Maxi Zoo France to expand store network as omnichannel sales rise

Maxi Zoo, a subsidiary of Fressnapf Group, plans to open 65 new stores in France in 2025. It aims to expand from its current 386 locations to 600 up-and-running shops by 2028.

According to the retailer’s Expansion Director, Rémy Brun-Lafleur, the company’s strategy is to diversify its locations. Typically, Maxi Zoo opens stores in retail shopping areas, but now, it is building out its rural offerings.

The company also plans to test-run a city-center store format. It released these plans while admitting it had seen a market slowdown in France.

“The economic context has become more difficult in 2024, with a decline in consumption, particularly for accessories, inflation that is easing but persisting and increasingly strong and dynamic competition,” notes Maxi Zoo France Managing Director Jan Wejbrandt.

Business outlook

Wejbrandt states that this has impacted their margins, requiring “rigorous control” of expenses and reinforced actions to maintain turnover.

Maxi Zoo France posted omnichannel sales of nearly €602 million ($632.5M) in 2024, a 12% increase from the previous year. Most of the growth came from stores, but the retailer’s e-commerce business posted more than 7% growth.

The company has recently launched insurance and veterinary services for its customers. Maxi Zoo Vet launched in September, offering customers telehealth vet service. In December, the company launched Maxi Zoo Assurance, bringing the company into the fast-growing pet insurance market.

The French pet retailer started offering a Click-and-Collect service to reinforce its omnichannel strategy.