Perthshire-based Republic of Munchery, suppliers of Wilsons pet food, is recalling several products because of the presence of salmonella in one of the ingredients used to manufacture them.

The affected products are:

• Wilsons Cold Pressed Haggis, pack size 2kg and 10kg, best before 07 January 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Succulent Chicken, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 15 December 2022 up to and including 17 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Grass Fed Lamb, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 13 December 2022 up to and including 10 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Clear Water Salmon, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 15 December 2022 up to and including 23 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Farmhouse Turkey and Duck, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 10 December 2022 up to and including 22 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Highland Venison and Trout, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 16 December 2022 up to and including 14 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Wild White Fish, pack size 2kg and 10kg, all dates from 14 December 2022 up to and including 2 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Working Dog Beef, pack size 15kg, all dates from 13 December 2022 up to and including 23 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Working Dog Chicken, pack size 15kg, all dates from 14 December 2022 up to and including 23 February 2023
• Wilsons Cold Pressed Working Dog Pork, pack size 15kg, all dates from 20 December 2022 up to and including 21 February 2023

In its risk statement, the Food Standards Agency said: “The presence of salmonella in the products listed above. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause illness in humans and animals. The products could therefore carry a potential risk, because of the presence of salmonella, either through direct handling of the product, or indirectly, for example from pet feeding bowls, utensils or contact with the faeces of animals.”

Point of sale notices are being displayed in all retail stores selling the affected products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

The FSA’s advice to consumers is: “If you have bought any of the above products do not use them. Instead return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund or contact Republic of Munchery Ltd for further advice by calling 01250798298 or emailing them at info@wilsonspetfood.co.uk.”

Pets at Home has launched £100,000 feline pancytopenia research fund. Pancytopenia is a rare bone marrow condition where the number of blood cells rapidly decrease, causing serious illness. 

The launch of this fund follows the distressing spike in cases of pancytopenia in cats last year. Pets at Home was disappointed that a definitive cause was unable to be found following an extensive investigation by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), and last year committed to funding further studies in order to improve knowledge within this area.

The fund will provide financial support to academics, institutions and researchers who are seeking to better understand the condition, identify causes, and improve treatment options. Through this initiative, Pets at Home hopes to find long-term solutions to feline pancytopenia and help prevent the devastating loss of so many beloved pets.

Huw Stacey, director of clinical services at The Pets at Home Vet Group, said: “For us, pets come first and always will. We supported the FSA’s investigation throughout but flagged at the time that we believed further research was required into this disease and its causes. As a result, we are launching this £100,000 fund to accelerate research into feline pancytopenia and improve understanding within this area. 

“We recognise the pain and upset that this illness has caused, and our hearts go out to all the families whose cats suffered during the pancytopenia outbreak last year."

Dr Karen Humm, associate professor in transfusion medicine and emergency and critical care at the Royal Veterinary College, said: “We hope that this funding will facilitate important research and lead to an improved understanding of this disease, supporting vets in providing pets and their owners with the best possible care and minimising and informing responses to any future outbreaks.”

The feline pancytopenia research fund is now open for applications until the 31^st May 2022. All interested parties should contact pcpgrant@petsathome.co.uk for more information.

Pets Corner has donated £20,000 to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal this month and the retail group said it would continue to support the relief aid effort.

The company stated: “We’re devastated by the situation in Ukraine, and we believe it’s important to let the Ukrainian people know that we give our heartfelt support to them during this very difficult time.

This month we donated £20,000 to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, and if you’re able to donate, please do so by post or phone (0300 023 0820). 

“We will continue to aid Ukraine and have set up a support page to notify our customers of any new event.”

The Pets Corner support page can be viewed by clicking here

Last weekend, the car park at the company’s Scampers store in Soham was turned into a pick-up stop for donations and essential supplies. The team collected over £1,000 worth of pet food, coats, beds and more to send to the pets of Ukraine.

Residents from the area also came down to donate clothes, tents, sleeping bags and medicine to support the people of Ukraine.

