Wayne-based Pet Valu Closes Up Across U.S., Tredyffrin Twp. Hit
WAYNE, PA — Pet Valu is selling out to the shelves and employees at its Tredyffrin Township corporate office are slated to lose jobs as the pet retail brand closes its 358 U.S. stores and warehouses.
Pet Valu said it will lay off 64 people at its corporate office at 489 Devon Park Drive, Suite 320, Tredyffrin Township, near Wayne. The layoffs are expected to happen between Jan. 6 and Jan. 29, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
The company cited a "severe impact" from COVID-19 as the reason it is closing U.S. stores and warehouses.
In the Philadelphia area, the state DLI also warned of a total of 157 layoffs. Beside the 64 expected in Tredyffrin Township, 93 will lose jobs at Pet Valu's Bucks County warehouse near Levittown as soon as Jan. 6.
The Department of Labor and Industry's Warn Notices page announces closures and layoffs of more than 50 employees at a given location.
Other locations closing in Chester County, but not listed on the state's Warn Notice page, are the Phoenixville Schuylkill Road store, the Royerford store on Buckwalter Road, the Oaks location on Egypt Road, the E. Swedesford Road store, the Eagleview store, the East Whiteland Township store on Lancaster Avenue, and W. Lancaster Avenue store in Exton.
"The Pet Valu U.S. team is proud to have met the needs of our devoted pet lover customers in the U.S. for more than 25 years. However, the Company's stores have been significantly impacted by the protracted COVID-19-related restrictions," said Jamie Gould, Chief Restructuring Officer of Pet Valu Inc. "After a thorough review of all available alternatives, we made the difficult but necessary decision to commence this orderly wind down."
Pet Value's website says it is opening stores at varied hours with sales to sell out merchandise. It says the "entire store" is on sale at 20-40 percent discounts, and customers are encouraged to bring in gift cards and redeem their rewards now.
Pet Valu also encouraged people to buy up and closeout prices and donate. A Pet Valu social media post said, "With most products in our stores up to 40 percent off during our Store Closing Sale, please consider purchasing discounted products to donate to your local animal shelter, food pantry, or other charitable organization."
Pet Valu Canada, a separate company based in Ontario, will not be impacted by the closures, according to the company.
Montana Samuels contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on the Tredyffrin-Easttown Patch
