Swedish grocery retailer ICA launches dedicated pet specialty store concept
Gaston’s e-commerce and physical store operations aim to enhance the group’s specialized offerings for pet owners.
ICA Gruppen, a leading Swedish food and health franchise, has expanded its offerings for pet owners by launching Gaston, a pet specialty store.
Gaston operates as both an e-commerce platform and a physical store, catering to pet owners’ diverse needs. The brand offers a curated range of pet food and accessories, complementing ICA’s existing pet supply offerings.
“We already provide feed, accessories, insurance, advice and veterinary medicine for pet owners,” says CEO Nina Jönsson. “With Gaston, we are exploring opportunities to enhance ICA Gruppen’s overall offering and simplify daily life for this customer group.”
The e-commerce platform utilizes ICA Paket, the company’s logistics and transportation service, to deliver shipments to all ICA stores.
Meanwhile, its brick-and-mortar store in Uppsala near Stockholm is strategically positioned next to existing food and health outlets, allowing customers to conveniently shop for pet supplies alongside their grocery and pharmacy needs.
The company plans to open new stores, but the timeline remains undefined.
Company background
ICA Gruppen operates around 1,300 ICA Sweden grocery retail stores and owns 313 Rimi Baltic grocery stores across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
The group also oversees nearly 400 pharmacies under the Apotek Hjärtat chain in Sweden.
Between January and September 2024, the group generated SEK 116.3 million ($10.6M/€10M) in net sales.
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