Independent, but never alone. VetFamily 25 years.

Twenty-five years ago, a small group of veterinary clinic owners in Denmark had a simple but powerful idea: that independent clinics could achieve far more by standing together than by standing apart. That idea became VetFamily, and today it guides us across 14 countries and more than 11,000 clinics worldwide.

It started with a group of independent veterinary clinics in Denmark who decided to do something different. Rather than compete in isolation, they chose to pool their strength. Sharing knowledge, negotiating collectively, and building something none of them could have built alone. In 2001, that decision became VetFamily.

A quarter of a century later, the organisation those pioneering clinics founded has grown into a global community. But the spirit that brought them together, the conviction that independent veterinary practice is worth protecting and strengthening, remains exactly the same.

A founding story rooted in independence

When VetFamily was formally established in 2001 by the founding group clinics in Denmark, its ambition was clear: free independent veterinary professionals from the burden of administrative complexity, give them real commercial strength, and let them focus on what they do best – caring for animals and the people who love them.

"The founding clinics in Denmark understood something that still defines us today: that being independent doesn’t mean being on your own. It means having the freedom to practise on your own terms, backed by a community that genuinely has your back. That idea travels. It resonates just as powerfully in Spain, in the US, in Australia, as it did in Denmark in 2001" says Michael Thunell, VetFamily’s CEO.

The model that travelled the world

For several years VetFamily proved its value in the Danish market, building the infrastructure, the supplier relationships, and the trust that independent clinics needed to thrive commercially without sacrificing their identity. Then the wider veterinary landscape began to shift.

As corporate consolidation accelerated across Europe, something interesting happened: the VetFamily model didn’t just survive, it became more relevant. Independent clinic owners looking for an alternative to being acquired found in VetFamily exactly what they needed: collective strength without the loss of ownership. A community, not a corporation.

Step by step, the model expanded beyond Denmark’s borders. New markets. New colleagues. New clinic communities, each with their own character but all drawn to the same fundamental promise. Today VetFamily operates in more than 14 countries, is part of the Vimian Group, and the community of member clinics has grown to over 11,000 strong.

"Looking back, what makes me proudest is not the numbers, though they are something to be proud of. It is that we have stayed true to what the founding clinics believed in. We have never tried to control the clinics we work with. Our job is to make them stronger. That has always been the guiding principle, and it still is" says Annette Berth, Country Manager for VetFamily in Denmark.

Denmark: where the community began

For the Danish veterinary community, this anniversary carries particular weight. Denmark is where the idea was born, where the first members took the leap, and where the model was tested and refined before it was ready to travel. Today around 175 Danish clinics are part of the VetFamily community, and the culture of peer support, mutual trust, and shared ambition that characterises the network has its deepest roots here.

The journey has not always been straightforward. VetFamily has navigated changes in ownership structure, major market consolidation, and the constant evolution of what independent clinics actually need from a support network. Through all of it, the Danish community has remained a kind of compass, a reminder of why VetFamily exists and what it stands for.

What 25 years has taught us

The veterinary landscape today looks very different from 2001, and the pace of change is only accelerating. Pet ownership continues to grow. Clinical standards are rising. Owners expect more from their clinics, and the pressure on independent practices to compete with well-resourced corporate groups is real.

But so is the opportunity. VetFamily’s 25 years have taught us that independent clinics, when they are properly supported, commercially equipped, and professionally connected, are remarkably resilient. They are trusted by their communities in ways that large groups rarely are. They attract veterinary professionals who want to practise medicine, not manage bureaucracy. And they adapt, because they have the freedom to.

Our role has evolved too. Where once we focused primarily on procurement and commercial support, VetFamily today offers member clinics a much broader toolkit: preventive health programmes, marketing solutions, business management resources, continuing education, and increasingly, support around the digital and AI capabilities that will shape the next decade of veterinary practice.

"Twenty-five years in, I’m more convinced than ever that the independent clinic model has a bright future. The clinics that will thrive are the ones that stay close to their clients, invest in their teams, and embrace the tools that help them run excellent businesses as well as excellent medicine. VetFamily exists to make all of that easier" says Michael Thunell.

The best is still ahead

A 25th anniversary is a moment to look back and to be genuinely proud of what the founding generation built, and what every clinic that has joined the community since has contributed to. But it is also, for us, a moment to look forward.

The independent clinics we work with every day are not just surviving in a competitive market. They are innovating, growing, and setting the standard for what great veterinary care looks like. Our job is to be the best possible partner for that journey: their strongest ally, their most useful resource, their community.

Independent, yes. But never, ever alone.