Pet Industry News
The deals, launches, and strategic moves behind the brands and operators shaping the industry.
Jane Lauder's TAW Ventures Buys Polkadog, Builds a Pet Wellness Portfolio
TAW Ventures, the pet health and wellness investment firm founded by Jane Lauder, has acquired Boston-based Polkadog from co-founders Rob Van Sickle and Deb Suchman. Terms were not disclosed. The deal is TAW's first announced acquisition and brings a founder-led, long-horizon ownership model to a premium pet category that has been shaped largely by private equity roll-ups.
Freshpet Q1 Posts $48.5M Profit and Plans to Triple Tractor Supply Footprint
Q1 net sales at Freshpet grew 13.1% to $297.6 million and the company swung to a $48.5 million profit. The more consequential news was the plan to expand fresh and frozen pet food to roughly 700 Tractor Supply stores by year-end, up from 80.
Elanco Posts 10% Organic Growth and Becomes the #2 Stealing Share
Q1 2026 organic revenue at Elanco grew 10%, the company beat consensus, and management raised full-year guidance. Credelio Quattro and Zenrelia are gaining share in dermatology and parasiticides — companion animal therapeutics is now a contested category.
IDEXX Q1 Beats and Raises as Diagnostics Decouple from Vet Visits
Q1 revenue at IDEXX grew 14% reported and 11% organic, and the company raised full-year guidance even as same-store clinical visits at customer practices fell about 1%. Tests per visit are rising faster than the visit count.
Zoetis Q1 Goes Flat as US Companion Animal Slips 11%
Zoetis reported $2.3 billion in Q1 2026 revenue, up 3% reported but flat on an organic basis, with US companion animal sales down 11%. Elanco's Credelio Quattro and Zenrelia are gaining real share, Librela is softening, and the companion animal therapeutics market is now openly contested.
Pet Industry Network's 2026 Growth Summit Expands to Two Days, June 1-2
Pet Industry Network is expanding its annual Growth Summit to two days for 2026 (June 1-2), with 14 speakers across marketing, sales, retention, staffing, and PR tracks. General admission is $27 and a VIP Pass tier is $97, which includes consideration for a spot in the new Pet Biz Breakthrough Arena live-coaching session.
Rover's Summer Survey: Hotels Get Cheaper, Pet Care Stays Premium
Rover's new summer travel survey of 1,000 U.S. pet parents shows 92% will travel but are trading down hotels, flights, and trip length while keeping pet care premium. For hotel chains, airlines, and the pet boarding marketplace, the recession-resistant pattern in pet care spend is the operator signal worth tracking three weeks before Memorial Day weekend.