Pets At Home has opened its 300th vet practice under the Vets4Pets brand inside the Pets At Home store in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
It marks the latest milestone for the rapidly growing vet business, which has opened 58 surgeries this calendar year and is now the largest operator of small animal vet practices in the UK.
Sally Hopson, CEO of Pets At Home’s Vets Group, said: “I’m delighted to be opening our 300th vet practice, which is testament to the hard work of everyone in our Vets group. Wherever we have opened, customers have responded enthusiastically to our state-of-the-art practices and our convenient opening hours.
"For vets, our joint venture model provides the support they need to run their business, allowing them to focus on what they really love, which is looking after the health of animals.
"We are delivering our growth strategy, and continue to work towards our target of over 700 practices in the UK, both in Pets At Home stores and in standalone locations.”
Pets At Home’s vet practices trade under the Vets4Pets and Companion Care brands, and are operated on a joint venture basis in partnership with the 358 vets who operate the practices. 181 of the practices are located in Pets At Home stores and 119 are standalone practices.
Vets4Pets Eastleigh is owned and managed by Mark Collins, Joint Venture Partner & Veterinary Surgeon and is situated inside the newly refurbished Pets At Home store. The brand new high-tech vet practice sits on a purpose built mezzanine with a lift, alongside a Groom Room grooming salon.
Like all new practices, it is fully equipped with digital x-ray facilities, an in-house laboratory, full operating theatre and isolation units. Clients benefit from spacious waiting areas and 7-day opening, until 7pm on weekdays, offering real convenience to clients. The practice was officially opened by Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Eastleigh, Tony and Janice Noyce.
Mark explains: “I am incredibly proud and excited to be opening my own veterinary practice in my home town. I have been lucky enough to find an excellent team that I am confident will provide the very highest level of care to the animals of Eastleigh.
The support I have received is fantastic – it is like having my own team of accountants, architects, business advisors, buyers, HR and an excellent marketing team, all things that a traditional practice could only dream of. And that means I can provide a better service to my clients and concentrate on being a good vet.”
