But the new boss of the group said it has made ‘material progress’ in the retail arm’s turnaround plan over the past six months.

Pets at Home has hailed “momentum” despite falling profit, amid muted vet demand due to the number of pets bought during lockdown.

But the new boss of the group said it has made ‘material progress’ in the retail arm’s turnaround plan over the past six months.

Pets at Home will have to adapt to a new market without the Covid-era boom in pet-buying it had profited from before, analysts say.