On November 12, 2025, Holding Nicole notified the French competition authority of its intention to acquire exclusive control of Zoomalia.

After a thorough examination, the authority concluded that the transaction posed no risk to competition and granted unconditional clearance.

Holding Nicole operates a network of 123 franchised pet stores under the brand 'JMT Le Royaume des Animaux' and also runs a purchasing center for its stores. Zoomalia, on the other hand, is involved in the retail distribution of pet supplies through its website, mobile app, and 39 pet stores.

In its assessment, the authority defined a market for the retail distribution of pet supplies for the first time in a merger control decision. It evaluated the impact of the merger on local markets, noting that consumers typically purchase pet supplies from nearby physical stores, despite online availability.

The authority found that the combined market shares of the new entity would remain limited, and there would be sufficient alternative suppliers available, including pet stores, garden centers, and farm supply stores. Therefore, it determined that the merger would not harm competition in the relevant markets.

As a result, the French competition authority cleared the acquisition unconditionally, with the full decision expected to be published soon.