Musti and ICA start discussions on a long-term partnership following the transfer of ICA’s Gaston Stores to Musti Group

Musti Group plcPress Release 10 July 2026 at 2.00 p.m. EEST

Musti and ICA start discussions on a long-term partnership following the transfer of ICA’s Gaston Stores to Musti Group

Following a strategic review, ICA is transferring the three Gaston stores in Uppsala, Västerås and Norrköping to Sweden’s largest pet retail chain, Arken Zoo, fully owned by Musti Group. At the same time, discussions have been initiated regarding continued cooperation.

Gaston was launched in October 2024 as a pilot project to test a specialized retail concept and increase understanding of how ICA can best meet the needs of pet owners. Following the evaluation, ICA has decided not to continue operating the concept itself and will instead transfer the stores to Arken Zoo, an established player with extensive experience in the pet market.

Arken Zoo will take over the Gaston stores in Uppsala, Västerås and Norrköping. At the same time, a dialogue is being initiated regarding a long-term collaboration between ICA and Arken Zoo, through which the companies can jointly develop the offering and explore additional locations where complementary pet retail concepts can be established near ICA stores, creating attractive shopping destinations.

“We are pleased by the trust placed in us to take over the Gaston stores and look forward to further developing them under the Arken Zoo brand. Together with ICA, we see strong opportunities to strengthen the offering and make it even easier for pet owners to find products and services for their animals. We look forward to establishing a long-term partnership with ICA so that our customers can benefit from having more Arken Zoo stores close to them across Sweden,” says David Rönnberg, CEO at Musti Group.

“The pilot project provided us with valuable insights and strengthened our understanding of what pet owners are looking for. The pet market remains important to ICA Gruppen. This is reflected in our overall offering – from pet food in ICA stores to pet insurance through ICA Insurance and prescription medicines and other products for animals through Apotek Hjärtat. We have previously had positive experiences with Arken Zoo, and our discussions have given us strong confidence in their ability to continue developing what we have built with Gaston,” says Peter Muld, Acting Chief Strategy Officer at ICA Gruppen.

With this transaction, ICA concludes the Gaston pilot project. The Gaston stores and e-commerce operations will remain open during the transition period. ICA and Arken Zoo are working together to ensure a smooth handover for customers and employees.

Additional information:     

Martin Svedholm

Director, Treasury, Insurances and Investor Relations

tel. +358 50579 0324, martin.svedholm@mustigroup.com

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Musti Group in brief

Musti makes the life of pets and their owners easier, safer and more fun. We are the leading Nordic pet care company with an increasing footprint in the Baltic countries and Portugal. Our omnichannel business model caters the needs of pets and their owners across Finland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Portugal. We offer a wide, curated assortment of pet products. We also provide pet care services such as grooming, training and veterinary services in selected locations.

Musti Group’s net sales were EUR 509 million in 2025. At the end of year 2025, the company had almost 4,000 employees, 1.9 million customers and 497 stores.