In 2021, we celebrated 30 years of our existence and 5 years since renewing our visual identity and changing our name from Samohýl & Co. to Samohýl group. Why Samohýl group? We have grown from a wholesale company to a company that, beyond the classic veterinary wholesale activities, carries out a number of other business activities (we are also a wholesaler of pet supplies, we own a retail pet shop chain with more than 40 stores across the Czech Republic and an e-shop, as well as a brand of locally produced sewn products for animals called Samohýl Exclusive).
On 1 July 1991, after 41 years of state-run economy, Czech veterinary service was privatized and more than 1,500 veterinarians were free to start their own businesses. The newly created business environment brought with it a demand for the services of veterinary wholesalers. And so, almost by accident, Petr Samohýl and his partners founded Pharmvet, one of the first of its kind in the newly emerging market.
The same year, the company was renamed Samohýl and Co.
In 1993, we started trading with the world’s leading manufacturers of veterinary medicines and in many cases, we were the first Czech company they came into contact with.
For example, we were the first to import Ivomec (then manufactured by MSD Agvet).
In 1998, we bought the site of our current headquarters in Smetana Street, Lomnice nad Popelkou. The building was built at the beginning of the 20th century and functioned as Kolorenč’s mechanical spinning mill. In 1936, the Šlecht brothers bought it and attached it to their company (Textile Plants p. a. Šlechta & Son). In 1945, the firm was nationalized and became a part of TECHNOLEN National Company (Plant 15 was established on the premises). Before the Velvet revolution in 1989, the plant closed down and part of the headquarters offices moved there. After the fall of the communist regime, the building was privatized and, until we purchased it, it housed the company Hubař Wholesale s.r.o.
In 1999, we became an exclusive distributor of Purina Pro Plan pet food produced at that time by Ralston Purina. The exclusivity continued after the company was acquired by Nestle Purina Pet Care and lasted until 2013. That is how we became active as a wholesaler on the Czech pet shop market.
The first Zvěrokruh store – the foundation of the future chain – opened in Běhounská Street, Brno.
From 2001 to 2012 we held the annual Veterinarians’ Ball at Žofín, Prague, which was regularly attended by hundreds of guests, not only veterinarians.
As a distributor, we are partly a logistics company (we have been running our own transport and supply system since the beginning). In 2006, we purchased our first CNG vehicle. Today, more than half of our fleet (85 vehicles in total) runs on this fuel.
Since 2007, the company’s headquarters have been gradually undergoing an extensive reconstruction of the administrative and entrance area.
In 2010, we merged with Sanvet and acquired 100% of the Zvěrokruh store chain.
In 2012, we bought the “Potato Depot”, which we have been renting since 2001 and using as a warehouse for feeds and pet supplies. Since then, we significantly expanded the built-in area (from 3,700 m2 to 5,720 m2).
We celebrated 25 years of existence and changed our name. Now we are Samohýl group.
We switched to a new version of the Microsoft Dynamic NAV enterprise system and introduced a WMS (Warehouse Management System).
We have launched a major visual transformation of our Zvěrokruh stores. In the coming years, our stores will get a new face combining quality, design and, above all, great customer experience.
We’re consolidating warehouses! In September, we moved the pharmacy warehouse from the headquarters building to our “Potato Depot” warehouse.
We have built a new parking lot with two EV charging stations at the headquarters in Lomnice nad Popelkou. We have relocated our data centre to a new hosting facility, which is more efficient and environmentally friendly. We continue developing the Zvěrokruh chain: existing stores are being modernized, and new ones are opening. In our remodeled store in Prague, we have opened a self-service pet salon! Improvements have also been made to the sales system: we have implemented in-store reservations, the “buy online, pick-up in store” option, and electronic receipt of goods.
This year, we did not slack off in the company’s development—on the contrary! At our headquarters, we opened new wash bays that meet high ecological standards and make the maintenance of our vehicle park easier. We started the construction of a new, modern warehouse, reflecting the company’s growth and increased turnover. Last but not least, we continued developing our ZVĚROKRUH retail chain and transport fleet, for which we purchased our first fully electric delivery van.
