Pet products retailer Chewy is launching “Chewy Vet Care,” a network of pet health care practices.
The first of these veterinary practices will open in South Florida in early 2024, with more to come throughout the year, offering services including routine appointments, urgent care and surgery, the company said in a Thursday (Dec. 14) press release.
“We’ve worked with hundreds of veterinarians and clients to design an in-office and post-visit experience that we believe is unlike anything else in the market and will be valued by both communities,” Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health, said in the release.
“Our practices include thoughtfully designed spaces for the comfort and privacy of our clients and care team. Chewy Vet Care will be powered by our proprietary, easy-to-use, modern technology to deliver a seamless and memorable experience that we have been delivering in our core businesses for over a decade.”
The launch comes as consumers continue to insist on high-quality pet care even as they cut back on purchases for themselves, a movement that recently helped Chewy enjoy strong sales as the holiday season kicked off.
As PYMNTS wrote in October, “Pet parents today have raised their expectations when it comes to caring for their furry companions. Beyond mere ownership, pets are now considered beloved family members, and as such, their care and well-being have taken center stage.”
Additional PYMNTS reporting has shown that 70 percent of pet parents consider their pets family members and consider their pet care subscriptions an essential expense.
Data from PYMNTS’ Consumer Inflation Sentiment series, “Consumer Inflation Sentiment Report: Consumers Cut Back by Trading Down,” found that 47% of all shoppers have chosen a more budget-friendly retailer for at least one grocery item.
However, the report found that only 19% of consumers said they were willing to switch to a less expensive retailer for their pet food and supplies, compared to the 32% who said they had traded down on snacks.
And even before the trade-down trend began, Mars CEO Poul Weihrauch, whose company makes candies like M&Ms and Snickers, noted that pet care now accounts for 20% of sales, with that side of the business projected to outpace growth in the confectionery segment.
“Forty years ago, a pet lived in the backyard,” he told the Financial Times in March. Now, “80% of millennials in the United States sleep in the same bed as their dog.”
