PetMeds takes its pharmacy to Pet Supermarket

PetMeds will supply its pharmacy infrastructure, licensed pharmacists and e-commerce capabilities to about 200 Pet Supermarket stores and the chain's digital platforms. It is what the company calls its second large-scale white-label pharmacy program, and the first was with Rural King.

PetMed Express, which trades as PETS and owns PetCareRx, says it can ship to all 50 states. Pet Supermarket, which says it has operated since 1973, describes itself as having about 200 stores across eight states in the Southeast. The release also says the chain ships nationwide online, with same-day delivery in select areas.

Pet Supermarket turns to PetMeds for pharmacy

The release says medications, preventatives and health products will be offered in Pet Supermarket's stores and online. It states no pricing, financial terms, contract length or launch date. Jeff Willard, PetMeds' chief executive and president, called it "our second large-scale white-label pharmacy program." Brendan Proctor, Pet Supermarket's chief executive, said "Pharmacy is a natural next step."

The first program was announced on April 22nd, 2026. Its release with Rural King described a pharmacy offering across 150 stores in 17 states, and a July 14th follow-up described a co-branded online pharmacy. The two programs cover about 350 stores combined, using company-reported counts of 150 and about 200, though neither release says when in-store service begins. The July release puts Rural King at more than 150 stores, so 350 is a floor, not a ceiling.

White-label pharmacy turns PetMeds into infrastructure

PetMeds has been spending less to find customers. In its first fiscal quarter, net sales fell 19.9% year over year to $41.0M, advertising spend dropped from $6.0M to $4.2M, and cash fell to $13.1M from $21.4M on March 31st. PetMeds has not said the partnerships are tied to its marketing spend, but a partner's store traffic would reach customers without an advertising line item.

The model also gives retailers a third option. They can buy a pharmacy, as Tractor Supply did with Allivet in late 2024, or build one, or partner with an existing one. If we had to guess, the partnership route suits regional chains that do not want the cost of buying or building. Both partners so far are regional chains.

The deal comes as PetMeds has a new chief executive, a $37M sale-leaseback of its headquarters, and a $3-a-share proposal from SilverCape Investments that it has not accepted. PetMeds has not linked the pharmacy deals to any of those events.

Two caveats apply. None of the three releases discloses revenue terms, so we cannot say whether PetMeds is paid a fee, shares sales with the partner or keeps the sale. And store counts measure reach, not prescriptions.

Watch whether management quantifies the program

PetMeds is scheduled to report second-quarter fiscal 2027 results on November 10th, 2026, after the market closes, with a call at 4:30 p.m. Eastern. Any disclosure of Rural King revenue, store rollout status or a Pet Supermarket launch date would show how far the model has moved beyond announcements.

Two regional chains have now chosen to partner on pharmacy rather than build their own.

Source: PetMeds via GlobeNewswire