The global private equity giant that acquired Pets at Home for a reported £955m in 2010 and floated the pet supplies retailer in 2014 has sold its remaining stake in the business in a £108m deal.

KKR, which floated the pet supplies retailer in 2014, sold just over 62m shares in the company at 174p a share, raising proceeds of around £108m.

The proceeds of the placing are payable in cash on usual settlement terms, and closing is expected to occur later this month. Merrill Lynch International and Numis acted as joint bookrunners on the placing.

Following completion of the deal, KKR will no longer have any shares in Pets at Home.

Earlier this week, shares in Pets surged after it reported a rise in third-quarter sales and said final guidance was unchanged. In the 12-week period to 4 January 2018, group revenue grew 9.6% to 223.3m, with group like-for-like revenue up 7.2%.

Merchandise revenue rose 9% to £193.4m, including omnichannel revenue up 77% to £13m, while services revenue grew 13.6% to £29.9m, including joint venture vet practice income up 19.3% to £12.1m.

At 3pm today, the shares were down 2% to 181.40p.

The closure of the seven high-street Barkers dog stores will cost owners Pets at Home around £2 million, it has been revealed in the retailer's latest financial figures. The costs are attributed to lease commitments and the write down of fixed assets.

Last week Pet Trade Xtra revealed that Pets at Home was closing the Barkers stores and offering staff alternative roles at its superstores.
 
The pet retail chain opened its flagship Barkers' shop in a former Blockbusters store in Wilmslow, Cheshire in March 2014 and had since opened a further six shops across the country – Clifton (Bristol), Farnham (Surrey), Ilkley (West Yorkshire), Marlow (Buckinghamshire), Muswell Hill (London) and Sevenoaks (Kent).
 
A spokesperson for Pets at Home told us: “Barkers is a trial concept of a premium segment small-store format in seven high street locations around the country.
 
“There are a number of positive aspects from the trial that we will incorporate into our core Pets at Home stores.
 
“However, we have concluded that the Barkers concept does not offer the potential to be rolled-out profitably.  We have therefore decided to end the trial and close our seven Barkers stores by the end of March.
 
“All colleagues from our Barkers stores will be offered alternative roles in local Pets at Home stores.”

Below is the Pets at Home trading update for the 12 week period from 13th October 2017 to 4th January 2018, compared with the 12 week period from 14th October 2016 to 5th January 2017.
 
Financial summary

• Group revenue growth of 9.6% to £223.3m
• Merchandise revenue growth of 9.0% to £193.4m, including omnichannel revenue up 77% to £13m
• Services revenue growth of 13.6% to £29.9m, including Joint Venture vet practice income up 19.3% to £12.1m
• Group like-for-like revenue growth of 7.2%
• Merchandise like-for-like revenue growth of 6.8%, with good performance in store sales, as well as from omnichannel initiatives - Order In-Store and subscription
• Services like-for-like revenue growth of 10.1%, reflecting strong growth in first opinion and specialist referral vet services
• All financial guidance*, including gross margin expectations, is unchanged

* Refers to financial guidance before exceptional items
 
Operational summary

• Excellent progress in Merchandise trading, where price repositioning has continued with the addition of further major brands in both dog and cat Advanced Nutrition
• New checkout process launched on the mobile website, delivering significantly improved online conversion and customer experience
• First Opinion vet practices delivering strong growth across both new and mature surgeries
• Opened two Pets at Home superstores, two Vets4Pets practices and five Groom Room salons. On track to deliver full year opening targets of around 10 superstores, 40-50 vet practices and 20-30 grooming salons
• The Barkers store trial has reached its conclusion. Existing stores will be closed over the coming year and exceptional costs of c£2m are expected in the FY18 income statement in relation to lease commitments and the write down of fixed assets

Ian Kellett, Group Chief Executive Officer, commented: “I’m happy to report further progress in the third quarter, where trading momentum in our Merchandise division built over the Christmas period. In the year since we launched our lower pricing initiatives we have seen a really strong customer response to the investments we have made. At the same time, we continued to deliver strong growth in our veterinary business across both first opinion practices and specialist referral centres. Thanks again to colleagues across the Group who worked incredibly hard to deliver this result.
 
“We again saw the benefits of our omnichannel capabilities, providing customers with innovative and convenient ways to shop, particularly through Order In-Store and subscription services. This unique combination of capabilities are brought to life by our store colleagues who provide the friendly expertise, advice and service that our customers really value.”

Pets Corner, the second largest pet retailer in the UK, is bucking the trend for online shopping, reporting that over 98% of its sales are attributed to its network of 149 stores.

The company, which employs 950 staff, is celebrating another strong and positive set of results, following a further increase in its like-for-like sales.

