Retail group Pets at Home has reported ‘sequential improvement against a subdued market backdrop’ in its latest financial statement.

In the 16-week period to 17 July 2025, the group saw retail consumer revenue drop by 3% while vet group consumer revenue grew by 7.1%.

Lyssa McGowan, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased to have seen momentum in our business build through Q1, against a subdued market backdrop and uncertain consumer environment. Progress has been made across all 4 of our strategic metrics in the quarter, including growing our subscription revenues by over 40%, growing Pets Club members, increasing average spend and continuing to grow our Vet talent as we continue building the world’s best pet care platform.

“As ever it is our people, and their unrivalled expertise, that continue to drive our business. I would like to thank our colleagues and vet partners for their ongoing passion and dedication to creating a better world for pets and the people that love them.”

After over 40 successful years in the pet product industry, Danish Design is taking an exciting step forward. 

The company said: "With a refreshed visual identity, we aim to better reflect who we are – a family-owned company with strong values, local production, and a passion for stylish, sustainable products for pets. Founded on the vision of combining thoughtful design with care, our brand has been given a modern look – without losing the essence that has always made us unique.

"Our updated logo, colour palette, and visual expression will now be seen across everything from packaging to digital platforms – a natural evolution to meet today’s needs while staying true to our roots: quality, reliability, and a hands-on approach. Our new look reflects what we truly stand for – care in every detail, and products that both pets and people love. We’re also proud that most of our manufacturing takes place in our own factory in Leeds, England – giving us full control over quality and the ability to deliver quickly and reliably."

The rollout is happening gradually over the coming months, with plans for a full brand unveiling at the upcoming PATS trade show in September.

"We're still the same Danish Design. Just clearer. And even more us," the company added.

A Leicestershire pet shop has closed after nearly six decades of trading. Pet Care in Oadby blamed changes in ‘market forces’ – for its demise.

Owner Shawn Whitehead told LeicestershireLive: “We’ve done 58 years which is a great accomplishment. My dad Paul was 17 when he started it in 1967 and my brother was born upstairs in the flat. We’ve seen recessions come and go and survived them all."

But Shawn added: "Kids today aren’t wanting pets like hamsters and rabbits, they want an iPhone instead and parents are happy to accommodate to that.”

Click here to read the full story on LeicestershireLive

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/whats-on/leicestershire-pet-shop-close-after-10341846

Visitors to PATS 2025 – the Pet & Aquatics Trade Show – can expect a hive of activity with more than 400 exhibitors showcasing a record number of new products during the three show days.

Staging the biggest-ever exhibition in its 16-year history, PATS 2025 will take place at its new home of Hall 1 at the NEC Birmingham from Sunday, 28th September to Tuesday 30th September 2025.

Major companies have taken advantage of the opportunity to increase their stand space following the decision to move to the NEC Birmingham, and as a result they will be showcasing multiple brands.

The Aquatics Zone, a dedicated area for aquatics, watergardening and reptile exhibitors, is returning to PATS after a successful launch in 2024, and it will also host major companies exhibiting multiple brands.

Plus the New Starter Zone, supported by trade association PetQuip and media partner Pet Product Marketing, is again proving to be a popular feature as it provides a dedicated area for new businesses and start-ups.

With just two months to go before PATS 2025, exhibitors are excited to share their plans for the big event. Here’s a selection of what to expect.

Visitors to the Fettle Pets’ stand (B59) will get a behind-the-scenes look at the brand’s unique manufacturing process – from concept to pouch. Alex Taylor-Grout, from Fettle Pets, said: “Retailers can receive a private on-to-one session with the team at GTG Pet Foods to learn how we bring premium pet health products to life, from sourcing to small-batch production.” It will be on a first-come-first-serve basis so it’s best to book a slot by emailing Alex at atg@thegtggroup.com.

Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare will be launching Leucillin and Poorly Paws first aid kits, and these will be available to view throughout the three days of PATS on its stand (H61).

Visitors to the Rockfish Weatherwear stand (K111), will receive a free unique-design poncho or umbrella with an on-site purchase. The offer will run for three days but will be limited to the first 100 people. Rockfish Weatherwear is a supplier of stylish Wellington boots.

Soothe and Settle, a creator of calming gear for anxious dogs, will be holding live demonstrations on stand D101 of its flagship product Hush Muff, a noise-dampening ear cover that helps reduce stress during fireworks, travel, vet visits, and more. CEO Rachel MacDougall said: “Come and see the Hush Muff in action on none other than Lola, our official demo dog and winner of Scrufts 2025! We'll be showcasing just how quick and easy it is to use the Hush Muff, with live demonstrations happening every two hours throughout the day.”

Pet Remedy will be organising product demonstrations each day on its stand (L70/M69) to highlight a re-balanced lighter and more fragrant smell for its range of products.

