Giant Eagle expands pet pharmacy options with Allivet partnership
- Grocer Giant Eagle has partnered with Allivet.
- Allivet will power Giant Eagle’s e-commerce pet prescription platform.
- Sales in the pet category are expected to reach $143.6 billion in the U.S. this year, according to the American Pet Products Association.
Giant Eagle in April partnered with the digital pet pharmacy Allivet to offer shoppers easier access to pet products.
In an April 18 release, Giant Eagle has launched a new website for pet prescriptions called Giant Eagle PetRx. The website is powered by Allivet’s e-commerce platform and offers pet health care products, including prescription medications, for pets available for delivery. The platform also offers AutoShop, which allows customers to order products automatically on a recurring basis, according to the release.
Allivet was founded in 1992 and is licensed across the U.S. under the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, according to its release. In addition to its own proprietary website, Allivet also has a B2B solution — such as what is used by Giant Eagle — which lets retailers use its services under their own branding. In 2021, it partnered with PetSmart to power its e-commerce pet-pharmaceutical platform.
Giant Eagle is a regional grocery chain that operates more than 400 retail locations with stores in Pennsylvania, where it’s headquartered, Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana and Maryland.
"Allivet is a trusted pet-pharmacy solution provider," said Jim Tsipakis, Giant Eagle pharmacy's executive vice president, in the release. "Through this partnership, Giant Eagle Pharmacy will make access to pet medications and supplies for our guests more convenient than ever."
The market for pet goods in the U.S. is lucrative and growing. Last year, consumers in the U.S. spent $136.8 billion on products and services related to their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association (APPA). That’s up from $90.5 billion spent four years earlier, in 2018. This year, the APPA projects net sales in the category will reach $143.6 billion, with $62.7 billion spent on food and treats; $32.1 billion spent on supplies, live animals and over-the-counter medication; $37 billion on veterinary care and products and $11.8 billion on other related services.