All signs point to growth

The Tom & Co. pet shops in Zoersel and Maldegem were the first to open in January. At the end of February, the 46th Tom & Co. pet shop in Belgium opened its doors in Waregem. The new openings mark further milestones in the company’s history. Founded in Brussels in 1991 as a spin-off of a large food distribution group, the leading Belgian chain is further strengthening its presence in the Flemish market and marking a new start in the expansion of its store network. After 30 years, Tom & Co. is stronger than ever and remains true to its Belgian roots. Over the years, the retail chain has continued to develop and specialise: the product range has been expanded, own brands with in-house recipes have been developed, and services and partnerships with associations and experts have increased. Animal welfare is at the heart of all initiatives, and education and adoption are important pillars.

The new stores offer a wide range of products and services including dog grooming, self-service dog washing, access to training through the Dogform chain, pet insurance, a pet care platform and much more. The product range in each store has been carefully selected to meet all the needs of pets. Customers can choose from around 8 000 products in Zoersel, more than 4 500 in Maldegem and more than 6 000 in Waregem. You will find everything for your pet’s well-being: dog and cat food, dietary food, products for puppies and kittens, accessories, snacks, vitamins and veterinary medicines. Tom & Co. stores are also the place to go for scratching posts, toys, hygiene and grooming products.

New openings like this underline Tom & Co.’s position as market leader in Belgium. The company scores with its omni-channel shopping experience and expert advice. In addition to its physical stores, Tom & Co. also operates an e-commerce website (www.tomandco.com), which offers a click-and-collect service within 24 hours. The independent Belgian chain currently has more than 200 stores in Belgium, Luxembourg and France.

In May 2022, Belgian investment holding company Verlinvest will acquire a stake in Tom & Co., providing the brand with the resources to accelerate its growth in Europe. In June 2024, Tom & Co. strengthened its position in the European market by acquiring Barq Europe, the parent company of Pharmapets and Vetostore, the largest online veterinary pharmacy in Belgium, the Netherlands and France. This acquisition has enabled Tom…