Beaphar is a Dutch family-owned company specialising in health, nutrition, hygiene, grooming, behaviour, and general welfare products for companion animals. Founded in 1942 by Bernard Aa, the business began with homeopathic remedies for dogs and cats before evolving into an international pet health and care enterprise. Today, Beaphar states that its products are available in more than 86 countries.[1][3]

The company describes itself as a family business and identifies family, accessibility, quality, and care as its core values.[1][2]

Founding and early years

Beaphar was established in the Netherlands in 1942 by Bernard Aa. The name is derived from the founder’s name and pharmaceutical origins: Bernard Aa Pharmacie.[1] Initially, the business focused on homeopathic products for dogs and cats. Between the 1950s and 1970s, Beaphar expanded significantly, moving into the development and manufacture of veterinary medicines and pet care products.[3]

Expansion under the Aa family

Management subsequently passed to J. Henk Aa, initiating a period of substantial growth. Through acquisitions, Beaphar entered additional national markets, including Germany, and broadened its product categories.[3] Family ownership remains central to the company’s identity, which explicitly describes itself as a family company.[2]

A significant milestone occurred in 1979 when Beaphar established its own research and development department and laboratory, strengthening its capacity to develop veterinary and pet health products internally.[3]

Flea control innovation

In 1983, Beaphar produced its first flea collars for dogs, establishing a presence in parasite control that became one of the brand’s most recognised categories.[3] In 1993, following eight years of research, the company registered its first flea spot-on products.[3] Beaphar later reported producing its 250 millionth flea collar, with production reaching approximately 12 million units per year at the time of that announcement.[2]

Acquisitions have played a vital role in expanding both Beaphar’s geographical footprint and product portfolio.[3] Notable transactions include:

• 1994: Acquisition of the British company Sherleys, a subsidiary of the Swiss pharmaceutical and chemical company Ciba-Geigy.[3]
• 2007: Acquisition of Sinclair Animal and Household Care Limited in the UK, which expanded Beaphar’s position in pet medicines and added a substantial range of fish products, including food, water treatments, and medicines.[3]

The company has since established sales offices in the Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Hungary, Spain, Poland, Norway, and the Czech Republic, while also distributing products internationally through a network of partners.[3]

Beaphar’s portfolio extends beyond conventional pet food, focusing heavily on pet health and everyday animal care. Current product categories include:[1][3]

Anti-parasite products

This is one of Beaphar’s most recognisable areas, addressing fleas, ticks, worms, and other internal and external parasites. Formats include flea collars, spot-on treatments, worming products, and environmental parasite treatments. The current range includes FIPROtec®, building on a history of flea collar production dating back to 1983.[1][3]

Healthcare

The healthcare portfolio supports everyday animal health and addresses common care needs. Depending on the market, products may include supplements, joint care, eye and ear care, wound care, and digestive support. Available medicines and formulations vary between countries due to national veterinary regulations, and Beaphar presents different portfolios on its various national websites.[1][3]

Dental care

Beaphar offers a dedicated dental care range for dogs and cats, including tooth gels and toothpaste. These products utilise ingredients such as enzymes intended to combat bacteria and plaque and reduce tartar formation.[3]

Food and treats

The company sells nutritional products and treats, including specialised items for smaller companion animals. The portfolio includes Care+® products for rabbits and rodents and XtraVital bird food.[1][3]

Behaviour and training

Beaphar operates in pet behaviour and stress management with calming products, training aids, and pheromone-based solutions. Examples include CatComfort®, a pheromone-based calming range for cats, and RabbitComfort® for rabbits.[3]

Grooming and hygiene

Everyday grooming and hygiene products cover coat care, skin care, cleaning, and general hygiene.[1][3]

The principal Beaphar portfolio covers several companion animal groups:

• Dogs: Parasite control, healthcare, dental care, nutrition, behaviour products, grooming, and hygiene.[3]
• Cats: Parasite protection, healthcare, nutrition, dental care, behaviour, and grooming.[3]
• Rabbits and rodents: A substantial small-animal range covering rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and other rodents, including food, parasite control, healthcare, grooming, and hygiene.[3]
• Birds: Bird food, healthcare, parasite control, and grooming products, with XtraVital being a well-known food range.[3]
• Fish: Fish products were integrated through the acquisition of Sinclair and are particularly associated with the King British subsidiary/brand.[3]
• Horses: Market expansion achieved through acquisitions involving the PrimeVal brand.[3]

Key names associated with the Beaphar portfolio include:

These examples are not exhaustive, as Beaphar’s product portfolio differs by country.[1][3]

Beaphar’s central proposition is accessible pet healthcare. The company aims to provide pet owners with high-quality, reliable, and affordable health, care, and nutrition products, identifying family, accessibility, quality, and care as core values.[1][3]

This creates a positioning between veterinary/pharmaceutical products, everyday pet healthcare and prevention, and pet grooming, nutrition, and lifestyle products. Consequently, Beaphar operates across a broad pet health and companion animal care ecosystem rather than functioning solely as a pet food brand.

Beaphar emphasises its own manufacturing and R&D capabilities. Company history states that products are manufactured in four factories located in Raalte and Hedel in the Netherlands, and Gainsborough in the United Kingdom, with additional manufacturing capacity being developed in Raalte.[3] The establishment of the R&D department in 1979 provided an internal laboratory specifically for developing veterinary products.[3]

Beaphar states its products are available in more than 86 countries.[1][3] Its international model combines proprietary sales organisations in selected countries with distributors elsewhere. While the official international website presents the company as a global pet care brand, individual national websites provide country-specific products, advice, and regulatory information.[3]

Beaphar’s overarching message is “Because Pets Are Family Too”, reflecting the belief that pets should receive the same consideration and quality of care as human family members.[3] The company identifies four principal values:[2]

• Family: Recognising pets as members of the family.
• Accessibility: Making products and services broadly available and affordable.
• Quality: Emphasising product quality, safety, and effectiveness.
• Care: Placing animal welfare and responsible pet ownership at the centre of activities.

Beaphar also states that 90% of its employees have pets themselves, presenting this as evidence of the connection between its workforce and its mission.[3]

Sustainability is a component of Beaphar’s corporate strategy. The company aims to make its operations more sustainable, linking this effort to the broader objective of protecting the welfare of pets, people, and the planet, including future generations.[1][3] This approach connects environmental policy with the wider concept of responsible pet care and family welfare.

Several factors distinguish Beaphar from other pet brands:

• Long history: With roots dating to 1942, Beaphar has over eight decades of history in pet healthcare.[3]
• Family ownership: Unlike many large consumer pet care brands owned by multinational conglomerates, Beaphar presents itself as a family company with the Aa family playing a central historical role.[2]
• Healthcare heritage: The business developed from pharmaceutical and homeopathic products into veterinary medicines and pet healthcare, rather than starting primarily as a pet food or accessories company.[3]
• Parasite control expertise: Flea and tick control has been historically important, including early flea collar production from 1983 and subsequent spot-on products.[1][3]
• Broad portfolio: The company covers a wide spectrum ranging from medicines and parasite control to food, dental care, grooming, behaviour, and animal wellness.[3]

Beaphar is best understood as a pet health and care company rather than simply a pet food company. The following table illustrates the difference in business scope:

Beaphar is a long-established Dutch family-owned animal health and pet care company founded in 1942 by Bernard Aa. It evolved from a small producer of homeopathic dog and cat products into an international business spanning veterinary medicines, parasite control, nutrition, dental care, grooming, behavioural support, and general pet healthcare.[1][3]

Its strongest historical identity lies in pet health and parasite control expertise, particularly regarding flea and tick products. The modern portfolio encompasses dogs, cats, small mammals, and birds, with associated businesses covering fish and horses.[1][3] The brand’s philosophy centres on making reliable pet healthcare accessible and affordable while treating pets as family members. International reach, family ownership, historical longevity, internal R&D, and a broad product portfolio remain central to its identity.[1][3]

1. Our family history – Beaphar
2. Over Beaphar – Beaphar
3. Beaphar | Because pets are family too