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The Fressnapf Group, Europe's market leader in the pet food and accessories industry, is rapidly expanding. At the end of the 2007 financial year Fressnapf had achieved a turnover of €934.8 million and was closer than ever to the dizzy heights of the €1 billion turnover mark. With 16.8% more turnover from last year this is the largest sales increase for five years. In Germany, Fressnapf's biggest market, the Krefeld franchise company has made large gains with a turnover of €673.8 million and a sales increase of 12.9%. In existing areas the turnover rate was 11.5% for the whole of Europe and 5% for Germany.

"One of the best years since the company was founded"
"2007 was one of the best years since the company was founded", said Torsten Toeller, founder, CEO and owner of Fressnapf. 80 new branches opened within the past year, 56 of them in Germany. This brings the number of stores in Europe to 907, most of which - 682, to be precise - are situated in Germany. In addition to this there are 225 stores in eleven other European countries, which trade under the name "Maxi Zoo". This particularly positive business development is reflected in the still rapidly rising number of employees - Fressnapf created around 680 new jobs in the last year and in Germany alone employs around 5,100 people including the Krefeld headquarters and logistics centre.

XXL - the new super store concept focuses on "Animal World Adventure"
At the end of August 2007 Fressnapf celebrated the most successful store opening in the company's history with the opening of the Krefeld XXL store - the third of its kind in Germany after Osnabrück and Ulm. "Fressnapf XXL = Specialist + Discounter + Experience" - this is the new formula for success with which the company hopes to create new turnover potential and new client-bases in the future. Already 200 of the 682 Fressnapf stores in Germany sell live animals, but at the forefront of these stores is still the classic Fressnapf concept: large selection, aggressive prices and competent advice. This business strategy adds an aspect of 'experience orientation' to the XXL concept. Picking up on the trend toward the shopping experience in the retail industry Fressnapf presents "A Piece of Wildlife" in its XXL experience stores and displays the "Pets Adventure" over 1,500 sqm of spacious experience areas. Here small animals, reptiles, birds and fish are waiting to find new homes with Fressnapf's customers. According to Toeller "around 200 XXL stores are an option on a mid to long-term basis" and the new concept seems to have a bright future in the rest of Europe.

Growth knows no bounds - Fressnapf as an international retailer
At present Fressnapf has achieved 30% of its sales from outside Germany - a figure that is rising. In Germany, Austria, Hungary and Luxembourg Fressnapf is the market leader while the stores in all other countries are currently building up a reputation where they are based. Most recently Fressnapf entered the Irish and Spanish markets to challenge small pet shops and large supermarkets with the typical Fressnapf combination of specialist and discounter. In the past year the French market has grown rapidly and numerous Maxi Zoo stores are to be opened there within the next year. The next expansion field is to be the eastern European market.

Services all about pets
With regard to his ambitious plans for his company, Toeller says, "Fressnapf is not finished yet. We wish to develop ourselves as a one-stop shop for everything to do with pets with a whole range of new services." Fressnapf is already Germany's second largest pet insurer and together with cooperation partnerships is looking to include offering holidays with pets, dog hairdressers and schools as well as in-store vets' practices to its portfolio. From hiring dog transport boxes to pet hotels and dog walking service for senior citizens, Fressnapf will definitely be on the ball when it comes to offering services, explains Toeller


Fressnapf founder, Torsten Toeller, opened the very first Fressnapf store in Erkelenz, North Rhine Westphalia in 1990 and over the following years made it to the head of the European market for pet supplies with breathtaking speed. Over 270 franchise partners trust Toeller's simple but groundbreaking business ideas such as super stores for pet food and accessories, a large product range, cheap discounter prices and competent advice regarding everything to with cats, dogs, mice etc

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Sales Trend Fressnapf 2003 - 2007 RGB - JPG Record breaking year 2007: Fressnapf has increased ist turnover by 16.8% to €935 million. Source: Fressnapf Download (481KB)

Fressnapf administration office in Krefeld RGB - JPG Symbol of expansion: the new Fressnapf administration office in Krefeld. Photo: Fressnapf/Yvonne Ploenes Download (1024KB)

Fressnapf CEO Torsten Toeller RGB - JPG Download (548KB)