The Pet Care Trade Association will be using PATS Sandown next week to announce big changes to the organisation and how it will operate in future.

The PCTA is claiming that a new era will begin at PATS and is urging the pet industry to be a part of its exciting new plans.

"Since the arrival of our new chief executive Nigel Baker in December, we have reworked, rethought, redesigned and reshaped the association in order to better serve our members and now is the time to share the news with the pet industry," said PCTA sales and membership manager Lisa Pawsey.

"Four of us will be attending PATS Sandown and will be available to answer any questions you may have: Nigel can help with a general overview of the changes, Alex with events, Pauline with education and, of course, me for all membership matters.

"Our stand is K4 in Surrey Hall so if you are attending PATS, come and find out what has been going on, you may not recognise us."

The PCTA has also announced it will be holding a Forum aimed at businesses within the pet industry on October 17-18, at Chesford Grange Hotel, near Kenilworth in Warwickshire.

The Forum will tackle a wide range of issues affecting the pet industry today, and will include demonstrations and presentations from industry experts.

During the evening dinner, the Pet Industry Awards will be announced, celebrating and showcasing pet industry businesses.

With just days to go before PATS Sandown opens its doors, the final preparations are being made for what promises to be the most successful show in the event’s five-year history.

PATS Sandown takes place over Tuesday, March 19^th, and Wednesday, March 20^th, and visitors can expect to find more exhibitors than ever with 141 stands representing more than 160 companies. They will able to view a record number of items in the New Products Showcase – 143 in total.

They will also have the opportunity to take advantage of an impressive number of show offers. And they can discover some trade secrets from leading figures in the pet and grooming industries.

“There has been a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes to make sure that PATS Sandown delivers in terms of offering the widest range of exhibitors, new products, seminars from experts and grooming demonstrations…all under one roof,” said organiser Annie Dyke.

“Visitor numbers from both the UK and overseas have been growing over the past five years and we’re confident that the trend will continue this year. There is so much to see and do, and every visitor can rest assured they will be given a warm and friendly reception.” 

Arrive at Sandown Park early – the show opens on both days at 9am – and visitors will be offered a free bacon roll at the Esher Hall catering point until 10.30am. And to help keep people refreshed during the day they’ll be able to receive a free cup of tea or coffee

Visitors can expect a warm welcome from companies like Hills Pet Nutrition, Beaphar, Sharples & Grant, Burgess Pet Care, Nestle Purina, Mars Petcare and Pedigree Wholesale, and they’ll be greeted by a host of new faces. A growing number of companies are choosing to exhibit for the first time as they see PATS as the perfect opportunity to showcase their products.

There’s still time to register for free show entry by going online at www.patshow.co.uk. Benefits include free parking, free catalogue, free seminars, dog grooming demonstrations and many special offers. A full list of exhibitors and visitor attractions can also be found on the website.

Billy+Margot, the dog treat company backed by Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden, will be at PATS Sandown to launch its new Popcorn Treat.

The company's Iced Treats were showcased on the ALF stand at Sandown last year and won the PBW News-sponsored Best New Dog Product award.

The recognition gave Billy+Margot a huge lift, which was further boosted when company founder Marie Sawle (above) appeared on BBC’s hugely popular Dragons’ Den. Despite a grilling from the Dragons, Marie walked away with a £60,000 investment from Deborah Meaden.

“It has been a hectic yet amazing year for Billy+Margot and we’re looking forward to returning with our own stand at PATS Sandown this year,” said Marie. 

"Winning the New Dog Product award was the start of a remarkable period. The company is doing really well and with Deborah’s input and advice we’re expanding rapidly. 

“Deborah has taken a lot of interest in the business since coming on board and we’re in regular contact. I am so pleased I chose her,” added Marie, who was also offered investment from Dragon Hilary Devey.

Marie is confident that Billy+Margot’s new Popcorn Treat will create a lot of interest with PATS Sandown visitors. It has been entered into the New Products Showcase, and Marie is hopeful of more success for her growing business.

A lack of drinking bowls for dogs at Crufts proved to be an unexpected bonus for Long Paws, as pet owners converged on the company's stand to try its water bottles.

Long Paws was able to demonstrate the benefits of its Good Life Gear Lick ‘n Flow pet water bottles and create huge interest among dog owners.

