W.F. Young

What W.F. Young does

W.F. Young, Inc. is a 130+ year-old, family-owned animal health and wellness manufacturer headquartered in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, operating entirely without external equity or parent company. The company sells a diversified portfolio of branded physical products across two core segments: Equine (centered on the Absorbine flagship liniment, UltraShield fly control, ShowSheen grooming, Hooflex hoof care, Bute-Less and Flex+ joint supplements, Leather Therapy, ProCMC gastric relief, Magic Cushion, Bigeloil, and Silver Honey wound care) and Pet Care (The Missing Link nutritional supplements, Silver Honey wound and ear care, Honest to Goodness treats, SaniPet antiseptic spray). Product technology is anchored in proprietary natural-ingredient formulations, most notably the combination of medical-grade Manuka honey (sourced from New Zealand) with MicroSilver BG (licensed from Bio-Gate AG) for antibacterial wound and ear care, Longvida optimized curcumin (licensed from Verdure Sciences and developed with UCLA neuroscientists, claimed 65x more bioavailable than unformulated curcumin), and Absorbine Veterinary Liniment CBD Gel in 50mg and 500mg THC-free variants.

The business operates a multi-channel go-to-market combining direct-to-consumer e-commerce through company-owned storefronts (shopabsorbine.com, silverhoney.com, honest2goodness.com), third-party marketplaces (Amazon), pet specialty retailers and tack shops (including Tractor Supply and national/regional catalogs), and veterinary clinics, with a stated footprint in 40+ countries. Revenue is generated primarily through unit/hardware sales of manufactured goods with public MSRP pricing (e.g., $54.99 for Silver Honey Vet Strength Ear Treatment and Rinse). Customer segments are split between individual horse owners and equestrians, individual pet owners (dogs and cats), and a secondary channel of pet specialty retailers and tack shops who resell the company's products. The company earns supplemental revenue through brand licensing of acquired trademarks (CharcoCaps, Silver Honey, The Missing Link, ShowSheen) and has historically expanded the portfolio via acquisitions (CharcoCaps in 2005; The Missing Link and Pure Ocean Botanicals in 2015). Revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

W.F. Young

Legal name

W.F. Young, Inc.

Website

https://wfyoung.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

W.F. Young is a 130+ year-old family-owned animal health manufacturer selling branded equine and pet care products including Absorbine liniment, Silver Honey wound care, UltraShield fly control, ShowSheen grooming, and The Missing Link supplements, distributed across 40+ countries through DTC, Amazon, pet specialty retailers, and tack shops.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Health Products

NAICS

Pet and Pet Supplies Retailers (45991), Food (Health) Supplement Retailers (456191), Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing (311111)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Health OTC Retail (Parasite Control, Basic Care) (HLAMAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pet Health & Wellness Retail (Supplements, OTC, Flea/Tick) (CRALAHAC), Species-Specific Supplements (Dog/Cat/Other Companion Species) (HLAMALAN), Equine Nutrition & Therapeutic Diets (HLAMAHAE), Equine Supplements & Additives (Vitamins/Minerals, Joint, Digestive, Electrolytes) (AFADAEAG), Pet Treats & Chews (AFADAFAF)

Keywords

• Equine health products
• Pet care products
• Animal wound care
• Fly control products
• Animal nutritional supplements

Headquarters

HQ city

East Longmeadow

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Animal Health Products Sales: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling animal health and wellness products including equine care (liniments, fly control, grooming, hoof care, supplements) and pet care (supplements, wound care, grooming). Products sold through direct e-commerce, retailers, distributors, and catalogs.
2. Brand Licensing and Acquisitions: Revenue generated through owned brands like Absorbine, The Missing Link, Silver Honey. Company has historically acquired brands (CharcoCaps, The Missing Link, Pure Ocean Botanicals) to expand product portfolio.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

W.F. Young manufactures and sells animal health and wellness products for horses and companion animals. Its portfolio spans equine liniments and grooming (Absorbine, ShowSheen, Hooflex), wound and ear care (Silver Honey), fly control (UltraShield), joint and gastric supplements (Flex+, Bute-Less, ProCMC), nutritional supplements (The Missing Link), and pet treats (Honest to Goodness). Products are sold direct-to-consumer, via Amazon, and through pet specialty retailers, tack shops, farm supply stores, catalogs, and veterinary clinics across more than 40 countries.

