Page 54 - PET worldwide issue 1/2021

Suppliers

Vafo Group reaches

out to UK

The UK pet food manufacturer Pooch & Mutt has accepted
strategic investment from its long-time manufacturing partner,

the Vafo Group, in a multi-million pound deal to help grow the
brand and develop operations in the UK.

Mutt’s founder, Guy Blaskey, re- goals are perfectly aligned, and
mains at the helm of the London- perfectly aligned with our cus-
based business with the support tomers – we want to get more
of Vafo’s Petr Kriz, who joins the pets to eat great quality foods,
Pooch & Mutt board. treats and supplements to help
them lead their best lives”.
“Our goals are
perfectly aligned” “We share the same values”
This deal comes hot on the heels Pavel Bouska, CEO and owner of
of a lot of other activity in the cat- the Vafo Group, comments that “I
egory, such as Nestlé buying both like to team up with people who
tails.com and Lily’s Kitchen, 3i’s share the same philosophy. The
investment in MPM and L Catter- quality and sustainability of our
ton’s investment in Butternut Box. products and their impact on the
Guy Blaskey is quick to point out health of pets are at the centre
Pooch & Mutt’s founder, Guy The deal sees Vafo taking a mi- the differences, however: “Before of everything we do at Vafo. As
Blaskey (with his dog Pepper in nority share in the company with this deal I have never taken any we are predominantly producers,
the photo), remains at the helm
of the London-based business. the option to take more over time, outside investment and the share partnering with Guy Blaskey and
while providing both the funding structure is the same as on day Pooch & Mutt, who clearly share
and manufacturing capabilities 1. It has taken a long time to find the same values and operate in
for the brand to grow. Pooch & the right deal and the right partner. the biggest pet food market in Eu-
With Vafo we now have access to rope, was only a natural step. Be-
the best manufacturing in Europe cause we are a family company,
with the widest range of products our partnerships usually last for
produced by any pet food manu- decades and not for years, as I
facturer. We are now part of a net- am sure will happen in this case.”
work of ambitious companies who In recent years Vafo has in-
share our values and make great vested heavily in its operations,
products. Most importantly, unlike opening its eighth plant in May
many other investment deals, our 2020. It has also engaged in
mergers and acquisitions across
In recent years Vafo has invested Europe, investing in companies
heavily in its operations. The photo
shows the headquarters of the in Germany, Finland, Sweden, Po-
Czech company. land and Estonia. n

54 PET worldwide 1|2021

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