Pet food manufacturers have hit back at claims that feeding raw food poses a danger to both humans and animals, and reassured owners that it’s safe to use as long as sensible hygiene measures are taken.

According to a study published in Vet Record, high levels of potentially harmful bacteria have been found in raw food products.

Children, the elderly and those with poor immune systems are most at risk from exposure and could be susceptible to infection, the authors said.

But the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association has responded to the findings of the Vet Record study.

It stated: “The PFMA is aware of the recent paper published in Vet Record on a Swedish study that tested 60 products from various European countries for bacterial contamination, including a single UK manufacturer. As this has been covered in the national media, PFMA would like to provide some reassurance and guidance to owners who choose to feed a raw meat diet.

“While it carries no greater risk than handling fresh raw meat intended for humans, pet owners must be dedicated to good hygiene practices in the home and maintain high standards of hygiene to prevent contamination. 

‘The researchers highlight the importance of careful storage, handling and good hygiene practices when feeding a raw meat diet. This is vital; the risk of food-borne illness must be a serious consideration for any person choosing to handle and feed any raw product in the home. 

‘PFMA and its members take education seriously and we provide some guidance for owners on best practice hygiene, handling and storage of raw meat products. Indeed this is best practice for handling all pet food products.”

The PFMA provides guidance to pet owners in a factsheet available on it website at https://www.pfma.org.uk/raw-feeding-factsheet  

The PFMA statement continued: “Whilst homemade diets provide more flexibility for pets with very specific nutritional needs, they are challenging and require significant research and expert guidance to undertake with any success.

“A fundamental concern, as with any homemade diet, is whether all the right nutrients are provided in the right proportions for healthy bodily function. An additional concern is ensuring ingredients from a safe and reliable source. 

“PFMA’s advice to owners feeding a raw pet food is to use a registered raw food manufacturer who is professionally making raw pet food meals with appropriate microbiological controls. As with all commercially prepared pet foods, commercially prepared raw foods are subject to stringent legislation. “Commercial raw producers within PFMA membership will also manufacture their diets in line with best practice guidelines.”

The PFMA has within membership 11 commercial raw pet food companies with a dedicated sector group. 

Last year PFMA launched the best practice guideline on the Manufacture of Raw Pet Food, which has been developed in conjunction with Defra, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Public Health England (PHE) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). 

The Swedish researchers examined samples from 60 packs of raw meat products in 2017, made by 10 manufacturers in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Germany and England.

All samples contained enterobacteriaceae species, which could pose a risk to health, and more than half (52%) had levels that exceeded the European Union maximum threshold.

Most of the species identified were not known to cause infection, apart from E coli, which was found in around a third of samples.

It is not clear if the E coli identified by the study could have caused illness.

Meanwhile, salmonella species were found in 7% of the samples.

The researchers warned the bacteria could transfer through contact between pet and owner, or easily spread onto surfaces and other food in kitchens.

"Dogs in families with infants, elderly people or immuno-compromised individuals should also not be fed raw meat-based diets, as these groups are more susceptible to infections,” warned the researchers.

PetSafe Brand parent company, Radio Systems PetSafe Europe Ltd has been crowned the Best Workplace in Ireland 2019 by Great Place to Work Ireland for a second year running.

The accolade comes on the back of the business achieving third place in the Great Place to Work Best Workplace in Europe awards last year.

RSPEL scored particularly highly for its ‘social, friendly and welcoming atmosphere’ (98%), ‘professional development and showing appreciation’ (97%) and its ‘outstanding camaraderie’ (95%). The company also achieved highly in its overall score - which measures culture, trust and employee experience - achieving 92%, far exceeding 70%, the minimum to achieve certification.

RSPEL specialises in innovative companion pet and sport and hunting products, offering comprehensive pet training, health and wellness, waste management and play product solutions through its leading PetSafe® Brand, and superior training and tracking products for professional trainers and hunters via its global SportDOG Brand.

The RSPEL business has gone from strength to strength since it opened in Dundalk in 2012. Headcount has risen steadily, increasing by 20 per cent in the last year alone. Since the 2018 awards, RSPEL has introduced further workplace initiatives to keep the team motivated and happy. These include the launch of ‘Extreme Thinking’, a taskforce that focuses on ways to further improve key elements of the business such as Communication and Performance Recognition.

New initiatives resulting from ‘Extreme Thinking’ include ‘Get Some Balls’, where employees give marbles to teammates as a thank you or compliment; the teammate with the most marbles at month end receives special recognition. Another taskforce introduction has been ‘Solution Box’, an anonymous feedback box where employees suggest a solution to the problem they are raising.

RSPEL is a forward-thinking business and has adopted a flexible working culture, offering both flexi-time and working from home. On top of these benefits, RSPEL is pet-centric, offering perks to ensure employees have great relationships with their pet. These include being allowed to bring dogs into the office, eight hours’ ‘paw- rental’ leave to help new pets settle and three days’ paid pet bereavement leave. RSPEL also helps to cover the cost of pet care, including microchipping, insurance and health check-ups.

David Verdon, General Manager at RSPEL said: “Being recognised as Ireland’s best workplace for a second year running is absolutely fantastic and the entire team is thrilled. We’ve worked really hard to create an outstanding culture where employees go to work feeling motivated and engaged and this will continue to be our focus for the year to come. Achieving this accolade has been a real team effort so I extend my thanks to every one of our employees; we couldn’t have done it without them.”

2019 marks the seventeenth year of Great Place to Work® Ireland recognising great workplaces with the publication of its Best Workplaces in Ireland lists, and the number of workplaces who are realising the benefits of empowering their employees to flourish in a supportive high-trust culture continues to increase.

John Ryan, CEO of Great Place to Work® Ireland said: “Securing a place on the list of Best Workplaces in Ireland is a greater achievement than ever before. These organisations have opened up to us, giving us a deep understanding of the culture that drives their performance. Even though we’re dealing with an unprecedented level of economic and political uncertainty, these Irish organisations are ready to deal with the challenges: they have built agility and plasticity into the core of their workplaces, developing the high levels of trust that are critical for adaptability.”

