Core Insights - The Chinese pet industry has experienced unprecedented growth since the 21st century, transitioning from viewing pets as mere tools for guarding to recognizing them as essential emotional companions and family members [1][9] - The pet service sector has diversified significantly, encompassing medical, grooming, boarding, and training services to meet the evolving needs of pet owners [1][9] - The market for pet services in China is projected to grow from 34.034 billion yuan in 2015 to 104.47 billion yuan in 2024, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13% [1][10] Pet Service Industry Overview - The pet industry includes all activities related to pets, such as breeding, trading, and providing goods and services like pet food, supplies, and services [3] - Pet services are defined as non-physical consumption services for pets and their owners, covering a wide range of offerings from grooming and medical care to training and insurance [3] Market Growth and Trends - The number of urban pets in China is expected to rise from 87.46 million in 2017 to 124.11 million by 2024, with a CAGR of 5.13% [5] - The pet consumption market in China is anticipated to expand from 97.8 billion yuan in 2015 to 300.2 billion yuan in 2024, with a CAGR of 13.27% [8] - In 2024, pet food is projected to account for 52.8% of the market, while pet services will represent 34.8% [8] Industry Development History - The establishment of the China Small Animal Protection Association in 1992 marked the beginning of the pet industry in China, promoting the concept of pets as companions [5] - Over the past thirty years, the pet service industry has evolved from basic breeding and trading to a comprehensive service model covering the entire lifecycle of pets [5][6] Industry Structure and Key Players - The pet service industry features a diverse competitive landscape, with key players in medical services including New Ruipeng and Ruipai, while grooming and boarding services are dominated by regional brands like Baozaiwu and Paiduo [10] - The market remains fragmented, with opportunities for growth through service extension, technological empowerment, and brand building [10] Future Trends in Pet Services - The industry is expected to embrace intelligent technology, integrating smart wearables and online platforms for enhanced pet health management and service efficiency [12] - Services will increasingly focus on emotional value and personalized experiences, such as customized training and memorial services for pets [13] - The service model will diversify, combining online and offline experiences, with O2O platforms and community-based services enhancing user engagement [14]

今年，养老服务业态多样、家政服务提质扩容，拓展出新的就业空间。数据显示，三季度，养老、看护 行业职位数同比增速为29.2%，其中护工、康复治疗师岗位需求增速分别为36.1%、25.7%。家政服务业 招聘需求同比增长13.3%。 现代服务业中，宠物服务行业三季度招聘职位数同比增长43.7%，其中，宠物医生、宠物美容岗位增速 尤为突出，分别达128.2%、67.3%，新能源车保有量提升，带动维修、改装、配件等衍生服务需求扩 张。洗车工、汽车维修、汽车美容岗位分别同比增长85.4%、64.2%、25.9%。 （央视财经《天下财经》）服务业是吸纳农村劳动力就业的重要渠道，今年以来，随着银发经济蓬勃发 展、服务消费趋向细分化、专业化，服务业的用工需求也在持续增长。具体来说，哪些岗位最缺人呢？ 来看招聘平台的最新数据分析。 转载请注明央视财经 编辑：王昕宇 ...

