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Category: Pet Food

PetSmart Announces Exclusive Partnership with Nom Nom

April 8, 2022 Admin

PetSmart which operates approximately 1,660 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, recently ANNOUNCED an exclusive partnership…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare, Pet Food, PetSmart

DTC Dog Food Brand Spot & Tango Raises $38.5M Series B Funding Round

March 23, 2022 Admin

Spot & Tango, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) dog food brand, recently ANNOUNCED that it raised $38.5 million Series B funding round…

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Posted in: Pet Food, PRIVATE EQUITY, Startups

Fresh Pet Food Company PetPlate Raises $19M Series B Funding Round

December 31, 2021 Admin

PetPlate, a fresh-cooked dog food delivery company, recently ANNOUNCED that it closed $19 million dollars in Series B funding led…

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Posted in: Pet Food, Startups

FDA says more than 130 Dog Deaths, 220 Illnesses may be Linked to Midwestern Pet Foods

August 18, 2021 Admin

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning pet owners that Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc.’s products have been “associated with…

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Posted in: Pet Food, Recalls

Pet Health Startup Front Of The Pack Closes $10M Series A Funding Round

August 1, 2021 Admin

FRONT OF THE PACK, a direct-to-consumer (DTC) pet supplement and treat brand recently announced that it has closed a $10…

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Posted in: Medications, Pet Food, Startups

Pet Food Recalled for Potentially Fatal Levels of Aflatoxin, FDA Warns

January 1, 2021 Admin

UPDATED: 1.12.21 (EXPANDS RECALL) At least 28 dogs have died and another eight have become sick after eating dog food…

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Posted in: Pet Food, Recalls

Hill’s Pet Nutrition Expands Voluntary Dog Food Recall Due To Elevated Levels Of Vitamin D

April 4, 2019 Admin

Hill’s Pet Nutrition (a Colgate-Palmolive company) recently EXPANDED its recall of canned dog food that may contain toxic levels of…

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Posted in: Pet Food, Recalls

Petco Becomes First Major Pet Store To Stop Selling Dog, Cat Food with Artificial Ingredients

November 22, 2018 Admin

Petco which operates approximately 1,500 pet store locations in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico recently ANNOUNCED it will stop…

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Posted in: Pet Food, petco

‘Millions’ Of Roaches Plagued Pet Food Production Facility

June 7, 2018 Admin

According to a recent in-depth report by FOOD SAFETY NEWS, ‘Millions’ of roaches plagued maker of Pedigree, IAMS, Cesar, other…

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Posted in: Mars Petcare, Pet Food

Petco To Host In-Store Kitchens Featuring Human-Grade Food For Dogs

June 1, 2018 Admin

Petco recently announced it plans to construct JustFoodForDogs branded exhibition kitchens and pantries in hundreds of its stores according to…

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Posted in: Pet Food, petco

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RECENT POSTS

  • FTC Takes Second Action Against Private Equity Firm, Increased Scrutiny of Veterinary Hospital Acquisitions June 30, 2022
  • Federal Trade Commission Intervenes in Private Equity Firm’s Acquisition of Veterinary Hospitals, Citing Antitrust Concerns June 18, 2022

THE CORPORATIZATION OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

The acquisition of private-owned animal hospitals by corporate entities such as veterinary consolidators has accelerated over the last few years and is largely invisible to most pet owners because consolidators view the corporatization of a practice as a marketing liability. This has potentially serious implications for competition, pet healthcare costs and may worsen the labor shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.
Are Consolidators Helping or Hurting Veterinary Medicine?

MANY CORPORATE PRACTICES LED BY NON-VETERINARIANS
Study conducted by CARE for Pets™ reveals that the majority of veterinary consolidators are led by non-veterinarians. These corporate entities employ a large infrastructure of managers and support teams and require significantly greater revenue to be profitable. It's estimated that 1 out of every 4 companion animal practices in the u.s. are now owned by corporate consolidators.
CEOs of Veterinary Consolidators and Hospital Groups

 

IN FOCUS: LABOR UNION ACTIVITY IN VETERINARY MEDICINE
First Veterinary Practice on East Coast to Unionize
According to union leadership, “today’s victory put the veterinary industry and private equity investors on notice about making sure their business model is based on equity and respect. We can’t afford to let this industry go the path of so many other industries destroyed by private equity investors. Now the hard work begins.”

 

THE IMPACT OF PRODUCTION-BASED PAY FOR VETERINARIANS
Today, approximately 2 out of 3 full-time associate veterinarians are paid on commission. Compensation models for veterinarians consist either of a fixed salary, salary plus commission, or 100% commission. Any source of income generated by the doctor for the animal hospital while seeing a client is used to calculate their commission or "production". This has potentially serious implications on pet healthcare costs.

 

CASE STUDY: Lack of Ownership Transparency in Veterinary Practices

Study conducted by CARE for Pets™ reveals many veterinary consolidators communicate misleading statements about ownership information on their individual practice websites which is most likely to create a false impression to pet owners that the practice is independently owned and locally operated.
Is Your 'Local' Animal Hospital Corporate-Owned?

IVPA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: WHY LOCAL MATTERS
CARE for Pets™ interviews the President of the Independent Veterinary Practitioners Association (IVPA) about the importance, benefits, and value of independently owned & locally operated veterinary practices to pet owners and their companion animals, and to the local community.
Interview with Dr. Bonnie Bragdon of the IVPA

WILL PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS TAKEOVER PET INDUSTRY?
Today, private equity (PE) firms control thousands of veterinary practices, major pet retailers, pet insurance companies and pet product manufacturers. Other pet care startups are founded and led by former employees of private equity firms and it is not disclosed in a transparent manner.
Private Equity Investments in Pet Care Industry

PRIVATE EQUITY ACQUISITION IS ANTICOMPETITIVE
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says "private equity firms increasingly engage in roll up strategies that allow them to accrue market power off the commission’s radar."
FTC Intervenes PE Acquisition Citing Antitrust Concerns

 

ROLL-UPS MAY EXACERBATE VETERINARIAN SHORTAGE
Corporate entities such as private equity (PE) firms engage in roll-ups (buys several companies in the same market and merges them together) to enhance value and drive higher earnings. Veterinary consolidation leads to fewer and larger firms (less choices for workers). Its prioritization on short-term profits may pressure veterinarians to see high numbers of patients and adhere to appointment time restrictions. These working conditions may exacerbate the labor shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians.

 

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