R.I.P. Dr. Fosters and Smith Pet Bird Supplies

Last Updated on February 16, 2023 by Mitch Rezman

I wrote the 95 words (below this new text) on April 30, 2015.

I didn’t include all the fanfare and buzz from Jim Myers, at the time.

“This move underscores our commitment to nurturing the complete health and well-being of animals and further allows Petco to meet the diverse and expansive needs of pet parents,” said Jim Myers, Petco CEO.

“As pet lovers first and foremost, our values are perfectly aligned with Drs. Foster and Smith, and we’re confident this new addition to our business will help us continue to offer the very best in products and services to pets and pet parents.”

One of the things that we at Windy City Parrot do for a living is getting out of the way of the freight trains like Amazon, Petco, and Drs. Foster’s and Smith.

I’d also like to take a moment to offer our heartfelt condolences to the 289 employees of Dr. Foster’s and Smith that lost their jobs on February 14, 2019, when Petco decided, Dr. Foster’s and Smith had to shut down.

It was opaque to me especially over the last two years how Dr. Foster’s and Smith were able to retain their legendary profitability and high customer service standards with a new operating model provided by Petco.

Putting things in perspective it’s unlikely this was a Petco decision.

In November 2015, CVC Capital Partners and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board agreed to acquire Petco in a deal worth $4.6 billion.

Thus the fate of pets relying on Dr. Foster’s and Smith for their supplies was decided upon by investors in another country.

We welcome any new customers from Dr. Foster’s and Smith.

We are sorry our prices are not as low as theirs were but we are still in business and they are gone.

We have birds.

We live birds.

We love birds.

We care for your birds.

We are here for you and your birds now as we have been since 1993.

We also have some real surprises for you that will be dovetailing with the Windy City Parrot V3.0 release.

Stay tuned and thank you for your heartfelt support.

mitch rezman
catherine tobsing

original post from April 30, 2015

In the news Nov 19, 2014 – Petco Animal Supplies Inc (over 1000 stores) announced plans to acquire Drs. Foster & Smith ($300,000,000 in est annual sales).

The purchase price was not disclosed.

Also, London-based private equity firm BC Partners has won the auction for retailer PetSmart Inc (almost 1200 stores) in an $8.7 billion deal.

So I’ll dispense with my normal exuberant verbosity and powers of persuasion to simply ask.

Who do you feel will help empower you to be the best-caged bird keeper ever – them or us?

[email protected]

thank you for your time and your business.