
Weekly Roundup
Friday · 9/11/2026 · Issue #393
Sponsor

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Quick Hits
🍪 Girl Scouts and BARK unleash their first-ever cookie made just for dogs
🌏 Ranking countries based on how dog-friendly they are
☕️ Brad Pitt gets bossed around by his four-legged friends in this new Delogni ad
🦪 Musselfeed ditches pet food as new CEO chases a bigger market
🐛 How will the US eradicate screwworm this time?

Chewy Hits $3.33B and Keeps Adding Customers
Chewy posted $3.33 billion in quarterly revenue as active customers climbed to 21.7 million, though discretionary spending remained softer.
The Farmer's Dog Scores a Deal With the NFL
The Farmer's Dog signed a multi-year deal to become the NFL's first official pet food partner.
Purina Drops $194M on a Bigger Thailand Bet
Nestlé is investing roughly $194 million to expand Purina's Thailand manufacturing operation and boost production for local and international markets.
Maash Lands €12.15M for Its Mycoprotein Play
Belgian food-tech company Maash secured €12.15 million across equity, grants and debt to scale mycoprotein production, including ingredients for pet food.
Sparkle Grooming Grabs $6M to Keep Growing
Sparkle raised $6 million from Digitalis Ventures after awarding more than 600 franchise licenses in just two years.
Lickicious Bites Into Another $2.2M
Indian pet food brand Lickicious raised ₹19 crore to expand manufacturing and distribution as it chases its next phase of growth.
HEROSAN Turns to the Crowd for €1.5M
HEROSAN launched a crowdfunding campaign targeting up to €1.5 million after reporting a 64% jump in first-half revenue.
Scenthound Apex Gets New Owners — and Bigger Plans
Jaime and Tristan Pickett acquired Scenthound's Apex location, with plans to build the business across North Carolina and Virginia.
SATELLAI Is Building More Than Another Pet Tracker
SATELLAI is teaming with Deutsche Telekom IoT and Swift Navigation to combine connectivity, precise positioning and AI-powered pet behavior insights.
Maven Wants Wearable Data Inside Pet Clinical Trials
Maven and Treat are bringing continuous wearable data into pet clinical trials, tracking activity, sleep, heart rate, scratching and more.
Mars Goes Hunting for Pet Food's Next Protein
Mars Petcare and Big Idea Ventures are scouting alternative proteins and novel ingredients capable of making the leap into commercial pet food.
Fressnapf | Maxi Zoo Keeps Growing Across Europe
Fressnapf | Maxi Zoo posted €930 million in Q2 revenue, up 7.1%, while adjusted EBITDA climbed 9.3% to €158 million.

Israeli Researchers Crack a Mystery Behind Cats' Black Eyes
Israeli researchers have uncovered a surprising clue behind a mysterious feline eye condition that can cause a cat's iris to turn black.
Purina's $10.5M Ohio Tax Break Draws Questions
A pet food consumer advocate is questioning $10.5 million in incentives tied to Purina's new Ohio plant, including concerns over product labeling.
Could Cats Help Crack Human Cancer?
Scientists say viruses naturally found in cats could offer a rare window into how similar infections cause cancer in humans.
L.A.'s Cats Are Going for Walks Now
Cat owners across Los Angeles are taking their pets on leashed walks and hikes, trading the living room for some supervised outdoor enrichment.
A Hawaii Hospital Is Joining the World's Biggest Pet Walk
Queen's North Hawai'i Community Hospital in Waimea is joining a global pet-walking event bringing people and their animals together.
Pet Brands Takes a Walk on the Wild Side
Pet Brands and ZSL are launching a wildlife-inspired collection spanning toys, collars, beds, bowls and accessories based on threatened species.

Meatly
— Head of Research and Development
Dutch Vet
— Social Media Manager
Dutch Vet
— Senior Technical Program Manager
PuppySphere
— Director of Marketing
Airvet
— VP, Strategic Partnerships
Walmart
— Senior Merchant, Pet Services
Embrace Pet Insurance
— Digital Analytics & Measurement Manager
Nylabone
— Brand Manager, Marketing Innovation
Some Popular Recent Interviews