The Best Workplace accolade was presented to the RSPEL team at the Great Place to Work Best Workplaces in Ireland awards in Dublin on 27th February 2019.

Three pet care brands have made it into the list of Top 100 Megabrands produced by market research expert Euromonitor International. They are Pedigree, Whiskas and Purina.

In its findings, Euromonitor International said: “Mars’ leading position in the pet care category is clear, as it owns two of the three pet care brands to make it into the top 100 – Pedigree and Whiskas (31 and 68 in the overall ranking).

“However, the future may not be quite so assured for these two brands. Firmly mid-market for a number of years, they have been slowly losing share of global dog and cat food value sales as premium brands gain against them.”

Purina came 83^rd in the Top 100.

Euromonitor International’s megabrands report is a ranking of the top 100 most successful fast-moving consumer brands (FMCG) worldwide. The report encompasses packaged food, soft drinks, beauty and personal care, consumer health, tissue and hygiene, home care, hot drinks and pet care. Each of the brands making it into the top 100 qualifies based on their retail sales value for 2017.

Oscar Pet Foods has been shortlisted for two awards at the bfa HSBC Franchise Awards, to be held at the Vox, Birmingham, on June 27.

It is the only company to have been nominated in two separate categories, showing the franchise’s commitment to best practice and enabling franchisees to thrive, getting the nod for Brand Awareness & Innovation and also the blue riband Franchisor of the Year accolade.

Simon Bartholomew, Franchise Director, said: "To be nominated for one award is an excellent achievement in itself, but to be put forward for two is just fantastic news.  It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the head office team who work tirelessly on innovation strategies that help support our network of franchisees, who, in turn, successfully put them into practice."

The awards evening is the flagship event in the franchising calendar and getting a nomination in itself is a major achievement, proving the business works ethically and in the best interests of franchisees and staff, fighting off many other companies vying for the accolade.

Pip Wilkins, CEO of the British Franchising Association, congratulated the company: “Getting shortlisted for two awards says it all really. The company continues to pioneer positive change in the franchising industry.”

Andrew Brattesani, Head of Franchising, HSBC, said: “Oscar Pet Foods is the only company to have been nominated for two awards in the franchisor categories, testament to the company’s ongoing commitment to ethical franchising.

"I wish them the best of luck in both the Franchisor of the Year and Brand Awareness & Innovation categories.”

For the Franchisor of the Year award they will go head-to-head against five other franchise units in June from a mixture of sectors, including courier services, cleaning services and a recruitment franchise. For Brand Awareness & Innovation, Oscar will face companies in fitness, telecommunications and decorations.

OATA has become a strategic partner of Shoal, a new conservation programme for freshwater fish that launched last Friday (March 1).

Shoal is a new initiative which aims to engage a diverse range of organisations to ‘accelerate and escalate action to save the most threatened fish and other freshwater species’.

OATA, and several of its member businesses, have been involved in the creation of this exciting new initiative which has already identified a number of projects it is looking to support, from saving threatened Telestes fishes in Croatia and the hump-backed mahseer in Southern India to creating a conservation action plan for the Sulawesi’s Ancient Lakes.

OATA’s Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee explained why the UK trade association was so keen to get involved.

“The conservation of freshwater aquatic species globally is very important. It is important for biodiversity, for the livelihoods of those that depend on freshwater fisheries around the world, and even for our own health and wellbeing.

“Our industry relies on a sustainable source of live fish for the aquarium trade. While many of the tropical freshwater fish within the home aquarium industry are captive reared it is important to be able to access sustainably caught wild fish to refresh genetic stock.

“We firmly believe that keeping fish leads not only to improved health for their owners but also an increased interest in the natural world. You only have to pick up a fishkeeping magazine like Practical Fishkeeping to see articles expanding on where in the world aquarium fish come from and the environments they live in. This leads to an increased interest in creating natural biotope aquariums. Keen fish keepers are fascinated by where their fish originate from and want to create tanks where their fish will live happily and display natural behaviours.

“I believe as an industry we can make a positive contribution to the long-term conservation of freshwater fish by supporting sustainable practices and projects to conserve local populations. It therefore seems natural to support this great new fundraising platform.

“We were happy to introduce a number of our member businesses to the Shoal project as well as active hobby societies because we knew they would be keen to get involved. That’s what’s so great about Shoal – the wide range of partner organisations it has brought together from the conservation, public aquarium, hobby and trade sectors.”

More information can be found at https://shoalconservation.org/ including information on the initial projects it will be supporting. 

Around 27,000 dogs of all shapes and sizes are heading to the NEC Birmingham over the next four days to take part in Crufts, the greatest dog show in the world. 

Just under 21,000 dogs from 220 different breeds will be competing for a chance to win Best in Show, 20631 of these dogs will be travelling to the NEC from 44 different countries securing Crufts as a truly international event.

As well as the competition side, Crufts also features the Discover Dogs zone, where visitors can meet and greet around 200 breeds, speak to experts in each breed about what they are like to live with and care for, and find out which breed might be best suited to their lifestyle.

More than just a dog show, Crufts celebrates the many diverse roles that dogs play in our lives, and sees competitions such as the Friends for Life final for hero dogs, the Scruffts Family Crossbreed of the Year competition, Obreedience, in which different breeds compete against each other in teams to prove who is the most obedient, and the ever popular fast-paced agility and flyball competitions.

Crufts in numbers

27,000 – dogs expected at Crufts across the four days of the show.

165,000 – dog lovers expected to visit Crufts.

220 – different breeds of dogs compete for the prestigious Best in Show including:

3 – new breeds competing for Best in Show 2019 – the Black and Tan Coonhound, White Swiss Shepherd and Russian Toy.

200 – Around 200 breeds will be represented in the Discover Dogs area of the show, where visitors can meet and greet their favourite breeds and find out which ones might be a good match for their lifestyle.

1891 – The year Crufts began.

128 – This year is the 128th year of Crufts (that’s 890 years for our furry, four-legged friends).

