Handforth pet care retailer is latest to repay business rates relief

Handforth headquartered pet care business, Pets at Home Group, has become the latest major retailer to repay the business rates relief it received as part of the government’s Covid-19 support.

Pets at Home stores were permitted to continue trading during the two national coronavirus lockdowns, with pet care retailers classed as ‘essential retail.’ While the group has taken a £35 million hit to its finances due to the pandemic, including as a result of implemented Covid-secure measures across its stores, it has chosen to return the government support it received, totalling £28.9 million in rates relief.

CEO of the Handforth headquartered pet care group, Peter Pritchard, said:

I continue to be immensely proud of the tireless efforts of my colleagues across the business and the work they are doing to meet the needs of our nation’s pets week after week in the pandemic.

“We were very grateful for the rates relief provided back in March during a time of significant uncertainty, which helped us to take the decision to keep our stores, online operations and veterinary practices open. Recent positive news around the launch of vaccinations for Covid-19 has led us to reassess the level of uncertainty ahead.

“Pets at Home is a robust business, both operationally and financially, with amazing colleagues, great operations, good liquidity and a strong balance sheet. Our decision today demonstrates our clear commitment to acting responsibly and treating all of our stakeholders fairly.”

Pets at Home Group joins a number of major supermarkets, including Tesco and Sainsbury’s, who have also returned the support they received to the Treasury. In contrast to much of the retail sector, supermarkets have seen a boost in performance due to the pandemic as Britons were forced to eat more of their food at home.