VCA offers services such as providing veterinarians with medical equipment and assisting them with marketing services and online communications. This acquisition will help Mars build upon its already existing pet care services.
The president for Mars Global Petcare, Poul Weihrauch, said:
“We have always been impressed by VCA and the excellent services it offers to pets across diverse business segments.”
An analyst for Raymond James, Nicholas Jansen, also commented on Mars’ acquisition of VCA, saying:
“We simply believe Mars, who already is active in the industry beyond the Banfield ownership, found VCA to be an attractive long-term asset, and we would expect the two businesses to complement one another quite nicely.”
Mars currently owns Banfield, a group of more than 1,000 veterinary hospitals and clinics mostly located inside Petsmart stores, and also owns Bluepearl Veterinary Partners along with its own food line, including the well-known dog food brand Pedigree.
Also part of its portfolio is Belgium-based Mars Petcare, which was created in 1935 and has since expanded to over 50 countries in which it has over 40,000 employees. VCA will continue to provide the same services within the Mars Petcare company.