3,611 – The number of dogs from overseas entered into the show this year.

Hundreds of crossbreeds take part in Crufts, through agility, flyball, obedience, heelwork to music, Scruffts and Friends for Life competitions.

91 – The number of years the Best in Show prize has been awarded.

7 – The number of times a Cocker Spaniel has won Best in Show – more than any other breed. This is followed by the Irish Setter, Standard Poodle and Welsh Terrier which have won on four occasions each.

25 – The number of acres of the NEC in Birmingham that Crufts covers. This includes five halls, the Pavilion and the Crufts Best in Show Arena.

4 – The number of venues in which Crufts has been held over the years.

9 years 7 months – the oldest dog to win Best in Show, which was a Flat Coated Retriever in 2011.

45 – The total number of countries with dogs entered into Crufts this year.

1 – The number of dogs that have pooped live on TV in the main arena at Crufts.

Dog lovers can look forward to 13 hours of television coverage as Crufts returns to Channel 4 and More4 today (Thursday) to celebrate the world’s greatest dog show.

With Clare Balding at the helm, Channel 4 and More4 will broadcast all the action from the show, leading up to the grand finale on Sunday when Best in Show will be crowned.

Channel 4 will be also broadcasting a one-hour programme, Crufts 2019: The Daily Show, through Thursday to Saturday inclusive.

THURSDAY

1500-1600 – Channel 4 Crufts: The Daily Show

1830-2000 – More4 Crufts 2019

2000-2100 – Channel 4 Crufts 2019

FRIDAY

1500-1600 – Channel 4 Crufts: The Daily Show

1830-1930 – More4 Crufts 2019

1930-2100 – Channel 4 Crufts 2019

SATURDAY

1600-1700 – Channel 4 Crufts: The Daily Show

1900-2100 – Channel 4 Crufts 2019

SUNDAY

1900-2100 – Channel 4 Crufts 2019: Best In Show Live

Clare will host daily highlights of the world's biggest dog event live from the NEC and will be joined by Radzi Chinyanganya who will be reporting from the show. The team will be supported by Peter Purves and dog reporters and breed experts Jessica Holm and Frank Kane. ‘Supervet’, Professor Noel Fitzpatrick will also be returning on the Saturday.

All of the arena action from the show will be shown every day live on the Crufts YouTube channel which can be found at www.youtube.com/crufts.

Caroline Kisko, Secretary of the Kennel Club, which runs Crufts, said: “We are delighted that Channel 4 and More4 will be offering viewers at home the opportunity to enjoy this year’s Crufts, as well as those who don’t want to miss a thing by watching the live streaming on YouTube. The event holds such a special place in dog lovers’ hearts because it celebrates everything that we love most about dogs, and the programmes will reflect on the benefits dogs bring to our lives and the many fascinating aspects of Crufts.

“The TV coverage will not only bring exciting sports such as agility and flyball into people’s homes, but will enable people to see the diverse range of wonderful dog breeds, including some of the more unusual breeds that are not often seen in the streets and parks across the country, through the dog show aspect of Crufts. It will also cover topics about choosing, caring for and enjoying life with dogs, as well as different issues affecting dog owners in the UK.”

All of Channel 4 and More4’s coverage of Crufts will be produced by Sunset + Vine.

Premium dog food brand Billy + Margot is showcasing its exclusive new product range to visitors at this year’s Crufts.

Billy + Margot, official sponsor of the dog show for the first time this year, is using the opportunity to unveil its new range of products ahead of the official launch into the UK market later this year. 

Products vary from the exclusive iced-treats range through to feeding solutions across dry, wet, chilled, and raw.

This latest range of unique recipes uses high-quality protein and a superfood blend that has been carefully selected for the health and wellbeing of dogs. As well as using single animal proteins, the new range also offers exciting novelty wild meats, including wild boar.

Canine nutritionist and founder of the Billy + Margot range, Marie Jones, said: “I’m delighted Billy + Margot will be returning as official sponsors of Crufts this year; it’s an important platform from which to showcase our new range. I will be based at the Billy + Margot stand (Hall 3, Stand 20), and look forward to giving visitors a first-look at our exciting new products."

The new products will be available to sample, buy and order from the show stand, with exciting exhibition deals available on the day.

As part of the Crufts visitor experience, Billy + Margot will also be holding a ‘Dogs’ Dinner Party’ at their stand, on each day of the show. This sensory dining experience, put on especially for invited dogs and competition winners, will allow a range of breeds to taste meals inspired by Billy + Margot’s new products. Dinner will be accompanied by detailed explanations from Marie Jones on the health benefits of specific ingredients for dogs’ complex dietary needs and aims to support consumer knowledge on the importance of a healthy and balanced diet for dogs.

Billy + Margot will announce full details of its exciting new products as part of their official UK launch later in Spring. The full range will be available to buy from UK retailers from Summer 2019.  

Pictured: Dogs enjoy Billy + Margot Iced Treats ahead of the dog show today.

Different Dog is here to make our dogs, family and planet healthier and happier. Come and find out how on Stand 4-172 at Crufts.

Showcasing new plastic free packaging and new recipes, Different Dog is hosting a ‘dog food first’ cookery demonstration.

Watch the doggy chefs prepare a selection of our handmade, family favourites. Every recipe has been carefully designed by our vet and nutritionist to ensure the perfect balance of high-quality, fresh, natural ingredients sourced from local suppliers. 

New recipes are introduced regularly, so even the fussiest four-legged friends are kept excited at mealtimes. Say ‘goodbye’ to the same old boring processed meals and ‘hello’ to shiner coats, better digestion and wagging tails.

So, what makes Different Dog different?

• The company makes real food with fresh, nutritious ingredients
• The meals are created by hand and made in small batches
• The products are loved by vets
• Different Dog uses fully compostable, cardboard pots

With seasonal recipes introduced on a monthly basis, even the fussiest of dogs are kept excited at mealtimes. From warming dishes such as Lamb Hotpot and Braised Beef to Comforting Chicken for those under the weather, dogs can now enjoy a quality nutritionally balanced dinner as much as the rest of the family. There’s even a delicious Spring Lamb recipe for those planning Easter mealtimes.

