Although Pet Essentials Limited was formed in March 2002, the directors were made up of an existing group of Pet Store Franchise owners who had already been working in their stores for many years. All Pet Essentials stores are individually owned and operated and are still operating under their original owners/management, with Wanganui (operating since 1995) and the newst being the Hastings store which opened June 2009.

Originally no Pet Essentials stores carried pets of any form, however with the changing times, so has the need for stores to grow in different areas. A number of Pet Essentials stores are now selling pets and fish.

Because all stores are individually owned, products in the stores can vary, however most of the stores have access to the same suppliers and should there be a product you require please ask.

Meats have always been a specialty line at Pet Essentials where customers can choose from many combinations of minces, meats & bones. Beef, steak & kidney, chicken, mutton, fish, liver and even venison are meats commonly found in stores, although meats can be seasonal so stocks can vary from time to time.