Most owners know it is important to take their own water along when heading out with their dogs, but how many owners remember to do so? Not that many, according to Elan Mansur, director of Long Paws.

According to Elan, lots of people were surprised to find a lack of water bowls at the NEC during Crufts, and were excited to find the Long Paws stand because they could finally get some water into their thirsty pets.

“Owners underestimate how stressful an environment like Crufts can be for dogs. Under that stress, and also being indoors under the bright lighting, dogs get hot and dehydrated rather quickly.

"It’s extremely important for pet owners to remember this and to ensure they always carry some water for their pets. Even though the weather has not been particularly warm, dogs need water to help cool down, and also to relieve the effects of stressful environments,” said Elan.

“We were very surprised to find the number of people who were quite desperately looking for water for the pets. We even became the stand referred to by the local NEC security when asked by visitors where they could get water for their dogs.

“Naturally we’re always happy to oblige - it allows people to see the benefit of our Good Life Gear Lick ‘n Flow pet water bottles for themselves, and we also get to help out a few thirsty pets and their owners along the way.”



Long Paws sells its pet water bottles for between £12.99 and £15.99 depending on the size, and according to Elan, they are the best way to carry water when you’re out with your dogs.

“We really enjoyed the atmosphere at Crufts this year, and had a wonderful time getting to play with the beautiful dogs wandering around, but we would like to remind owners to always think about their pets welfare when taking them out."

The Long Paws website – www.longpaws.co.uk – contains further details on the products.

Long Paws will also be exhibiting at PATS next week.

Sales of dog food reached a record £1 billion in the UK last year, according to a new Mintel Report, and the increase in demand was driven by a growth in the nation’s treat culture.

Accounting for a quarter (24%) of all dog food sales, snacks and treats jumped up 6% between 2011 and 2012 to reach £239 million. Meanwhile, natural treats increased 8% over the same one year period to reach a tasty £40 million.

But while sales of treats are thriving, the wet and dry dog food sector has been less impressive as consumers switch to homemade alternatives. Homemade food is a firm favourite for more than a third (34%) of Britain’s cat and dog owners. 

Accounting for 43% of all dog food sales, the wet dog food sector has remained virtually static (at £433 million in 2012) while volumes decreased by 1% between 2011 and 2012 to 309 million kg. Value sales of dry dog food have been nothing to bark about increasing just 2% between 2011 and 2012 to reach £287 million, volumes increasing less than 1% to 213 million kg in 2012.

Alex Beckett, Senior Food Analyst at Mintel said: "The same species which love nothing more than to gnaw on a juicy bone or drag in a luckless chaffinch now tuck into home-made dishes prepared by concerned owners who pay close attention to their dog or cat’s diet.

"That Britain remains a pet-loving nation is indisputable and the bar is raised high for the healthiness and level of innovation in pet food. Considering their owners may have been wolfing down high profile poor quality processed foods recently, you have to wonder whether Britain’s pampered pets are getting the better treatment all round."

While consumers continue to feel the pinch and household budgets are tightened, less than one in five pet owning Brits (17%) admit they are buying fewer pet treats than a year ago to save money.

And it seems that Britain’s ladies are a bit of a soft touch when it comes to treating our four legged friends, as just 15% of female dog owners say they are now buying fewer treats compared to one in five (19%) men. And proving only the best is good enough for the nation’s pampered pets, today a significant four in ten (38%) pet owners agree they would rather cut back on their own food before cutting back on their pets, while one in five (19%) pet owners are concerned there are not enough gourmet cat and dog foods available. What is more, as many as one in two (51%) owners are worried about their pet getting all of the right nutrients.

“Introducing more sophisticated recipes could support value growth for the market, considering a significant number of cat or dog owners agree there are not enough gourmet cat and dog foods," said Alex. "Taking cues from human food markets, such as using regionally sourced ingredients, traceability of meats or ethnic-style recipes, could translate into wet food for cats and dogs to provide more upmarket appeal.”

One in three (33%) British households own a dog, making it the nation's favourite pet, reveals the Mintel report.

Cat ownership comes in a close second (31%) while fish (17%) complete the list of Britain’s top three pets.

