The German pet food company ALLCO Heimtierbedarf has acquired a new shareholder—the Czech pet food producer VAFO.
ALLCO is a second generation family business from the vicinity of Bremen, Germany. The company sells premium quality pet food under its own brand strategy. With the brands Christopherus (dog and cat), Monties (horse snacks) and Al-Ko-Te (Koifutter), ALLCO supplies specialist retailers in Germany and surrounding European countries.
At the beginning of 2018, the cereal- and potato-free range of "Carnilove" for dogs and cats, as well as the rodent assortment "Brit Animals" will be launched on the German market.
"With VAFO we have found a competent and strong industry partner,” said Jörg Lefers, managing director of ALLCO Heimtierbedarf, in a press release. “We look forward to actively supporting our new partner in both the brand and private label business, and we will also be making our premium brands stronger internationally via the VAFO network."
VAFO is also a second-generation company and is a Czech producer of pet food, snacks and supplements for dogs, cats and rodents and operates four production sites in the Czech Republic.
More on Germany's pet food industry
Like many other pet food markets, Germany's pet food industry is quickly adapting to a rise in e-commerce. As online pet food sales increase in the US, China and India, so do sales for German-based online retailer of pet food, zooplus AG. Zooplus continued its growth trend in the first half of 2017, and for the first time, the company reached sales of more than EUR500 million in a half-year period.
Based on preliminary figures, sales in the first half of 2017 rose 21 percent to EUR517 million. Sales adjusted for currency effects increased by 22 percent. As in the first quarter of 2017, double-digit growth rates were once again achieved in all 30 regional markets. Sales in the second quarter grew 18 percent year-on-year (currency-adjusted 19 percent).