Summary of the Pet Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The global pet industry is projected to exceed $200 billion in 2024, with an estimated growth to $270 billion by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5% [2] - The United States leads the global pet economy, expected to account for 47% of the pet food and snacks market and 52% of the pet services market by 2025 [1][2] - The European pet market is also significant, with 2023 pet food value reaching €22.93 billion, a 9% year-on-year increase [4] Key Market Insights - In the U.S., total pet industry spending is projected to reach $151.9 billion in 2024, with pet food and snacks accounting for $65.8 billion (43% of total spending) [4] - China's pet market is rapidly growing, with a projected market size exceeding ¥300 billion in 2024, a 7.5% year-on-year increase [5] - In China, the pet food market is the largest segment, making up 52.8% of total spending, followed by the medical market at 28% [5] Consumer Trends - Chinese consumers are increasingly focused on nutritional balance and ingredient transparency, with 35% of cat owners and 33% of dog owners preferring domestic brands [9] - The demand for pet health products is rising, with the pet health supplement market growing at a rate of 32% [3] Emerging Segments - The global pet wearable market is expected to grow from $3.3 billion in 2023 to $17.1 billion by 2033, with a CAGR of 18% [11] - The pet cleaning products market is seeing significant growth, particularly in functional products like deodorants and disinfectants, with sales of plant-based cat litter increasing by 307% [10] Medical and Grooming Services - The pet medical service market in China is valued at approximately ¥84 billion, with a growing demand for veterinary services due to an increasing number of aging pets [15] - The pet grooming industry in China reached ¥42 billion in 2023, with a projected growth to over ¥62 billion in 2025 [16] Challenges and Opportunities - Despite the late start, China's pet industry shows high growth potential driven by demographic changes and evolving consumer needs [18] - Investment opportunities exist in domestic brand development, niche product innovation, and the integration of insurance services within the pet care ecosystem [18]

Core Insights - New Ruipeng Pet Hospital Group is shifting its strategy away from low-quality expansion, as emphasized by co-chairman Li Liang during the mid-year meeting in August 2025, following the notable absence of founder Peng Yonghe [1] - The recent change in legal representative from Peng Yonghe to Wei Shanwei indicates a significant shift in operational control, with high-profile investment firm Hillhouse Capital now managing the company's operations [1] - Peng Yonghe's departure to focus on AI medical technology and supply chain in the pet sector has sparked widespread discussion within the industry [1] Company Overview - Founded in 1998 by veterinarian Peng Yonghe, Ruipeng Pet Hospital became the first listed pet medical company in China in 2016, later transitioning to New Ruipeng Group after significant investment from Hillhouse Capital in 2018 [2] - Despite becoming the largest and most capital-rich pet medical platform in China, New Ruipeng has struggled with profitability, reporting a revenue increase from 4.784 billion yuan to 5.74 billion yuan from 2021 to 2022, while net losses rose from 1.311 billion yuan to 1.417 billion yuan [2] - Complaints regarding service quality, including issues of transparency and over-treatment, have made New Ruipeng a focal point for consumer grievances, with 1,480 complaints reported on the Black Cat Complaint platform [2] Operational Challenges - The pet medical industry faces high operational costs, with labor costs for New Ruipeng rising from 22% of total revenue in 2015 to 52% in 2022, significantly impacting profit margins [4] - New Ruipeng has retracted its IPO application in the U.S. and is undergoing strategic contraction, reducing its number of stores from approximately 1,900 to around 1,600 [4] Industry Trends - The pet medical industry is experiencing a collective anxiety as it transitions from rapid expansion to a more regulated and standardized phase, with increasing operational costs and competitive pressures [6] - Companies like Guibao Pet and Zhongchong Co. are also facing similar challenges, with revenue growth not translating into profit, as seen in their recent quarterly reports [6] - The industry is exploring specialization, digital transformation, and ecosystem integration as potential solutions to overcome structural challenges [7] Future Directions - New Ruipeng is focusing on developing specialized services in areas such as feline care, ophthalmology, and cardiology, aiming to enhance the depth and precision of medical services [7] - The company is also investing in digital transformation, with a new system implemented in its hospitals to synchronize diagnostic records across its network, improving efficiency and reducing redundant checks [7] - Peng Yonghe's investment in Xiaowen Medical, where he became the largest shareholder, indicates a shift towards integrating AI applications in the pet medical field [7]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q2 2025, net sales decreased by 2.3% with comparable sales down 1.4% due to 25 net store closures in 2024 and an additional 10 closures year to date, bringing the U.S. store count to 1,388 [23][24] - Gross margin expanded by over 120 basis points to 39.3%, driven by a disciplined approach to average unit cost and retail pricing [25] - SG&A expenses decreased by $36 million year over year, leveraging more than 150 basis points, contributing