In a reversal of the now long-established pattern, The Pet Vet, a family-owned independent practice, has bought eight surgeries from CVS.  

'The Vet' branded surgeries were registered to Quality Pet Care Ltd which was initially acquired by CVS Group plc in August 2021.

The acquisition makes The Pet Vet not only the largest independent family-owned practice by number of sites (12) in the UK, but also the only one with a national presence. 

The newly acquired surgeries are in Warrington, Portsmouth, Southampton, Bristol, Nottingham, Liverpool and Morden and Waltham Forest in London.

The Pet Vet already operates three surgeries in South Yorkshire (Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster) and in 2021 opened a 5,500 sq ft surgery on a retail park in Lincoln.

The Pet Vet is under the sole ownership of Rob Jones MRCVS (pictured right with Managing Director, Mel Fuller), who graduated from Bristol in 1987.

Rob practised in companion animal care in London and Australia before opening the first The Pet Vet surgery in Doncaster in 2011.

The practice now has nearly 100 employees, including 24 full time vets, and an annual turnover of over £6m.

Earlier this year, The Pet Vet secured £3.1m from alternative lender ThinCats to fund its growth plan.

A extra cash injection then allowed the family-owned independent to snap up The Vet when it came up for sale in April 2022.

Rob said: "With nearly 70% of the veterinary practice market by revenue already in the ownership of major corporations, a fact of which most consumers are still completely unaware, this is a real opportunity for us as a family business to make a positive difference for pet owners.

"Our acquisition of The Vet will allow us to further advance in-house provision, giving our vets more variety and stimulation in their working day and even greater opportunities for professional development."

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