Co-founder Alex Thurstan comments: “We’re extremely excited to be attending Crufts and cooking up some healthy recipes in our Different Dog pop-up kitchen. With our range of natural, homemade family favourite recipes, you can feed your dogs as well as the rest of the family.”

Different Dog can be ordered online via www.differentdog.com and is available in selected pet stores across the country.

In November 2018, Naturediet Pet Foods Ltd were honoured to receive the Sustainability Award at the Pet Industry Federation awards in recognition of their achievement in reducing the company's environmental impact. Continuing their efforts, Naturediet are extending their eco-friendly Feel Good dog food range with an assortment of smaller size wet food lines and natural treats. These will be on show and launched at Crufts 2019.

The Naturediet Feel Good range of healthy, 100% British made wet food for dogs is a vibrant and exciting variety of products that provide premium, natural meals packed in the eco-friendly Tetra Pak^® cartons. Naturediet are the first wet food manufacturer in the UK to produce in Tetra Pak, and only the third in Europe. They are the first company to produce dog food in 200g Tetra Pak^® cartons - a new innovative size for the industry that is perfect for smaller breed dogs.

Naturediet have also moved their new Purely range into the environmentally friendly packaging.  Specifically formulated for dogs with allergies and food intolerances, the Naturediet Purely range is made to a simple 92% just meat recipe. Available in 3 tasty varieties, Purely can be fed alone or with a high quality mixer to provide a nutritionally balanced complete feed for adult dogs.

In another first, the Norfolk based independent manufacturer have launched their Feel Good treats in Tetra Pak^® cartons.  Proud of their honest labelling ethos and promotion of valid claims, the semi-moist treats are a healthy and hypoallergenic treat that are perfect as a training aid, free from colourings, flavourings and meat meals. The treats are available in 3 flavours - Chicken, Chicken and Lamb, and Salmon and Turkey.

Tetra Pak^® is lightweight, super sturdy and strong. It is easy to open, serve, wash, squash and recycle.  The packs are smaller and more compact meaning that they are easier to stack and store.  The new packaging allows for a gentler cooking process to retain the goodness and Tetra Pak^® keeps the food inside fresher and minimises oxidation of meat. Tetra Pak^® is also BPA free.

The Feel Good range, including 200g and treats are available direct from Naturediet, or exclusively in the UK through Bestpets and Ireland through Glenkrag.  For more information, please contact trade@naturediet.co.uk

EUKANUBA is celebrating 50 years of expertise in delivering tailored life stage nutrition, helping dogs and their owners to live life well together.

Having cared for dogs since 1969 with its pioneering dog nutrition, EUKANUBA initially introduced its life stage tailoring through its first puppy recipe in 1986. The brand has continued to introduce innovative products to the market including the first senior formula with an antioxidant blend in 1997 and the first puppy diet with a proven level of Omega 3 DHA in 2004 to help improve trainability.

Now 50 years on, EUKANUBA continues to innovate and develop new products to provide high quality food for dog’s nutritional wellbeing. In fact, having established that 78% of owners now want tailored life stage products for their pets, EUKANUBA relaunched the brand in 2018 to meet this consumer demand.

The new and improved range combines fresh chicken together with dried chicken and turkey for high quality animal protein which supports each life stage and dog size whilst they grow.

With 82% of shoppers knowing what they want to purchase before they enter store, EUKANUBA is launching a 50^th birthday campaign that is led digitally to raise awareness by targeting shoppers before they enter the store to help drive awareness and in turn purchase.

The campaign is launching at Crufts with EUKANUBA celebrating its eighth consecutive year as Principle Sponsor, further communicating its expertise and rich heritage.

To find out more about EUKANUBA’s full range visit https://www.eukanuba.co.uk/

Burgess Pet Care is attending Crufts with its Paul O’Grady’s dog food range and some of its biggest promotions to date. 

Burgess will be showcasing their full Paul O’Grady’s dog food range at stand 3-38 during the popular annual event. Customers can purchase 700g trial bags from just £1 and will receive a £2 voucher redeemable in-store and online with each purchase.

Customers can also enter a free prize draw at the stand to be in with the chance of winning two large bags of Paul O’Grady’s dog food which will be drawn after the show.

Paul O’Grady’s dog food range is suitable for all dog breeds and caters to various dietary requirements, from sensitive skin and digestion issues to dogs requiring a grain free diet.

Charlotte Varley, Event Manager at Burgess Pet Care said: “Crufts is the greatest dog show in the world and we can’t wait to return and showcase our Paul O’Grady’s range to everyone there. We teamed up with Paul to create great food with no nasties for all dogs.

“The feedback we’ve had from dog owners so far has been really positive, with lots of happy dogs and empty bowls mentioned! We’re bringing lots of trial bags which can be purchased at a great price, along with lots of freebies."

Burgess can be found at Crufts on stand 3-38, and the full Paul O’Grady’s range is available from www.pogdogfood.com.

WHIMZEES - the all-natural daily dental chew for dogs - is offering FREE canine dental advice at this year’s Crufts in the form of global canine expert, Dr. Danielle Bernal.

Dr. Bernal, who has over a decade’s experience in animal dental care and educating owners and retailers on the importance of the correct dental care and nutrition, will be at the WHIMZEES stand (stand 76, Hall 2) throughout Crufts 2019 to give free advice to owners on their dog’s dental care.

Getting up close to the mouths of dogs of all shapes and sizes for the duration of Crufts 2019, Dr. Bernal will be offering guidance on how to turn all breeds of dogs’ teeth in to champion clean smiles.

Dr. Bernal says: “In today’s ever hectic lifestyle, keeping on top of your pet’s teeth can be tricky. However, regular dental check-ups at your vets, combined with home brushing and supplemented by a scientifically-proven dental chew like WHIMZEES, makes for the perfect combination to looking after dogs’ teeth”.

