FDBusiness.com

Mars Incorporated has significantly expanded its petcare business with the $9.1 billion acquisition of VCA, a leading provider of pet health care services in North America delivered through nearly 800 small animal veterinary hospitals in the US and Canada. VCA joins Mars Petcare, one of the world’s leading pet care providers.

Pet care has been an important part of Mars for over 80 years. Mars Petcare’s portfolio of Veterinary Services businesses includes BANFIELD Pet Hospital, BLUEPEARL and PET PARTNERS. Together with VCA, these businesses will provide an unprecedented level of access to high quality veterinary care for pets, from wellness and prevention to primary, emergency and specialty care. Mars Petcare is already an industry leader in pet nutrition with global brands that include ROYAL CANIN, PEDIGREE and WHISKAS. Mars has a growing business in pet DNA testing through the WISDOM PANEL, and in 2015 also acquired pet technology provider WHISTLE.

VCA is to be a distinct and separate business unit within Mars Petcare. Petcare is one of Mars’ six business segments, which also include Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks and Symbioscience. Mars has net sales of more than $35 billion and employs more than 80,000 people worldwide.