to a $41 million increase in operating profit to $43 million [26][27] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by $30 million to $114 million, expanding nearly 220 basis points to 7.6% as a percentage of sales [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on improving store performance, which has shown positive results, while e-commerce is being retooled for profitability [61] - The introduction of new product categories aimed at humans has been initiated, responding to customer interest in pet-themed products [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The pet industry is currently showing flat growth, but the company is maintaining its market share while improving profitability [80] - Customer sentiment has improved, as indicated by sequential increases in the Net Promoter Score (NPS) since the end of the previous year [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is in Phase two of its transformation, focusing on operational improvements and preparing for Phase three, which aims for profitable sales growth [19] - The North Star project is being implemented to enhance customer experience, service delivery, merchandising differentiation, and omnichannel capabilities [56] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to deliver improvements and raised the adjusted EBITDA outlook for 2025 to between $385 million and $395 million, an increase of roughly 16% at the midpoint [29] - The company is preparing for potential tariff impacts in the second half of the year, which are expected to be more significant [43] Other Important Information - Free cash flow for the quarter was over $50 million, with a cash balance of $190 million and total liquidity of $684 million [28] - The company is committed to a disciplined promotional strategy and improving customer experience as part of its growth initiatives [19][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: When can the firm be held accountable for generating a positive comp? - Management indicated that results will likely begin to show up in 2026, with the third quarter being the hardest compare of the year [33] Question: Were gross margin gains primarily from online promotions? - Management noted that the focus has been on improving store performance, which represents the majority of sales, while e-commerce is being cleaned up for profitability [34][36] Question: How did gross margin perform relative to expectations? - Management expressed satisfaction with the gross margin expansion, which was driven by a disciplined approach to pricing and promotional strategies [42] Question: What updates can be provided on planogram resets? - Management confirmed that planogram resets have been completed successfully, improving on-shelf availability and store productivity [50] Question: What is the status of the e-commerce retooling? - Management stated that the e-commerce channel is more profitable now, and ongoing improvements are being made to enhance the customer experience [61] Question: What is behind the increase in NPS scores? - Management attributed the increase to various improvements in store experience and customer engagement efforts [64] Question: What are the biggest remaining execution gaps? - Management indicated that the focus is now on investing back into the business and continuing to build on the progress made [73]

Group 1: Pet Services Industry - The pet services sector has seen a remarkable recruitment growth of 72.2%, leading all service industries in job demand [2] - The demand for pet grooming and veterinary positions is particularly high, with pet grooming job postings accounting for 46.1% and growing by 73.9%, while veterinary positions represent 17.8% with a growth rate of 171.1% [2] - New first-tier cities dominate the pet services recruitment landscape, accounting for 34.4% of job postings, followed by second-tier cities at 24.9% and first-tier cities at 16.0% [2] Group 2: Elderly Care Industry - The elderly care sector is undergoing a transformation, with increased educational and experience requirements for job candidates; the proportion of positions requiring a bachelor's degree has risen from 15.3% to 24.7% [3] - The average monthly salary for the elderly care industry has increased by 10% compared to the same period in 2024 [3] Group 3: Gaming Industry - The gaming industry has experienced a significant increase in demand for operational and testing roles, with growth rates of 327.3% and 347.2% respectively, driven by advancements in 5G technology and heightened player expectations [4] - Game operation positions account for 34.5% of job postings in the gaming sector, highlighting their critical role in the gaming business chain [4] Group 4: Overall Trends in Modern Service Industry - The modern service industry is exhibiting rapid growth, with concentrated job demand across various sectors, indicating a favorable environment for job seekers to capitalize on emerging industry opportunities [5]