One of the most popular aspects of PATS is the chance to win great prizes from a wide-range of exhibitors.

Shropshire-based Concord Straw Pellets will be hosting a giveaway to win 30 bags of cat litter on its stand (G10) for the duration of the event.

Botanica will also be holding a competition on its stand (K101) where one lucky visitor will win a £100 voucher for their store.

There will be a ‘Guess How Many Wild Fat Balls in the Basket’ competition on the Bamfords stand (F89). The winner will receive a Box of Fat Balls and Feeder.  

Naturo Natural Pet Food is giving one lucky winner the chance to take home a Naturo Pet Bed Hamper worth over £150 on its stand (C2).

Visitors to the PowAir Nature stand (G17) are being invited to pick up a free tote bag filled with product samples and told to watch out for the golden ticket. On each day of the show, one visitor who discovers the hidden golden ticket in their tote will win a free PowAir display stand, perfect for showcasing the brand’s bestselling, pet-safe odour neutralising products. PowAir Nature will also be running Tag & Win Challenge – a fun social media competition. Visitors simply take a selfie or photo on the stand, tag @powairUK on Instagram, and use the hashtag #PowAirAtPATS to enter.

To keep up-to-date with more activities on exhibitor stand visit https://www.patshow.co.uk/exhibitor-focus. You can also find all the latest show offers at https://www.patshow.co.uk/exhibitor-show-offers.

To register for free entry to PATS 2025 visit www.patshow.co.uk.

direct to your e-mail inbox...

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

WHM Pet Group, home of the Marriage’s and Honeyfield’s brands, has announced that Graham Tarrant has joined the team as National Account Manager. 

As National Account Manager, Graham’s role will encompass building strategic relationships with key customers, driving sales growth, negotiating contracts, and managing promotional plans. Graham will also lead joint business planning and performance analysis to ensure mutual account profitability.

With focus on both key branded ranges within the Garden Centre channel and own label opportunities with core pet and retail accounts, Graham will have significant versatility within WHM Pet Group’s diverse customer base. 

Graham’s career began in retail, before he moved into purchasing within the garden centre industry. He went on to work in business-to-business sales with a premium problem-solving product company, swiftly progressing to manage both the sales team and key national accounts. 

Most recently Graham was National Account Manager for Certainly Wood, overseeing both UK and export markets. He holds a BA in Business Management, as well as having completed additional studies in account management and negotiation.

“I am proud to have been selected to join WHM Pet Group,” said Graham. “The team is incredibly knowledgeable, welcoming, and team focused and I’m excited about the opportunities ahead to grow with the business.

“My background in both buying and selling has given me a balanced perspective and a strong focus on delivering results. Throughout my career I’ve developed a keen interest in strategic account development, customer relationship management, and commercial negotiation. I believe that trust-based relationships, active listening, and clear communication are the foundations of success.” Graham has a passion for the pet sector. At home he has a laid back Cavapoo named Rosie, a pond full of fish and regularly feeds the wild birds in the forest beyond his house.

“We are delighted to welcome Graham into the fold,” said Sam Marriage, Managing Director of WHM Pet Group. ”He brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the business to enhance our continued journey of growth and development in the small animal, indoor bird and wild bird categories.”

WHM Pet Group supply retailers and farmers with premium quality wild bird, indoor bird, small animal, racing pigeon, pig, poultry and ruminant feeds.  

For further information visit: https://www.marriages.co.uk/

Investment firm RD Capital Partners has bought East Midlands-based DJL Petfoods Ingredients for an undisclosed sum.

A supplier of premium pet food ingredients and raw materials, DJL will use the investment to target growth and create of new product lines.

DJL was founded in 2017 by Duncan Lancaster, who will retain a shareholding and remain as chief executive officer.

He said: “Having spent over eight years growing DJL, this partnership with RDCP marks an exciting new chapter for DJL. Their long-term investment approach gives us the platform to broaden our offering, strengthen our sales capabilities, and pursue new markets while staying true to the high standards and service our customers rely on.”

DJL operates from Long Bennington Business Park near Newark in Notts. The business is now set to expand into a wider variety of ingredients, products and strengthen its sales team to enter new markets.

Sameer Rizvi, founder and CEO of RD Capital Partners, said: “DJL represents exactly the type of resilient, market‑leading platform we seek to invest in – a business with strong fundamentals, long‑standing customer relationships, and a clear path for growth. This acquisition strengthens our consumer platform and marks another step towards our goal of building the UK’s largest privately-owned investment group. We are delighted to back Duncan and his team for the next phase of their journey.”

The Nutriment Company (TNC) is expanding into the growing market for premium feline nutrition with the acquisition of Purrform, a leading UK brand in premium raw cat food. 

