Symply Group will showcase five premium pet nutrition brands together for the first time at Interzoo 2026, as it presents a unified strategy designed to help specialist pet retailers strengthen margins and differentiate from retail competition.
The group brings together five complementary premium brands offering possibilities for different customer needs:
- Canagan – the original ancestral diet. Grain-free nutrition developed following retailer demand
- Symply – trusted, accessible premium nutrition
- Tribal – cold-pressed, fresh meat, minimally processed recipes
- McAdams – ethically sourced, high-welfare foods
- Yora – sustainable insect protein innovation
Supermarkets are expanding premium ranges. Online marketplaces accelerate price comparison. Vertically integrated brands increasingly control both product and distribution.
For independent pet retailers, differentiation has never mattered more. At Interzoo 2026, Symply Group will present five premium brands together on a unified stand for the first time. According to James Milbourne, Joint Managing Director, it’s all about strengthening the specialist channel,
“We are building structure that strengthens margin, simplifies operations and gives independent retailers clearer positioning.”
Built from the shop floor, Symply Group’s roots remain close to independent retail.
Founder, Eddie Milbourne, began as a pet shop owner in the south of England. Frustrated by inconsistent product quality, he started importing premium US brands into the UK and became one of the largest importers of Nutro.
When that brand was later acquired by a multinational corporation, he witnessed how reformulation and corporate shifts can alter product integrity – and how specialist retailers can lose control of the brands they helped build.
That experience shaped a principle that still defines the group:
- Strengthen the specialist channel
- Maintain product integrity
- Build brands that cannot be substituted by mass retail
Today, Symply Group remains 100% family-owned, operates in 45 countries and supports more than 10,000 independent retailers globally.
“Our brands were built in independent stores and for the customers they serve,” says Milbourne. “We grow alongside our retail partners – not at their expense.”
A portfolio built on positioning, not price
Rather than competing on discount cycles, Symply Group focuses on clear category architecture. Each brand occupies a defined role, enabling retailers to offer trade-up pathways and distinct solutions within premium nutrition.
Strategic simplicity
Managing multiple premium suppliers often means fragmented account management, varying commercial terms and operational complexity.
Values-led differentiation
Independent retailers rarely win long-term by reacting to short-term discount pressure. Symply Group’s philosophy is that sustainable growth is values-led – built around sourcing, integrity and brand story.
The business has been carbon neutral since 2020, generates solar energy at its UK headquarters and distribution centre, and supports environmental initiatives, including rainforest protection projects in Cambodia.
A long-term retail partnership model
Symply Group remains committed to specialist retail. Canagan itself was developed following requests from one of the group’s earliest retail partners – an example of how innovation is shaped by in-store conversations.
Interzoo 2026: a unified showcase
At Interzoo 2026, Symply Group will bring its brands together while preserving each brand’s distinct identity.
As the market continues to evolve, the group believes the specialist channel has a strong future – supported by protected distribution, clear positioning and strategic partnership.
“Independent pet retailers are the backbone of our industry,” says Milbourne. “Our role is to provide the brands, structure and support that help them stand apart and grow.”
At Interzoo 2026, Symply Group invites specialist retailers and international partners to explore how five premium brands under one strategic partnership can reduce complexity, strengthen margin and unlock long-term growth.