VetPartners has expanded its reach across Italy with a trio of new acquisitions.
The York-headquartered veterinary group has acquired Centro Medico Veterinario Montecchio, a small animal clinic in Vicenza, along with Clinica Veterinary Colombo, a small animal practice in Camaiore, near Tuscany, and Clinica Veterinary Europa, a small animal practice in Florence.
Ospedale S Lucia in Verona, the main 24-hour practice in Verona, is the latest practice to join VetPartners Italy.
VetPartners is now preparing for further growth and expects to have doubled its number of practices in Italy by the end of January after entering due diligence with three other businesses.
The veterinary group is building a platform of practices in Italy after gaining a strong foothold in the country in 2019 when five practices joined the group.
VetPartners Italy Managing Director David Giraldi is preparing to welcome more practices to the group after expansion was curtailed due to COVID-19. The effects of the global health pandemic are now expected to fuel further growth of VetPartners as practice owners seek to be part of a larger veterinary group.
“We expect to have doubled the size of the VetPartners in Italy by the end of January, which is a great achievement because completing acquisitions takes a lot of effort due to COVID-19. People are working exceptionally hard to maintain our vision of being the veterinary group of choice when many practice teams are suffering a lot of anxiety and emotional challenges,” he said.
“VetPartners’ Italian team and the central team in the UK have collaborated so well and to have these four acquisitions concludes a meaningful objective. Although there is competition, we want to expand and become the veterinary group of choice.
“There is so much enthusiasm for what we are creating in Italy and, even in uncertain times, there is great opportunity. Covid-19 has created a VUCA environment and during times of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, people want a safe house for their business, where there is leadership, safety in numbers, organisation and structure.”