This strategic move reinforces TNC’s position as a European leader in natural, high-quality pet food products and adds a new dimension of species-specific expertise to its brand portfolio.

With cat ownership on the rise across Europe and demand for high-quality feline nutrition growing rapidly, Purrform’s entry into the TNC family comes at a strategic time. According to FEDIAF, an estimated 108 million cats live in European households, making them the continent's most popular pets. This highlights the significant market potential for natural nutrition tailored specifically for cats.

Founded in the UK in 2011, Purrform has become a trusted brand among cat owners who want the best for their pets. With a loyal customer base and in-depth knowledge of raw feeding, the brand is well positioned for further growth.

At the heart of Purrform lies a belief in species-appropriate nutrition. The brand's recipes are formulated to mirror a cat’s natural prey-based diet as closely as possible, offering 100% human-grade meat, offal, and bone with no preservatives, additives, or palatability enhancers. Its complete raw meals provide all essential nutrients in a single dish and are delivered in convenient, portioned pouches designed to suit modern lifestyles.

Under the umbrella of The Nutriment Company, Purrform’s products will become more available in retail – leveraging TNCs’ extensive distribution network to bring the brand into stores across the UK and continental Europe.

Veronique Ornech, Founder and Managing Director of Purrform, highlights: “Purrform has been built on strong ethics and a desire to feed cats the natural diet they should be fed on, to thrive. We’ve built something we’re truly proud of, so joining forces with TNC marks an exciting new chapter for us. Finding a partner who shares our energy, expertise, genuine passion and high values is so important to us, to ensure that cats fed on Purrform will continue to benefit from a premium, biologically appropriate diet. We’re confident that under TNC’s leadership, the brand will not only remain true to its roots but reach exciting new heights. Together, we’re not just continuing the journey, we’re accelerating it.”

“Purrform is one of the most loved and respected raw cat food brands in the UK – and for good reason,” said Anders Kristiansen, CEO of The Nutriment Company. “Their heart-felt dedication to crafting species-appropriate, high-quality meals for cats aligns perfectly with our mission. We are excited to help scale Purrform’s impact and bring their unique offering to more cat owners across Europe.”

Premium brand Frontier Pets has become the official pet food partner of Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur, with its logo featuring on team shirts during a pre-season tour of Asia.

The Australian company is a purpose-driven leader in sustainable pet nutrition dedicated to revolutionising the pet food industry through responsible sourcing practices and a deep commitment to healthier pets and a healthier planet.

Tottenham Hotspur claims to be the club for animal-lovers and consistently raises awareness of animal welfare and the importance of preserving nature. 

In 2024, the club created the first Official Supporters’ Club for dog-owners, Tottenham Hotspaw, inspired by its many dog-loving staff, fans and players across both its men’s and women’s teams.

Through the new partnership, Frontier Pets will be supporting a charity fundraising initiative for fans across the world to join in alongside their beloved pets later this summer, as well as a new content series featuring players and their love of dogs. 

Ryan Norys, Chief Revenue Officer at Tottenham Hotspur ,said: “We are thrilled to welcome Frontier Pets on board for our pre-season tour in Asia. As the club for animal lovers and the first to ever establish an Official Supporters’ Club for dog-owners, we felt there was a natural alignment with Frontier Pets and their own socially conscious, sustainable approach. We are looking forward to bringing the brand to new audiences through exposure on our match shirts in Hong Kong and Korea, as well as engaging content and initiatives linked to Tottenham Hotspaw.”

Vaughn Taylor, Chairman of Frontier Pets, said: “At Frontier Pets we believe that a better world for pets starts with purpose, compassion and community. Partnering with Tottenham Hotspur - a Club that shares our deep commitment to animal welfare - marks an exciting new chapter for us both. We hope to inspire football fans around the world to feed their pets better with Frontier Pets. We’re proud to stand alongside a Club that not only plays with heart but leads with it.

“Pets are the second largest consumers of factory farmed meat after humans. What we choose to feed them not only affects their wellbeing but also plays a critical role in shaping a more sustainable food system for the planet.”

A new industry report has uncovered the UK’s top pet supplies brands for 2025. 

Salience Search Marketing's annual online UK pet supplies brands report uncovers the industry's leaders based on their online prominence and visibility. 

The report analysed 11 crucial performance indicators for online pet supplies brands to reveal the industry's most successful names, including year-on-year visibility, search volume trends, and brand awareness. The full report is available to view here. 

The Market Leaders 

The industry’s market leaders are based on brands’ YOY organic traffic score to determine their online performance. 

Ahead of the curve, as the market leader in the UK pet products industry, is Pets at Home. Earning an impressive organic score of 1,428,152, Pets at Home leads everyone by a significant margin.

