PetSmart acquired online pet retailer Chewy in 2017 for approximately $3.35 billion.
Chewy was founded in 2011 as an e-commerce company selling pet food, supplies, and related products. Its growth was driven by home delivery, recurring orders, customer service, and a broad online selection. The company became one of the most prominent digital retailers focused specifically on pets.
PetSmart announced the acquisition in April 2017, and the transaction closed later that year. Chewy continued operating with its own brand and leadership. PetSmart’s purchase was widely described as a major bet on online shopping in the pet-care market.
Chewy later became a publicly traded company in 2019. It is distinct from Petco, another major pet retailer that was not the company acquired by PetSmart. The transaction also did not make Chewy a pet-adoption organization; its principal business was retail commerce.