Reporting on its financial highlights for the year ending September 2017, the privately-owned, family business revealed its sales were up 5.7% with an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) figure of £6.2 million.

December sales were also up on the previous year at 8.7%, bucking the trend of many other retailers that have seen a slump in sales over the festive season.

Early forecast figures for 2018 delivered more good news for the company, which sells a range of its own natural pet foods and products, with the current EBITDA figure estimated to be up on 2017 by an impressive 31%.

Pets Corner plans to invest £9m over the next three years in new stores and rolling out over 60 of its natural pet grooming spa Dogwood.

CEO at Pets Corner, Dean Richmond, said the outlook couldn’t be better.

He added: “In the last three years our like-for-like sales have performed three times better than our close rivals. We are not embarrassed to say that we don’t rely on cutting the price and quality of products to drive sales. Instead, we look to offer our customers better value by giving them a product that will work better and last longer.

“This is backed up by the expert knowledge of our staff, who are all classroom trained in our academies across the country. It is fair to say that in a world where online shopping is increasingly important, there is still a place for businesses on the high street and via retail outlets where service still matters. This is particularly true in the case of Pets Corner where we pride ourselves on an exceptional customer service experience and a no-quibble 100% satisfaction guarantee.”

Pets Corner’s financial highlights for year ending September 2017 and Q1 of year ending September 2018:

• Year Ending September 2017
  Turnover £54.8 million
  EBITDA £6.2m
  LFL sales up 5.7%

• Year Ending September 2018 - 1st Quarter (October to December 2017) EBITDA up 28% to £3.25m 
  LFL sales up 7%

• December 2017 sales were £5.73m and LFL up 8.7%

• Year Ending September 2018 Forecast
  Expected turnover £56.5m
  EBITDA £8.1m – up 31% on 2017

UK-based pet food manufacturers have hit back at new research claiming that bacteria and parasites often found in raw dog and cat food products can pose health dangers to pets and their owners.

Researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands have claimed that raw meat diets can cause dental and gut injuries as well as growth problems in pets – the latter a result of a deficiency in certain nutrients, a particular issue with home-prepared raw meat diets.

In response Craig Taylor, managing director of Natures Menu, said: “As the UK’s and Europe’s leading expert in raw pet food we are concerned that this report could confuse consumers. In the 35 years since we have been trading, there is no evidence available from the British Veterinary Association or our own scientific studies to suggest that pets fed on a frozen raw diet are more likely to spread bacteria to humans.

“Natures Menu works closely with the PFMA on raw guidelines in the UK to ensure effective management of such products. The raw pet food industry is also carefully controlled by the relevant authorities and submits to all testing required, as well as abiding by all relevant EU legislation. Our microbiologically tested raw foods, which are also DEFRA and veterinary approved, are completely safe and millions of pets thrive on a natural diet of quality ingredients.

“As with handling any raw meat products, we always make clear that it should be stored separately and food preparation areas, hands and utensils kept clean. We work closely with vets and nurses to educate them on raw feeding and our experienced in-house veterinary team holds regular Lunch and Learns to share the latest research, advice and give support to ensure they are fully informed to advise their patients accordingly.

“We would encourage anyone concerned by this report to speak with their vet and look at wider research for reassurance. Additionally they can visit our own website www.naturesmenu.co.uk for further guidance.

Cotswold RAW also said it was aware of the recent study claiming that raw dog and cat food may be contaminated with bacteria and parasites, and as such may pose a risk to both animal and human health.  

Managing director Mark Lewis said: “The safety of our food is always our top priority and adheres to stringent food safety protocols.

“As an active member of the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association (PFMA), the leading trade body for the UK pet food industry, we are involved in creating and maintaining a good practice guide within raw food suppliers. 

“Our DEFRA-approved manufacturer status also requires adherence to strict regulations in the production of premium quality food, where we only use premium quality ingredients from farms and abattoirs that we have longstanding relationships with.

“In the handling of any raw meat, we would always recommend sensible hygiene to all our customers. All our fresh foods are presented in such a way that handling is minimised and, wherever possible, waste is eliminated.”

Cotswold RAW offers pet owners advice on its website  www.cotswoldraw.com/preparation-and-hygiene

Firmly established as the UK’s National Pet Trade Event, PATS Telford is making every effort to ensure that September’s show is even more successful for its growing numbers of visitors and exhibitors.

Three PATS exhibitions have been held at Telford International Centre and each event has attracted more than 2,000 visitors, with last year’s attendance of 2,148 breaking all records.

Plans are in place to attract another impressive number of retailers and buyers to this year’s PATS Telford, which takes place on September 23-24, boosted by a strong international presence.

