Back in 2005 in Norway, eight fellow veterinary graduates decided to build a group of clinics rooted in a vision of professional ambition and high customer satisfaction. The business grew to 18 clinics by 2021– all of them newly built by the founders. All the founders are still great friends and very much involved in the daily operations of EMPET. Eirik Nilssen, one of the original eight, is the CEO of EMPET.



We know vets
because we are vets
The origin of Vetopia involves the story of two veterinary groups, one in Norway and one in Denmark, each sharing the same ethos – that running a successful veterinary business shouldn’t come at the expense of a great working environment and the ability to provide the best medical care for pets.

Meanwhile, in Denmark, veterinarian, Rasmus Hansen founded VetGruppen in 2019 with just two clinics and the intention of building a home for local vets to collaborate and make life better for employees and pet owners alike. By 2021, VetGruppen had already grown to 19 clinics.


The creation of Vetopia
EMPET and VetGruppen joined forces in 2021, giving rise to Vetopia. From day one, the new group had a vision to create a healthier, more supportive environment that would empower veterinarians to do what they do best – caring for pets.
In 2022, Vetopia expanded into Finland and Sweden where, together with founding clinics, we created separate companies catering to the specific challenges and opportunities in each country: Vireä Group, and Svenska Veterinärgruppen.
Our group extended its reach beyond the Nordic countries in 2023 with acquisitions in Germany (VetGruppen Deutschland), Austria (Veterinaria), and Switzerland (Helvetiera).
Vetopia is co-owned by practicing veterinary professionals.