VAFO invests in PEZZ Life to expand pet health diagnostics

AUSTRIA – VAFO Group has made a strategic investment in Austrian pet health diagnostics company PEZZ life as the European pet food group expands its focus beyond nutrition into prevention, diagnostics and broader pet wellbeing.

The investment will establish scientific and commercial cooperation between PEZZ life and Biome9, the gut health testing company acquired by VAFO through its Pooch & Mutt brand in 2025. 

The companies will explore synergies across their diagnostic and testing portfolios while continuing to operate independently.

PEZZ life specialises in pet health diagnostics, providing testing capabilities that VAFO said could complement Biome9’s existing expertise in personalised gut health testing.

The cooperation will focus on developing a joint roadmap covering commercial, scientific and operational opportunities across the two companies’ diagnostic platforms.

“PEZZ life’s diagnostic capabilities are a strong complement to the work we’re doing at Biome9,” said Bushra Abu-Helil, Head of Science and Research at Biome9. 

“There’s real potential to advance preventive pet healthcare together, combining our science and data with PEZZ’s testing platform.”

VAFO said the investment supports its ambition to build a broader platform connecting pet nutrition, prevention and health insights. 

The company sees diagnostics as a way to complement nutrition with additional information that can support pet owners and veterinarians in understanding animal health.

“Our ambition is to move beyond nutrition and play a broader role in pet wellbeing,” said Timo Pärssinen, Board Member and Head of Commercial at VAFO Group.

PEZZ life founder and CEO Markus Zengerer said the partnership could combine expertise across nutrition, prevention and diagnostics while supporting the company’s next stage of development.

The investment follows VAFO’s acquisition of Biome9 in January 2025. Through Pooch & Mutt, Biome9 provides personalised gut health testing and supplement plans for dogs, adding a science-led health dimension to VAFO’s pet nutrition portfolio.

The move also comes shortly after VAFO strengthened its position in Germany through the acquisition of Pets Deli, a premium pet food brand with a strong direct-to-consumer business.

The August 2026 deal added a digital consumer platform to VAFO’s European portfolio, alongside the group’s manufacturing, research and procurement capabilities.

VAFO said the wider strategy is to develop a European portfolio that combines premium pet nutrition with deeper consumer relationships, digital capabilities and science-backed pet health solutions.

The group has more than €700 million (US$811 million) in annual revenue and operates across multiple European markets, with its pet food products distributed in more than 90 countries.

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