Leading trade association PetQuip will again be working with PATS to tempt international pet retail chains and distributors to the Autumn showpiece, and will be hosting the Buyers’ Centre where visitors can sit down and meet prospective new suppliers at the event. PetQuip team members will also be available to provide business services, sourcing advice and arrange introductions to UK pet companies.

The association’s involvement doesn’t end there because it will be staging its prestigious PetQuip Awards after the first day of the exhibition. During an evening when outstanding success in the industry is celebrated, the PATS Telford New Product Awards, sponsored by pbwnews, will also be presented.

Pat Flynn, Trade Association Manager of PetQuip, said: “We value our working partnership with the PATS organisers. The PATS events are always well run with lots of excellent exhibitors displaying new and innovative products. It is a pleasure to publicise the shows to our wide database of both international and UK buyers, and this is beneficial for our members who exhibit too. The PetQuip Awards are also an ideal fit alongside an innovations show such as PATS Telford.”

In another initiative aimed at encouraging large European retailers and distributors to visit the Telford show, the PATS team will have a stand in the British Pavilion at Interzoo in May.

A big attraction for international visitors is the large number of exporting companies taking stands at PATS Telford, a fact backed up by Christer Wernborg, of Sweden, who made the trip to last year’s show. Christer said: “It was even better than I expected. I made a lot of new contacts and found it a great way to discover new trends.”

Another international visitor Stanley van Loggem, from Holland, added: “PATS is a lovely environment for sourcing products. The atmosphere and people are fantastic. My aim was to find some serious new contacts and I achieved my goal.”

Federica Gabasio, from Italy, and Lucas Lengyel, of the Czech Republic, have both visited PATS Telford and they agreed it was well worth the time and effort. "The exhibition provides a good overview of the British market," said Federica, while Lucas commented: "The organisation is excellent. The welcome is good, everyone is smiling and happy to see you.”

PATS Telford is shaping up to be one of the most successful events in the show’s history, and those companies that have already booked their stand acknowledge that the exhibition delivers the right calibre of visitor from both the UK and Europe.

“We had a very successful show at Telford last year,” said Julie Butcher of Pets Choice. “We had a lot of international interest, especially buyers from Greece, Spain and France.”

Leading companies exhibiting at PATS Telford include: Anco, Burns, flexi, Forthglade, Hertford Shelving, Inspired Pet Nutrition, Lennox, Marriages, Pedigree Wholesale, Petlife, Pets Choice, and Symply.

Visitors to PATS Telford can expect to see an unrivalled array of new pet products and speak to top suppliers and manufacturers. They will also be able to witness demonstrations from the country’s leading dog groomers and listen to talks from prominent industry figures. For all the latest news on PATS visit www.patshow.co.uk

Animal welfare campaigner, Jo Amit of ethical pet care company HOWND, attended the launch of Lucy's Law at the Houses of Parliament.  When introduced, Lucy's Law will prevent puppies being sold by pet shops and other third-party dealers that have been supplied by puppy farms.

Last December's high-profile event saw MPs from across the political spectrum united in supporting an immediate ban to stop the cruel practice of puppy farming. 

Campaigning Vet, Marc Abraham, the founder of Pupaid, has worked tirelessly to bring an end to the cruel practice of puppy farming and the introduction of Lucy's Law is the culmination of a lot of hard work.

Lucy's Law is named after a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that was rescued - after being deemed worthless and left to die by a breeder. Jo Amit and Mark Hirschel of HOWND have been staunch supporters of Pupaid since its inception, and last year made a short film to promote the adoption of rescue dogs and raise awareness of #AdoptDontShop campaign against puppy farming:

"It is great news that Marc Abraham's determination to put an end to puppy farming once and for all is paying off, and the public are more aware now than ever about not purchasing a puppy without its mum being present. Not only are the puppies from these farms in poor health, the breeding bitches themselves are more often than not neglected by the breeders, while kept far from the public's eye. We are very proud to have supported PupAid's campaign from the start. What a huge relief to know that once introduced, Lucy's Law will end the suffering of tens of thousands of puppies, mums and breeding males each year", says Jo of HOWND.

A Mirror newspaper campaign, spearheaded by dog-loving journalist Andrew Penmann has helped raise the profile of the campaign and has gathered support for the introduction of Lucy's Law from all over the world.  Numerous articles by Andrew have highlighted the plight of mums and pups trapped in puppy farms.

"With support from the press, high profile politicians, including the Prime Minister and leading politicians we hope that Lucy's Law will become law very soon. Let this be the beginning of a worldwide ban on puppy farming and a return to responsible dog breeding", says Jo.

