Page 28 - PET worldwide issue 1/2021

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Photo: Yvonne Ploenes, Fressnapf Holding SE

Company head Torsten Toeller
(centre) together with the two
managing directors Dr Hans-Jörg
Gidlewitz (right) and Dr Johannes
Steegmann.

“We have a lot to

offer as a partner”

Fressnapf boss Torsten Toeller is mulling over expansion into new

countries. As an alternative to new country subsidiaries, he is
considering acquiring existing local pet store chains or entering
into a joint venture or other form of cooperation with these.

2020 was an extraordinary year sectors, Fressnapf did not have pegged growth of 7 per cent as
for Fressnapf. In February, founder to shed a single employee or put the target for 2020, sales growth
Exclusive and proprietor Torsten Toeller was any on reduced hours, much to of over 15 per cent and of over ten
interview proudly presenting his ambitious
plans for the company’s 30th an- “THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS ACTED
How has Fressnapf done during niversary to the annual press con- TO ACCELERATE DIGITALISATION”
the pandemic so far? What ference; a few weeks later, Ger- Fressnapf boss Torsten Toeller
plans is the retailer pursuing in many entered lockdown due to the
2021? Ralf Majer-Abele, mana- coronavirus pandemic. Europe’s
ging editor of PET worldwide, leading pet store chain adapted Toeller’s relief. In fact, the Krefeld- per cent on a comparable retail
spoke to Fressnapf boss Torsten its company model swiftly and ef- based enterprise weathered 2020, area pushed annual sales well
Toeller about these topics. fectively to the situation, however. year of the coronavirus, extremely beyond the 2.5-bn-euro mark.
In contrast to firms in many other well financially. Having originally Last year, sales in the six online

28 PET worldwide 1|2021

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