Pet Supplies

Iams Corporate Office

Paul Iams founded The Iams Company in 1946. He was a graduate of Ohio State University and worked as an animal nutritionist.

At the time of the company’s founding, pets were generally fed table scraps.

In 1950 Iams created an animal based dry dog food and called it Iams 999.

In 1969 Iams developed a new dog food and named it Eukanuba.

Over the years the company has developed and patented many nutritional advances for animals, including vitamin A to help prevent weight gain in animals, Dental Defense which helps to reduce tartar build-up, and formulas that help animals maintain muscle.

In 1975 Clay Mathile bought half the company, and in 1982 he bought the other half, becoming the sole owner.

In 1999, after growing the company significantly, he sold Iams to Proctor & Gamble.

Today The Iams Company sells dog food and cat food in more than 70 countries worldwide, though North America accounts for most of the company’s sales.

Iams

Paul Iams founded The Iams Company in 1946. He was a graduate of Ohio State University and worked as an animal nutritionist.

At the time of the company’s founding, pets were generally fed table scraps.

In 1950 Iams created an animal based dry dog food and called it Iams 999.

History

In 1969 Iams developed a new dog food and named it Eukanuba.

In 1975 Clay Mathile bought half the company, and in 1982 he bought the other half, becoming the sole owner.

In 1999, after growing the company significantly, he sold Iams to Proctor & Gamble.

Today The Iams Company sells dog food and cat food in more than 70 countries worldwide, though North America accounts for most of the company’s sales.

Petco Corporate Office

Petco began when Walter Evans opened a mail-order veterinary supplies business in 1965 called UPCO or United Pharmaceutical Company. UPCO’s first customers were ranchers, kennels, and grooming shops.

In 1979 the name of the company was changed to Petco.

In 1980 Evans opened the first Petco store in California.

In 1988 Petco acquired two pet supply chains, WellPoint and Pet Department, which tripled the number of Petco stores from 40 to 130.

In 1994 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol PETC. At this time Petco had 218 stores in 13 states.

In 2002 Petco had 600 stores in 48 states.

In 2005 the company expanded to Alaska, and four years later to Hawaii, giving Petco a presence in all 50 states.

In 2006 private equity firms Texas Pacific Group and Leonard Green & Partners took the company private.

Today Petco is #144 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies, has 22,000 employees, and had $3.15 billion in revenue in 2012.

Petco

In 1979 the name of the company was changed to Petco.

In 1980 Evans opened the first Petco store in California.

History

In 1988 Petco acquired two pet supply chains, WellPoint and Pet Department, which tripled the number of Petco stores from 40 to 130.

In 1994 the company went public, trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol PETC. At this time Petco had 218 stores in 13 states.

In 2002 Petco had 600 stores in 48 states.

In 2005 the company expanded to Alaska, and four years later to Hawaii, giving Petco a presence in all 50 states.

In 2006 private equity firms Texas Pacific Group and Leonard Green & Partners took the company private.

Today Petco is #144 on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies, has 22,000 employees, and had $3.15 billion in revenue in 2012.

Rakuten.com Shopping Corporate Office

Scott Blum founded Buy.com in 1997. The company sold electronics at below cost and made up the difference with advertising and ancillary services like warranties and equipment leases.

Buy.com had the record for first year sales of any company with $111 million in 1998, its first full year of business.

Scott Blum sold his stake in the company to SoftBank in 1999 for $195 million, right before the company filed an IPO. Stock values plummeted the following year and he bought his stake back for $23.6 million in 2001.

In 2002 Buy.com expanded beyond electronics and began adding soft goods to their catalog.

Buy.com has an extensive eBay store and has over 1 million positive reviews.

In 2010 Buy.com was acquired by Rakuten, Inc., Japan’s biggest e-commerce company. The acquisition had an approximate value of $250 million.

In 2013 Rakuten, Inc. announced the official rebranding of Buy.com to “Rakuten.com Shopping.”

Rakuten.com Shopping offers more than 17 million products and is ranked in the top three e-commerce companies in the world.

Rakuten.com Shopping

Scott Blum founded Buy.com in 1997. The company sold electronics at below cost and made up the difference with advertising and ancillary services like warranties and equipment leases.

Buy.com had the record for first year sales of any company with $111 million in 1998, its first full year of business.

History

In 2002 Buy.com expanded beyond electronics and began adding soft goods to their catalog.

Buy.com has an extensive eBay store and has over 1 million positive reviews.

In 2010 Buy.com was acquired by Rakuten, Inc., Japan’s biggest e-commerce company. The acquisition had an approximate value of $250 million.

In 2013 Rakuten, Inc. announced the official rebranding of Buy.com to “Rakuten.com Shopping.”

Rakuten.com Shopping offers more than 17 million products and is ranked in the top three e-commerce companies in the world.