Among the many new products being launched by leading British suppliers exhibiting on the British pavilion at Global Pet Expo will be luxury dog accessories, a range of pet treats and coats, pet cleaning and hygiene products, flea and bug repellents, chicken coop safety features and pet treat packaging.  

The British exhibitor group at Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida (21 to 23 March 2018) is being organised by PetQuip, the UK pet trade association, for the eighth consecutive year.  In addition to supporting the UK pet product exhibitors, the PetQuip association is organising and manning a British petcare information booth (1270) for the benefit of visiting buyers.

The British companies and their products are as follows:

 ChickenGuard (Booth 1173) is a leading manufacturer of products for the backyard chicken owner.  The company is well known for its ChickenGuard range of automated chicken coop door openers that provide protection against predators.  ChickenGuard has been upgraded with new features requested by chicken owners, and three models of a new door kit have been developed to complement the ChickenGuard unit.

CarPET - Pet Hair Remover (Booth 1167) produces one of the best selling pet hair removers available.  It has gained worldwide acceptance by retailers in the pet, motor, caravan and equestrian sectors.  The company has chosen Global Pet Expo to launch a practical and effective cleaning product for dogs, cats, horses, rabbits and other pets; the latest addition will complement its existing products.

Group55 (Booth 1266) is a UK manufacturer of pet care hygiene products.  The company has a state-of-the-art facility that includes development and testing laboratories that support a highly skilled, multi-disciplinary team working with retailers and brand owners in more than 50 countries around the world.  The firm delivers full turnkey solutions including NPD, benchmarking, market insights, testing, regulatory services, manufacturing, brand development, marketing and product training.

Law Print and Packaging (Booth 1169) produces a wide range of bags for pet treats and foods, and is showcasing its latest packaging innovations for retailers that include the Pavlov's Treat Bag.  Also new are bespoke pet food packaging for brand owners and manufacturers.  The company has a dedicated team of specialists that spans the entire packaging supply chain including design, print, quality assurance and international logistics.  

Teddy Maximus (Booth 1268) is showing its ‘new to the market’ range of Teddy Maximus luxury British dog accessories products.  The range includes a dog carrier that also doubles as a travel bed.  The company also has a complementary range of bow ties, toys, coats, beds, neckerchiefs, collars and leashes.  This luxury range has finishing details such as solid brass fittings from a British foundry (that holds a Royal warrant).

Trilanco (Booth 1272) is well known for its ranges of pet care, healthcare, pet household and pet wear and stocks over 16,000 products with new lines being added on a regular basis. Trilanco is showcasing new ranges at Global Pet Expo, including pet treats, coats and pet care goods from leading brands such as Country Pet, Easidri, Furminator, Mark and Chappell, Ralph & Co, Waterless and many more.

PetQuip (Booth 1270) is the International Trade Association of Pet Equipment Suppliers.  The PetQuip team assists and promotes the development of international trade in the pet equipment sector, providing a catalyst for business contact between UK manufacturers, suppliers and international buyers. PetQuip has published the PetQuip Buyers’ Guide, which includes a directory of members’ product ranges, and copies will be available to all buyers visiting the PetQuip stand.  PetQuip is part of The Federation of Garden & Leisure Manufacturers Ltd, which since its formation 55 years ago has built up close contacts within the North American market.

WildWash (Booth 1171) is showing its recently launched Pro Flea and Bug Repellent that has impressive eco credentials.  The product represents a year of work for WildWash, sourcing natural and ethical ingredients from around the world that have been selected as the most effective insect repelling botanicals in their country of origin.  The resulting product uses a blend of essential oils recognised for its flea repellent properties, while also deterring flies, ticks, mosquitoes and other parasites.  The careful, caring combination of Horsetail, Eucalyptus and Nettle can be applied freely and liberally and is suitable for use on both dogs and horses.  As an added benefit, the repellent helps to condition and brighten the coat for a glossy shine.

Companies interested in future export-business creating initiatives organised by PetQuip should contact either Theresa Swann theresa@petquip.com or Katie-Mai Smith katie-mai@petquip.com Telephone +44 (0) 1959 565 995.

Recent research by the leading feline veterinary behaviour product, FELIWAY FRIENDS, has revealed that over 65% of cat owners believe that their cats get on with each other, yet nearly all of those questioned owned cats that displayed signs of multi-cat tension.

Indeed, over 60% of cat owners believed that their cats were either sociable or indifferent towards each other despite showing signs of disharmony which included: chasing (65%), swiping paws (53%), hissing (48%), keeping a distance from one another (31%), fighting and acting aggressively (27%), staring (30%) and sitting in front of resources to block access (25%).  Moreover, the cats were so stressed that they would often scratch furniture or household items (46%), hide from their housemates (26%), meow excessively (20%) or spray (17%).