The Government has put in place new emergency support for those fleeing Ukraine with their pets. Using an emergency licence, people fleeing Ukraine can bring their pets to the UK with any quarantine costs met by the Government.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency is providing quick license approvals and quarantine arrangements to avoid creating additional burdens or delays. The Government will also be covering their vaccination, microchipping and quarantine costs, recognising that many individuals from Ukraine will not have been able to complete the full health preparations required for their pet on arrival.

The maximum stay in quarantine for a pet which has received no rabies vaccination is four months. Pets will be considered on a case by case basis, with a shortened quarantine period for those that are vaccinated. We are working with vets and quarantine facilities to make sure that the arrival of Ukrainians in the UK is not delayed by the process to make arrangements for their pets.

Animal Welfare Minister Lord Goldsmith said: "People having to flee Ukraine are in an appalling situation. I’m pleased that Ukrainian refugees will be able to bring their pets to the UK with any quarantine costs paid for by the Government.

"As part of our new streamlined process, any animals which have already received some treatment may also have their stay in quarantine reduced and be returned back to their owner as soon as possible.

"Before arrival, people leaving the Ukraine or their carrier should contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency at pettravel@apha.gov.uk or call +44 3000 200 301 option 2. They will then be able to confirm their approval for their emergency licence and organise any necessary stay in quarantine which is required to complete the rabies risk management process.

"There is a limited amount of quarantine facilities in the UK and we will prioritise those fleeing Ukraine who wish to bring their pets with them, rather than animals being brought over on a commercial basis, including rescue imports. Commercial imports, including rescue imports must follow the usual process."

Leading Milton Keynes-based pet accessory company Barking Bags experienced sell-outs on a number of its ranges at Crufts where the company also launched its new point-of-sale material for the trade.

Barking Bags won the Best New Business 2021 at the Pet Industry Federation Awards and was recently offered investment from entrepreneur Sara Davies on the popular Dragons' Den TV show.

With the help of fashion design students who came up with creative ideas for Barking Bags, the company now produces high quality dog walking bags in a range of water resistant, unisex fabrics and also high-end luxury leather. In response to customer demand, it also produces a vegan-friendly range as well. 

Barking Bags’ ingenious designs have mesh pockets for water bottles and soggy toys, a poo bag dispenser, a safe place for keys and mobile and much more. Some models have reflective strips for added safety when walking in the dark and Barking Bags sells police approved panic alarms that can be clipped onto the bags.

The bags come with breathable side pockets with the option of a draw string side pocket – large enough to carry the dog waste once it is bagged up which means no more walking around carrying the unmentionable stuff.

They are great for professional dog walkers, breeders, show dog owners, groomers and ordinary dog owners. They are now available as Original, Luxury Leather and Diddy Bags, a smaller version which can be used as bum bags. 

As part of a major new re-branding exercise, Barking Bags has now introduced some new point-of-sale items including hangers to display the bags on. The new branding was reflected in the style of the stand at Crufts.

For more information visit: www.barkingbags.co.uk

An award-winning Berkshire-based pet accessory business owned by Sarah Jones, is raising awareness of anxious dogs by launching its own Dogs in Yellow Day (#dogsinyellow) awareness campaign on Sunday, March 20.

Sarah is an owner of her own ‘anxious dog’, Cocker Spaniel Bella, who became the inspiration for her yellow pet accessory business.

“Bella was attacked by another dog when she was a puppy and this is where her fear of dogs started, it left her terrified,” said Sarah. 

“She would react to other dogs if they came too close, either growling or lunging because she was scared. It prompted pitiful looks from people who passed by, as if you were stupid to own such a vicious or aggressive dog. 

“It felt so infuriating to watch people tut, and drag their dog away once they have managed to grab their collars. 

“People just don't realise what some of these anxious dogs have been through. So I wanted to find a way that dogs such as Bella could be understood and as result, My Anxious Dog was born. Through compassionate awareness-raising, we will reach more unknowing dog owners and spread the understanding far and wide.

“When you see a dog wearing yellow it means that they need some space, and then the world feels much less frightening.”

There are many reasons why a dog could become anxious. These include:

• Recovering from an illness or operation
• Female dogs in season
• Older dogs
• A nervous, unpredictable or unsociable dog
• Dogs in training
• They may have a new family who aren’t yet sure of the dogs character and behaviour with other dogs or people

It is hoped that dogs wearing yellow will become a recognised symbol and bring awareness for dogs that need some compassion and space while on walks. 

