Blackburn pet supplies company expands portfolio with acquisition of Essex business

Blackburn-based pet supplies manufacturer, Pets Choice, has acquired Pettex, which incorporates the whole of its Cat Litter and Small Animal business.

The previous owners are retaining the Reptile and Aquatic business which will be trading as a separate entity going forwards under Pettex Aquatics, based in Ilford, Essex.

The value of the acquisition is undisclosed.

The Pettex cat litter brands will join Pets Choice’s family of pet brand offerings, which include Webbox, Bob Martin, Felight, Tastybone and B-Calm. 

Pets Choice supplies partners in the grocery, independent, pet speciality and e-commerce sectors with high quality products in a variety of formats.  

Pets Choice CEO, Tony Raeburn, said: “This is a fantastic acquisition for Pets Choice as Pettex Cat Litter has a very strong following in the traditional pet trade and fits nicely alongside our Felight cat litter brand.

“Our two companies and families have been close friends for many years and I would like to thank the owners for trusting us with their Pettex brand.”

The company said the acquisition will also mean customers and listings alike will benefit from Pets Choice’s distribution network, making Pettex Cat Litter and Small Animal products more accessible to all.

Managing director of Pettex, Steve Bolton, said: “As a third generation family business originally established in 1959 we are proud to have developed the Pettex cat litter brand but feel this is now the right time to hand over the reins to Tony and the Pets Choice team to take us onto the next level.

“This will also enable myself to work with our great team and to expand our growing Reptile and Aquatic business which we will be continuing to develop as Pettex Aquatics Ltd.”