Pets at Home
A British pet-care retailer combining pet products, live pets, grooming, veterinary services and training through stores, digital channels and partner practices.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Pets at Home is a British pet-care retail and services brand operated by Pets at Home Group plc. It sells a broad range of products for domestic animals, including pet food, toys, bedding, cages, habitats, accessories and selected medicines, while also offering live pets such as small mammals and fish. Its retail proposition is supported by services delivered through or alongside its store network, including grooming, dog training and veterinary care. The business began in 1991 when Anthony Preston opened its first store in Chester. A significant early expansion came in December 1999, when Pets at Home acquired PetSmart UK and brought approximately 140 stores into the group under the Pets at Home name. The company later changed ownership several times during its private-equity phase. Bridgepoint Capital acquired the business for £230 million in July 2004, and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired it from Bridgepoint in January 2010 for approximately £955 million. KKR subsequently sold its remaining 12.3% stake in January 2018. Store expansion remained central to the brand's development. The company opened its 200th store in Barnstaple in November 2007 and ultimately developed a national United Kingdom network. The business also broadened beyond conventional retail through its Vets for Pets veterinary operation, formerly known as Vets4Pets. This model generally uses joint ventures with veterinary professionals, with Pets at Home providing infrastructure and back-office support while local veterinary partners operate practices. The group also operates grooming salons and group-managed veterinary practices, and has run training schemes intended to develop future veterinary joint-venture partners. Pets at Home became a public company through an initial public offering in March 2014 and was listed on the London Stock Exchange, where it became a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The brand's overall positioning is built around convenience and breadth: customers can obtain everyday pet supplies, specialist products and selected professional services through an integrated physical and online ecosystem. Its customer proposition spans routine ownership needs as well as animal health and welfare services. The company has also faced scrutiny over animal-welfare standards in its stores. A September 2012 BBC Watchdog investigation reported alleged poor conditions involving small animals and fish. Pets at Home issued a response at the time, and the BBC Trust later clarified in 2016 that the programme's website had initially carried a version of the item that did not fully incorporate the company's replies. The programme makers acknowledged that this breached BBC editorial standards and replaced the item with a version reflecting Pets at Home's response. Reference material describes the group as operating 453 stores, 316 grooming salons, 394 veterinary surgeries under its joint-venture model and 47 group-managed veterinary practices. These figures are time-sensitive and should be treated as point-in-time operating data rather than permanent network totals. In December 2025, the company announced that James Bailey would become chief executive in March 2026, after which interim chief executive Ian Burke was expected to return to the role of non-executive chair.
History
Pets at Home was established in 1991 by Anthony Preston, who opened the first store in Chester. The original retail concept focused on supplying domestic-animal owners with food, equipment and related products, while also selling selected live pets. The company expanded from its initial store base into a national specialist chain. A major early turning point occurred in December 1999, when Pets at Home acquired PetSmart UK. The transaction added approximately 140 stores and significantly increased the company's geographic reach. These stores were subsequently operated under the Pets at Home identity, helping establish a more unified national brand. The business entered a period of private-equity ownership in July 2004, when Bridgepoint Capital acquired it for £230 million. Store growth continued, and in November 2007 the company opened its 200th location in Barnstaple. In January 2010, Bridgepoint sold Pets at Home to the United States investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts for approximately £955 million. During the following years, Pets at Home developed from a conventional pet-product retailer into a broader pet-care platform. It expanded grooming and training services and built out veterinary operations through Vets for Pets, previously known as Vets4Pets. The veterinary model generally involved joint ventures with veterinary professionals, supported by Pets at Home's systems and back-office services. The group also operated some practices directly and created training pathways intended to develop future veterinary partners. In March 2014, Pets at Home undertook an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange. It subsequently became part of the FTSE 250 Index. KKR remained an investor for several years after the flotation, selling its final 12.3% stake in January 2018. The company attracted public criticism in September 2012 when BBC Watchdog broadcast an investigation into animal-welfare conditions at several stores. The programme reported alleged mistreatment of small animals, dead fish in tanks and sick animals being offered for sale. Pets at Home responded to the claims. In June 2016, the BBC Trust clarified that the programme website had included an earlier version of the item that did not properly reflect the company's response. The programme makers acknowledged a serious breach of editorial standards and replaced the online version. Reference material describes the later operating model as comprising hundreds of United Kingdom stores, grooming salons and veterinary practices. The veterinary estate includes both joint-venture practices and group-managed practices. In December 2025, Pets at Home announced James Bailey as its incoming chief executive, due to join in March 2026, while Ian Burke was expected to return to the non-executive chair position after serving as interim chief executive.
