SUNRISE, Fla. – The merger between Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket, announced today, will create the largest small format, neighborhood, pet specialty retailer in North America, and the third-largest pet specialty retailer overall. The combined business, named Pet Retail Brands, will have more than 930 stores and generate roughly $1 billion in retail sales. Pet Retail Brands’ footprint will stretch from the East Coast to the West Coast and from Miami to Vancouver, and is positioned for continued growth. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Affiliates of Atlanta-based Roark Capital took Pet Valu private in August of 2009 and acquired Pet Supermarket in in April of 2015. Pet Retail Brands will continue to operate out of Markham, Ontario and Pet Supermarket operations will remain based in Sunrise, Florida.

“The combination of these two highly complementary businesses, both long established brands with strong cultures and deep commitments to local communities and helping pets, will create the leading community focused pet specialty retailer in North America,” said Ezra Field, managing director of Roark Capital. “Together, both brands will benefit by sharing infrastructure, resources and best practices to deliver superb value to both Pet Valu and Pet Supermarket’s loyal customers, committed employees and business partners.”

Thomas McNeely will become president and CEO of Pet Retail Brands as part of the acquisition. He has served as the CEO of Pet Valu since August 2009.

McNeely commented on the merger saying, “Bringing together two of the fastest growing pet specialty retailers creates a powerful platform to share resources and best practices to support Pet Supermarket, Pet Valu and their loyal customers. I look forward to working with all of the employees and suppliers of Pet Supermarket as well as Pet Valu franchisees to grow these brands, which have been providing pets with superior products and service for over 40 years.”

Diane Holtz announced her retirement as president and CEO of Pet Supermarket concurrent with the closing of the transaction. Holtz joined Pet Supermarket in 1992 and served as president and COO since 2002, and served as president, CEO and a board member since 2015.