Product overview

W.F. Young is a family-owned animal health company founded in 1892, operating primarily through its Absorbine® brand of equine products and The Missing Link® brand of pet products. The company offers a diversified portfolio of animal health and wellness products across two main segments: Equine (horses) and Pet Care (companion animals). The Equine portfolio centers on the flagship Absorbine® Veterinary Liniment and includes wound care (Silver Honey®), fly control (UltraShield®), grooming (ShowSheen®), hoof care (Hooflex®), joint supplements (Flex+Max, Bute-Less®), leather care (Leather Therapy®), and gastric relief (ProCMC®). The Pet Care portfolio includes The Missing Link® superfood supplements, Silver Honey® wound and ear care products, Honest to Goodness® treats, and SaniPet® antiseptic products. This is a traditional consumer products company offering physical goods rather than a software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Absorbine: Flagship brand of equine health care products including Veterinary Liniment, fly control, grooming, and hoof care products.
• Silver Honey
• The Missing Link

Products and services

• Absorbine Veterinary Liniment Topical analgesic liniment for horses that helps soothe and relieve fatigued muscles, stiff joints, and arthritis pain. Contains calendula, echinacea, and wormwood botanical extracts with menthol. The company's flagship product since 1892.
• Absorbine Veterinary Liniment CBD Gel Hemp-derived CBD-enhanced versions of the Absorbine Veterinary Liniment in Extra Strength (50mg CBD) and Ultimate Strength (500mg CBD) gel formulations. THC-free topical analgesic for horses.
• Silver Honey Rapid Wound Repair Wound care products combining medical-grade Manuka Honey and MicroSilver BG to stop 99.9% of bacteria immediately and accelerate healing for horses and pets.
• Silver Honey Rapid Ear Care First at-home vet-strength ear care products for pets using Manuka honey and MicroSilver BG. Includes Vet Strength Ear Treatment and Rinse (two-step system for mild to moderate otitis externa) and Vet Strength Ear Wipes for treating pet ear infections naturally.
• Silver Honey Rapid Skin Relief Medicated Shampoo Medicated shampoo for pets providing rapid skin relief using the Silver Honey formula with Manuka honey and MicroSilver.
• SaniPet Antiseptic Coat Spray Pet-safe, alcohol-free antiseptic coat spray that kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria on pet skin, coat, and paws. Contains soothing aloe and is suitable for daily use.
• UltraShield Fly Control Products Comprehensive line of fly control products for horses and livestock, including UltraShield EX, UltraShield Gold, UltraShield Red, UltraShield Green, UltraShield Sport, Bug Block, and Flys-X. Includes fly sprays, masks, and repellents. Named the Official Fly Control Products of US Equestrian.
• ShowSheen Grooming Products World's leading detangler and grooming aid line for horses, including ShowSheen Hair Polish & Conditioner and ShowSheen Moisturizing Detangler. Originally launched in 1977.
• Hooflex Hoof Care Products Hoof care products for horses including Hooflex Boot Conditioner and other hoof health formulations.
• Bute-Less Comfort and Recovery Supplements Comfort and recovery supplement line for horses, including the original Bute-Less formula, Bute-Less Performance pellets with Longvida optimized curcumin (65x more bioavailable than unformulated curcumin), and a Show-Safe formula for competition horses. None of the ingredients are prohibited by US Equestrian or FEI.
• Flex+ / Flex+Max Joint Supplement Joint supplement for horses available in powder and pellet forms. Contains Glucosamine, MSM, and Yucca with stabilized rice bran to support joint health, cartilage, and range of motion. Guaranteed 100% palatable.
• ProCMC Gastric Relief Supplement Gastric relief supplement for horses that coats and soothes the stomach lining. Contains calcium and magnesium to neutralize stomach acids and help control cribbing behavior.
• Magic Cushion Hoof Packing Hoof packing product for horses to support hoof health and comfort.
• Bigeloil Liniment Liniment product for horses providing pain relief and muscle relaxation.
• Leather Therapy Leather Care Leather care products for maintaining and conditioning leather tack and equipment.
• Fungasol Antifungal Spray Antifungal spray for horses addressing fungal skin conditions.
• SuperShine Hoof Polish Sealer Hoof polish and sealer for horses providing a high-gloss finish.
• Santa Fe Coat Conditioner Sunscreen Coat conditioner with sunscreen protection for horses.
• Horsemen's One Step Cream Cream product for horse care applications.
• The Missing Link Supplements Original superfood supplement brand for pets and horses targeting nutritional gaps. Includes Original Formulas (Skin & Coat, Hip & Joint, Senior), Pet Kelp limited-ingredient supplements, Smartmouth Dental Chews, Collagen Care soft chews, and Well Blend Senior for equine. Marketed as The Original Equine Superfood Supplement.
• Honest to Goodness Healthy Pet Treats Healthy pet treats brand focused on natural, wholesome ingredients for dogs.
• Absorbine Jr. Pain Relief Products Pain relief product line for human use, including Absorbine Jr. Original, Ultra Strength Pain Relieving Spray, and related analgesic products.
• CharcoCaps Anti-Gas Products Homeopathic and dietary supplement anti-gas products including CharcoCaps Capsules, CharcoCaps Homeopathic Formula Caplets, Requa Charcoal Tablets, and CharcoCaps A-D Anti-Diarrhea products. Acquired by W.F. Young in 2005.

