In April 2017, PetSmart announced its' plan to acquire Chewy, an online pet foods, treats and products retailer, which led Tuffy’s Pet Foods to stop offering their products — NutriSource, Pure Vita and Natural Planet brands — on the website.
“While we have respect for the success and growth witnessed by the large and mass retailers they do not fall within the channels we choose to support with our product and marketing plans,” said Tuffy’s executives in the press release. “It is our strong intent to continue with our current marketing plan focused on the independent specialty retailers and family owned businesses.”
Now, two more heavy hitters in the pet food category have followed Tuffy’s lead.
Fromm Family FoodsandChampion Petfoodshave informed independent retailers who carry their foods and treats that they are pulling their products from Chewy.com.
On July 10, 2017, Champion released the following statement on its Facebook page:
“Unfortunately, it’s true – our foods are no longer available through Chewy… For more than 25 years, we’ve been committed to the pet specialty channel. We choose to work exclusively with pet specialists who have intimate knowledge of our foods and are committed to providing expert advice to Pet Lovers.
Chewy has been a longtime retail partner and we’ve enjoyed our association with them. However, due to their recent acquisition, Chewy no longer meets our pet specialty requirement to be an Approved ACANA and ORIJEN Retailer."
That same day, the Fromm Facebook page posted a statement that included the following:
“Fromm Family Foods is 5th generation family owned-and-operated company with a long history of selling our products exclusively to independent pet retailers. Fromm believes our products are best sold by retailers who know our product and can offer pet parents what’s right for their specific dog or cat. As a result of Chewy’s sale to PetSmart, they are no longer an authorized retailer of Fromm Products.”
Looking toward the future
Similar to Fromm and Champion,Tuffy’s executives stated that the company would continue with their current marketing plan focused on the independent specialty retailers and family owned businesses.
Champion and Fromm have yet to see if their decision will be beneficial, but the future is hopeful, as Tuffy’s move worked out well for the company.
“We have received calls, emails and social media interaction that have been very positive,” Dan Schmitz, national sales manager for KLN Brands told Petfood Industry in May 2017. KLN owns Tuffy’s Pet Foods. “Both retailers and pet parents have expressed that this was a very positive move for our company,” said Schmitz.
FAQs
Fromm believes our products are best sold by retailers who know our product and can offer pet parents what's right for their specific dog or cat. As a result of Chewy's sale to PetSmart, they are no longer an authorized retailer of Fromm Products.”
Why did Chewy stop selling Acana? ›
In a letter to customers on its website, Champion PetFoods said it was pulling its brands ORIJEN and ACANA from Chewy. “Like many of you, we are disappointed in Chewy's decision to sell their business,” the letter said. “The ownership change means they no longer meet our definition of pet specialty.”
What company owns Fromm? ›
Fromm Family Pet Food is proudly family owned-and-operated. Today, Tom, Kathy, Bryan, and Dan Nieman proudly represent the fourth and fifth generations of a family business that's still focused on new and better ways to add health and happiness to the next generation of pets and pet families everywhere.
Is chewy com cheaper than PetSmart? ›
The prices between PetSmart and Chewy are almost similar, but Chewy does win this category as their products regularly run slightly less expensive. Both stores periodically put items on sale and offer deals that make expensive products more affordable.
Is there a problem with Fromm dog food? ›
MEQUON, WI, (OCTOBER 1, 2021) - FROMM FAMILY FOODS is issuing a voluntary recall of approximately 5,500 cases of Fromm Shredded can Entrée dog food due to potentially elevated levels of Vitamin D. Consumers should stop feeding the products listed below to their dogs.
Is Fromm sourced from China? ›
We do not source ingredients from China. Historically, there have been instances of food safety and quality concerns around ingredients sourced from China, including the 2007 pet food recalls that centered on melamine contamination and resulted in deaths of thousands of pets.
What is the lawsuit against ACANA? ›
Then on October 16, 2018, a proposed class action lawsuit filed in New York federal court alleged that Champion Petfoods' Acana and Orijen pet foods contain heavy metals known to pose health risks to humans and animals even though the foods are advertised as fit for humans.
Who bought Chewy from PetSmart? ›
BC Partners wholly owns and controls PetSmart, and owns about 80% of Chewy's common stock representing 98% of the voting control, an attorney for the companies said, pointing to public filings.
What dog food is better than ACANA? ›
In summary, both brands use the same ingredient sources, however, ORIJEN contain higher meat content, uses more fresh or raw meat, and more diversity of meat ingredients than ACANA.
Do veterinarians recommend Fromm dog food? ›
Fromm's dedication to excellence, transparency, and specialized formulas has earned the trust and recommendation of veterinarians worldwide.
Fromm dog food has had two recalls in the past.
Does Fromm cause heart disease in dogs? ›
A study just came out that Fromm is one of 16 dog foods that can cause DCM (canine dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs.
Who is chewy com biggest competitor? ›
Top 4 chewy.com Alternatives & Competitors
- petco.com. 5,135. 940. 14.01M. 4.2. 48.88%
- petmd.com. 13,527. 4,084. 5.26M. 1.1. 89.86%
- petsmart.com. 5,374. 1,012. 13.37M. 3.4. 49.32%
- rover.com. 4,992. 1,165. 14.41M. 2.5. 67.67%
Chewy's top competitors include PetLove, Petflow.com, and Fidotek. PetLove is an eCommerce site offering pet products for dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, rodents, and more.
Is it worth using Chewy? ›
Helpful product reviews
Chewy is a great place to learn about new treats, toys, and more, because of the product reviews left by other pet owners just like you. When you're searching inventory, you can sort the list to view products by rating, and this can be a timesaver.
Did Chewy get bought out? ›
In 2017, Chewy was purchased by PetSmart, a retail entity backed by private equity firm BC Partners, for $3.35 billion, which at the time was the largest ever acquisition of an e-commerce business. Following the acquisition, Cohen remained CEO and operated the business largely as an independent unit of PetSmart.
Why is dog food sold out everywhere? ›
“The amount available doesn't cover the market like it needs to,” he says. “Raw materials, according to my suppliers, raw materials are diverted first towards human use.” Additionally, staffing issues, rising prices and slower deliveries across the board are contributing to the pet food shortage.
Why did PetSmart spin off Chewy? ›
The move, announced in an earnings call to bondholders on Monday, has been expected for months because a separation of the two businesses would allow PetSmart and BC Partners to take advantage of the growing value of the online business by selling it or taking it public.
Why does Chewy not carry Orijen? ›
Chewy did not stop carrying Orijen because it is made in Kentucky. When PetSmart bought Chewy, then Orijen refused to allow Chewy to sell its food any more. Orijen won't allow any PetSmart companies to sell its food. This was verified by Chewy after the PetSmart takeover.