80% more effective at reducing plaque than the leading competitors[1] and a simple way to keep a dog’s whole mouth clean, WHIMZEES are fun from the first bite with unique shapes - including a doggie toothbrush – perfect for Crufts.

With its top performing ingredients, shapes and science behind every chew; all owners need to do is make WHIMZEES a regular part of their pet’s routine.

The team behind premium raw dog food brand, Benyfit Natural, have announced they are preparing for an unforgettable show at this year’s Crufts.  They will be hosting exciting industry names at their stand across the four days of the show, ensuring a broad range of canine and nutritional expertise for visitors wanting to learn more about raw-feeding diets for their dogs.

Special guests include:

-        Zoologist, Dr Isla Fishburn

-        Veterinary Surgeon, Adele Fitzpatrick

-        Vet, Dr. Nick Thompson

-        British agility team member, Stacey Irwin-Burns

-        Presenter of BBC Radio show The Barking Hour, Anna Webb

The brand’s ambition for the show is to inform consumers about their wide-range of frozen raw working dog food, as well as supporting retailer and consumer knowledge in this new sector.  By ensuring a high-level of canine and feeding expertise on their show stand, the team believe they will be able to help consumers make the right food choices for their dogs. 

Greg Van Praagh, Lead UK Operations & Frozen R&D, said: “We’re anticipating a packed and busy show as numbers of people interested in raw-feeding increases and consumers become more aware of the benefits. This year we expect to see an even bigger number of visitors to our stand and look forward to welcoming our special guests to help share their knowledge and expertise.”

Benyfit Natural will use the Crufts platform to showcase their recently launched new World Explorer Range to dog owners and specialist pet retailers, in addition to their existing 22-strong product range. The new products come in 500g packs and are available in four new delicious and exotic recipes: Italian Buffalo; African Zebra; Australian Kangaroo; and Welsh Lamb.

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A Hull pet shop owner's been disqualified from keeping caged exotics, rabbits, reptiles, guinea pigs and caged birds for life, after a prosecution brought by the RSPCA.

Rebecca Dawn McHugh, who's 37 of the Boulevard, was sentenced by Hull Magistrates after being convicted of four offences.

The RSPCA was called to Hull Pets and Garden on Beverley Road in June last year, almost five months after the shop closed, and found the species.

McHugh was also sentenced to a two-year community order, and ordered to pay £300 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

The Pet Industry Federation has announced details of two of its key events for 2019, part of a dynamic re-structuring of its event portfolio to better reflect the evolving needs and expectations of PIF membership and the UK pet industry as a whole.

An exciting new dog grooming competition to determine the 2019 Groomer of the Year will take place in October, instead of this year’s British Dog Grooming Championship. The event, entitled ‘Groomer of the Year – The Masterclass’, is an invitational competition and will take place on Sunday 13 October at Warwick Conferences’ beautiful new venue, The Slate.

The competition will be by invite only with up to 15 competitors drawn from the current Guild of Master Groomer members, former Groomer of the Year winners and PIF Higher Diploma candidates. A limited number of tickets will be available for spectators to watch and learn from the highest calibre of dog groomers in the UK today and will include refreshments and lunch. A panel of prestigious judges will score each competitors’ dogs in order to determine the day’s winner.

Later in November, and following from the success of the event in 2015, a ‘Meet the Buyers’ event will take place giving an opportunity for UK manufactures to meet a number of high profile buyers from the UK, Europe and beyond, including China. The ‘Meet the Buyers’ event provides an ideal platform for new and established brands to meet buyers in a structured daytime environment, with plenty of time for networking later into the evening through ice-breaker events and dinner. Whilst the event will be open to all manufacturers, priority and lower registration costs will be available to PIF members.

The event is likely to take place in Surrey in early November, at a new type of venue with great transport links. Watch this space!

Nigel Baker, PIF chief executive, explained: "As the UK trade association for all pet businesses, we felt it was important to refresh our events over the next 18 months. Our ‘Groomer of the Year – The Masterclass’ and ‘Meet the Buyers’ are great examples of events which put our members at the heart of what we do, to give them fantastic opportunities to learn, raise their game and press their commercial advantage. We have secured different and unusual venues to add prestige and something novel to these events and are looking forward to sharing more details as they become confirmed.  

"If you’re wondering what has happened to the PIF Awards, the British Dog Grooming Championship and the PIF Forum though, don’t worry! Our exciting event plans still take these popular shows into consideration and we’ll be announcing details shortly about the future shape of these events."

To register your interest in attending or taking part in either of the events detailed above, email Daniel Everett, PIF Event Co-ordinator, Daniel.everett@petfederation.co.uk or telephone 01234 273933.

A team of pupils at a Suffolk School have been getting to grips with the world of business by creating their own pet brand DOG.

Standing for Durable, Organic, Green, DOG represents the environmental message behind plastic-free products for pets.

“We worked to come up with a plan that was sustainable but useful. We were thinking about what was a big market,” said team member Sarah Barker.

The plastic-free products include dog leads made of hemp which is grown in the UK and then put together by a family company in Yorkshire. 

The students at Woodbridge School then add a leather handle which they hand stitch onto the leads. 

All the leather is material from an upholsterer who was going to dispose of it in landfill.

The product packaging is also made from recycled, biodegradable materials.

The project is part of the nationwide Young Enterprise scheme which sees Year 12 students across the country set up their own small businesses. 

Read the full story here

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/hemp-dog-leads-being-sold-by-suffolk-enteprise-project-1-5917908

Mighty Mutts has added a new range of floating shape chew toys to its product offering.

Made from a revolutionary material that comes with a three year ‘chew proof’ guarantee, the ‘Mighty Mutts Shape’ collection is suitable for all sizes of dog, and comprises: a Cube that is available in small and medium sizes, a Cone with textured surface that comes in medium and large, and a cylindrical shaped Stick with textured surface that is also available in medium and large sizes.

These new shapes are designed to challenge a dog’s chewing habits and being made from rubber they float so also make a great fetch toy.  

