With over 400 pet products, Sergeant’s continues a commitment to excellence, meeting your pet’s needs and earning pet lover’s trust. A leader in the pet industry for over 100 years, our roots go back to Polk Miller’s drugstore in Richmond, Virginia in 1868.
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Sergeant's Pet Care Products, Inc. is one of
America’s oldest, best-known, and most
respected manufacturers and marketers of pet
supplies. Founded in 1868 in Richmond, Virginia
Sergeant's has been based in Omaha, Nebraska
since 1989.
The Sergeant’s® brand is one of the
icons in the United States pet supplies industry.
Among consumers, the Sergeant’s brand
is one of the most widely recognized brands
in the pet supplies category with significant
brand equity. The brand carries a reputation
among consumers for dependable, reliable and
quality products.
History: Sergeant's was founded in 1868 by a
pharmacist, Polk Miller, who formulated various
health care products, such as skin and coat
remedies, in his pharmacy, first for his own
dogs and then for others. When Mr. Miller began
to sell the products from his drug store, he
named them after one of his favorite dogs, “Sergeant.”
Sergeant’s has long been an innovator
and leader in developing and marketing health
care products for pets. With “Condition
Pills” in the 1890, mange medicine in
1902, vitamins for dogs early in the 1900’s,
and wormers and other remedies in the 1920’s,
Sergeant's has led the way for health care for
dogs and cats.
The company introduced various improved flea
and tick products throughout the first half
of the twentieth century with sprays, powders
and shampoos. Sergeant's played the key role
in the invention of flea collars and introduced
them to the market in 1962. It was a leader
in the 1990’s with the introduction of
over-the-counter pest control squeeze-on topical
products. Today the firm is well known for its
Sergeant's Skip Flea® Shampoo, America’s
favorite flea and tick shampoo. The health care
innovations continue, with recent introductions
including shampoos with skin care benefits and
nutraceutical products with proven performance
and benefits.
Following the death of the founder, Polk Miller,
the company went through several ownership changes.
For many years, Sergeant's was part of A.H.
Robins, a large Richmond-based pharmaceuticals
company. In 1989, Sergeant's was acquired by
ConAgra Foods, of Omaha, Neb. and combined with
another pet supplies company, Geisler Pet Products,
also owned at the time by ConAgra. Since September
2000, Sergeant's Pet Care Products, has been
an independent, privately owned company.
With the legacy of its founder, a pharmacist,
and after many years as part of a large pharmaceutical
firm, Sergeant is widely known for its health
care and flea and tick products. But today Sergeant’s
is also a leading marketer of grooming shampoos,
natural and formulated treats, toys, accessories,
and bird and small animal products.
| Sergeant's Pet Care Products Historical Timeline | |
| 1868 | Polk Miller opens a drug store in Richmond, Virginia and as an avid outdoorsman begins formulating and selling health care products for hunting dogs as a side line. |
| 1888 | Max Geisler arrives in Omaha, Nebraska from Bremen, Germany to handle a family business matter, decides to stay, and begins to import canaries from Germany for sale in the USA. This business ultimately became the Geisler brand of bird seed, now part of Sergeant's. |
| 1886 | The trade name “Sergeant’s” is adopted for Mr. Miller’s animal remedies and sales spread to other drug stores throughout the Southeast USA. Advertising begins in various national magazines. |
| 1913 | Polk Miller dies. The brand name Sergeant's has become widely known throughout the region. |
| 1919 | The Miller family sells the Sergeant's business to a business partnership and the company is renamed Polk Miller Products Company. During this period the product line is expanded to include vitamins, general conditioners, dog food, wormers and skin and coat remedies. |
| 1928 | Sergeant's medicines and dog food are chosen for the sled dogs used by the Commander Richard Byrd expedition to the South Pole. |
| 1929 | Sergeant's has become a nationally known brand of pet supplies. |
| 1940's | Sergeant's develops and introduces Skip® Flea Shampoo, which eventually becomes America’s favorite flea and tick shampoo. |
| 1962 | Sergeant's invents and introduces flea collars for dogs. |
| 1967 | The Sergeant's business, led by the Sergeant's Sentry flea collar line, is purchased by A.H. Robins. |
| 1968 | Sergeant's of Canada is established. |
| 1970's | Sergeant's expands distribution through grocery stores across America. |
| 1989 | Sergeant's is acquired by ConAgra. |
| 2000 | Sergeant's is established as an independent, closely held company. |
| 2001 | Sergeant's acquires the Pet Life Foods pet treats business |
| 2004 | The Sun Pet Toys business is acquired by Sergeant's. |








