Petcetera files for bankruptcy protection
 

Petcetera, the Richmond-based pet food superstore, has filed for bankruptcy protection — and launched a massive two-month, cross-Canada sale to dump merchandise and raise money for restructuring.

In a company press release issued Friday, Vancouver-born CEO Dan Urbani says that “in light of the recession’s impact on the Canadian retail industry, we have to take drastic measures in the short term to ensure that Petcetera continues to be viable long after the downturn is over.”

Contacted by The Province, company spokeswoman Julie Belanger said the company would issue no information beyond the release and could offer access to no company officials.

The release says that as part of its restructuring, the company “will review all of its business, including store numbers and locations.”

“The extent of the restructuring will depend directly on the success of the inventory liquidation sale,” it adds.

The 60-day sale begins March 21 and will offer price cuts of up to 70 per cent, the release says.

The Canadian-owned firm opened in 1997. The release says it operates 49 stores, 11 of them in the Lower Mainland, and employs 1,600 people.

The company website says that in March 2004, Urbani announced plans “to double the company store count with a further $40 million to open a total store count of 52 by 2009.” On the same site, still in operation Friday, Urbani predicts “promising growth opportunities for employees” and expansion of the team to “almost 2,000 by year 2010.”
© Copyright (c) The Province

Omfg, are they dumping tropical fish?!

ouch

sigh, with their prices, its hard to stay competitive nowadays.

Could be that their new competitor "Pet Smart" is killing them.

Petcetera is Richmond based?!

might have to check it out

Petcetera is for sure Richmond based, I remember reading about that when they came out. With prices that high, and their stupid staff. It's kinda retarded.

I was surprised when i went to pho hoa near the coquitlam one, and saw it was gone.

petcetera = ripoff

time to buy puppies =D

i agree with everyone they are very expensive, only time i get pets there is when they have buy 1 get 1 fish :)

So anyone plan to go there tomorrow?
Are they having cuts on all their store?
Time to go buy stuff.

They were an "ok" hit, when they initially started out I think. Now all the different stores have no or barely any customers in there. Now with Petsmart opened up on Granville hwy and on Marine Way in Burnaby, I would rather make the drive out there instead of going to Petcetera

I'm seriously not surprised about this.

From day 1, I found their customer service non-existent.

They always have only 1 cashier working when there are about 8-10 people waiting in line.

They never stock up on Nutro dog foods. (even the Nutro rep who is there sometimes told me she's already voiced her complaint)

I much prefer the smaller places like Tisol/Bosley's. Much friendlier people and much better service/knowledge.

QFT

-KC

petcetera is so expensive, even for their own brand of stuff

werd, that is why i make my own dog food

Dropped by there today... and mainly it's just 15% off everything... and at their inflated prices, it means there isn't anything particularly cheap.

One area that is cheap is the doggy clothing... 50% off.

rip off

I'm gonna keep this in mind when the media reports a spike in missing persons.

I'm calling Rorschach. :D

lol interesting... i guess ill drop by later to see whats up :O

15% off their overpriced food

50% off their overpriced dog clothes

Complete waste of time.

I went there and got some of the Hill's Science Diet treats for my dog. $5.95 + 15% off. I went next door to Pet Smart and they were selling the same thing for $4.99.

Make sure you check the EXPIRATION DATE because the Hill's treats that I was looknig to get at Petcetera are only good until this month. I saw some that were expired from LAST MONTH.

The fish always seem like they're about 5 minutes away from dying =\

Pet Smart > Petcetera

Went to the Petcetera on 3 road on Saturday, its 70% off Christmas stuff, 50% off bird cages, 20% off regular merchandise. I only grabbed some salt for my aquarium. I was looking at the water conditioners and there were rat droppings on the lids :(

Walked a block down to PJ's Pets and their stuff was cheaper even with the Petcetera 20% off.