PetSmart acquired the online pet retailer Chewy in 2017.
Chewy began in 2011 as Mr. Chewy, founded by Ryan Cohen and Michael Day. It focused on selling pet food and supplies online, competing through broad selection, subscription-style repeat orders, and highly personalized customer service. Its rapid growth made it one of the most prominent digital pet retailers in the United States.
PetSmart agreed to buy Chewy in 2017 for about $3.35 billion. The deal was notable because Chewy was still unprofitable but had become a major force in online pet shopping. Chewy continued operating largely as an independent business, with Cohen remaining CEO for a period after the acquisition.
A common mix-up is Petco, another major pet retailer that also pursued Chewy but did not acquire it. Chewy later went public in 2019, and PetSmart and Chewy ultimately became separately operated companies. The purchase therefore remains a 2017 acquisition fact, not a statement that PetSmart still owns Chewy today.