Pet Industry News
The deals, launches, and strategic moves behind the brands and operators shaping the industry.
Pets will shape travel plans for 68% of owners, Subaru survey finds
A Subaru-commissioned Talker Research survey of 2,000 pet-owning drivers, released October 13th, 2026, says 68% expect their pet to affect travel plans this year and 73% would drive instead of fly to bring the pet. New in this release, 10% may host, 10% may shorten a trip and 8% may skip gatherings. In our view, the trip-length and planning numbers are the ones sitters and kennels can use.
Wuffes Installs a Dealmaker as CEO Just as Its Retail Rollout Peaks
Wuffes named Jonny Purcell, a former Raymond James M&A adviser, as CEO on August 10th, replacing founder-led operations just after the brand landed in Petco, PetSmart and Pet Supermarket within a single year.
Spectrum Brands Raises Guidance on an EBITDA Beat Inflated by Tariff Refunds
Spectrum Brands posted a headline EBITDA jump of 106.7% in fiscal Q3, but roughly three-quarters of that growth came from a one-time tariff refund. Global Pet Care grew a steadier 2.9% organic, and the company raised full-year guidance regardless.
HOLY CAP Pushes Medicinal Mushrooms Into the Lickable-Treat Format Churu Owns
HOLY CAP, a Hong Kong-founded pet wellness brand, is expanding its dual-extracted mushroom lickable treats from Amazon into Chewy and Healthy Spot, with a SuperZoo debut on August 12th. The move tests whether a format built for palatability, not supplements, can carry a functional-nutrition brand at retail scale.
A Third CEO Change Hits Pet Food in Three Weeks
Dan Waters, the former CEO of Enjoy Life Foods, has been named chief executive of I and love and you, following the company's acquisition of Made by Nacho and the hiring of Bobby Flay as chief culinary officer. It's the third pet-food leadership change The Underbite has tracked in the past three weeks, all involving executives from outside the pet industry.
Zoetis Posts Flat Q2 Revenue as Pet-Spending Softness Persists
Zoetis reported flat second-quarter revenue and $691 million in net income, its second soft quarter in a row after missing estimates and cutting full-year guidance in Q1. The results suggest animal health's largest company is still working through softening veterinary-visit volume and pricing pressure in companion-animal products.
The Farmer's Dog Buys Beyond the Bowl, Betting on One of Pet's Fastest Growers
The Farmer's Dog has agreed to acquire Woof, the enrichment and wellness brand behind the Pupsicle toy, in its first acquisition outside nutrition. Terms were undisclosed, but the deal marks the company's first move into pet enrichment, buying one of the industry's fastest-growing brands.