Sarah has developed a snazzy range of yellow pet accessories to alert people to anxious dogs and these include harnesses, leads, lead covers, dog jumpers, raincoats, collars, stickers, posters, information packs, poo bag holders and safety lights. She has also developed a range of fashionable clothing for humans including vests, T’ shirts and hoodies with the Anxious Dog message printed on them.

My Anxious Dog recently won Best Pet Related Business at the Animal Star Awards which was set up by Mary Burgess in 2016 to give recognition to animals and humans alike who do extraordinary things for one another. They take nominations from the public for the people or organisations that they think deserve recognition. Once the nominations close, they are sent to a panel of judges, each an industry expert in their field, to determine category winners.

The Best Pet Related Business category was judged by Anna Webb author, behaviour expert and broadcaster at BBC London's The Barking Hour and Podcast A Dog's Life. With almost 300 nominees in this category Sarah was absolutely thrilled to be a winner this year.

Each winner was given a beautiful star shaped trophy made by Gaudio Awards who design and manufacture the awards for BBC MasterChef.

For further information on My Anxious Pet visit: www.bellascollars.co.uk

Email: sarahbeckleyjones@gmail.com

Tel: 07740 723524

Doggy Doggy Yum Yum, launched in 2020 by Dorset- based artisanal ice cream maker Baboo Gelato, has acquired another distributor in the Midlands, allowing more grocery retailers and cafes, restaurants, garden centres, pubs and hotels across the region to stock the product.

First Service Frozen Foods Limited based in Worcestershire will be distributing Doggy Doggy Yum Yum to the Just for Pets stores as well as customers in the hospitality and grocery retail sectors.  

Sam and Annie Hanbury, the husband and wife team behind multi-award winning Baboo ice cream, found that lots of their customers were buying ice cream for their dogs. Realising that lactose is bad for dogs’ tummies, they saw a gap in the market for the first fully organic, dairy free premium frozen treat for dogs, and so Doggy Doggy Yum Yum was born.

Annie who trained as a professional gelatiere in Bologna, has brought the same care to the formulation of Doggy Doggy Yum Yum as she brings to her ice cream, so it uses the very best organic ingredients.

Made with peanut butter and bananas which dogs find hard to resist, this frozen treat uses coconut milk instead of dairy so it is kinder to dogs’ tummies. The ice cream is 100% organic, natural and contains probiotics which come from the live yoghurt, vitamins C and B, iron, magnesium, copper and potassium from the coconut and bananas.

If given as an occasional treat after a long walk in the countryside, the park or on the beach this tasty treat is perfect way to reward your dog.

The peanut butter is pure and so does not contain sugar, xylitol or palm oil.  Doggy Doggy contains no artificial flavourings, colours or refined sugars.

Wayne Sambidge, director at First Service Frozen Foods Limited, said: “We are extremely excited about adding Doggy Doggy Yum Yum to our range of products. The dog frozen treat market has grown massively in the past few years and we are delighted to be distributing such a quality, award-winning product such as Doggy Doggy Yum Yum.”

Doggy Doggy Yum Yum exhibited at Crufts for the first time this month introducing its delicious frozen treat to lots of new four-legged friends.

For further information visit www.doggydoggyyumyum.com

Back by popular demand, premium raw pet food brand Natural Instinct launches its limited-edition Easter Feast.

As government restrictions have lifted this year, Easter is looking to be bigger than ever, making it an ideal opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family, indulge in chocolate and take part in fun activities.

Made from 100% natural, human grade, British Turkey with bone (60%), Salmon with bone (35%) and Beef liver (5%), Natural Instinct’s Easter Feast.provides a healthy source of taurine which helps the brain, eye, and heart functions, alongside a source of zinc to improve the quality of pets’ coats and skin.

This specifically formulated complementary recipe can add variety to pets' diets, being served as an Easter treat or used by pet owners to create their very own meal, tailored to their pets’ individual tastes and health needs.

