Arcaplanet: new digital features, more stores and sustainable targets

2023 is about to end, and Arcaplanet is closing the year and marking it with “constant growth,” where it served over 2 million customers and has consolidated its presence in the Italian pet retail market.

A new app

Arcaplanet took its relationship with its customers to the next level by implementing a new smartphone app when the online channel was growing.

The new tool aims to become an “inseparable companion for pet owners,” the company says. The objective is that the app allows customers to make purchases online (and re-order past ones) but also use the Arcacard customer loyalty scheme and receive coupons and personalized offers.

“The new app will allow the customer to not only purchase products on our e-commerce platform but also use the discount coupons in-store. Our loyalty program will become digital—we will no longer distribute plastic cards,” said Arcaplanet CEO Nicolò Galante in a recent interview with GlobalPETS.

Business and consulting firm Casaleggio Associati concluded that Arcaplanet was the most popular Italian e-commerce platform in November 2023, just after Zooplus.

In 2022, the company’s e-commerce business accounted for €40 million ($43.8M) of Arcaplanet’s revenue. This was 50% more than the previous year.

More stores

Despite online playing an important role in Arcaplanet’s ecosystem, the Italian pet retailer still holds in-store as its top priority.

2023 will end with 52 more stores than last year, bringing the total amount to 553. They also aim to increase their pet specialists to 2,900 by the end of the year.

“As always, in-store pet specialists are at the center of customer service, and the company is aiming for ever-increasing countrywide coverage to be closer to customers,” says the retailer.

Stores will also play an important role in 2024 when it comes to services as the company plans to expand its pet wash services from the current 82 locations to 100 next year.

The retailer will end 2023 with 300 new jobs and aims to add an additional 300 next year.

Pet insurance and vet business

Nicolò Galante admitted a few months ago to GlobalPETS that it was “a big opportunity” for the retailer to tap into the premium segment despite acknowledging that the approach to healthcare by Italian pet parents is still “extremely reactive.”

The Italian retailer acquired 3 veterinary practices in October, 2 of which were from the Happy Friends brand and one from Mypetclinic.

This year, Arcaplanet also launched an insurance scheme working with insurance firm ConTe.it.

Sustainability 

In 2023, Arcaplanet undertook a process to reduce its environmental emissions by around 50%, including the use of renewables. According to the company, 80% of their energy needs are fulfilled thanks to this kind of energy.

Next year will be dedicated to the circular economy, with the target to transition over 60% of its private-label dry food brands into recycled and recyclable packaging.

This year, the retailer tested a “new generation” of stores featuring reduced environmental impact and reduced energy consumption and forecasts to expand this concept to the entire network in the first part of 2024.