petmania

dont know how true it is but i heard yesterday that petmania have gone bust
anyone hear anything about it?

With a little bit of research, I seem to see that the whole group, the O'Keefe's group from Kilkenny, which owns Petmania and others, has gone into Examinership. It does not mean that they have gone bust. It means that they have placed themselves under protection from their creditors for a certain number of months, allowing them to reorganise their financials.

okeeffesgroup.com/

I hope they pull through these difficult times.

Valerie

This ia a quote taken from Boards.ie

Quote:
4th March 2011, Press Release

The directors of O’Keeffe’s of Kilkenny Limited have made the decision to apply to the High Court for the appointment of an Examiner to their business.

This decision has been made with the long term best interests of the group’s 200 employees, their families, and wider communities in mind. The Examinership will facilitate cost restructuring which will ensure the viability of the group into the future.

In a statement, Shane O’Keeffe, Managing Director of the group says, “We are 100% committed to ensuring long term sustainability, which means long term jobs and employment. Current market conditions have forced this decision, but the O’Keeffe family and our management team are dedicated to ensuring the future of the business. Over the coming months the focus of the management team will be to secure a positive outcome from this Examinership period. It will be very much business as usual in each of our stores”.

The widely recognised Irish market conditions, combined with upward only rent agreements and high rates have affected retailers across the country, and The O’Keeffe Group has not been immune to these market conditions.

The O’Keeffe Group has been trading since 1960’s and operates 18 retail outlets, in a number of sectors, nationwide. They currently employ almost 200 frontline and support team members.

“There is no doubt that the coming months will be tough for our team, but we are confident that we will come out the other side of the process with a stronger company which will continue to provide a valuable source of employment nationwide” continued Shane O’Keeffe.

All deposits and outstanding orders made by customers will be honoured by the company throughout the process, and all outlets within the group will continue to operate as normal. All gift cards, orders and stock requests will be honoured in accordance with the company’s ongoing conditions of sale.

We have been fortunate to have had tremendous loyalty from our customers over the years and we look forward to continuing to supply excellence in product, service and range well into the future.

All media enquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I'm not surprised, something had to give, there are , in my opinion , too many large styled Petsmart styled stores here serving a very financially strapped demographic. I hope that maybe down sizing or something along that style will safeguard at least some of the Employees Jobs.

Kev.

was wondering why they were so quiet myself just only after being a new sponsor and having written to us all at the start.

my best wishes to all at petmania.

Just wondering if any body has heard of any update for Petmania

As early as yesterday Paul, they are hoping the Rent/Rates of units drop but are still in business, it's a good Store, well laid out and very clean and the very few Staff they have are really helpful with things they things they have knowledge of..

Kev.

Thanks for that Kevin i know a few people in the local store but didnt want to go asking them.
Fingers crossed i personal dont have issues with them and i find the staff in my local store to be very helpful and if they dont know an aswere to a question they tell you the dont know.And if i am not with they way things look when i go to buy i dont buy which is the same with any retailer.

Hopfully they will come through this rough patch and manage to do so with no job losses.