Phill Keen, managing director at Natural Instinct said: “Any pet owner will know that when you are indulging on Easter eggs, it can be tempting to treat your furry best friends too. As chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, our Easter Feast offers an alternative and therefore the perfect gift. 

“It’s beautifully packaged, delicious, healthy and made with love, using the finest ingredients to keep them happy and healthy. Why not get your pets involved in a pet-friendly Easter Egg Hunt to add to the fun, keep them entertained and engaged. Get outdoors and make the most of the new season.”

Agria Pet Insurance, one of the world’s leading animal insurers, has announced the launch of its Pup to Old Age Pup (OAP) campaign. The initiative celebrates dogs at all stages of their lives and recognises that our animal friends should be cared for and protected throughout their lifetime.

Launched at Crufts, the campaign will see the pet insurance specialists shine a light on the older dogs that have been instrumental in the lives of others. Introducing a competition to find the most heroic service dogs nearing retirement, Agria has invited assistance dog charities and organisations to nominate dogs that are the ultimate hero and have made a real impact.

In addition to showcasing those dogs nearing retirement, the competition is also seeking superstar pups that are set to be the most promising graduates, celebrating the next generation of service dogs.

Voted for by the public, via Agria’s social channels, the competition aims to generate awareness of the outstanding contribution that service dog charities and organisations make to society.

The partner organisations that take part will receive a donation of £1,000, whilst the winner of ‘most heroic dog’ and ‘most promising graduate’, will each receive a donation of £2,500 for its charity or organisation.

Tom Vaughan, head of marketing at Agria Pet Insurance, said: “We’re so proud to support some incredible assistance dog charities. The passion and commitment shown by those that are involved in these organisations is phenomenal, as is the skill and devotion shown by the assistance dogs. That’s why we wanted to celebrate the role that these superstar dogs play in the daily lives of those around them, from pup to OAP.

“Lifetime pet insurance is important for all of our furry friends, and we have first-hand experience of how crucial it can be for the service dogs that many of our customers rely upon to support their day-to-day lives. At Agria Pet Insurance, we’re committed to our lifetime of love guarantee. We’re with pet parents for life, not just in their younger years.”

Garry Botterill, founder and operations director at Service Dogs UK, added: “We founded Service Dogs UK back in 2016, with the intention of supporting military and 999 Veterans who suffer with PTSD. Having previously served in the military and Police myself, I’ve seen first-hand the impact that it can have on colleagues, and I wanted to find a way in which I could help them.

“Support from partners is so important in allowing us to provide assistance dogs for the Veterans in need. Agria’s competition helps us to celebrate the great work that our heroic dogs do in supporting the lives of our those injured in service and gives them the recognition they deserve. They really can be life-changing!” 

For more information, visit: www.agriapet.co.uk

Cardiff Dogs Home is experiencing a surge in the number of dogs needing rehoming as owners who bought dogs during the pandemic return to work and find themselves without the time needed to properly care for their pets.

Currently more than 50 dogs are being looked after at the home, a number of dogs are being fostered by volunteers while the kennels are full, and a waiting list is in place for more dogs waiting for space at the home to become available.

Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Michael Michael, said: "All the dogs in our care are being well looked after, but it's sad to see so many of them coming through our doors. Looking after a dog is a big commitment, they need a lot of care and attention. During the pandemic a lot of new owners took on pets and unfortunately now, as life begins to return to normal, they simply don't have the time to look after them properly.

"We'd love to find them all a forever home and would encourage anybody interested in re-homing a dog to get in touch via the Cardiff Dogs Home website so we can begin the process of matching them with suitable owners."

To find out more, and view some of the dogs currently available to re-home, visit: www.cardiffdogshome.co.uk

Picture of Jeff taken from the Cardiff Dogs Home website.

WildWash has teamed up with an international, certified master groomer, Katie Rourke Dowding, to produce educational 'How To' videos for pet owners who want to groom their furry friends at home. 

“At WildWash we provide high-quality, effective yet gentle pet care products using natural ingredients that are safe both for pets and their owners. We consider that applying organic, natural products on your pet's coat in the right way is crucial in the grooming process.