Eighty per cent of pet owners allow their cats to eat and drink beside their housemates, which is known to increase multi-cat tension.  Simple changes within the household, such as separating feeding areas, positioning water bowls away from the feeding areas and creating safe areas up high will help prevent disharmony.  FELIWAY FRIENDS helps reduce tensions and conflicts in households with more than one cat and helps cats feel safe and secure, while maintaining a harmonious bond between cats.

Claire Russell, FELIWAY brand manager at Ceva Animal Health, comments: “There is the common misconception that cats need other feline companions, however they are naturally solitary survivors who are more than happy in their own company.  Simple environmental changes and using FELIWAY FRIENDS can help restore harmony between household cats who are displaying signs of multi-cat tension.”

For further information on FELIWAY visit www.feliway.com/uk

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An experienced pet trade specialist, who loves to mountaineer in her spare time, is set to take Fish4Dogs to new heights as its Sales Director.

Sarah Fowler has joined the Worcestershire-based premium pet food manufacturer to drive sales in the UK and Europe and increase brand and product presence in stores.

She has 17 years’ experience in the pet sector, with great knowledge of European retail and wholesale networks. Sarah was previously Commercial Director at Vital pet wholesale.

Said Sarah: “There is a massive opportunity to broaden the range of Fish4Dogs in UK trade outlets.

Fish4Dogs has a wonderful product range, which delivers on quality and brand promise. It has a very loyal direct to consumer base and sells well in-store where pet shop owners fully understand the benefits of feeding fish to dogs.” 

“I’m excited by the challenge of bringing Fish4Dogs excellent range of food and treats to more and more customers, via pet shops around the UK and in mainland Europe.”

A graduate of Oxford Brookes University, where she achieved a BA Hons in English Lit and History, Sarah is skilled in strategic development and creating strong growth for premium brands via pet wholesale and retail channels. 

She is a staunch advocate of “pet first – quality food and treats – heathy dogs – happy owners” which was a key objective in her buying and marketing work with Vital.

In her spare time, Sarah, enjoys hiking, mountaineering, running, skiing and travel. She has ambitions to run a marathon and ultimately climb the Alps but has a more realistic objective in the short term - to complete the Wainwright routes of the English Lake District.

Fish4Dogs CEO Graham Smith, said that he was delighted to have Sarah as part of the team.

“Sarah has a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the industry, she understands our brand and the values which underpin it. Her expertise and passion for the business, will help our continued growth and develop new sales opportunities to give consumers greater choice and convenience to access our product ranges. Specifically, over the coming weeks Sarah will be building a new team to provide UK pet shops with enhanced support in terms of training, promotions, merchandising providing them with tangible retail growth opportunities”

Toby Hart, the previous Sales Director at Fish4Dogs, has been appointed to a new role within the company, Business Development Director, and is responsible for driving export sales in specific ‘super growth’ countries including China, Australia and the USA.

Following reports that Ant McPartlin and wife Lisa Armstrong are set to do battle over their beloved dog Hurley, a pet expert has expressed concerns over the welfare of dogs in such situations and has given advice on how to avoid it.

The expert has also drawn attention to the pre-pup; a legal agreement for a couple which helps arrange custody of a family pet.

Dr Maeve Moorcroft, Head of Pets at Pets at Home, believes that the split will have almost as big an impact on the dog as it does on the couple involved in the divorce. There’s also the added pain of deciding on custody of a four legged family member,  that can bring additional heartache to a couple who are already in an incredibly stressful situation.

Dogs are very dependent animals and being separated from one half of a pair who they are used to spending all of their time with can be very distressing. Emotional tension between a couple who the dog loves and changes to their routine may also cause disorientation.

The dog may also have to move home as part of the divorce and this change of location could be frustrating, as the territorial canine has had to leave the house they know and love behind.

For the owners, spending time away from the dog can likewise be upsetting, especially if they’re used to being around them whenever they’re at home.

One way to try and negate some elements of this situation is to draw up a pre-pup – a pre-nuptial style agreement between the couple – that details exactly how the dog will be cared for should there ever be a split or divorce. Without such an agreement, the dog is sadly handled by a court as a marital asset and will be awarded to whichever partner can prove they legally paid for the animal.

Dr Maeve Moorcroft, Head of Pets at Pets at Home, has provided her tips for couples in similar situations to Ant and Lisa.

