Belgian pet shop chain Tom&Co continues its expansion in France with the opening of its 25th French store in Nantes. With a new concept, the chain hopes to be able to quickly expand to 100 stores in France.
Concept works
The Nantes store features a new concept that so far was only tried out in two Belgian stores (Genappe and Braine). Alongside a range of 8000 products, the retailer offers services like a pet barber shop, a dog wash and adoption of animals in cooperation with shelters. The employees will have to know more than just their dogs and cats: also advice about rodents, birds, fish, reptiles and poultry will be available.
Tom&Co is a spin-off of Belgian supermarket chain Delhaize, but was sold to CEO Lionel Desclée in 2016. The chain has over 140 stores in Belgium and has reached the 25 store threshold in France, which should be at least 32 by the end of the year. The goal in France is even 100 stores: “Tom&Co is a concept that works. The brand has understood very well that to their owners, pets really are a part of the family”, says Guillaume Papillon.