“As our products have a high concentration level, a bottle of 300ml can provide the pet owner with up to 20 washes on their dogs, cats or horses. Thus, Katie explains in the following video how to use a grooming mixing bottle to get the best results:  How to Use a Mixing Bottle for Grooming - WildWash.

“With over 17 years of grooming experience, Katie offered us insights on How To Give The Perfect Dog Bath using our WildWash Pet Range: How to Give the Perfect Dog Bath - WildWash Pet Shampoo and Conditioner & WildWash Pro Range: How to Give the Perfect Dog Bath - WildWash Pro Shampoo.

“In addition, we all know that our furry friends need to be brushed to keep their coats looking their best. It can be a bit of a challenge to brush a dog's coat without getting it tangled, but in this playlist you can find out an easy step by step process for a pet owner to take care of their pooch at home: How To Groom Your Pets at Home."

Opportunities for growing export business will come under the spotlight today (Thursday) as delegates gather for The Future for International Trade Conference, being organised by PetQuip in partnership with Gardenex and BHETA.

The conference, which is being held at the Stratford Manor Hotel in Stratford-Upon-Avon, is open to all UK suppliers and has as its keynote speaker Shelley Boyle, Head of Business Development at online retailer, ManoMano. Other presentations will be given by a UK government lobbyist as well as experts on international commercial law, world economics, post-Brexit procedures and international trade compliance.  

The conference delegates will also hear incisive case studies from some of the UK’s most successful exporters within the pet, garden and home improvement sectors. There will be many opportunities for Q&As with the speakers and delegates can obtain individually tailored advice from a selection of export experts including freight logistics and international trade show organisers among others.

Amanda Sizer Barrett, Director General of PetQuip, confirmed: “We are delighted to be partnering with BHETA again to deliver another top-level export conference, thanks to the quality of the content and the insights, inspiration and practical advice that the speakers will give to the delegates. Recent events have demonstrated an appetite in the industry for face-to-face networking and interaction again, and the conference will deliver this throughout the packed agenda.”

An ethical micropig breeder has launched an educational campaign to place little pigs at schools across the country.

Micropig trio Bart, Lisa and Troy, and pair Miley and Georgie are ready to become members of the classroom community, in a scheme which Kew Little Pigs in Amersham Bucks, says promotes animal kindness and is an excellent learning tool.

With ongoing support from Kew Little Pigs, staff and pupils learn how to care for their new pets, as well as building a bond with the friendly creatures, who can be trained in the same way as a dog.

Olivia Mikhail, who founded Kew Little Pigs, said: "We hope that schools will want to join the scheme, and discover the benefits of learning about pig keeping.

"Pigs are amazing pets, and learning about their characteristics and quirks from a young age in our opinion promotes compassion and kindness. Learning about responsibility is also key, and caring for an animal for children who maybe cannot have a pet at home only enhances their lives."

The micropigs can be cared for by people who suffer from allergies, and are friendly and sociable. Some owners even take their pets out for walks on a lead.

Full pig keeping training and ongoing support is provided by Kew Little Pigs, and Danesfield School in Marlow, Bucks is over the moon with their new arrivals Peggy, Wilma, Pebbles and Bam Bam.

A teacher at the primary school, said: "The pigs are doing really well, and love the kids nearly as much as we all love them!! They get a lot of attention!

"If you want to see our Twitter feed it’s @danesfieldforest where we post pictures of them regularly!"

Olivia added: "We have already had some success with the scheme and also do school visits. People are absolutely loving trying something different, and we think it is so important to create a kind and caring society."

If your school is interested in rehoming these little pigs go to www.kewlittlepigs.com to find out more.

direct to your e-mail inbox...

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

PATS Sandown, the UK’S Spring pet industry event, is just 10 days away from opening and suppliers and retailers alike are getting excited about meeting up to discuss all the latest new products and services. In the stories below, we highlight some of the innovations that will be on show…

To register for free access to the show click here

Goodchaps is helping the nation to ‘clean up our coast’ with the launch of its new dog toy The Friendly Squid.

The Friendly Squid is hand-made in the UK from 100% unbleached, dye free cotton.

Goodchaps says the dog toy will help the company to supply equipment and aid to litter picking volunteers across the UK.

