Wedgewood celebrates groundbreaking ceremony for new state-of-the-art veterinary pharmacy in Chandler

Feb. 22, 2024
Wedgewood executives and Mayor Hartke at groundbreaking with shovels in hand wearing bright yellow vests

CHANDLER, AZ – Today, Wedgewood, the nation’s leading provider of high-quality compounded medications for animals and the parent company of the new veterinary online pharmacy platform, Blue Rabbit, celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for its new state-of-the-art facility in Chandler, Arizona. Mayor Kevin Hartke and Wedgewood CEO Marcy Bliss led the celebration at the future site of the pharmacy at 1680 E. Northrop Blvd. The project is expected to house 250 jobs by 2027 and invest tens of millions of dollars within the building.

The 90,000-square-foot veterinary pharmacy, opening in early 2025, represents a significant investment by Wedgewood in the future of veterinary care. The facility will serve as a crucial hub for rapid delivery throughout the western United States and offer local pick-up options for pet owners. Equipped with the latest in pharmacy technology, the Chandler pharmacy will significantly enhance Wedgewood’s ability to meet the growing demand for high-quality veterinary medications.

Scheduled to eventually replace Wedgewood’s existing 25,000-square-foot Arizona facility, the Chandler expansion underscores the company's impressive growth trajectory. In recent years, Wedgewood has completed several successful acquisitions including Diamondback Drugs (2018), Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, and ZooPharm (2020), Front Range Laboratories, Brava Pharmacy, Wickliffe Pharmacy, and Precision Equine Pharmacy (2023). In 2024, Wedgewood stepped into the broader animal health realm with its launch of Blue Rabbit, a category-defining, PIMS-integrated online pharmacy platform that provides veterinarians with customized, white-labeled storefronts for the home delivery of diets, preventatives, and both compounded and commercial FDA-approved medications.

“Our new pharmacy reflects our deep commitment to the veterinary community and our dedication to harnessing the exceptional talents of our local team,” said Marcy Bliss, CEO of Wedgewood. “By expanding in Chandler, we're not just creating a critical hub in our national network; we’re also strengthening our connection with a community that has been key to our success. This facility will support our new online pharmacy platform, Blue Rabbit, and enable us to speed deliveries to pet parents, animal owners, and veterinarians nationwide, supporting our mission to improve the lives of animals and those who love and care for them.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate this important milestone as Wedgewood begins internal construction of this state-of-the-art facility,” stated Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke. “The Airpark Area employment corridor continues to garner attention from dynamic companies such as Wedgewood looking for a central location with great infrastructure and immediate access to skilled talent. We would like to thank Wedgewood for choosing Chandler and look forward to being back here next year for the ribbon cutting!”

“Wedgewood’s impressive growth and continued investment in Greater Phoenix epitomizes the broad swath of healthcare technology increasingly choosing the market to scale business,” said Greater Phoenix Economic Council President & CEO Chris Camacho. “The region is known for incredible business advantages and livability, and with companies like Wedgewood, families with pets have peace of mind.”

“Today’s groundbreaking highlights the rapid growth happening across Arizona’s healthcare and bioscience industries,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We are grateful for Wedgewood’s investment in Arizona and look forward to seeing their success in our state.”

The groundbreaking was also attended by members of Wedgewood’s leadership team, members of the Chandler City Council, Greater Phoenix Economic Council and Arizona Commerce Authority, underlining the community's support for this ambitious project. The build-out of the new facility will be completed by Gilbane, a leading global builder and real estate developer.

For more information about Wedgewood and Blue Rabbit, or to schedule interviews with Wedgewood CEO, Marcy Bliss, please contact Meg Thomann, Director of Communications.

About Wedgewood
Over the last 40 years, Wedgewood has grown from a small, independent community pharmacy to become the nation’s largest and most trusted provider of compounded veterinary medications. Our five PCAB®-accredited state-licensed pharmacies and our two FDA-registered, cGMP 503B outsourcing facilities represent the gold standard in pharmacy practice, reflecting our unwavering commitment to quality. Our recent merger with Blue Rabbit, an emerging leader in veterinary prescription management and pharmacy solutions, marks a significant evolution in our services, enabling us to provide veterinarians with next-generation software to streamline patient care. Together, Wedgewood and Blue Rabbit serve more than 70,000 veterinary professionals and one million animals annually. Wedgewood is more than a pharmacy – we are educators, advocates, partners, and solution providers for veterinarians, dedicated to improving the lives of animals and those who love and care for them. For more information, visit Wedgewood.

About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane Building Company is a global leader in construction management, delivering high-quality projects for clients across various markets. Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services. Founded in 1870, Gilbane is still a privately held, family-owned company. With more than 45 office locations worldwide, Gilbane brings world-class experience to local communities. For more information, please visit Gilbane.

About the City of Chandler
Chandler, Arizona has built a reputation as a Community of Innovation. Life in Chandler goes beyond a thriving and dynamic business community with progressive entrepreneurship. Known for its rich diversity, the city offers an outstanding quality of life for all generations with great schools and recreational opportunities. Chandler has grown to become the state's fourth-largest city with a population of more than 287,000. Chandler has been named one of the nation's Best Places to Find a Job and Best Cities for Women in Tech. The city also is one of the safest communities in the nation and boasts AAA bond ratings from all three national rating agencies, one of a select few cities and towns nationally to receive this prestigious designation. For more information, visit City of Chandler, or connect with Chandler on social media.

 

Media contacts:
Meg Thomann
Wedgewood|Blue Rabbit
Director of Communications

Stephanie Romero
City of Chandler, Public Information Officer
480-782-2231