Company Description
Chewy, Inc. (NYSE: CHWY) is an e-commerce company in the retail trade sector focused on the pet category. The company describes its mission as being the most trusted and convenient destination for pet parents and partners everywhere. Chewy positions itself as what it believes to be the preeminent online source for pet products, supplies, and prescriptions, offering a broad selection of products and services at competitive prices and emphasizing an exceptional level of care and a personal touch to build brand loyalty and encourage repeat purchasing.
Chewy operates through its websites and mobile applications, which allow pet parents to manage their pets’ health, wellness, and merchandise needs while conveniently shopping for products. According to the company, these digital platforms are central to how customers engage with Chewy, combining commerce with tools to help manage ongoing pet care and product needs.
Business model and product offering
Chewy generates sales from pet products, supplies, and prescriptions. Based on available information, the company’s offering includes pet food, treats, over-the-counter medications, medical prescription fulfillment, and hard goods such as crates, leashes, and bowls. Chewy states that it partners with approximately 3,200 brands that it characterizes as among the best and most trusted in the pet industry. In addition to third-party brands, Chewy also creates and offers its own private brands.
The company reports that, through its websites and mobile applications, it offers customers approximately 130,000 product and service offerings. This assortment underpins Chewy’s claim of providing a broad selection and supports its positioning as an online destination for a wide range of pet-related needs.
Customer experience and digital platform
Chewy emphasizes customer experience as a key element of its business. The company highlights competitive pricing combined with what it describes as an exceptional level of care and a personal touch. It aims to use these attributes to build brand loyalty and drive repeat purchasing behavior among pet parents. Chewy also notes that it seeks to continually develop new ways for customers to engage with the company, using its websites and mobile applications as the primary interface.
According to Chewy, its digital properties enable pet parents to manage health, wellness, and merchandise needs in one place, while also serving as the channel through which customers can conveniently shop for products. The company also references the use of technology, including the ability to respond and adapt to rapid changes in technology and to maintain and scale its websites, mobile applications, and network infrastructure.
Partnerships, brands, and private labels
Chewy reports that it partners with approximately 3,200 brands in the pet industry, which it describes as among the best and most trusted. These partnerships allow Chewy to offer a broad catalog of branded pet products. In addition, Chewy states that it creates and offers its own private brands, adding another layer to its assortment strategy.
The combination of third-party brands and private brands, alongside a large number of product and service offerings, supports Chewy’s stated goal of bringing what it believes is a high-bar, customer-centric experience to its customers. This mix is also relevant to investors analyzing product diversity and brand strategy within the pet e-commerce space.
Health, wellness, and prescriptions
Chewy describes itself as an online source for pet prescriptions as well as products and supplies. The company’s materials reference pet health and wellness as part of its offering, and its platforms are described as enabling pet parents to manage these needs. Chewy also highlights Chewy Health leadership in connection with its planned acquisition of SmartEquine, an equine health business, indicating a focus on health and wellness verticals within the broader pet market.
In addition, Chewy has announced the launch of Get Real, a line of minimally processed fresh dog food available only at Chewy. The company describes Get Real as featuring human-grade recipes created by certified pet nutritionists, with real meat, fruit, and vegetables, gently cooked to retain nutrients and then frozen. The offering includes ready-to-serve, pre-portioned meals and meal toppers, with customizable plans intended to make it simple for customers to manage deliveries.
Equine category and SmartEquine transaction
Chewy has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SmartEquine, formerly known as SmartPak Equine, from Covetrus, Inc. SmartEquine is described as a leading U.S. provider of equine health products, recognized for subscription-based supplement programs, personalized nutrition plans, and a portfolio of tack, gear, and therapeutic products. Chewy states that this transaction is expected to strengthen its position in the equine category and accelerate expansion into higher-margin health and wellness verticals.
According to Chewy’s announcement, expected benefits from the SmartEquine acquisition include category expansion in equine supplements, alignment with Chewy’s recurring revenue base through SmartEquine’s subscription model, and an expanded opportunity to increase share of wallet among equine customers. The transaction is described as an all-cash deal anticipated to be financed through Chewy’s existing balance sheet, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Fresh food initiative: Get Real
Chewy has launched Get Real, a new line of minimally processed fresh dog food that is available exclusively through Chewy. The company characterizes Get Real as real, simple food with fresh ingredients, offered in multiple recipes and formats, including full meals and meal toppers. Chewy notes that Get Real recipes are created by certified pet nutritionists, use human-grade ingredients, and are gently cooked and then frozen.
The company highlights several aspects of the Get Real offering: expert-created recipes, ready-to-serve pre-portioned meals, customizable plans to adjust delivery frequency, and integration with Chewy’s existing operations. Chewy also points to its 24/7 customer care with dedicated experts available to support pet parents with questions related to the product.
Financial reporting and public company status
Chewy is a public company with Class A common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CHWY. The company regularly reports financial results and material events through press releases and filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Forms 8-K related to quarterly results and other corporate actions.
Recent filings indicate that Chewy reports net sales, gross profit, operating expenses, net income, and various non-GAAP metrics such as Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Adjusted net income, and Adjusted earnings per share. The company provides definitions for these non-GAAP measures and reconciliations to the most comparable GAAP measures in its financial disclosures.
Capital markets activity and governance
Chewy has been involved in secondary offerings of its Class A common stock by a selling stockholder affiliated with BC Partners, which is identified as Chewy’s largest shareholder. In connection with such an offering, Chewy entered into an underwriting agreement with the selling stockholder and an underwriter, and the company did not receive proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling stockholder. Chewy also entered into a stock repurchase agreement to repurchase a portion of its Class A common stock from the same selling stockholder, with the repurchased shares cancelled and retired.
Corporate governance disclosures show that Chewy holds an annual meeting of stockholders at which directors are elected, the appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm is ratified, and advisory votes on executive compensation are held. The company has also reported changes in certain officer roles, such as the appointment of an interim principal financial officer, through Form 8-K filings.
Risk considerations and operating environment
Chewy’s communications include extensive forward-looking statements and risk factor language. The company notes that its performance may be affected by its ability to sustain growth, introduce or improve products and services, expand into new jurisdictions and offerings, manage macroeconomic risks, acquire and retain customers cost-effectively, manage growth, maintain its brand and reputation, and manage supply chain and logistics challenges.
Additional areas identified by Chewy as important include forecasting net sales, maintaining relationships with suppliers and third-party service providers, managing fulfillment center capacity, adapting to rapid changes in technology, maintaining cybersecurity, complying with laws and regulations, protecting intellectual property, attracting and retaining employees, and competing in the pet products and services health and retail industry, particularly in e-commerce.
Summary
According to its own descriptions and public filings, Chewy, Inc. is an online-focused retailer in the pet sector, combining a large assortment of pet products, supplies, and prescriptions with digital platforms designed to help pet parents manage health, wellness, and merchandise needs. The company emphasizes partnerships with thousands of pet brands, development of private brands, and initiatives in health and wellness categories such as equine health and fresh dog food. As a listed company on the New York Stock Exchange, Chewy provides regular financial reporting and details about its operations, risk factors, and corporate governance through SEC filings and investor communications.