Legal Woes for Large Pet Food Retailers – Truth about Pet Food

October 6, 2023 Kar-Bay-Inc

According to a October 2023 PetProductNews.com story, “Petco is one of 11 major retailers deemed most likely to file for bankruptcy this year”. This news comes from the credit reporting agency CreditRiskMonitor which evaluates a “company’s level of financial stress, based on the probability of bankruptcy over a 12-month horizon.”

On a scale of 1 – 10, a score of 1 is the most at risk.

Petco scored a 2.

Competitors of Petco – PetSmart and Chewy.com have some ‘issues’ themselves. According to DigitalCommerce360.com, a complaint was filed with the Justice Department asking the agency to investigate PetSmart and Chewy “over concerns the pet supply retailers’ overlapping directors violate U.S. antitrust law.” Specifically, the request asked the Justice Department to investigate “three directors who sit on the boards of both PetSmart and Chewy even though the two companies split years ago.”

Federal antitrust law forbids individuals or entities from sitting on the board of directors for two companies that directly compete with one another.

What can pet owners do?

Purchase all your pet products from local independently owned pet stores.

By supporting local businesses, you are supporting your local community – not mega corporate businesses who are currently experiencing some serious corporate issues. If your local pet food store does not carry a brand of food you prefer, ask them to carry it – or ask if they can order it for you.

Many independent pet stores know every detail of the products they sell. Many do hours of research on brands BEFORE they are sold in their stores. When deliveries arrive, many store owners check every product prior to unloading including checking the temperature of frozen products in the delivery truck (to guarantee frozen stays frozen).

And unfortunately, many independent pet stores are hassled by regulatory authorities for selling raw pet food and/or raw milk (for pets). Several years ago, we shared a story of a small store in Pennsylvania that FDA came into and took more than $1000.00 of pet food without paying the store for the products.

Support local pet businesses! They need us and we need them.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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