Each product has a hollow centre making them ideal for filling with treats or peanut butter. Recommended retail prices start at £3.99, and the collection is available to order now.

http://www.interpet.co.uk/brands/petlove/

Specialist pet wholesaler, Bestpets, scooped two awards at the Bestway Performance Awards – the annual showcase where the company celebrates and rewards outstanding achievements seen across all its divisions, during the company’s last financial year. 

More than 500 colleagues and supply partners attended the glittering ceremony, held at The Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel.    

Bestpets with its ‘Free Wild Bird Watching Starter Kit’ took pride of place, winning the Best Community Award initiative for 2018.   Working with retailers across the country, consumers were asked to nominate local primary schools to receive a ‘Free Wild Bird Watching Starter Kit’ back in early 2018, with the kit including a nest-box, a variety of feeders and a ‘feast’ of bird food to help common garden birds survive the winter.

The kits were developed with support and products from partner supplier, SUPA. Chris Goodlad, Managing Director of Supa, said “Supa are delighted to have been involved with this great community initiative. We believe that encouraging children to interact with nature from a young age is important for the future of conservation.”

Collecting the Award on behalf of Bestpets was Karen Hubbard – Marketing Manager (Specialist Pet).  She said: “It is a pleasure to accept the Award on behalf of all of the Bestpets Team. This initiative really was a team effort including the Bestpets Head Office, the Sales team and the depots. It shows how we all work together and how we embrace the Bestway Values.”

Next on stage was Cheryll Flanagan, winning Pet Salesperson of the Year following a tremendous performance across 2018, bringing on board many new customers for the Manchester, Preston and Liverpool depots.  Cheryll later thanked all her colleagues and the Manchester Telesales team: “It is so lovely to feel appreciated and I want to stress this is also a massive team effort.  I would like to say a huge thank you to our Manchester Bestpets Telesales team, Jayne, Nicky and Abbie.  Thank you girls - I couldn’t have done it without you!”

Mike Bailey, Head of Bestpets said: “It’s been a great night for Bestpets in the recognition we have received for our work across 2018 both for ‘Free Wild Bird Watching Starter Kit’ initiative, and for the extraordinary commitment that our sales team have given the business over the past year, including all our shortlisted colleagues and Cheryll, who’s work ethics are truly outstanding.

“We continually look for innovation in how we work with our pet customers to help drive loyalty, growth and value in their businesses.”

For over 14 years, the Bestway Performance Awards have been central to Bestway in recognising commitment and exceptional talent.

Skinner’s sponsored the first Woofers Winter Walk which took place on Sunday in the stunning grounds of Helmingham Hall.

With breeds of every kind attending in what was unfortunate weather conditions, to support Suffolk Charities Our Special Friends and The Suffolk Community Foundation. Despite the wind and rain, 300 pooches braved storm Freya and no one let it dampen their moods.

The morning comprised of four walk starting times which set off round a three-mile track of the glorious grounds of Helmingham Hall, despite the rain some beautiful scenery was witnessed by the Woofers including Helmingham’s large herd of deer and picturesque parkland, at the end of the walk each pooch was rewarded with a Field & Trial goody bag.

Suffolk Dog Day is organised by Suffolk Community Foundation to support their work throughout the county, with the event raising vital funds for local Suffolk charities and community groups.

Suffolk Community Foundation’s Head of Public Affairs Tim Holder said: “We’re so proud to have such a loyal band of volunteers, who year after year step up to make Suffolk Dog Day a real ‘not to be missed’ date in the Suffolk calendar.

"The Winter Woofers Walk is a spin-off from this wonderful event. What people don’t always realise, is that every penny raised – almost £500,000 so far – is donated to support Suffolk charities who all do tremendous work helping vulnerable people right across our beautiful county.

"These events are all about dogs helping people, but it’s also an excellent opportunity for all walks of life to come together, have fun and make a positive difference."

Sales and Marketing Director, William Delamore, said: “It was a pleasure to sponsor the first ever Woofers Winter Walk. Based just down the road from our Mill in Stradbroke, it only seemed fitting to get involved with such a fantastic initiative which was designed to raise money for some truly worthwhile Suffolk Charities. We thoroughly look forward to Suffolk Dog Day on July 28, which is set to be another fantastic event”.

Skinner’s Field & Trial range is currently stocked in over 2,000 independent pet and country stores throughout the UK and most online retailers.

Stockists can be found at www.skinners.co.uk

With insight revealing the pet grooming market in Europe is now growing at an annual rate of +4%¹, FURminator, the total pet grooming brand, is excited to announce a relaunch which includes a new and enhanced range of products and improved packaging to cement its expert and premium positioning.

As 76% of owners claim to prefer grooming their pets at home versus using professional services together with FURminator having the highest awareness and usage rate vs. other brands², the new and improved range aims to further support pet owners’ grooming needs with a simple four step grooming regime.

Introducing the new FURminator Ultimate Hair Reduction System which supports daily, weekly and monthly grooming, and features:

• For daily use the Adjustable deMatter Tool with a FURextender Button allowing owners to adjust the edges to work on all coat types and lengths, Grooming Rake, Dual Grooming Brush and Curry Comb are perfect for maintaining a strong and healthy coat for your customers’ pets
• For weekly use, the trusted and improved FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool, which can reduce shedding up to 99% (when used for 10-20 minutes per week), has been developed by professional groomers and retains existing popular features such as the FURejector button, ergonomic handle and stainless-steel edge, together with improved benefits for pets. The introduction of the Skin Guard and Curved edge allows the tool to gently glide through a pet’s coat, conforming to its natural shape for maximum comfort. The Edge Guard feature also protects the tool’s teeth securely when it’s being stored
• For monthly use, the new Bathing Brush makes bathing a breeze with its built-in shampoo and conditioner dispenser and release button for one handed use. What’s more, its carefully designed bristles loosen hair to allow the shampoo and conditioner to reach pet’s skin for an even shinier coat that smells fresh
• As needed, the Hair Collection Tool with re-useable roller is great for removing embedded pet hair from clothing, furniture and fabrics

Not only will the new FURminator Ultimate Hair Reduction System benefit owners with step-by-step grooming education, but it also increases category presence in store and creates cross-selling opportunities to further drive sales. To support the announcement and introduce the new and improved range to consumers, FURminator is launching an integrated marketing campaign incorporating online, print, POS and PR.

