Posted:27-May-2026
From rookie to veteran: Petpals celebrates 25 years with a tale of two franchisees
As Petpals celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, the UK’s longest-established multi-service pet care franchise is proving its business model stands the test of time. Highlighting this enduring appeal are two franchisees at completely opposite ends of their journeys: one marking two decades of sustained success and another just launching his entrepreneurial adventure.
In Darlington, David Gray is celebrating 20 years of running his thriving Petpals franchise. He originally chose the brand when searching for a career change that offered strong values, a proven business model and genuine long-term potential.
“When I first joined, I wanted a business I could be proud of,” said David. “Two decades later, I’m still just as passionate about what we do. That says a huge amount about the people behind the brand and the culture we’ve built. The pet-care industry has evolved massively over the last 20 years but the core need for reliability, professionalism and genuine care has never changed.”
Today, David splits his time between managing his loyal Darlington client base and mentoring the next generation of business owners as Brand Development Manager - a dual role that bridges the gap between the network’s heritage and its future.
“Seeing new franchisees enter the network with the same enthusiasm and ambition that I had 20 years ago is fantastic,” David added. “There is a deep-rooted culture of peer-to-peer support here, which is exactly why the business is still growing after 25 years.”
One of those fresh faces benefiting from David’s experience is Andy Tierney, who launched Petpals Halesowen earlier this year. Andy’s diverse career spans the Armed Forces, policing, hospitality and acting, but when it came to launching his own business, it was the market reputation and visible longevity of veterans like David that convinced him to take the entrepreneurial leap.
“What really stood out to me was Petpals’ sheer professionalism,” Andy explained. “They’ve been leading the market for a long time because they care about protecting their reputation and ensuring the right fit. The more I learned, the more confident I became. Since making the commitment, I’ve never looked back.”
The transition into business ownership was seamless for Andy, largely thanks to the collaborative nature of the network and direct mentorship from David. “The training and onboarding support have been exceptional,” said Andy. “I had transparent, rigorous conversations with the management team before joining. It was clear Petpals ensures the opportunity works for both sides and having someone as experienced as David as a constant source of support has been invaluable as I scale my business.”
For Kevin Thackrah, Director of Petpals, the synergy between David’s milestone anniversary and Andy’s recent launch perfectly encapsulates the unique strength of the network during this silver anniversary year.
“Longevity in franchising doesn’t happen by accident,” said Kevin. “It’s the result of robust systems, ongoing innovation and a community of franchisees who genuinely care about their clients. As we celebrate Petpals’ anniversary, seeing David thriving after 20 years while Andy chooses to invest his future with us today is the ultimate testament to our business model. We’re incredibly proud of the resilient, supportive community we’ve built over the last quarter of a century.”
Interested and want to know more about Petpals ?
The Petpals profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
