Round-up: Acquisition activity heats up across the global pet industry

The pet industry is experiencing a wave of mergers and acquisitions as companies expand their capabilities, product portfolios and geographic reach. GlobalPETS has the details.

Unicharm and Nutrire

Japanese consumer goods company Unicharm Corporation has entered the Brazilian pet care market through the acquisition of a 75% stake in Brazilian pet food manufacturer Nutrire.

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Garibaldi, Rio Grande do Sul, Nutrire manufactures dry pet food for dogs and cats under brands including Monello and Birbo. According to Unicharm, Nutrire recorded net sales of approximately JPY 29.3 billion ($188M/€173M) in 2025.

Unicharm states that the acquisition is intended to strengthen its presence in South America and expand its global pet care business. The company has been growing its pet care operations internationally through dog food and treat brand Grand Deli and cat food brand AllWell in Asian markets.

The Tokyo-based company has a diversified presence across categories including baby care, feminine care, healthcare, cosmetics, household products, and industrial and food packaging materials.

Mühldorfer Group and Herrmann

Pet food manufacturer Mühldorfer Group has acquired Herrmann, a German organic pet food producer, for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition is part of the group’s “Buy, Build & Technologize” strategy, along with 5 other acquisitions supported by an investment from KKA Partners, a Berlin-based private equity firm.

This move also aims to strengthen the group’s production capacity to meet the growing demand for flexible organic food production.

Following the acquisition, Mühldorfer will own Herrmann’s 2 locations in Germany and its workforce. Erich Herrmann, Founder and Managing Director of Herrmann, will also join the group and remain a shareholder.

“With its state-of-the-art production facility for organic wet pet food, Herrmann complements the Mühldorfer Group’s commitment to supplying its private-label customers with products of the highest standards and quality,” says Andreas Altermann, Chief Operating Officer of Mühldorfer.

Assisi Petcare and Sniffers Pet Care

London-based pet food maker Assisi Petcare announced the acquisition of British dog treats player Sniffers Pet Care, along with its flagship brand, NAW.

Launched in 2023, NAW, which stands for “No Animal Wasted,” specializes in single-ingredient, meat-based products. It uses every part of the animal to create protein-rich treats with no additives, fillers or artificial ingredients.

The brand will join Assisi’s portfolio of 10 natural pet food and treat brands, including Burns Pet Nutrition, HiLife and Pet Munchies.

According to Assisi Petcare, the acquisition will expand its presence in natural pet treats, broaden its reach across key channels and create new opportunities for innovation and growth.

“Assisi’s scale, expertise and shared commitment to natural, high-quality products make them the ideal partner for the next phase of growth. We believe this combination will allow NAW to go further and faster, while staying true to what makes the brand special,” says Simon Brown, CEO of Sniffers Pet Care.

Thule and curli

Thule, a global sports and outdoor company, is expanding its presence in the pet market with the acquisition of the Swiss-based dog gear brand curli for CHF 10.1 million ($12.9M/€11M). According to the company, an additional purchase price of up to CHF 6.8 million ($8.7M/€7.4M) will be paid based on 2026 financial results and through June 2027. The acquisition is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2026.

Curli’s range of dog harness products will complement Thule’s dog transportation product line for bikes and cars, which debuted in 2024 with the launch of a dog crate.

In 2025, curli posted revenue of CHF 6.4 million ($8.2M/€7M). Its products are sold in approximately 60 countries, with the majority of sales coming from Europe and North America.

“We welcome curli’s dedicated team and excellent products to the Thule family. The market for dog transportation is growing, margins are strong, and we look forward to continuing to grow the category with more safe products for cars and bikes, as well as more accessories,” says Mattias Ankarberg, President and CEO of Thule.

Voor Mijn Dier and Healthy Pets Group

Voor Mijn Dier, a Dutch online pet retailer that is part of the e-Luscious group, and Healthy Pets, a pet retailer and platform, have merged to become the largest online pet specialty retailer in the Benelux region. Healthy Pets Group includes online retailers TIMS and Huisdieren.nl.

The new company will operate under the name Healthy Pets Group and will combine the brands Voor Mijn Dier, TIMS and Huisdieren.nl.

“We see major opportunities in this partnership by combining the non-food assortment and social media reach of Healthy Pets Group with the operational strength of Voor Mijn Dier,” says Marten Strikwerda, CEO of e-Luscious.

“This allows us to serve customers more broadly and effectively and truly become the online version of the pet specialty store – a place customers visit for advice, nutrition and joy for their pets.”