Maeve’s tips

1.        Try and maintain the dog’s usual routine as much as possible
2.        Look to split the dog’s time equally between two homes and make sure that the animal has regular contact with both former partners so that a close relationship is maintained
3.        Should an arrangement be impossible because of friction between the couple, consider arranging for the dog to move in with a relative for a brief period so that the four legged friend is away from emotional tension
4.        Be patient with your dog as their behaviour may change for a brief period while they adapt to the situation
5.        Put the needs of the dog first when negotiating the split; the love a former spouse has for a pet may seem like an easy way to score points, but the emotional wellbeing of the dog must come before this.

Helen Warren-Piper has moved from her marketing director role at Premier Foods to become sales director at Mars’ Pet Nutrition business in the UK, setting sales strategy for brands including Pedigree and Whiskas.

Helen has been in marketing for more than 20 years exclusively within FMCG. Starting her career at P&G she held various roles including stints in business development and sales marketing.

She was also a marketing director at P&G’s then pet food business before moving on to senior marketing and business development positions at United Biscuits and then Mr Kipling maker Premier Foods, where she has held the dual UK marketing and R&D role since last April.

Helen said: “I am thrilled to be joining Mars Petcare at such an exciting time for the UK Petcare category. I will be focusing on working with our customers closely, cementing and building our relationships with them to ensure the growth of the category and of our world-leading brands.”

She replaces Jason Uttley, who is staying at Mars in an as yet announced new role.

Pet brand WildWash has won the Best Small Stand at BETA International 2018.

The judges said: “The stand was merchandised simply and spoke with a clear message that backed up the brand's ethical range of products. There was effective use of wall fixtures and simple, easy-to-shop point-of-sale. They had clearly thought outside the classic stand set-up to create a display that took time, energy and effort, and provided plenty of opportunity for interaction. Staff were really friendly and approachable.”

In other good news for WildWash, the Good Shopping Guide has published a round-up of the Most & Least Ethical Brands of 2017, and Wildwash is featured as one of the ‘Good’ brands!

The findings are based on research carried out by The Ethical Company Organisation in 2017 and makes for interesting reading: http://www.thegoodshoppingguide.com/least-ethical-companies-2017-edition/

AmPet Products has been announced as the winner of the Corporate LiveWire Innovation & Excellence Awards for Pet Accessory Wholesaler of the Year - UK 2018.

The Corporate LiveWire Awards represent the pinnacle of business achievement, championing the best in their respective fields.

Their corporate awards cover the most important sectors of business, from finance advisories, funding providers to law firms and specialist advisory companies that deal with mergers and acquisitions.

The culmination of the awards is the Global Award, covering businesses of every type that have proven their excellence throughout the year and years past.

AmPet’s marketing director Alex Wilson commented: “As a small independent distributor of American dog products, we were very thrilled when we were contacted by Corporate LiveWire to say we had been nominated for this very prestigious award.

"We never thought that we would end up the winner as we assumed one of the larger distributors would surely win. Can you imagine our surprise and excitement when we received the telephone call telling us that we had won?

“As a small company of dedicated people, we pride ourselves in bringing to the UK market some of America’s most innovative and unique pet products along with the British made Xtra Dog fleece walking harnesses for dogs.

"This award is a tribute to our team who work tirelessly to help pet shops stock products that are not available from the mainstream supply chains in the pet industry.”

Kerry Payne, Corporate Livewire Account Manager, said: “During the awards process, we invited over 100,000 corporate professionals, the general public and our subscriber base to nominate associations, companies and individuals based on their achievements and strengths. Additionally, Corporate Livewire's extensive research team has put forward a selection of individuals who have excelled within their sector.

"Information was submitted on each nominee and our independent judging panel have decided upon the most deserving teams, practices and individuals to walk away with one of these prestigious accolades. Award winners will gain a place in our soon-to-be published awards winners' guide, which will be distributed to over 200,000 businesses and professionals, as well as being distributed in Aspire Airport Lounges around the world.”

For more information about AmPet’s award winning range of products visit www.ampet.dog, email email info@ampet.dog or call 0330 088 1673.

Pets at Home is closing all seven of its specialist Barkers high street stores and is offering staff alternative roles at its superstores. All the Barkers shops will be closed by the end of March.

The pet retail chain opened its flagship Barkers' shop in a former Blockbusters store in Wilmslow, Cheshire in March 2014 and had since opened a further six shops across the country – Clifton (Bristol), Farnham (Surrey), Ilkley (West Yorkshire), Marlow (Buckinghamshire), Muswell Hill (London) and Sevenoaks (Kent).

When  the Barkers concept was first launched Pets at Home said  the objective was “to create the best dog shop in the world.”

But now the company has had a rethink and a spokesperson for Pets at Home told Pet Trade Xtra this week: “Barkers is a trial concept of a premium segment small-store format in seven high street locations around the country. 

