Australian pet specialty retailer, PETstock, has opened four branded stores in New Zealand as part of its global expansion plans.

Normally a franchise business, the New Zealand PETstock stores are currently corporately owned and have been integrated into well-established, existing specialty businesses rather than set up from scratch.

“New Zealand is a natural fit for our offshore expansion program because it is so similar in many aspects to Australia. But we needed a strong customer base to get going so it made sense to integrate with existing businesses,” said the company’s New Zealand country manager Aaron Waters.

“We are extremely pleased with our acquisitions as, most important, all have strong family values that align with ours and that has made the transition very smooth,” he added.

The retailer’s stores are located in Takapuna, Constellation Drive, Glen Innes and Cambridge.

Waters said the products and services available in their Australian stores are also made available in their new stores in the country.

“In addition to all the standard pet foods and accessories, we can provide puppy school, DIY dog wash, grooming, water testing and more,” he said.

The Constellation Drive (Auckland) PETstock store has a full vet clinic including the facilities to perform complex surgery. Waters said the company intends to extend its vet clinics footprint as it rolls out new stores.

PETstock operates 119 stores in six Australian states, ACT and Northern Territory.