- 2025
Incoming chief executive announced
[1]The company announced James Bailey as chief executive designate, with his appointment scheduled for March 2026.
- 2018
KKR exited its remaining holding
[1]KKR sold its remaining 12.3% stake in Pets at Home.
- 2014
London Stock Exchange flotation
[1]Pets at Home completed an initial public offering and became a publicly traded company.
- 2010
KKR acquisition
[1]KKR acquired the company from Bridgepoint Capital for approximately £955 million.
- 2007
200th store opened
[1]The 200th store opened in Barnstaple.
- 2004
Bridgepoint Capital acquisition
[1]Bridgepoint Capital bought Pets at Home for £230 million.
- 1999
PetSmart UK acquired
[1]The acquisition added approximately 140 stores to the business, which were brought under the Pets at Home brand.
- 1991
First Pets at Home store opened
[1]Anthony Preston opened the company's first store in Chester.
Products and positioning
A national, multi-channel pet-care specialist combining retail assortment with grooming, training and veterinary services.
Pet nutrition
Pet food
Pets at Home sells food for common domestic animals, forming the recurring core of its retail proposition. The category includes everyday feeding products alongside specialist nutrition and treats, although the supplied reference material does not provide a detailed brand-by-brand assortment.
Pet supplies
Pet equipment and accessories
The retailer offers practical ownership equipment such as toys, bedding, cages, habitats and other accessories. These products support routine care for animals including dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents and fish, with the precise assortment varying by store and channel.
Live-animal retail
Live pets
The business sells selected live pets, including small mammals and fish. This part of the proposition has also been associated with the brand's animal-welfare responsibilities and the scrutiny reported by BBC Watchdog in 2012.
Veterinary services
Vets for Pets
Vets for Pets is the group's veterinary business, formerly known as Vets4Pets. It operates a national network focused on small-animal care, largely through joint ventures with veterinary professionals, with Pets at Home supplying support and infrastructure.
Pet services
Grooming and training services
Pets at Home complements product retail with in-store grooming salons and dog-training services. The services extend the brand's relationship with owners beyond one-off purchases and connect the store network with recurring care needs.
Controversies
2012
BBC Watchdog animal-welfare investigation
A September 2012 Watchdog report alleged poor welfare conditions at several Pets at Home stores, including mistreatment of small animals, dead fish left in tanks and sick small animals offered for sale. Pets at Home issued a response. The BBC Trust later addressed the presentation of the company's reply on the programme website.
Brand decisions
2025
Appointment of James Bailey as chief executiveOtherBackground
The company announced a planned change in executive leadership.
Action taken
James Bailey was appointed chief executive designate and scheduled to join in March 2026.
Aftermath
Ian Burke was expected to return to the non-executive chair role after the transition.
2014
Initial public offeringStrategyBackground
After its private-equity ownership period, the company pursued access to public equity markets.
Action taken
Pets at Home floated on the London Stock Exchange.
Aftermath
The company became publicly listed and was subsequently included in the FTSE 250 Index.
1999
Acquisition of PetSmart UKM&ABackground
Pets at Home sought to expand its store network and national retail presence.
Action taken
It acquired PetSmart UK and rebranded approximately 140 acquired stores under Pets at Home.
Aftermath
The transaction materially increased the scale of the United Kingdom store network.
Recent events
- 2025
James Bailey announced as incoming chief executive[1]
Leadership change
The company announced that James Bailey would join as chief executive in March 2026, with interim chief executive Ian Burke expected to return to the non-executive chair role.
- 2018
KKR sold its remaining stake in Pets at Home[1]
M&A
KKR disposed of its remaining 12.3% holding in the company.
- 2014
Pets at Home completed its initial public offering[1]
Other
The company floated on the London Stock Exchange and later became a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
- 2010
KKR acquired Pets at Home[1]
M&A
Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired the company from Bridgepoint Capital for approximately £955 million.
- 2007
Pets at Home opened its 200th store[1]
Other
The company opened its 200th store in Barnstaple as its United Kingdom retail network continued to expand.
- 2004
Pets at Home sold to Bridgepoint Capital[1]
M&A
Bridgepoint Capital acquired Pets at Home for £230 million.
- 1999
Pets at Home acquired PetSmart UK[1]
M&A
The company acquired PetSmart UK, adding approximately 140 stores that were brought under the Pets at Home brand.
Sources3 sources
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