Gemma Serdet, Brand Manager at FURminator comments, “We understand how important it is to nurture the bond between pets and parents on a regular basis and that means helping owners to feel confident and comfortable when it comes to grooming.

“The new FURminator Ultimate Hair Reduction System is a convenient system consisting of four easy to follow steps – Groom, deShed, Bathe, Discard – all offered under one trusted brand. Offering unique, innovative new tools for every step, coupled with modern and premium packaging which enhances brand recognition while providing owners with reassurance that they are getting high quality value for their money. The new brand identity also creates a strong in-store presence which will help drive sales and recruit new users.”

The new FURminator Undercoat deShedding tools are tailored to suit the needs of different pets, breed sizes and hair lengths and is available in:

• Dog – Xtra Small, Small, Medium, Large and Xtra Large
• Cat – Small, Medium/Large
• Small animal – One size
• Equine – One size

The new relaunch will be available from June onwards at selected retailers. RRP will start from £26.50³.

For more information, please visit the FURminator website www.furminator.net.

¹Global Pet Grooming Market. Technavio.com (2016 – 2020)

²FURminator Europe U&A. The Petrullo Consultants Inc. (2016)

³Pricing at the discretion of the retailer

Tetra has launched Pond FilterStart Bacteria, a water conditioner which combines two types of natural, highly active bacteria to ensure optimal pond care.

By activating pond filters and reducing filter mud levels, the solution is able to boost effective biological filtration and eliminate ammonia and nitrite. This in turn not only improves the service life of your customer’s filter, but also makes ongoing pond maintenance and cleaning much easier.

A properly functioning filter is crucial to maintain a pond’s biological balance as beneficial and helpful filter bacteria collect in the filter materials to break down pollutants and organic substances.

However, as most filter bacteria are lost through the regular cleaning required or after dormant periods, such as winter, Tetra’s Pond FilterStart is a perfect product to kick start pond season as the water temperatures rise above 10^oC¹, helping to replenish lost bacteria to restore biological balance in garden ponds.

Organic pollutants can build up in the pond filter due to fish waste, food remains and fallen leaves. The cleaning bacteria efficiently break down organic waste in the filter. In doing so, Tetra Pond FilterStart extends the intervals between cleaning and increases the filter’s service life. It also contains bacteria from Tetra’s own biofarm to break down harmful substances.

These bacteria are responsible for breaking down ammonia and nitrite, which are toxic for fish. With its mix of natural bacteria, Tetra Pond FilterStart quickly restores the biological balance in your garden pond.

Ashleigh Foster, Aquatics Marketing Manager at Tetra comments; ‘We’re excited to launch our new Pond FilterStart Bacteria water conditioner, which makes caring for ponds and fish even easier than before. Our solution, which includes bacteria from our very own biofarm, helps to break down harmful substances including organic pollutants that can build up in the pond filter during winter due to fish waste, food remains and foliage to ensure waters are biologically balanced.”

The Tetra Pond FilterStart Bacteria conditioner is available in 500ml and 1L bottles from February with an RRP of £16² and £26.70².

For more information about Tetra, visit www.tetra-fish.co.uk or join in the conversation with Tetra UK on Facebook.

Tetra Pond FilterStart Bacteria at a glance

• NEW: 2in1 formula for effective biological filtration in garden ponds
• Includes highly active filter bacteria to combat ammonia and nitrite
• Efficient cleaning bacteria to fight against sediment and decay in the filter
• Extends the intervals between filter cleaning
• Purely biological effect

Sources:

¹ Tetra Pond FIlterStart should only be used once water temperatures rise above 10^oC.

² Pricing is at the sole discretion of the retailer

Campaigning MEP John Flack is backing a parliamentary move to use the opportunity of Brexit to end the cruel exportation of livestock.

 

The United Kingdom is currently governed by Brussels legislation which allows live exports of farm animals subject to some basic stipulations.

 

But Mr Flack and major welfare charities say the rules still subject animals to long hours of transit in unacceptable conditions. He also warns that animals sent to the EU are often transported on to non-EU states where their treatment is even worse.

 

The Conservative MEP for the East of England, a consistent campaigner for animal welfare and conservation, today welcomed a parliamentary amendment in Westminster which would commit the Government to a review of the UK's live export rules within a year of Brexit.

 

Mr Flack said: "This is a wonderful initiative. Former minister Tracey Crouch has tabled this as an amendment to the Agriculture Bill which is setting out our planned farming policies once we are free of the EU's dreaded Common Agriculture Policy.

 

"I hope many more of my Westminster parliamentary colleagues will now offer her cross-party support. Brexit is all about taking back control, and deciding our own farming and welfare standards is of prime importance."

Delegates at the one-day The Future for International Trade conference on 12^th March will benefit from hearing top level presentations covering every aspect of exporting, from mega trends in retailing worldwide to finding new and developing export markets and how to ease the path of exporting in the post-Brexit era.

In addition, experts in all aspects of exporting will be on hand throughout the day to answer the questions your company has on international trading and how you can benefit from increased sales internationally.

The event, which is being organised by leading trade associations, Gardenex, BHETA and PetQuip, and is being sponsored by Glee, is aimed at companies in the home enhancement, garden and leisure and pet product sectors.  Senior personnel from UK brand names including Smart Garden, Burgon & Ball, Ames Companies UK, Fothergills Seeds, Burgess Pet Care, Interpet, Charles Bentey, Dexam, Rollins, Creative Tops, Trend Machinery, Rosewood Pet Products, Nutriment and Concept Research, will be attending the day conference at the Stratford Manor Hotel in Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, which is easily accessed by road and rail.