The data shows Purina in a strong second place, attracting 427,277 visits over the year. This reflects consistent visibility and a well-established presence in the market. Zooplus follows in third with 310,633 visits, highlighting solid growth and increasing recognition among UK pet owners.

Pet Drugs Online ranks fourth with 297,735 visits, and Jollyes takes fifth place with 178,660. Both show strong digital performance and continued relevance in a competitive space.

Other key players in the pet supplies industry include Vet UK (171,835), Animed 139,401 and Swell (124,229), shining a light on their good performance throughout the year. 

All About Dog Food and Pooch & Mutt complete the list of top-performing brands in the industry, highlighting how niche retailers can perform exceptionally well in the online pet industry. 

The Most Prominent

The report identifies the most prominent brands within the pet supplies industry based on consumer familiarity with the brand through online searches or social media interactions. By merging branded search metrics with social media performance, the report determines which brands stand out across various channels, offering insights into their overall prominence in the market.

When it comes to brand awareness in the pet supplies space, Pets at Home, again, takes the crown. With a staggering 1.5 million monthly searches, the brand leads the way ahead of other brands in the sector. While they don’t have the highest social score in the list, with a social score of 1,393, they still have room to grow. 

Pets at Home does have a sizable social following across multiple platforms, including 246,000 on Instagram, 89,800 on Twitter, and 506,00 on Facebook, so they have an established footprint. 

In second place is Royal Canin, with a lower brand search volume of 22,000, but it benefits from having the highest owner social score of all the brands in the top 10, at 8,253. And that’s mainly down to its Facebook channel, which has just over four million followers!

Other top performers include Pets Shop and Kong Company. Pets Shop has an impressive brand search score, and both brands benefit from moderate owned social scores. Zoo Plus follows, and while it has the lowest monthly brand searches in the top 10, it boasts a high owned social score of 1,912. 

These brands are a great example of how translating niche, specialised appeal into strong digital influence can better align your marketing strategy. 

The Biggest Online Growth 

Central to this analysis is each brand's online visibility ranking, which is determined by the organic search traffic their website attracts. This metric is vital for understanding the website's overall growth or decline.

These five pet supply brands have shown the greatest year-on-year growth in online visibility, with Pooch and Mutt experiencing the highest growth with a 78% increase. With a jump from 65,378 in May 2024 to 116,483 in May 2025, this retailer has had an impressive performance over the last year. This sharp rise puts a spotlight on its digital marketing efforts for consumers. 

Zooplus also experienced substantial growth, rising from 204,176 to 310,633, which highlights effective performance across its organic channels. Other brands seeing online growth over the year include Swell UK and Animed, which have increased in their thirties. Notably, Jollyes has had a steady increase in organic traffic with a visibility change of 17%. 

Brett Janes, Managing Director at Salience Search Marketing, said: “This report shows just how competitive and fast-moving the pet-supplies industry is. Big retailers like Pets at Home lead the way, showing how brand reputation continues to influence consumer behaviour. What I find most impressive is how the smaller and more niche brands are experiencing success in their online presence. For example,  Pooch and Mutt’s 78% year-on-year growth shows just how effective a focused digital strategy can be.

“The influence of social media shouldn’t be underrated either. Royal Canin might not have the highest search volume, but its standout social presence, especially on Facebook, shows how important it is to build and maintain a loyal online following.

The full Pet Supplies Report 2025 is available to read and download here. 

NatWest, in collaboration with the Pet Industry Federation (PIF), is inviting pet sector professionals to a free-to-attend event designed to inform, connect and strengthen pet businesses in the UK.

Taking place on Wednesday 13 August from 11:00 to 12:30, the event, simply titled Gathering, has been curated with ambitious pet business owners in mind. Whether you're a pet groomer, pet service provider, retailer, manufacturer or involved in any part of the supply chain, this event is for you.

Attendees can expect meaningful conversations, facilitated group discussions, and plenty of networking opportunities. It’s a chance to explore collaborations, share insights, and shape the support the industry needs, all fully funded by NatWest, and open to all, regardless of where you bank.

Debbie Lewis, Accelerator Community Manager at NatWest, said: “We are excited to partner with the Pet Industry Federation on the upcoming event which we hope will provide businesses from across the sector with ways to support their growth goals.”

Nigel Baker, CEO of the Pet Industry Federation, added: “This event is a fantastic opportunity for pet businesses to come together, share experiences, and shape the future of the industry. We’re really pleased to be working with Debbie Lewis from NatWest on this event, which will support innovation and growth across such a passionate and entrepreneurial sector.”

The event is taking place at NatWest 164-166 Midsummer Arcade, Central Milton Keynes.

Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged. The registration link is available here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gathering-pet-industry-tickets-1476617987149