Could Amazon’s purchase of PillPack presage an expansion into pet medications?
Nearly two decades later, the U.S. pet industry has yet to top Nestlé’s $10.4 billion acquisition of Ralston Purina. But the past few years of the twenty-teens saw five billion-dollar-plus acquisitions that together totaled almost $30 billion:
• In January 2017, Mars acquired leading U.S. veterinary hospital operator VCA for approximately $9.1 billion.
• In April 2017, PetSmart purchased Chewy.com for $3.3 billion.
• In February 2018, General Mills paid $8 billion for Blue Buffalo.
• In April 2018, J.M. Smucker shelled out $1.9 billion for Ainsworth/Rachael Ray.
• In August 2019, Elanco purchased Bayer’s Animal Health business unit for $7.6 billion.