In addition to inspirational case studies on how they are developing and expanding international sales from successful exporters WHAM (What More UK), Spear & Jackson, VegTrug and Group 55, the packed line-up of speakers will be giving delegates an intriguing behind-the scenes insight into all the current Westminster manoeuvrings, valuable practical information on export procedures and compliance and a worldwide economic forecast including predictions on potential currency fluctuations.

An expert on international business law will provide pointers on how best to prepare for trading globally and delegates will gain an insight into how British businesses can harness digital channels to expand international sales. There will also be plentiful opportunities for companies to ask Q&As, network with industry colleagues and participate in ‘ask the expert’ meetings.

The speakers taking part are:

• John Arnold, Northern Universal; UK Government Lobbying                  
• Tim Hiscock, Strong & Herd - Export Procedures and Compliance
• Lord Ivo Darnley, Rathbones - Worldwide Economic Forecast
• Dechert Solicitors - Legalities of International Trade for Businesses
• Stefano Botter, Euromonitor International - Retail Megatrends
• Sarah Carroll - Drive International Growth via Digital Channels
• Stephen Turner, Group 55
• Brett Russell, Spear & Jackson
• Joe Denham, Veg Trug
• Tony Grimshaw OBE, Whatmore UK Ltd

Among the international trade service providers taking part in the Ask the Expert Zone are Velta Freight, The Translation People, Strong & Herd, Infinity Blue Marketplaces consumer trend consultancy, GovGrant, plus representatives from the Department for International Trade; exhibition organisers Ambiente and Glee, the conference’s industry sponsor, will also be represented. 

BHETA Executive Director, Will Jones says “We have a varied and stimulating agenda comprising an array of top-level speakers and export experts which will help UK companies to develop and expand international sales in the future.” 

Director General of Gardenex and PetQuip, Amanda Sizer Barrett, commented “Gathering all these top-level experts and industry representatives at a single day event offers delegates a great industry networking opportunity and invaluable insights, inspiration and practical advice on securing, developing and expanding international trade.”  

Places can be reserved at this important conference by contacting any of the organisers.  Contact Gardenex or PetQuip on 01959 565995; email katie-mai@petquip.com or theresa@gardenex.com; or visit www.gardenex.com.  Contact BHETA  on 0121 237 1130, email nab@bheta.co.uk or visit www.bheta.co.uk. 

Members of Gardenex, PetQuip, BHETA and CHA can secure a preferential delegate rate of £69 per person at the conference. The event is also open to non-members at £149 per person (both plus VAT).

Leading pet food manufacturer, Pets Choice, has made its first acquisition of 2019, expanding its brand portfolio with the addition of Rufus Foods.

The sale, which completed 25th February 2019, saw Pets Choice acquire the Rufus Foods brand, boosting Pets Choice’s brand portfolio to a total of 10.

Rufus Foods has produced nutritious and flavoursome meals for both dogs and cats of all ages for over 30 years. The brand offers a range of complete foods for dogs and cats. 

Tony Raeburn, Pets Choice CEO, comments: “We are excited to announce the recent addition of Rufus Foods to our portfolio. It compliments our existing brand set perfectly, as it has a lot of heritage and great loyalty amongst its customer base.

“Moving forward, we will continue to supply Rufus Foods to its existing customer base, but, in line with our growth plans, we are also looking to build on the brand and the solid base that it already holds.”

Pets Choice’s portfolio now comprises 10 brands which offer a variety of products for pets and wild animals, including well-known brands Meatiful, TastyBone and Webbox. 

Mitchell Todd, from Rufus Foods, said: “With its industry-leading position and expertise, Pets Choice is the perfect company to elevate the Rufus Foods brand to the next level.”

With the addition of Rufus Foods, Pets Choice combined industry knowledge spans 165 years. Each brand offers a unique insight into animals from dogs to ducks and produces high-quality products that cater to a wide variety of consumer needs.

For further information about Pets Choice and its brand offering please visit www.petschoice.co.uk

Raiders broke into a Somerset pet shop overnight using a medieval looking object, according to the 'heartbroken' owner.

Charity tins and a safe were stolen from the Little Wings and Sudwoofers pet shop in Martock on the evening of February 24, said Louise Clarke.

The front door was smashed using a rusted object, leaving shattered glass all over the floor.

Read the full report here

Company of Animals founder Dr Roger Mugford is stepping down as CEO of the business this spring to grow a new venture, Animal Insights Limited.

Paul Nolan, formerly operations director at Company of Animals, will move into the role of CEO.

The pet food market is evolving rapidly. At Different Dog, we’re committed to changing dogs’ lives through real food, and working with retailers to deliver even greater choice.

Achieving this goal means that we’ve taken an uncompromising approach to creating nutritionally balanced meals using fresh, natural ingredients from local suppliers.  All our recipes are designed by our vet and nutritionist and then carefully hand-prepared by our team of dog-loving chefs.

New recipes are introduced regularly, so even the fussiest four-legged friend is kept excited at mealtimes. Say ‘goodbye’ to the same old boring processed meals and ‘hello’ to shiner coats, better digestion and wagging tails.

At PATS, we revealed our new look branding, plastic free packaging and hosted a ‘dog food first’ cookery demonstration. The buzz on the stand was fantastic, with retailers keen to source our high-quality, healthy meals for dogs.  

The feedback speaks for itself:

• "This is the future of pet food."
• “A truly original product.”
• "This is what the pet food market has been missing."          
• "The food looks absolutely delicious." (At least one store owner tried it!)

Check out our 5-star reviews on TrustPilot and see why pets and their owners love Different Dog.

So what makes us different?

• We make real food
• Our meals are created by hand
• Our products are loved by vets
• We use fully compostable, cardboard pots

We exist to make our dogs, family and planet healthy and happy – adding greater value to the retail sector.

During March, Different Dog will feature at the world’s greatest dog show – Crufts at the NEC and as a sponsor of the first ever London Dog Week (24^th-31^st March). We hope to see you there to sample our expanding range.

Alternatively, contact our friendly team to discuss freezer offers for Spring or to arrange a store visit: 01743 384 562 or feedme@differentdog.com

Help us to change the world, one dog at a time.