Vets First Choice Acquires VetCentric to Form Nation's Largest Online Veterinary Partner Pharmacy and Marketing Services Provider

PORTLAND, Maine, Jan. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Vets First Choice announced today that it has acquired Maryland-based online veterinary pharmacy VetCentric. The combined independent company becomes the nation's largest online veterinary partner pharmacy and marketing services provider, serving more than 6,000 veterinary practices and over 25 million pet owners.

The acquisition represents a significant development in the veterinary pharmacy market that has seen increased competition from big box retailers and Internet pharmacies, erosion of veterinary practice revenues and growing concerns over pet owner data privacy. The joining of Vets First Choice and VetCentric empowers independent veterinary hospitals with the ability to offer pet-owner clients a complete range of competitively priced pharmacy products, convenient online ordering and home delivery, effective client communications, and assurance of data privacy and pharmacy practices.

"We look forward to bringing the talents and capabilities of these two formidable companies together to create the market leading provider of partner-pharmacy services," said Benjamin Shaw, CEO of Direct Vet Marketing, Inc. and its Vets First Choice and VetCentric subsidiaries. "VetCentric was the pioneer in the veterinary partner-pharmacy market and has done an outstanding job at building a strong service-based culture. Vets First Choice offers a powerful online store and sophisticated marketing services that have a proven and measurable impact on medical compliance and veterinary practice revenues. Both companies share a strong commitment to quality pharmacy practices and services."

Veterinary practice partners of Vets First Choice and VetCentric will benefit from a new state-of-the-art online store that leverages the latest technologies to create a user-friendly, intuitive shopping environment for pet owners that is branded to the individual practice. Powerful back-office tools provide veterinarians with paperless prescription authorizations and order management, including visibility on overdue medication refills. The combined company offers the broadest product assortment and most competitive pricing in the category via preferred supplier agreements with major manufacturers and increased economies of scale.

About Direct Vet Marketing        

Direct Vet Marketing, Inc., which operates Vets First Choice, VetCentric and MyVetsMeds, is the nation's largest online veterinary partner-pharmacy and marketing services company and the only one licensed in 48 states, Vet-VIPPS and PCAB accredited and LegitScript certified. The company offers veterinary practices and their clients the convenience of online ordering and home delivery of more than 5,000 competitively priced prescription drugs, compounded medications, therapeutic diets and lifestyle products. Its pharmacy offering is supported by state-of-the-art, practice-branded online stores and robust marketing programs designed to increase medical compliance and improve preventive care for pet owner clients. Direct Vet Marketing is headquartered in Portland, ME, with pharmacy and service operations in Omaha, NE, Wamego, KS, Glen Burnie, MD, and Phoenix, AZ. More information is available at http://www.myvetsfirstchoice.com and http://www.vetcentric.com.

Media Contact:

Jacqueline Garan
[email protected]
207.756.5068

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SOURCE Direct Vet Marketing, Inc.