VetPlus opens Buenos Aires base

Lytham-based pet neutraceuticals manufacturer VetPlus is strengthening its links with South America by opening a base in the Argentine capital city Buenos Aires.

South America is the company's second-largest market and the new office is expected to be the first step in opening several locations on the continent.

The company has already partnered with two distributors and further recruitment to build the team is underway.

Buenos Aires resident Leonardo Guandalini, who joined the team as business unit manager in 2021, will oversee the growth of the business in the market.

Sam Wright, sales director, said: “VetPlus has a solid European business, a strong Asian presence, and we are starting to establish ourselves in North America, so South America was the next logical step.

"Brazil is one of the biggest pet economies in the world, with growing GDP, and that trend is spreading across South America, so it presents a massive opportunity for us.

"We are committed to establishing our new office and have further plans to expand into Peru, Columbia, Chile and Paraguay.”

VetPlus is part of the Tangerine Group and was established by current CEO, David Haythornthwaite, more than 25 years ago. It now has exclusive partners or subsidiaries in 42 countries.

The Tangerine Group reported a 27 per cent increase in turnover, from £28.1m to £35.7m, for the financial year ending June 2021. The business, which also includes the AgriLloyd and Farmsense brands, also reported a 58 per cent increase in pre-tax operating profits, from £6m to £9.5m, for the same period.