Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Secures Strategic Growth Investment from Great Hill Partners

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, a leading pet grooming and specialty retail franchise concept, recently announced a growth investment from Great Hill Partners, a Boston-based investment firm with a long track record of partnering with category-defining businesses to accelerate their growth.

Great Hill joins existing investor Garnett Station Partners who remains a significant and committed partner to Woof Gang’s continued growth. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Great Hill’s investment and partnership is designed to build on Woof Gang’s strong existing momentum by deepening franchisee support infrastructure, expanding into new markets, and investing in the digital marketing capabilities needed to drive national brand awareness.

Founded in 2007, Woof Gang provides personalized, salon-style grooming experiences and a curated retail offering to pet owners nationwide. Woof Gang operates a national franchise network across 36 states, giving franchisees the tools, operational infrastructure, and training needed to build high-growth, resilient businesses in their local communities. Consistently recognized as a top-rated franchise by Entrepreneur and the Franchise Times, Woof Gang has more than doubled its footprint since 2022, expanding to more than 450 franchisee locations open or under development across the United States.

“We believe we are still in the early innings of expanding Woof Gang to serve pet parents across North America,” said Ricardo Azevedo, Chief Executive Officer of Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming. “We are the largest brand of our kind in the country, and the whitespace ahead of us is tremendous. Partnering with Great Hill gives us additional resources and expertise to leverage the strength of our existing platform as we continue opening stores alongside passionate, well-trained franchisees who share our commitment to making every pet feel loved. We are in an even stronger position to bring the Woof Gang Way to more communities across North America.”

“What attracted us to Woof Gang is the quality of what has already been built: a differentiated brand with a loyal customer following, a franchisee network generating some of the strongest unit-level returns in the industry, and a world class management team,” said David Roberts, Managing Director at Great Hill Partners. “We are excited to partner with Ricardo, the management team, and Garnett Station as Woof Gang continues to realize its full potential as a category-defining name in pet services.”

“Garnett Station was the first outside capital partner for Woof Gang in 2022, committing to a long-term growth investment. We knew that a strong brand and offering in the pet category – with visionary founders and an experienced management team – had tremendous potential for growth. After doubling its footprint and expanding into 36 states, Woof Gang is on its way towards becoming a true national brand. We are pleased to partner with Great Hill and the management team to accelerate momentum and realize the full potential of this exceptional business,” said David Dragich, Managing Director at Garnett Station.

In connection with the partnership, David Roberts, Managing Director at Great Hill, and Douglas Wigley, Vice President at Great Hill, will join Woof Gang’s Board of Directors. They will serve alongside CEO Ricardo Azevedo and Garnett Station Partners.

Harris Williams served as exclusive financial advisor to Great Hill; Paul Hastings LLP acted as legal counsel to Great Hill; Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP acted as legal counsel to Woof Gang.