Find Goodchaps on stand F1 at PATS Sandown.

Award-winning Dorwest Herbs is offering an extra 5% off their usual trade discount for all orders placed at the show as well as the opportunity to win a product pack of your choice, perfect for both established and new customers.

As winner of last year’s National Pet Industry Federation Awards for Supplier Of The Year, the Dorwest brand continues to grow with recognised public acknowledgement of their impact on the pet industry during 2021.

An independent judging panel chose winners from 19 categories, with Dorwest’s MD Jo Boughton-White commenting that it’s testimony to the hard working team and wonderful customers.

“We are absolutely thrilled to win this award, 2021 was certainly a busy year. With the increasing number of new dog owners our fantastic team are always there to help, from the initial enquiry talking through customers issues and supporting stockists on the phones to the product being dispatched.”

Find Dorwest Herbs on stand G% at PATS Sandown.

Little BigPaw is launching a new range of 100% Natural soft and squidgy training treats at PATS Sandown.

Little Tricks is enriched with liver and healthy herbs to make them irresistibly tasty and perfect for reward-based training. 

Little Boostas contain honey and fresh banana for a natural superfood and sugar energy boost to keep active dogs tails wagging all day. 

Little Kips is a vegan version with delicious peanut butter, rejuvenating berries, turmeric and chamomile to aid sleep and rest after a hard day’s training. 

All the training treats are grain free, 100% natural, hypoallergenic and are soft baked using wood fired ovens in the UK. 

Find Little BigPaw on stand F2 at PATS Sandown.

PetDreamHouse SPIN is the industry-first modular design concept for interactive feeders, with various functional spinners available and easy-to-replace/upgrade.

SPIN encourages reusing the base bowl to reduce plastic waste.

The company also tries to use 50% recycled plastic wherever possible to minimise the environmental impact.

Find PetDreamHouse on stand S1 at PATS Sandown.

EzyDog will be unveiling its new Friday Collective Corduroy range on the New Product Showcase, along with additional new items on its stand L4.

For the duration of the show, there will be a 10% discount on all orders placed. 

Sneyd’s Wonderfeeds Ltd is recalling several pet food products because of the presence of salmonella in one of the ingredients used their manufacture.

The affected product are:

• Sneyd’s Wonderdog Active Light, pack size 15kg, batch code 57-58
• Sneyd’s Wonderdog Special, pack size 15kg, all batches from 1383 through to 1408
• Sneyd’s Wonderdog Original, pack size 15kg, all batches from 3239 through to 3264

Point of sale notices are being displayed in all retail stores that have sold these products. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products.

In a risk statement on its website the Food Standards Agency said: 

“The presence of salmonella in the products listed above. Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause illness in humans and animals. The products could therefore carry a potential risk, because of the presence of salmonella, either through direct handling of the product, or indirectly, for example from pet feeding bowls, utensils or contact with the faeces of animals.

“In humans, symptoms caused by salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. Infected animals may not necessarily display signs of illness, but symptoms can include diarrhoea.”

Its advice to pet owners is: “If you have bought any of the above products do not use them. Instead contact Sneyd’s Wonderfeeds for further advice: Call 01724 872 448 or email info@wonderdog.co.uk.”

The full FSA alert can be found here https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-15-2022

An Irish company called PARK LiFE aims to take the UK treats market by storm with its natural ‘guilt-free’ products.

The new business, based in the centre of Ireland in the town of Athlone, is set to exhibit at PATS Sandown on March 27-28, where it hopes to entice UK retailers to stock its range.

The treats are already proving popular in Jollyes stores in Ireland, and owner Richard Marles is confident the brand’s products will fly-off the shelves of other retail outlets.

The range includes frisbee-shaped biscuits, heart-shaped cookies and star-shaped treats, as well long-lasting chews made with human quality milk protein.

Here, Richard recalls how he started the business and why he believes his treats could become bestsellers in pet stores and garden centres across the UK and Ireland.

What was the inspiration behind setting up PARK LiFE?

