Assisi Pet Care and United Petfood expand European footprint with new acquisitions

European pet food consolidation continues as companies seek to strengthen their presence in key markets. 

Assisi Pet Care’s acquisition of UK natural pet food brand Forthglade and United Petfood’s investment in German wet food producer SmartPetPro are the latest transactions to have closed in Europe. 

Both pet players reflect the renewed interest in the European pet market also demonstrated by Verlinvest, Five Seasons Ventures and Burgess Pet Care, which invested in businesses in the region last month. 

Assisi Pet Care

The British pet food manufacturer took over natural pet food brand Forthglade from private equity firm IK Partners. 

For CEO Chris Melander, the acquisition reflects the company’s long-term commitment to investing in the UK and expanding its presence both nationwide and in Europe. 

The deal also expands the producer’s UK manufacturing footprint through the addition of Forthglade’s production facility in Devon, approximately 320 km from London. 

“The South West is an important location because of Forthglade’s established operations and highly skilled team,” he tells GlobalPETS.

Forthglade was acquired by IK Partners in 2020 through the IK Small Cap II Fund, a €550 million ($638M) pan-European private equity buyout fund. In 2025, it reported an annual turnover of £39.5 million ($53.2M/€46.2M).

Broader portfolio

Assisi Pet Care sees the site as a “key strategic asset” within its wider manufacturing network and is committed to investing in its future. “We see significant opportunities to increase capacity, enhance sustainability and expand product innovation,” the CEO adds.

The deal is expected to strengthen support for retail and trade partners by combining complementary manufacturing capabilities, broader portfolios and greater scale, enabling both businesses to accelerate growth.

“Our focus is on supporting sustainable growth, increasing manufacturing capability and creating a stronger platform for continued innovation and customer service across the UK and Europe,” Melander notes.

Forthglade will continue to operate as a standalone business under Assisi Pet Care’s ownership. Melander says combining the companies will broaden the group’s product portfolio and support for retail and trade partners.

United Petfood 

United Petfood is strengthening its presence in Germany with an investment in German wet pet food producer SmartPetPro.

The Belgian private label manufacturer considers this partnership a “strategic step” in strengthening its presence in the European pet food market. “SmartPetPro has built a strong reputation, a modern production site and long-standing customer relationships,” the company explains to GlobalPETS.

United Petfood’s CEO Dries Eeckhout adds that the partnership combines SmartPetPro’s local experience with United Petfood’s international scale.

United Petfood says the investment will reinforce its premium wet pet food offering while expanding its regional customer base. 

“By combining their expertise with United Petfood’s international network and manufacturing know-how, we can continue to support our customers with high-quality products, innovation and reliable service,” the Ghent-headquartered company says. 

SmartPetPro CEO Lars Oehlmann will continue to lead the business, while Co-Founders Stefan Pfannmöller and Erich Herrmann will remain involved.

Founded in 2022, SmartPetPro specializes in private label premium wet pet food manufacturing. The company is headquartered in Dessau, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.