Ourofino’s pet health portfolio plunges 12.9% in Q1

The domestic pet business from Ourofino Saúde Animal posted sales of R$29.1 million ($5.8M/€5.4M)‎ in the first quarter of 2023. This is down 12.9% compared to the same period in 2022 when it reached R$33.4 million ($6.7M/€6.2M) in sales‎.

According to the third largest animal health company in Brazil, the return of behavior to pre-pandemic patterns has increased the consumption of household goods that compete with pet products.

Ourofino’s domestic pet business was also impacted by “household debt and the trend towards a slowdown in consumption driven by inflation.” High interest rates have also “hampered the flow of products,” it says.

On a positive note, the firm reported it maintained the title as third in the general ranking of animal health companies in Brazil, being the largest of Brazilian origin.

Below expectations

CEO Kleber Gomes commented that the quarterly results did not meet the company’s expectations.

“The business environment has been retracted due to political instability in the country and the high cost of capital, expectations of above-target inflation and increased household debt.”

Despite the financial setbacks, the São Paulo-based pharma company says that it has recently expanded beyond medicinal, prevention and care products to include supplements, dermo-cosmetics and stem cell-based cell therapy. It also launched iUse Pet, an app that connects pet parents and vets.

Ourofino also highlighted that it invested 9.4% of net revenue in Q1 2023—R$17.2 million ($3.4M/€3.2M)—in R&D.

In September 2022, Tokyo-based Mitsui purchased 29.4% of the company’s shares for $67.4 million (€68.2M)