Petbuddy Group (PBG), a consortium of Swedish pet food brands, has acquired Thrive Pet Foods. PBG states that Thrive’s innovative product range and market leadership in freeze-dried products align well with its vision.
Petbuddy Group (PBG), a leading consortium of super-premium pet food brands based in Stockholm, Sweden, has announced its latest strategic acquisition: Thrive Pet Foods. Founded in 2018 with its flagship brand Buddy Pet Foods, PBG has rapidly grown to become a major player in the pet food industry, now having a portfolio of eight premium brands. PBG points out that the acquisition marks a significant milestone in its ambitious journey to build a global portfolio of market-leading pet food brands.
At the core of PBG’s philosophy is a commitment to providing high-quality, natural pet food products. Each brand under the PBG umbrella adheres to stringent standards, ensuring that only the finest, natural ingredients are used, the company explains.
THRIVE PET FOODS: A EUROPEAN FAVOURITE FOR OVER 20 YEARS
Thrive Pet Foods, with a market presence spanning over 20 years, is cherished by European customers for its exceptional quality, consistency, transparency, and brand values, PBG points out. According to the company’s statement, known for its unparalleled product quality, Thrive has built a loyal customer base who trust the brand’s commitment to high standards. Thrive, already one of the European market leaders in freeze-dried products, brings a robust portfolio of wet cat and dog food to PBG. The integration of Thrive into the PBG family is set to accelerate the brand’s growth and reach, leveraging PBG’s extensive network of leading global retailers.
STRATEGIC GROWTH AND INVESTMENT
Alexander Retzlik, CEO of PBG, highlighted the acquisition as a pivotal step in building a group of forward-thinking pet food brands. “Thrive’s innovative product range and market leadership in freeze-dried products complement our vision perfectly. We are committed to making significant investments in the Thrive brand to elevate it to a global leader,” said Retzlik. These investments will focus on expanding product lines and enhancing distribution channels to meet the growing demand for high-quality pet food globally.
GLOBAL EXPANSION AND MARKET PENETRATION
With its foothold in the Nordics and the UK, PBG plans to use its established distribution networks to introduce Thrive products to new markets. The group’s strategic approach includes leveraging synergies in sales, distribution, and production to ensure efficient market penetration and sustained growth. As a combined group, PBG exports to over 50 countries, significantly broadening the market reach for Thrive’s products. Paul Finger, the former owner of Thrive, will continue to work closely with PBG to drive the brand’s global expansion efforts.
A VISION FOR THE FUTURE
Petbuddy Group explains that its acquisition of Thrive Pet Foods is a testament to its commitment to growth, innovation, and sustainability. Co-founder Erik Wide Gustafsson emphasized the group’s excitement in building high-quality brands with integrity. “We are passionate about using the best manufacturing processes and ingredients to ensure the best life for all pets. Our mission is to create pet food brands that pet parents can trust and pets will love,” Gustafsson remarked.