Pet Supplies Plus Corporate Office

Pet Supplies Plus was founded in Redford, Michigan in 1988 by Harry Shallop and Jack Berry. They designed their stores to be more like grocery stores than your average cramped pet store. Pets were also welcome in the stores. The concept was an instant success.

By 1993, there were 30 stores and Harvey Solway joined the company as the third partner.

In the late 90s, the chain began to franchise and grew even more quickly.

In 2010, the company is acquired by private equity firm Irving Place Capital.

In September 2017, True Leaf Pet significantly expanded the distribution of its popular True Hemp supplement line both online and in bricks and mortar stores, including most Pet Supplies Plus locations.

Pets are allowed to walk through the aisles of the Pet Supplies Plus stores. All stores provide treats, chew toys, and other such products, which are located on low shelves making it easy for dogs to reach them. In addition to offering brand name pet foods, the company also makes their own brand of dog and cat foods under the “Redford” name.

Despite the coronavirus and quarantine, Pet Supplies Plus reported strong mid-year growth in June 2020, with more than 12 new franchises created.

Today, there are more than 490 Pet Supplies Plus stores in 31 US states. Almost all locations offer dog grooming, self-service doggie wash stations, and some locations offer low-cost spay and neuter clinics on certain days of each month. Headquarters are located in Livonia, Michigan.

Pet Supplies Plus

By 1993, there were 30 stores and Harvey Solway joined the company as the third partner.

History

In the late 90s, the chain began to franchise and grew even more quickly.

In 2010, the company is acquired by private equity firm Irving Place Capital.

Despite the coronavirus and quarantine, Pet Supplies Plus reported strong mid-year growth in June 2020, with more than 12 new franchises created.

PetSmart Corporate Office

PetSmart was founded in 1987 by Jim and Janice Dougherty as PetFood Warehouse. The first two stores were in Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1989, the company name was changed to PetSmart.

In 1992, the 50th store was opened.

In 1993, the company went public.

In 1994, the 100th store is opened. Stores also begin to offer pet training classes.

In 1996, the chain expands to Canada.

In 1998, the 500th store is opened.

In 2002, the first PetsHotel is opened in Phoenix. By 2008, there are 100 PetsHotels.

In 2004, the PetPerks loyalty program is launched.

In 2007, the 1000th location is opened.

Today, there are nearly 1500 PetSmart and 200 PetsHotel locations in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

PetSmart has used their locations as spaces for pet rescue organizations and shelters to offer animals for adoptions, rather than sell animals from breeders. The company also offers free pet supplies, such as cat litter and dog toys, to rescue organizations.

PetSmart Charities Inc. is set to award the Austin Humane Society the first of three grant installments totaling $227,000 to assist in funding the city’s new Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program.

As of March 12, 2015, PetSmart, Inc. was taken private. PetSmart, Inc. is now a subsidiary of Argos Holdings Inc.

The company acquired online pet supplier Chewy.Com in April 2017 for $3.35 billion.

Annual revenue for the company in 2014 was $6.9 billion. PetSmart employs more than 50,000 persons full time.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the company had originally closed their grooming locations, while leaving the remainder of the store open, but this was only a temporary measure. Petsmart reopened their grooming shops in early April 2020, stating that pet grooming was an essential service since some pet owners were unable to groom their pets themselves.

In an effort to encourage people to stay home during the COVID-19 quarantine, Petsmart also offered 10 percent off all home deliveries of pet products.

Company headquarters remain in Phoenix, Arizona.

PetSmart

PetSmart was founded in 1987 by Jim and Janice Dougherty as PetFood Warehouse. The first two stores were in Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1989, the company name was changed to PetSmart.

History

In 1992, the 50th store was opened.

In 1993, the company went public.

In 1994, the 100th store is opened. Stores also begin to offer pet training classes.

In 1996, the chain expands to Canada.

In 1998, the 500th store is opened.

In 2002, the first PetsHotel is opened in Phoenix. By 2008, there are 100 PetsHotels.

In 2004, the PetPerks loyalty program is launched.

In 2007, the 1000th location is opened.

Today, there are nearly 1500 PetSmart and 200 PetsHotel locations in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

PetSmart Charities Inc. is set to award the Austin Humane Society the first of three grant installments totaling $227,000 to assist in funding the city’s new Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Program.

As of March 12, 2015, PetSmart, Inc. was taken private. PetSmart, Inc. is now a subsidiary of Argos Holdings Inc.

The company acquired online pet supplier Chewy.Com in April 2017 for $3.35 billion.

Annual revenue for the company in 2014 was $6.9 billion. PetSmart employs more than 50,000 persons full time.

In an effort to encourage people to stay home during the COVID-19 quarantine, Petsmart also offered 10 percent off all home deliveries of pet products.

Company headquarters remain in Phoenix, Arizona.