Chewy Leaps from E-Commerce Giant to Veterinary Game-Changer: Unveiling Revolutionary Clinics in 2024!

Chewy, a leading online pet supply retailer, announced on December 14 its plans to open veterinary clinics in 2024. These clinics, branded as "Chewy Vet Care," will debut in South Florida early next year, offering routine check-ups, urgent care, and surgical services.

The initial locations for Chewy Vet Care will be in Plantation, Florida—where Chewy's headquarters are located—and Denver. Job listings for veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other staff have appeared on the Chewy Vet Care website. These clinics will integrate with Chewy’s online platform, which already collaborates with third-party veterinary practices.

Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion, noting that the move is a natural progression for Chewy. The company aims to bring its customer-centric approach to veterinary care. This initiative follows Chewy's successful online retail venture, which led the U.S. pet supply e-commerce market with $10 billion in revenue in 2022, as reported by Statista.

Chewy's foray into veterinary healthcare builds on its earlier ventures. In 2020, the company introduced “Connect with a Vet,” a telehealth service providing pet owners access to licensed veterinarians for advice and referrals. In 2021, Chewy launched Practice Hub, an e-commerce solution for veterinarians, now used by over 1,000 practices. Furthermore, 2022 saw Chewy introduce its pet insurance offering, CarePlus, and the acquisition of Petabyte, a cloud service provider for the veterinary industry.

Chewy’s annual report highlights their commitment to being a comprehensive resource for pet health, offering a range of products and services to support pet wellness. The company’s expansion into veterinary services aligns with its mission to make pet healthcare more accessible and affordable.

However, Chewy has faced challenges in this domain. The company's push for legislation mandating veterinarians to provide written prescriptions for pet medications, regardless of client request, has met resistance from the veterinary community. The company acknowledges this competitive tension in its annual report, recognizing that veterinarians have an advantage in selling pet medications due to the convenience for pet owners of buying directly during office visits. Chewy’s future success in this area may hinge on navigating these competitive dynamics effectively.