Petland hires ex-Walmart exec as it aims to expand

Petland has hired a former Walmart executive as vice president of corporate stores as the pet supply retailer looks to expand its national footprint.

Although Tony Samples last worked at Walmart in 2006, Petland touted his Walmart experience in a news release. "Tony brings extensive retail experience to Petland at a time when Petland is expanding its retail footprint," said Petland President and CEO Joe Watson. Samples will lead Petland's retail store division and oversee the company's merchandising and marketing efforts.

Samples, a native of Cedartown, Georgia, has more than 30 years of retail experience. As vice president in retail operations at Walmart, he had a proven record of producing bottom-line results, operational process improvement, and rapidly growing market share, the Petland release said.

Samples was a recipient of the Sam Walton Hero Award and the NAACP Regional Director's Award. Currently he serves on the executive advisory council for Berry College's Campbell School of Business (Mount Berry, Ga.).

"I am thankful to be joining Petland at this exciting time. I look forward to helping guide the company through this expansion as we introduce the Petland brand into new markets," Samples said.

Petland is a franchise operation with 131 full service retail pet centers across the United States, Canada, Japan, China, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil and El Salvador.