Comitis Capital sells its majority stake in PetCo

PetCo, based in Vienna, Austria, was founded in 2014 and is a leading provider of super premium pet food in the DACH region. Under its four brands Dog’s Love, Cat’s Love, WOW and Pure Nature, PetCo offers a wide range of highest-quality, human-grade wet and dry food, supplements, and treats for dogs and cats. Comitis partnered with the founders Stefan and Katharina Miklauz in 2021, marking the first investment of the fund.

During Comitis’ ownership, the company has experienced substantial growth, pursuing a focused internationalization and product portfolio development strategy. By securing new key accounts in food retail and pet specialist segments, launching new products as well as increasing shelf space penetration, PetCo significantly expanded its presence in Germany and other European countries. With the support of Comitis, PetCo also strengthened its D2C capabilities through establishing a dedicated e-commerce team and professionalized its finance & operations functions.

“Since the beginning of our partnership in 2021, we have supported Stefan and Katharina Miklauz in scaling and internationalizing the company. This transaction is a true success story and a great example of our investment philosophy to partner with entrepreneurs and build strategic assets. We would like to thank the management team for the trust they have placed in us and wish them success for the future alongside their new partner”, says Nikolaus Bethlen, Managing Partner at Comitis.

“We are proud to have been part of PetCo’s journey during which the company has significantly increased its market share, driven by innovation, a deep understanding of consumer trends as well as operational improvements. With Vafo they have gained an ideal partner to resume the successful development into a European champion in pet food”, adds Csanad Daniel, Partner at Comitis.

“We would like to thank Comitis for the support and successful cooperation over the past three years during which we have made significant progress in developing the business and expanding internationally. Now, we are looking forward to the next phase of our growth journey”, says Stefan Miklauz, CEO of PetCo.