Live Aquaria sold

Mastiffsrule · Jul 14, 2020

#WelcometoR2R @CakeyCake

Nice to meet you. That was a big introduction so we should say hello too

CakeyCake · Jul 14, 2020

Mastiffsrule said:
#WelcometoR2R @CakeyCake

Nice to meet you. That was a big introduction so we should say hello too

Quite the way to introduce myself lol
I've been lurking for quite a while but decided to post after seeing this thread with no actual proof of the sale

fishguy242 · Jul 14, 2020

CakeyCake said:
Quite the way to introduce myself lol
I've been lurking for quite a while but decided to post after seeing this thread with no actual proof of the sale

nice ,and welcome to the reef,i have been watching off and on ...proof

Huskymaniac · Jul 14, 2020

My guess is ORA bought them or one of the big whole sale distributors such as Quality Marine. Liveaquaria has always been good to me and will always continue to order for them. I am actually about to place an order but holding out hope for another day they get a pink streak wrasse in.

ca1ore · Jul 14, 2020

Other than the divers den stuff and ORA, live aquaria has essentially been an order taking entity with most/all of the actual shipments coming from Quality Marine. Lots of speculation in this thread, some of it insightful and some of it .... well, not. Large companies buy and sell businesses all the time for any number of reasons. Maybe because the particular business was underperforming, maybe because it no longer fit their business strategy .... maybe something else. Will be interesting to see who has bought them.

jeffrey750750 · Jul 15, 2020

I hope if they are selling it they retain the employee's who have done such a wonderful job. I've been happy with them in my ordering

CK00020 · Jul 15, 2020

It would be great if they opened up the retail shop again, it was always packed before petco

Feet4Fish · Jul 15, 2020

I am just optimistic that Kevin and his team can keep doing their thing! Perhaps with new ownership they can take it to another level!

ca1ore · Jul 15, 2020

Feet4Fish said:
I am just optimistic that Kevin and his team can keep doing their thing! Perhaps with new ownership they can take it to another level!

Yes, nice to see, at least initially, that the employees are being retained. That suggests the new owner does not already have a similar business.

BZOFIQ · Jul 15, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
As there is so much potential, I hope this is for the best. Going out of Petco's hand is already a positive !

I too wasn't happy when they after all these years they got bought out.

RUKelly · Jul 15, 2020

Tmr8188 said:
Haven’t seen this posted anywhere but Live Aquaria has been sold to an independent company. I am interested to see what direction they go in.

I believe they had been sold a couple years back to a large chain pet supermarket.

revhtree · Jul 15, 2020

Believe this or not but I have no info about this transaction or any other dealings within this company. I will say though after reading this I am pretty excited and optimistic about the direction this looks to be going. Again I don't know who bought them just speculating myself. That being said Kevin Kohen and his team are TOP NOTCH and always have been. I have a great deal of respect for them and I know this has to be leading to bigger and better things!

goettemm · Jul 15, 2020

Who remembers the predecessor to DFS - Flying Fish Express? That was my go-to back in the day...

hllb · Jul 15, 2020

goettemm said:
Who remembers the predecessor to DFS - Flying Fish Express? That was my go-to back in the day...

;Stop
I returned to the hobby after around 15 years and looked up FFE!

User1 · Jul 15, 2020

Lear31a said:
pandemic economics, Petco had to have a high debt service from the 2015 acquisition. Pandemic hits, cash reserve and cash flow hits rock bottom. Now you are looking at heavy bank penalties for not maintaining contracted cash reserves for scheduled debt serving. Time to find a quick asset sale.

Maybe. A lot of us are caught up in it even in IT. It is all creative accounting sadly. I was furloughed last week. No ETA on return. Have to love that....NOT.

But yeah - lots of stuff happening so a sell like this very well could be.

User1 · Jul 15, 2020

jeffrey750750 said:
I hope if they are selling it they retain the employee's who have done such a wonderful job. I've been happy with them in my ordering

I hope so. Who knows in todays market and new people bring what they know usually. Then again I"m no tin the fish/coral/retail business so maybe it is different. Sure does suck looking for a job in the pandemic.

Debramb · Jul 15, 2020

Biggestfish said:
I received fish from them today and last week. Both orders came in looking great. Todays order had some free samples and a Biota sticker in it also. That’s a first. Nice touch for sure.

Me to, 2 corals and a bluehead fairy wrasse and samples, all great, wrasse eating like a pig and scrubbed, dipped the hell out of the corals, all good so far, from DD

Feet4Fish · Jul 15, 2020

Debramb said:
Me to, 2 corals and a bluehead fairy wrasse and samples, all great, wrasse eating like a pig and scrubbed, dipped the hell out of the corals, all good so far, from DD

In last four weeks have received all from DD:

imperator
passer
Banana wrasse
Blue Toby puffer
Mckoskers wrasse
Magnificent foxface
Quoyi Parrot
Red Breasted Wrasse

all came in great and all have passed or are passing through observational QT with no problems!

LiveAquaria · Jul 15, 2020

As LiveAquaria® celebrates its 20th Anniversary, we want to take this opportunity to share important news to you, our loyal and valued LiveAquaria® customers:

Petco has entered into an agreement to sell LiveAquaria® to an independent company who is eager to take our brand to exciting new levels! The sale is scheduled to close in late July. The entire LiveAquaria team at our headquarters in Rhinelander, Wisconsin will continue in their same positions and roles with the new organization.

My role as LiveAquaria Director continues and increases as a stakeholder with the new ownership group. I am very excited to help lead our dedicated and passionate team to new levels. We look forward to an exciting future as we pursue new and innovative ways to ensure you, our valued customers, receive the best customer service, brand-name products, and the highest quality aquatic life you've grown accustomed to with LiveAquaria®.

Again, thank you for your loyal patronage.

Sincerely,
Kevin Kohen
LiveAquaria Director

Peace River · Jul 15, 2020

LiveAquaria said:
As LiveAquaria® celebrates its 20th Anniversary, we want to take this opportunity to share important news to you, our loyal and valued LiveAquaria® customers:

Petco has entered into an agreement to sell LiveAquaria® to an independent company who is eager to take our brand to exciting new levels! The sale is scheduled to close in late July. The entire LiveAquaria team at our headquarters in Rhinelander, Wisconsin will continue in their same positions and roles with the new organization.

My role as LiveAquaria Director continues and increases as a stakeholder with the new ownership group. I am very excited to help lead our dedicated and passionate team to new levels. We look forward to an exciting future as we pursue new and innovative ways to ensure you, our valued customers, receive the best customer service, brand-name products, and the highest quality aquatic life you've grown accustomed to with LiveAquaria®.

Again, thank you for your loyal patronage.

Sincerely,
Kevin Kohen
LiveAquaria Director