ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Aliph Capital, a private equity firm, announced that its fund Aliph Fund I has acquired omnichannel pet retailer The Pet Shop (TPS), which also includes DubaiPetfood.com and Petsville. The buyout is Aliph Fund’s first transaction.

Founded in 2011, TPS operates retail locations and a regional e-commerce site, offering pet food, supplies and services including boarding, daycare, grooming, relocation and training. The company’s e-commerce site offers dry, wet, air-dried, raw and freeze-dried dog and cat food, milk replacers, food toppers, mix-ins and treats from many brands, including ACANA, Applaws, Arden Grange, Burgess, Lily’s Kitchen, ORIJEN, Hill’s Pet Nutrition and others.

According to Aliph Capital, TPS is the largest omnichannel pet business in the UAE.

Petsville Founder Amr Hazem will serve as chief executive officer of TPS to help lead the business’s development and future expansion. Hazem has experience in both corporate and entrepreneurial roles within the pet care, retail and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) segments. He has worked at Americana, BRF and Fronterra.

Hazem founded Petsville in 2019, which has grown threefold since 2020, according to the company.

“I am very excited to join TPS as CEO,” Hazem said. “I see tremendous growth potential in the business and look forward to working closely with Aliph Capital to achieve it.”

In addition to the acquisition, Aliph Capital plans to invest significant growth capital into TPS to help it expand its presence throughout the UAE and consolidate its position in the pet industry. TPS plans to enter other countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

“We are delighted to announce the first investment for Aliph Capital’s maiden fund, which is a perfect example of our strategy of taking active positions in midmarket growth stars,” said Farah Al Mazrui, head of investments a Aliph Capital. “TPS is a proven leader in a market ripe for consolidation, growth and further tech enablement, and we look forward to assisting the company in its ambitious expansion plans.”

According to Aliph Capital, the UAE pet care market is worth $361 million, making it the largest in the GCC, which comprises of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The UAE pet care segment is also expected to witness strong future growth, with a CAGR between 9% and 11%, driven by growth in pet ownership, shifting sentiments towards ownership and a decrease in consumers starting families.

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