Petco and Vafo form alliance

“With this acquisition, we gain new pet food brands such as ‘Wow’, ‘Dog’s Love’ and ‘Cat’s Love’, which already have a significant share of the Austrian market and show great potential for further growth,” Vafo said in a press release: “The agreement brings together two family-owned companies with a combined annual turnover of over 600 mio euros. The partnership aims to exploit synergies within the two companies, expand their respective product portfolios and strengthen their market presence.

The Petco Group will continue to operate independently in Vienna under the management of its founders Stefan and Katharina Miklauz. “With Vafo we have gained a strong strategic partner who shares our values,” says Stefan Miklauz, Managing Director of the Petco Group.

The alliance is an important milestone for both companies. Together, they aim to further strengthen their market position in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and drive sustainable growth. “The partnership with Petco is a logical step in our growth strategy. Together we can use synergies to further strengthen our innovation, get even closer to our customers and enrich our portfolio with strong brands,” says Pavel Bouška, CEO of the Vafo Group. Stefan Miklauz, founder and CEO of Petco, believes the alliance will help shape the future of the pet industry: “The partnership will allow us to expand our presence and together set new standards for the entire pet industry.”  

Both companies emphasise that they are building on a shared foundation of values in corporate governance, product quality and sustainability, characterised by a long-term vision and a deep under­standing of the needs of pets and their owners.