Small mammals such as guinea pigs, rabbits and mice are found in 10% of homes, while one in 20 (5%) households own a caged bird.

Mintel’s research finds the North West is Britain’s number one region for pet ownership. Indeed, today some 71% of consumers living in the North West own a pet compared to a national average of 63%.

When it comes to our four legged friends, dog ownership peaks in the North, North West and Scotland, with almost four in ten (38%) households owning one.

This compares to just 29% of households in the South East and East Anglia. Meanwhile, those living in the South West and Wales (38%) are the biggest cat lovers, with those in the North and Scotland having the lowest feline ownership at 28%.

Overall, medium sized dogs (including Labradors, Spaniels and Staffordshire Bull Terriers) dominate Britain’s dog households, making up half (51%) of all Britain’s dogs. The next most popular dog size is small dogs (36%) - including Jack Russells, Dachshunds and Yorkshire Terriers.

Meanwhile, 14% of owners have a large dog such as an Alsatian, Old English Sheepdog and Husky. Just 5% of Britain’s dogs are extra small breeds - such as Pugs and Chihuahuas. Regionally, those living in the North West, Yorkshire, Humberside and the North and Scotland are most likely to own a small dog (40%), while medium dogs are most likely to be found in Inner and Greater London/South East/East Anglia (52%).

Despite the economic climate, pet toys recorded a 1.3% growth in value sales from 2011-12 to reach £76 million and were bought by over half (53%) of pet owners in 2012. Showing just how cherished the nation’s pets are, as many as one in five (19%) pet owners buy Christmas stockings for their pets. Finally, when it comes to playtime, it seems dogs have the upper paw as, today, over two thirds (67%) of dog owners bought toys in 2012, which is notably more than the 54% of cat owners.

Retailers who put their weight behind the Be Plant Wise campaign by ordering posters and leaflets to display in their shops can expect a special note of thanks from the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat.

The Secretariat, part of a DEFRA agency, is responsible for spreading the message about the harm non-native plants can do if they get into the wild and helped create the Be Plant Wise campaign to tackle the issue of aquatic plants invading the countryside.

It is now writing to all the shop-owners who previously asked for Be Plant Wise campaign materials to say a special thank you for supporting the fight to raise awareness about the problem.

“We wanted to say thank you to the businesses who’ve been in touch with us to ask for our shop display materials. Without their support it would be a lot harder to raise the public’s awareness about this issue. By making their staff and customers aware of how important it is to responsibly manage aquatic plants, they’ve all helped to prevent the spread of invasive non-native species into our natural environment,” said Dr Niall Moore from the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat.

“Many of these will be OATA members and it’s always pleasing when a government body takes the time to acknowledge and say thank you for the help that busy retailers are playing in tackling this important issue,” said OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport.

“Hopefully warmer weather is just round the corner which will bring more customers into shops wanting to spruce up their ponds with new purchases. So it’s a great time to carry on spreading the message and we hope all shops selling aquatic plants and fish will be ordering their free Be Plant Wise shop display items to continue to hammer home the message.”

Retailers can order a free Be Plant Wise display kit for their shop by emailing beplantwise@nonnativespecies.org.

G-Paws is a unique GPS device developed to answer the question that owners have asked ever since the invention of the cat flap: “where does my cat go at night?"

The light (15g), weatherproof unit contains a multi channel GPS receiver, a rechargeable Lithium-Polymer battery and a flash memory. With enough power on a single charge for eight hours recording G-Paws will reveal where a cat goes after dark, who it visits and where its favourite hang-outs are.

In addition to the G-Paws unit, a website has been developed where G-Paws users can download their pets data and set up profiles for them on what has been described as the first social network for pets.

The website will allow users to view their pets' activities on Google maps as well as share photos, videos and other news from their pets, be they cats, dogs or budgerigars. The G-paws unit connects to a computer via a mini USB cable (supplied) for both charging and data transfer.



G-Paws will be available from May and will be priced at under £50. The unit will come with three collar attachments, giving it a secure and robust fixing to small cat collars, dog collars and even oversized collars.

Although G-Paws has been primarily developed for cats, it also has significant uses for dog owners who want to know how far and fast their dog has traveled.

