This week: Oh Norman! raises US$2M, Omni receives B Corp certification

Happy Friday!

Lots of news this week. Pet wellness brand Oh Norman! has raised another US$2.08 million, PetSmart signs an exclusive partnership with Edgard & Cooper, and UK plant-based food brand Omni has received B Corp certification (we interviewed this awesome company last month!).

Meanwhile, our Spotlight this week looks at Chewy’s expansion into veterinary care, a move aimed at positioning the retail giant as a one-stop shop for pet care.

And in case you missed it: We had a great chat with Mike Watts, co-founder of Other Half! Fresh off a US$3 million raise, read how they’re rethinking pet supplements.

IN TODAY’S EDITION

🇺🇸 Oh Norman! Raises over US$2 million in new funding round ● Pet wellness company Oh Norman! (co-founded by actress and animal advocate Kaley Cuoco) has raised US$2.08 million in its latest round of funding. The raise was oversubscribed by 39%, New investors include Brown University, Leap Venture Studio, Incuvate/NQV8, Golden Seeds, and 1731 MGMT. The latest raise brings Oh Norman!’s total funding to over US$5 million.

🇺🇸 U.S. pet care spending hits a record-breaking US$150.6 billion annually, says CitizenShipper report ● Pet industry expenditures have risen 66% since 2018, with the average U.S. dog owner now spending US$2,524 per year, while cat owners spend approximately US$1,499. The report highlights not only routine expenses like food and veterinary care but also uncovers often-overlooked costs like pet transportation.

🇺🇸 Bark faces NYSE delisting risk after prolonged stock slump ● Pet products retailer Bark has received a notice from the New York Stock Exchange over its noncompliance with the minimum stock price requirement. 

🇺🇸 Royal Canin appoints new Global VP of Sustainability ● Royal Canin has appointed Rémi Rocca as Global VP of Sustainability. Rocca has nearly two decades of sustainability expertise from McDonald's. 

🇺🇸 PetSmart enters into exclusive partnership with Edgard & Cooper ● PetSmart has entered into an exclusive partnership with General Mills to launch Edgard & Cooper in its stores across the U.S. and online.

🇺🇸 Xcel Brands, Cesar Millan partner to launch new pet brand ● Xcel Brands has entered into a licensing partnership with K9 Wear Inc., to develop and launch a new pet brand with dog behaviorist Cesar Millan. 

🇬🇧 Plant-based pet food brand Omni achieves B Corp certification ● UK plant-based pet food brand Omni has achieved B Corp certification in recognition of its ethical and transparent business practices.

🇹🇭 Thailand eyes more pet food, rice exports amid China-US standoff ● Thailand is aiming to increase exports of pet food and other processed food products to the U.S. at the cost of Chinese shippers who are shut out by tariffs.

PRODUCT NEWS

🇺🇸 The Honest Kitchen launches two new products for puppies and cats ● The Honest Kitchen has launched Lamb & Salmon Puppy Meaty Littles treats for puppies, and Grain-Free Chicken Mousse in Goat’s Milk wet cat food. 

🇺🇸 Chuck Norris’ Lone Wolf Ranch Pets launches high-protein dog treats ● Lone Wolf Ranch Pets, founded by Chuck and Gena Norris, has launched Power Food Treats. The air-dried treats are designed to support muscle strength and overall wellness in dogs.  

🇺🇸 Portland Pet Food Company launches Winnie's Lamb N' Rice Homestyle Dog Meal ● Winnie's Lamb N' Rice is aimed at dogs with food sensitivities and includes only U.S. sourced, human-grade lamb.

🇬🇧 Pooch & Mutt launches Natural Dental Powder ● Pooch & Mutt’s vet-approved Natural Dental Powder is made from natural Sea Kelp and designed to reduce plaque, tartar and bad breath in dogs.

SPOTLIGHT: CHEWY TAKES A BITE INTO VETERINARY CARE

Online pet retail giant Chewy has been making the headlines in recent days for its foray into veterinary care with Chewy Vet Care.

With soaring pet spending, the market opportunity is clear. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), U.S. pet parents spent US$39.8 billion on vet care and product sales last year.

Not only that, pets adopted during the pandemic are now ageing, leading to growing demand for vet services. According to LEK, ageing pets are driving healthcare spending, and 70-75 million cats and dogs in the U.S. will qualify as senior pets by 2029.

With Chewy Vet Care, Chewy is positioning itself as a one-stop shop for pet care:

• Chewy is already used by millions of pet owners, and possesses masses of customer purchasing data;

• It is also already the U.S.’s largest online pet pharmacy, with annual sales of US$1.1 billion and a 7% market share, according to Bank of America.

Chewy Vet Care simply extends the company’s ecosystem further by offering customers prescription medication, bundled wellness plans and virtual vet consultations.

The move also increases the convenience factor for pet parents, who still grapple with a fragmented, old-school U.S. vet market ripe for change (we’ve covered this here and here).

The bottom line: In a fragmented U.S. veterinary market, Chewy is well-positioned to turn brand loyalty into end-to-end pet care, spanning food, toys, and now healthcare.

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