Core Insights - The pet industry in China is experiencing significant growth, with the market size increasing from 97.8 billion yuan in 2015 to 592.8 billion yuan in 2023, and projected to reach 811.4 billion yuan by 2025, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 25.4% [1] - The number of pets in China is expected to reach 430 million by 2024, with cat owners numbering 40.88 million, indicating an average of two cats per owner, and this figure is projected to grow to 570 million by 2029 [1] - The growth of the pet economy is driven by emotional factors, policy support, and technological innovation, which have encouraged companies to invest in research and development and improve product quality [1] Market Dynamics - The consumer base for pets is becoming younger and more educated, with over 60% of pet owners being born in the 1990s and 2000s, who prioritize the quality of life and personalized needs for their pets [2] - High-income, well-educated individuals tend to spend more on their pets, reflecting a trend of late marriage and childbearing, leading to increased emotional value and high-quality living for pets [2] - Online channels have become the primary sales avenue for pet food, although offline channels remain important for providing better shopping experiences and additional services [2] Product Trends - There is a shift towards high-quality and refined pet food, with trends such as "human-pet similarity" gaining traction, leading to increased demand for premium products like baked and fresh food [3] - The integration of technology in pet health management is on the rise, with over 70% of pet hospitals in first-tier cities adopting AI-assisted diagnostic tools [3] - The aging population and emerging markets are creating new growth opportunities, as more elderly individuals view pets as family members, leading to diverse consumption needs, particularly in food, health, and smart devices [3]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 2025, comparable sales decreased by 1.3% and net sales declined by 2.3%, attributed to 25 net store closures in 2024 and an additional five closures in Q1, resulting in a total store count of 1,393 [24] - Gross margin rate increased by over 30 basis points to 38.2%, with improvements across both product and service segments [25] - Operating profit rose to $16.4 million, an increase of $33 million compared to the previous year, while adjusted EBITDA increased by $13.8 million to $89.4 million, representing 6% of sales [27][28] - Free cash flow was negative $44 million, primarily due to incentive payouts during the quarter [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Services, the fastest-growing segment, continues to show positive growth, with productivity improvements in both veterinary and grooming operations supporting gross margin expansion [16] - The company is optimizing product assortment to align more closely with consumer demand, focusing on higher productivity brands and SKUs [10] - The cat category product reset was completed in May, and the dog category reset was initiated, aimed at increasing shelf capacity and improving customer experience [11][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted stable pet adoption trends, indicating that it is not relying on external factors for financial improvements in 2025 [34] - The overall pet market remains resilient, with consumable categories driving business due to their needs-based nature [60] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a multi-phased approach to improve its operating model and restore retail fundamentals, with Phase I completed and Phase II underway [5][6] - A new membership program is being designed to enhance customer loyalty, expected to launch in 2026 [20] - The company aims to improve its marketing message to be more solutions-oriented and to enhance customer engagement through data-driven strategies [21][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's strategy and the team's ability to unlock Petco's full potential, despite navigating a challenging trade environment [22][23] - The leadership team is aligned on the goal of returning Petco to an industry-leading position, emphasizing the importance of improving retail fundamentals and financial performance [22][23] Other Important Information - The company reiterated its full-year outlook for 2025, expecting net sales to decline in the low single digits and adjusted EBITDA to be between $375 million and $390 million [30] - The company is actively managing tariff exposure, with owned brand inventory purchases from impacted countries representing about 7% of total merchandise costs [29][30] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are you seeing in pet adoption trends and how do these trends impact your full year outlook? - Management noted stable pet adoption trends and emphasized that 2025 is a self-help story for Petco, not reliant on external factors for financial improvements [34][35] Question: How are you ensuring guardrails to take permanent costs out while keeping the customer experience intact? - Management highlighted a change in mindset towards cost management, focusing on leveraging SG&A rather than just cutting costs [36][39] Question: Can you provide insights on the top line journey and the repositioning efforts? - Management indicated that while external observers may see limited progress, internally, they are identifying growth levers and implementing strategies for improvement [42][44] Question: Can you discuss gross margin performance and expectations for the full year? - Management expressed satisfaction with the gross margin performance in Q1 and reiterated the goal of expanding gross margins for the year [51][52] Question: How is the mix of revenue indicating consumer behavior? - Management noted that services continue to lead the business, driven by needs-based categories, while consumables showed expected softness [60][67] Question: What is the outlook on inflation and pricing? - Management stated that while they are monitoring inflation, they have not seen significant spikes and are focused on balancing customer needs with business health [83][84] Question: Have you identified price gaps and how are you addressing them? - Management confirmed that they are analyzing pricing at the SKU level and have identified opportunities to adjust prices to improve competitiveness [86][87]