Arcaplanet recently opened its 500th store in the Italian capital, Rome. With its acquisition of the Sicilian pet store chain Max Casa, which operates 18 stores, the leading Italian pet supplies chain is pushing forward with expansion. An important step in this process was the integration of Fressnapf’s Maxi Zoo branches into the Arcaplanet store network. By April, all of the Max Casa stores, including the eight located in Palermo, are expected to be converted into Arcaplanet branches, bringing its store inventory to 520.
The retailer stresses that this first important milestone opens a new year full of objectives aimed at improving its all-round customer approach, such as the strong omnichannel push with the launch of the new app. The introduction of this new tool is set to enable the activation of additional services, investment to improve the click & collect already chosen by 25 per cent of digital customers, and the complete overhaul of the loyalty programme supplemented by the implementation of sophisticated marketing automation. Another priority for 2023 is investment in training its own employees at the Arcaplanet Academy.
CEO Nicolò Galante says of the new acquisition: “One of our main aims for 2023 is expansion in the retail trade; the acquisition of the 18 Max Casa businesses will provide a significant boost for this in southern Italy. Our presence in Sicily will be strengthened considerably by this new operation, but it is also fundamentally important for us that we have taken over all the store staff of Max Casa. This gives new team members the opportunity to improve their skills in a new field of merchandising.”