This is particularly pertinent given the rise of professional walkers and G-Paws gives peace of mind for a dog owner that their pet is being sufficiently exercised.

The website will be free to use with Google maps and a provision for unlimited pet profiles. The site has been developed on a social network multi-lingual platform to allow users to have fun and interact with other ‘pets’ around the world.



Commenting on the new product, Andrew Geere, CEO of The Accapi Group, the worldwide distributor of G-Paws, said: “There are real-time GPS trackers available, but these are expensive, heavy and use mobile phone signals which are never that reliable.

"G-Paws has been developed as a fun product and we know every cat owner at sometime has been curious about where their cat disappears to. The product is also attractive to dog owners and the development of the website further enhances the fun element of the product.

"We are gearing up for a global phenomenon of a social network for pets driven by the first ever GPS data recorder small enough for dogs, cats, probably even pigeons!”

For more information on G-Paws register at www.g-paws.com or contact Accapi on info@accapi.co.uk or call 01207 291247.

Accapi will be at PATS on stand R47 in the Esher Hall.

Supreme Petfoods' campaign to make higher fibre, no added sugar muesli even more accessible, has been extended to include a free gnaw bar, containing a whopping 20% crude fibre, with every purchase of Russel Rabbit 2.5kg*.

“For too long, the health of small pets has been compromised by low fibre, high sugar muesli mixes of dubious quality," says Claire Hamblion, Supreme’s Marketing Manager.

"Russel Rabbit has four specially developed high fibre components that are uniquely palatable – so there’s no need to add sweeteners that have no nutritional value – making it a great option for pet owners who feed muesli.”

Delivering a clear message about the potential for selective feeding and the need to always provide access to unlimited fresh hay, needs to be a consistent theme for all retailers.

Claire says there will always be a core of customers that will opt for muesli. “A retailer makes their living by offering the products that their customers want and desire.

"A recent paper published in the Veterinary Record put this into context, revealing that owners who attributed more human emotions to their rabbits preferred to feed a muesli mix diet.

"Buying decisions are made on the basis of a number of emotional and rational factors and understanding that can provide real insights into customer behaviour.”

To find out more, call Supreme on 0845 058 9697.

* On special packs, while stocks last

An awareness week encouraging pet owners to be more vigilant about the security of their pets and animals, which is being supported by the Kennel Club, starts today (Thursday)...

Pet Theft Awareness Week, organised by the Dog Union and VioVet, is being run to raise awareness of the issue of pet theft in the UK. It's a non-profit week with the aim of helping people take preventative measures to minimise the risk of their own pet going missing. 

The campaign aims to raise awareness via the internet and social media and through the distribution of a number of hard-hitting posters and a wealth of information on the theme of animal theft, which is available on the website www.pettheft.co.uk.  

The site lists preventative measures that pet owners can take to avoid incidents from occurring, as well as a number of things to do during the week to promote awareness. Supporters will be encouraged to print out the posters and encourage supermarkets and shops to display them.

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club Secretary, said: “We would always suggest making sure that a pet is microchipped, and that details are kept up to date with a microchip database, such as Petlog. This will help to ensure that the pet is reunited with its owner more quickly should it go missing.

“Owners of all pets should be vigilant when out and about, and dog owners can visit the Kennel Club’s Open for Dogs website, in association with Dog Friendly, to find places across the UK that welcome dogs, so they can avoid having to leave them tied up outside businesses.”

Petlog’s website offers step by step guidance in what to do should a pet go missing. Visit www.petlog.org.uk for more information.

Pets at Home has won the prestigious Sunday Times Top 25 ‘Best Big Companies To Work For’ title for 2013.

The awards are based on an anonymous employee survey, and no other company taking part scored more positively for questions about managers and colleagues, how people felt about the company, the opportunities for personal growth and the way the business approached ‘giving something back’.

“People development is at the heart of our success," said Pets at Home people director Ryan Cheyne. "We have a step-by-step approach to training through our Pets at Home Academy, which builds knowledge and allows our colleagues to develop specialist skills in areas such as aquatics, reptiles, grooming and pet nutrition."

The company, which employs 5,930 people, topped the tables for fun with colleagues with a score of 85%, and came first for 'making a difference to the world' (78%), primarily for its work to rehome 57,000 animals last year in addition to raising £1.65million for rehoming and animal charities.

