These are the latest partnerships in the pet industry

The latest partnerships in the pet sector suggest a broader push by companies to deepen collaboration across sustainability, data integration and in-store retail innovation. GlobalPETS has the details.

Central Garden & Pet

Central Garden & Pet and Pennsylvania-based pet food and supply distributor Phillips Pet have formed a joint venture to create a nationally scaled distribution platform with expanded reach, enhanced service capabilities and a more efficient supply chain.

The new company will operate independently under the Phillips brand, combining the distribution strengths of both Phillips and Central Pet. The network will serve all major channels, including specialty retailers, big-box stores, e-commerce, farm and feed, second- party fulfillment and third-party logistics.

Under the partnership, Central will receive cash proceeds and retain a 20% ownership stake in the newly formed entity. Phillips and its existing investors, led by Axar Capital Management LP and Blaine Phillips, will hold a controlling interest.

“This joint venture reduces operational complexity, offers meaningful network optimization opportunities and enables us to focus more on building and investing in our branded portfolio,” says Niko Lahanas, CEO of Central Garden & Pet.

Lahanas adds that by streamlining its distribution footprint, the company will be able to allocate more resources to key initiatives such as innovation, digital engagement and brand development.

MiAlgae and Butternut Box

British fresh dog food brand Butternut Box has teamed up with Scottish biotech firm MiAlgae to incorporate microalgae grown using upcycled by-products from the Scottish whisky industry into its vegetarian meal option, Ready Steady Veggie.

Through this partnership, Butternut Box will introduce fresh pet food that provides the essential fatty acid DHA to support dogs’ skin, coat and cognitive health.

The MiAlgae-infused meals were rolled out in March in all of its markets across Europe, with ongoing supply expected to come from the company’s new production facility in Scotland.

“By partnering with MiAlgae, we’re proving that you don’t have to compromise on nutrition to be kind to the planet,” says David Nolan, Co-Founder at Butternut Box. “It’s a step forward for our B Corp journey and for the health of dogs across Europe.”

Josera and Anymal

German pet food player Josera has partnered with Dutch digital pet platform Anymal to support farmers, breeders and veterinarians through the Anymal app.

This partnership enables pet owners to register animals and record and share health data such as treatments, vaccinations, weight, nutrition and images. According to Anymal, the system facilitates communication with breeders and veterinarians, contributing to more efficient consultations and improved diagnostics.

For Josera, the partnership supports its aim to integrate digital services into the customer journey.

“We provide pet caregivers, breeders and veterinarians with a modern, user-friendly tool to manage and share structured health data in one secure place,” Julia Sauer, Key Account Manager for Benelux at Josera, tells GlobalPETS.

The collaboration is expected to help enhance transparency, reduce administrative effort and support Josera’s ambition to expand its presence in the Benelux region.

Piston family and SAGAFLOR

In late 2025, German retail cooperative SAGAFLOR announced a partnership with the Piston family from the EDEKA retail group to pilot a ZOO & Co shop-in-shop concept at a Marktkauf supermarket in Böblingen, approximately 650 km southwest of Berlin.

SAGAFLOR is a service and retail cooperative that supports independent pet and garden retailers across Germany and operates the ZOO & Co pet store brand. The Piston family is part of the EDEKA retail network and operates large-format Marktkauf supermarkets.

In November 2025, the partners opened a 300 sq m ZOO & Co shop-in-shop at the Marktkauf Piston store in the Baden-Württemberg region.

The integrated pet retail space features 3,162 products, including private label brands alongside a broader assortment of pet supplies.

With the concept, SAGAFLOR aims to increase brand awareness for ZOO & Co, leverage high supermarket foot traffic and attract new customer groups through a specialist assortment within a grocery retail environment.

“Integrating a compactly curated, specialist retail-oriented assortment into a busy supermarket creates clear added value for both sides,” says SAGAFLOR’s Board member Peter Pohl. “Customers benefit from one-stop shopping with a wider selection; the supermarket operator benefits from high sales per square meter, while we simultaneously expand the visibility of our brand.”