Quantifiable outcome

• Silver Honey Rapid Ear Care starts soothing pet pain in 30 minutes and treats mild to moderate ear infections in 10 days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Animal Supplement Council (NASC)coreOthers · 20 June 2022W.F. Young recognized as NASC Founder (originating member) and Outstanding Promoter of NASC Quality Seal. Nonprofit trade organization dedicated to protecting and enhancing health of companion animals and horses since 2001.
• United States Equestrian Federation (US Equestrian)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 August 2017Absorbine named Official Liniment of US Equestrian since 2015. Expanded partnership in 2017 to include UltraShield as Official Fly Control Products. Partnership promotes excellence and education in equestrian sport.
• Brooke (Equine Welfare Charity)minorOthers · 26 January 2017Charitable partnership during 125th anniversary celebration. Portion of Absorbine Veterinary Liniment sales donated to Brooke, the world's largest international equine welfare charity working to improve lives of 1.8 million working equines.
• American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2005Corporate sponsorship relationship. Partnership based on shared corporate philosophies of dedication to excellence in animal health care. Collaboration on new product development and continuous improvement projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Farnam Companies: Farnam is the closest direct competitor to W.F. Young's equine business, manufacturing fly control, grooming, hoof, and stable care products for horses with comparable distribution through tack shops, feed stores, and mass retailers. Overlapping product categories (liniments, fly sprays, hoof care) make it the most relevant like-for-like peer.
• Nutramax Laboratories: Nutramax is the leading veterinary supplement brand (Cosequin, Dasuquin, Proviable) competing head-to-head with W.F. Young's joint and digestive supplement lines (Flex+, ProCMC, The Missing Link). Both sell through vet clinics and pet specialty retail with similar premium positioning.
• Tomlyn (Loving Pets): Tomlyn sells premium pet supplements and wellness products (immune, joint, digestive) primarily through veterinary clinics and pet specialty, overlapping directly with W.F. Young's The Missing Link and Silver Honey pet lines. Both target vet-channel premium positioning.
• Durvet: Durvet manufactures and distributes animal health products including wound care, fly control, and supplements for livestock and equine, sold largely through farm supply and feed stores. Comparable channel and product overlap with W.F. Young's equine portfolio.
• PetAg: PetAg makes specialty nutritional and grooming products for companion animals (KMR, Esbilac, goat milk treats) sold through pet specialty and vet channels. Overlap with W.F. Young's pet supplement and treat categories, particularly Honest to Goodness.
• Sergeant's Pet Care Products: Sergeant's is a long-standing OTC pet health products company offering flea/tick, supplements, and wellness items in mass retail and pet specialty. As a heritage OTC pet health brand, it parallels W.F. Young's branded, mass-and-specialty-channel go-to-market.

Broad incumbents

• Virbac: Virbac is a global animal health pharmaceutical company with a broad portfolio including dental chews (C.E.T.), dermatology, and supplements sold through vet channels. As a much larger incumbent, it competes with W.F. Young in OTC pet and equine health categories, particularly through the vet recommendation channel.
• Zoetis: Zoetis is the largest pure-play animal health company globally, with extensive OTC, supplement, dermatology, and equine portfolios. While primarily a pharmaceutical company, its OTC and wellness adjacencies make it a relevant broader incumbent against W.F. Young's animal health OTC positioning.
• Vetoquinol: Vetoquinol is an international animal health company with significant equine and pet OTC/supplement lines (e.g., Zylkene, Equistro). Its global footprint and dual equine/pet focus mirror W.F. Young's structure and channel strategy.
• Ceva Animal Health: Ceva operates a broad animal health portfolio including equine, companion animal supplements, and dermatology products (e.g., Douxo). It competes with W.F. Young in the OTC and supplement category across both vet and retail channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/w-f-young-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about W.F. Young