Does Amazon Own Chewy?

Chewy is an online retailer that offers a huge range of pet products on a single site. You can find everything from food to treats and toys, with just a few simple clicks.

But, Does Amazon own Chewy?

When browsing the site, you are likely to notice that many products are similar to those sold on other sites. Amazon is one of the leading online retailers, and the company owns a huge number of subsidiaries. 

So, let’s find out, is Chewy owned by Amazon?’

About Chewy  

Chewy was founded by Ryan Cohen and Michael Day in 2011. The company was originally named Mr. Chewy and was staffed by former employees and executives from many competing companies. This included PetSmart, Amazon, Wayfair, and Whole Foods Market.

The expertise of these executives and other experienced employees helped the company to thrive. In the first quarter of 2012, the company reported a revenue of $26 million. By 2015, this revenue had risen to an impressive $423 million.

And from there, things skyrocketed…

By 2017, Chewy had revenue of approximately $2 billion. In addition, the company was responsible for 51% of all online pet food sales in the United States. This huge revenue attracted the interest of a number of competing companies, including PetSmart.

In March 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy for a reported $3.35 billion. At this time, that was the largest acquisition of any e-commerce company on record. PetSmart also transferred 20% of its ownership of Chewy to BC Partners, a private equity firm that has owned PetSmart since 2014.

That should answer the question of does Amazon own Chewy, for now. But let’s explore the future outlook.

Competition from Amazon 

While Chewy is not owned by Amazon, the company is a serious competitor. This is because Amazon owns the Wag Pet supply brand. These two online retailers sell a large number of similar dog food and dog care products. The company also sells a wide range of products through the AmazonBasics brand. 

Both companies sell products like pet toys, food, bowls, and exercise equipment. However, one thing that sets Chewy apart is that the website boasts a dedicated pharmacy section. This is the perfect place to purchase medication for dogs, cats, and horses. 

Is trouble brewing between Amazon and Chewy?

While Amazon is in direct competition with Chewy, the online retailer doesn’t pose too much of a threat. This is because most pet owners prefer to choose retailers that specialize in pet supplies. Therefore, the online pet supply retailer’s main competitors are actually small pet supply businesses that operate locally. 

Comparative sales

In terms of pet products, most companies make a similar number of sales. However, Amazon takes the lead when it comes to positive reviews from customers. Because of this, many people believe that the online retail giant sells a larger number of pet supplies. 

The catch is that a large number of these positive reviews are submitted by people with fake accounts and bots. Most marketplace sellers understand the value of receiving positive reviews from customers. As a result, some people use various means to make sure they get a high number of positive reviews.

What about quality?

In terms of overall quality and popularity, both companies are fairly equal. Both companies stock a wide range of pet food brands and other items. Therefore, if you are looking for the best deal around, it is worth comparing the offers on both websites. 

Comparative quality

Many satisfied customers believe that the products Chewy sells are of superior quality. The company offers a larger number of dedicated categories of pet products and supplies. This includes the pharmacy section, as well as products for a vast number of animal types.

Animal lovers can find everything from feed to bedding and care products for farm animals. 

Value for money?

The price of the products that are available is constantly low, while there is also a deals section. Hence, this online retailer is popular among customers who value consistency and have various types of pets. 

The selection of pet care products that Amazon offers is mainly limited to house pets like dogs and cats. Plus, while prices are fairly reasonable, they can fluctuate at different times of the year. When a product becomes particularly popular, it is not uncommon for the price to go up.

Popular Chewy Products

Chewy sells a large selection of pet food and pet supplies. In fact, the main focus of the company is offering low prices along with a large selection. Shoppers can find pet food, toys, bowls and feeders, animal medications, and other types of supplies all in one place.

Pet food and supplies are available for the following animals:

Once you have chosen the products you want, you can enjoy free shipping on orders over $49. Orders typically take between one and three days to arrive, and a whole host of payment methods are accepted. The Today’s Deals section of the website also treats you to enhanced deals and discounts. 

The Chewy website also stocks a great selection of popular brands, including:

Interested in Amazon?

We pride ourselves on having the very latest information about all the top US pet product retailers. Simply type any question you may have into our search box!

For example, here’s a comprehensive guide to Amazon Subsidiaries. Or, find out about the Amazon Order Cancellation Policy, How Does Amazon Ship So Fast, How Late Does Amazon Deliver or Does Amazon Offer Relocation Assistance when you are hired by them?

However, if working at Amazon is something that interests you, do check out our Amazon Mission and Vision Statement Analysis, Amazons Transfer Policy, the Amazon Rehire Policy, or find out Does Amazon Give Raises and Does Amazon Give Bonuses in 2023?

Ok, back to today’s question…

Final Thoughts

PetSmart made a statement in 2020 that it is planning to break ties with Chewy. This is because, although the company once made huge profits, it is starting to fall into debt. A large part of the reason for this is the high level of competition from other online retailers.

At this time, Chewy is still owned by PetSmart, although the future of this acquisition seems uncertain. There is a good chance that the online pet supply retailer will be purchased by another company in the near future. It may even be the case that Amazon makes a bid to add Chewy to its long list of acquisitions.

Watch this space for updates!