“There are a number of positive aspects from the trial that we will incorporate into our core Pets at Home stores.

“However, we have concluded that the Barkers concept does not offer the potential to be rolled-out profitably.  We have therefore decided to end the trial and close our seven Barkers stores by the end of March. 

“All colleagues from our Barkers stores will be offered alternative roles in local Pets at Home stores.”

Each of the seven stores has posted a similar message of Facebook. Here’s the post from the Wilmslow store.

“It with an extremely heavy heart that today we have to announce that Barkers of Wilmslow is closing on Sunday 18th March 2018.

“As many of you know, we were the first of 7 shops and have had an incredible four years here in Wilmslow – meeting and being here for you and your barkers has truly been an honour.

“I would like to reassure you all that this decision was not an easy one and certainly not one we have taken lightly, but due to many factors we have to say farewell.

“We have every intention of going out as we came in, as a shop filled with fun, laughter and general doggy shenanigans! So to each and every Barker who has shopped here, been groomed here, attended a party or even done a sneaky little wee on us – do come back and see us before we shut our doors for the last time!

“For all of our spa customers, our groomers will be getting in contact over the coming weeks to discuss your appointments, but please do give us a call if you are worried before then. We can also help arrange an alternative appointment at our sister dog grooming salon, The Groom Room, located in Pets at Home Stockport or Pets at Home Altrincham.

“Thank you! It’s been a pleasure and we will miss you all terribly."

Sainsbury’s has announced that the launch of its new hypoallergenic pet food range is part of a wider investment in the pet aisles.

The new pet food as been created to cater for UK cats and dogs with food allergies or intolerances.T

he new Sainsbury’s range will be available in stores from the end of January 2018 and is the biggest investment the retailer has ever made in its pet food range.

The range, developed with pet nutrition experts, addresses the growing demand for pet food that is free from foods commonly known to cause intolerances or allergies in dogs and cats.

Sainsbury’s Hypoallergenic Range boasts recipes that are made without ingredients such as wheat, grain, dairy, eggs and soya. The retailer has also created a new range of pet treats made without added sugars, which can contribute to a number of health issues such as pet obesity and diabetes.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s core range of Complete Nutrition products continue to uphold the high standards customers expect and have all been made to recipes containing no wheat– often found in poorer quality pet foods.

Lucy Taylor, Product Developer for Pets at Sainsbury’s, said: “As our customers become more aware of the ingredients in the food they eat, we’ve also seen a shift in buying habits within the pet food market. Our development focus has been to offer a nutritionally-sound product range to satisfy the numerous pet dietary needs - something we’ve identified as increasingly important to pet owners.

“Responding to this emerging trend, we’ve removed artificial colours and flavours across our pet food ranges and introduced recipes made without grain, wheat and other common allergens. The work we’ve done in the pet aisle makes this type of specialist pet nutrition more accessible, offering products that are not only more widely available, but also more affordable.”

Heights Farm Premium Pets Foods, a family-run business based in Bolton, Lancashire, is set to expand its empire with the launch of a new franchise operation.

This will allow more customers across the UK to have Heights Farm’s premium quality pet food delivered straight to their doors via a fleet of vans operated by pet-loving entrepreneurs who are in charge of running their own businesses in their own particular localities.

This model allows customers to make considerable cost savings on their delivered cat and dog food when compared to many other leading premium pet food brands on the market.

Stephen Ward, founder and owner of Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods, set up the company in response to his own experience of the pet food industry when his Douge De Bordeaux Mastiff, Milo started to develop a number of allergies which started to make his life very tough.

Despite being put on a prescription diet by the vet and taking a course of steroid tablets, the vet bills started to mount and Milo’s itchy skin condition continued once he stopped taking the tablets.

Prolonged use of steroids could also have had serious side effects such as liver and kidney damage and it was only after switching to a salmon- based hypoallergenic dry food that many of Milo's symptoms started to clear up.

Stephen said: “For the first time Milo was actually happy, his patchy coat had started to heal and the redness had almost gone. Stool quality was also greatly improved.  It turned out that Milo was in fact wheat and wheat gluten intolerant.

“It was at this point that we felt our dog had been almost held in a state of disrepair. We contacted the veterinary practice explaining that the root cause of Milo’s condition was the wheat-based food that they had been supplying us. Every meal consumed was a trigger and the steroid was then the expensive sticking plaster that never actually fixed anything.

“This experience got us thinking how many more pets and pet owners had been in the same situation as ourselves?

“Poor Milo relied on us for his health and wellbeing and we had been passively making things a whole lot worse through misguidance at considerable expense.

