The UK’s leading pet retail group Pets at Home has experienced a record year driven by the surge in pet ownership and increased market share. Group revenues were up 15.3% to £1,317.8m and pre-tax profit up 39.8% to £148.7m.

Other highlights from its end-of-year financial figures include

• Active VIP customers grew by 1.1m to an all-time high of 7.3m
• Puppy and Kitten Club sign-ups increased 48% year-on-year – or 23,000 a week – three times pre-pandemic levels
• Seven new pet care centres and 22 dog grooming salons opened in the year
• Grooming figures up at 920,425 for FY22 (uP 8.2% from FY20 figures, and up 49.9% from FY21 – impacted by closures due to Covid)
• Around 120 of the group’s 457 stores now offering convenience of two-hour home delivery
• Vet business added an average of 9,000 customers a week, taking total client base to a record 1.7m
• Plans to open up to 15 new vet practices a year to help care for increased pet population
• Record £73m investment last year will be matched again this year to support future growth
• Around 40-50 existing stores per year will be converted to new format pet care centres

Peter Pritchard, Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “Despite another period characterised by significant and evolving external challenges, our performance this year has been noteworthy, delivering record sales, profit, and cash flow. 

“I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to our truly inspiring colleagues and Partners across the Group for their continued adaptability and commitment to making Pets at Home bigger, stronger, and more efficient.

“We are well placed to accelerate our growth in market share. The robust backdrop of the UK pet care market, coupled with our clear strategic priorities, proven omnichannel model and strong Executive Team, mean that I hand over leadership of this great business to Lyssa McGowan with the utmost confidence that Pets at Home will continue to create value for all stakeholders in both the near and longer-term.”