Pets at Home has lost a member of its top team to Halfords after the motoring retailer poached its business development director Rob Swyer.

His departure follows ex-Pets at Home boss Matt Davies who became chief executive of Halfords in October last year after leaving the pet company the previous April.

Swyer joins Halfords as retail director from April 3.

Prior to Pets at Home he held a number of senior roles at Asda, most recently as retail development director, where he worked for 10 years. Swyer also spent nine years at Mars.

Chief executive Matt Davies said: “I’m delighted that Rob is joining us.

“He brings with him a wealth of experience from leading retail companies, coupled with a clear track record of implementing service-based retail offers that deliver great experiences for customers.

“I look forward to working with him on the next stage of Halfords’ journey and particularly the expert help and service we provide instore.”

Visitor numbers to Crufts rose by 3% this year, with viewing figures on More4 and Channel 4 hitting an all-time high.

The number of people who attended the show rose from 145,000 in 2012 to almost 149,500 this year.

An average of 1.7 million dog lovers tuned into Channel 4 and Channel 4+1 on Sunday night to see the Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Ch Soletrader Peek A Boo (Jilly) crowned best in show, with viewing figures peaking at two million.

The broadcast across the whole event, on More4 and Channel 4, delivered an audience which cumulatively peaked at 4.5 million over the four programmes.

Additionally, 145,000 hours of watch-time was clocked up on the Crufts live internet stream during the show, with more than 13,000 subscriptions to the Crufts YouTube channel.

The Crufts Facebook page was also popular, delivering pictures, videos, news and comment throughout the show.

A new aquatic show is being planned to encourage more people in the UK to take up fishkeeping as a hobby.

It's understood that the Aqualife Expo event would take place over three days at the NEC in Birmingham in 2014. There would be an exclusive trade day followed by two days open to the public.

The country’s most prominent clubs and societies would be on hand to demonstrate the latest trends in fishkeeping and provide informative lectures throughout the event.

The show would take place alongside a home improvement expedition, which normally attracts 40,000 visitors. These visitors will be a mixture of current hobbyists and potential new ones.

One idea being muted is to place aquariums, ponds or water features around the home improvement expedition, providing a virtual reality snapshot of the beauty of fishkeeping.

Another idea is to allow trading during the public days of the show, with the profits to be re-invested in the grass roots of the hobby, in the form of a donation to the clubs and societies that keep driving the hobby and the industry forwards.

Treat specialist Hollings is now using social media to promote its products to the UK's pet owning consumers.

"Facebook is very powerful these days," said sales and marketing manager Emma Hollings. "It's very easy to use and it seems that every major brand now has its own Facebook page these days.

"We are hoping it will be an ideal opportunity to promote our products and also provide the chance to get feedback from the people who actually use Hollings treats for their dogs."

You can see the Hollings' Facebook page by clicking here

Walter Harrison’s, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of wild bird foods and accessories, has launched a value pack of Energy Boost No Net Fat Balls.

With a recommended retail price of £9.99 the box of 50 fat balls offers both consumers and retailers excellent value for money and is ideal as a refill pack for those people who have previously purchased tubs.

Supplied in a sturdy box with carry handle Walter Harrison’s 50 Fat Balls Value Pack is easy to merchandise and creates an impactful display.

Traditionally Fat Balls have been supplied in a plastic net from which they can be hung from a tree or bird table. If the net isn’t securely fastened it may litter the garden or surrounding area when empty. Not having nets not only means no litter but the additional benefit of being completely safe to use without the risk of trapping birds’ beaks and feet.

Made from high quality suet and packed with a selection of seeds including millet and black sunflower Walter Harrisons Fat Balls are a high energy food suitable for most varieties of garden bird and particularly attractive to great tits, blue tits, long tailed tits and coal tits.

Fat balls provide an important source of nutrition throughout the year, particularly during the nesting season and the colder months when birds need to maintain their fat levels. As well as feeding from a fat ball feeder no net fat balls can be fed on the ground, on a bird table or crumbled and added to other food.

If you would like more information about Walter Harrison’s New 50 Fat Balls Value Box call 0115 982 3900 or email info@petproducts.co.uk