“So after lots and lots of research and investment we decided to come up with the most amazing hypoallergenic blend of complete dry food that would in effect be a health food for dogs and cats with a very special and clinically proven ingredient-Green-Lipped Mussel.

"The extruded kibble is exposed to a steam process that gives a honeycomb texture inside, aiding digestion. The complementary natural ingredients such as Kale, Carrots & Peas, Yucca, Rosemary, Seaweed etc. also complete this natural dry food.

“Trials were carried out and the samples went down a storm. In May 2009 we took the brave step to establish our very own premium pet food company named after our family home Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods.

"The product range starts from puppy through to adult with proteins such as Chicken, Lamb and Salmon. We believe that if your animal benefits from the Green-Lipped Mussel daily you build an excellent bone and joint structure that will support your animal well throughout all life stages.

"There is no need for a senior type of product although we do offer our Dietary+Plus food which is great for maintaining/losing weight. Our products come in 2kg and 15kg sacks and are very keenly priced within the premium graded equivalents.”

Heights Farm has enjoyed steady and consistent growth through word of mouth. The model is based on a very personal one to one service, with unique products, not available on the high street, at a keen price and giving outstanding customer care levels, with a convenient delivered to the door service.

Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods supply nationally with a next day delivery service and internationally within 2-3 days delivered by their courier network and offer free delivery within Bolton Blackburn and Chorley areas from their fully liveried and kitted out Ford Transits.

Stephen continued: “Our next move is to market our fantastic Franchise Opportunity, allowing individuals or couples to invest in our company and purchase a carefully mapped territory which will enable them to grow their very own Heights Farm business.

"Again, we have invested a considerable amount into our franchise operation, particularly in our bespoke IT system 'Datadog' which makes building your business a breeze and allows full business support from our Bolton HQ.

“Initially our plan is to launch franchises throughout our North West region i.e. Preston, Wigan, Worsley, Altrincham, Stockport, Oldham & Rochdale, Warrington, Southport etc. with other national locations being introduced over the coming years. 

“We see this as a fantastic opportunity for people who love animals and being outdoors to create a cash positive business with full head office support. There's no need for any previous business experience as we have all the tools to quickly help you establish your region. The franchise term is 5 years with the option to renew or then market your established Heights Farm business investment. Cost of franchise is £9,999.00 + VAT.”

For further information on setting up your franchise visit www.heightsfarmpetfoods.co.uk, tel 01204 322755 or email enquiries@heightsfarmpetfoods.co.uk

Pictured: Bailey (chief taster), Stephen Ward (founder of Heights Farm Pet Foods) and Carole Sutton (latest franchisee).

Inspired Pet Nutrition is investing around £1.5 million in new equipment at its Dalton Mill site near Thirsk in North Yorkshire to meet increased demand for its range of pet food.

In late November the factory achieved a record weekly despatch figure of 5,300 pallets. 

IPN’s Harringtons brand continues to be a top performer, growing 38% YoY with nearly 5m additional unit sales as awareness and availability increases.

As part of the investment, additional robotic equipment is being installed on the site’s four production lines to help meet demand – particularly from own label customers – for two different flavours to be combined on a single pallet.

The four new lines will handle both 10 kilo and 3 kilo bags and the increased automation will boost production capacity by some 100% for the 3 kilo size and by some 50% for the 10 kilo bags.

David Wilson, operations manager at IPN, explained: “Previously, to meet customer demand for two flavours on one pallet, each flavour had to be manufactured separately on single pallets and wrapped.

"The pallets were then moved to another part of the factory where they had to be manually unloaded and re-stacked to combine the two flavours. "

The new robotic equipment – which is linked to a £500,000 multi-directional conveyor – now does this automatically as part of a single process. It can complete 21 pallet loads in an hour and is fully integrated with the factory’s central conveying system.

Completed pallet loads are then transported to the firm’s nearby £7 million distribution centre.

The system can handle supermarket ready 600mm x 800mm pallets - which retailers often use to display goods in-store – as well as the traditional 1200mm x 1000mm size. 

The investment will also enable the company to save up to £190,000 pa in labour costs linked to the previous double handling, while the more efficient use of production equipment will create nearly 50 hours of additional production capacity a week.

The firm is also looking to invest a further £500,000 in another gas-powered generator, with the opportunity in subsequent years to utilise waste heat from the equipment.

The new plant will significantly reduce the firm’s reliance on the Grid and reduce electricity costs as output can be more closely linked to consumption, in addition to bringing associated environmental benefits.

Pictured, from left to right: George Page (Production Director) and David Wilson (Operations Manager) in IPN’s Dalton Mill site which is benefiting from a £1.5 million investment to help meet increased demand for its products.