the family and the most customers want the best for their pets, from high meat content foods to smart toys. For larger animals, on-farm breeding focuses on preventative care and reducing the use of veterinary medicines.

“For a company of our size, agility in decision-making is crucial, but not without caution. You have to be fast, but not in a hurry,” says Varda. “Our goal is to understand consumer habits and adapt to their needs without compromising on service quality.” In the last eight years, Unconditional has quadrupled its turnover and number of employees. The company’s goal is to reach a turnover of 50 mio euros by 2024 and 100 mio euros by 2028, with a total of 800 employees.

“A significant achievement in 2022 was the formation of a joint venture agreement with the German Fressnapf Group, which has provided us with valuable insight and knowledge for further growth,” says the company owner. The decision to rebrand from Zoo Hobby to Unconditional was necessary to better reflect the company’s mission of unconditional care for pets. “The new name represents our commitment to customers and pets in all the markets in which we operate,” explains Varda.

Over the years, there have been several challenging…