Southeast Pet is now owned by the employees…all of them!

Austell, GA, March 1, 2016:  Effective December 31, 2015, Southeast Pet became an employee owned company (ESOP).

“Like so many other distributors, we were approached numerous times with opportunities to sell the business” states Greg Judge, CEO and co-founder (along with wife, Holly).  “Regardless of the industry, acquisitions often result in consolidating and downsizing.  I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing team members that have worked for us for so long, some 20+ and some 30+ years, lose their jobs.  Southeast Pet means too much to me to let that happen.  Our customers, many of them longtime friends, have made it clear that they want to see Southeast Pet remain their independent pet supply distributor.  Selling the business to the well deserving Southeast Pet team was the best way that I could accomplish everything that I was looking to achieve.”

“This whole process had been about 18 months in the making” explains Ryan Judge, President.  “Once we clearly understood Greg and Holly’s wishes, the real work began.  I’m excited for them both.  In terms of company leadership, nothing will be changing for the foreseeable future.  Until ownership fully transitions over to the team, Greg will remain in charge.  He will transition more and more responsibility to the Southeast Pet leadership team over time.  I plan on remaining with the business and I’m very excited about the future of Southeast Pet.”

Based in Metro Atlanta, Southeast Pet’s 133,000 square-foot distribution center supplies pet specialty retailers in six southeastern states.  A second distribution center, opened in 2013 in Lakeland, FL, services the Florida market.