Like many pet start-ups, the inspiration behind the brand came from becoming a ‘pet parent’. The lightbulb moment happened when my wife and I went away and left our  golden lab Penny with in-laws for the weekend. When we returned, Penny was bloated and appeared in discomfort from what she’d been eating. The cause of her discomfort was a major brand of dog biscuits. Upon reading the label, I remember feeling shocked by the long list of vague ingredients, and that’s when I thought: “We can make something far better than this.”  

There UK dog population has grown +28% from 9m pre-pandemic to 12.5m in 2021, equating to one in three British homes owning a dog. The dog treat and mixer market in the UK is worth €581m and since the pandemic there has been a steady increase, driven by a rise in dog ownership and the trends towards premiumisation and the ‘humanisation’ of pets. Three in four dog owners now see their pet as a part of the family. This presented us with a massive opportunity to meet growing market demand.

Who works in the business?

Since 2021 I’ve been working in the business full time. My wife Elizabeth is a great support and helps whenever she can. Our son is two-years-old, and we have baby #2 on the way so I love the thought of creating a business that could be handed down through generations. The star employee is Penny, who’s the CEO (Chief Eating Officer).

What did you do before setting up the business?

I’ve held several commercial FMCG marketing roles over the past 10-plus years, in brands such as Kellogg’s, Cadbury and Lindt, but most recently as head of marketing for Keogh’s Crisps, Ireland’s most loved hand-cooked crisp. 

Who comes up with the recipes for your treats?

Recipe development is done in-house. We get a lot of our inspiration from other categories, such as ‘human’ biscuits and the baby-food aisle. 

Do you bake the treats yourself?

Initially, all of our product development was done in our kitchen at home. I love to cook, but I was terrible at baking, so it was a steep learning curve. My wife was the one doing most of the baking, but together we developed a recipe that the dogs love, is allergen free and most importantly, is made with a few simple store-cupboard ingredients. 

How did you first get the treats to market?

After developing the recipe, I set my sights on finding a commercial bakery that could bake the biscuits at scale. I knew I needed this to be mass-produced to keep the costs to an acceptable level while allowing us to scale-up fast. But as an unproven start-up, there weren’t many bakeries willing to take a punt on us and the ones that were, in our eyes either were not up to the quality standards. So, with a brand concept and a recipe in hand, I flew to Germany to an international trade show and met with over a dozen biscuit manufacturers before I met one that could produce a quality biscuit, at scale, with MOQs within budget.  

When did Jollyes start stocking them and how did you feel when you did the deal?

Jollyes began to stock the Milk Bone range mid last year and early this year introduced the dog biscuit range. It’s amazing to be launching in such a well-established retail partner as Jollyes, in such an exciting moment in their store expansion plans. We can’t thank the Jollyes’ commercial and marketing team enough for seeing the potential in the PARK LiFE brand.  

Are most of your sales are currently in Ireland?

To date, it’s an even split between Ireland and the UK, but over time I expect the UK to become the bigger driver for our business.

What’s your bestselling product?

Our Large Chicken Milk Bone is currently our bestseller. Chicken is and always will be a popular flavour and with the huge rise in the trend toward Yak and Milk-based chews, our range is perfectly positioned to cater for those pet parents who want a long-lasting chew, but who don’t want to feed them animal bones, or raw-hide chews. When the biscuits hit the shelves, we expect Fris-Bix to be our number one seller. 

Do you hope to extend your distribution by exhibiting at PATS Sandown?

PATS will be our first in-person trade show and nothing beats meeting people face-to-face and being able to touch and feel a product. We’re confident that PATS Sandown will help drive our distribution growth in the UK, through meeting likeminded retail chain buyers, independent pet store owners, as well as new wholesale and distribution partners alike. We can’t wait to get the brand out there in person.

Is it true your packing is recyclable?

Yes, it’s true, all of our packaging is 100% recyclable. 

Tell us a bit about your branding.

All of our brand development is done in-house, and our design/artwork is done by our agency in Northern Ireland, Kaizen Brand Evolution. The brand name PARK LiFE took over six months to develop. I knew I wanted to develop a name that could stretch into any dog care category, whether it was treats, food, toys, or accessories. I also knew that I didn’t want to go down the cliché route of naming the brand after our dog/dogs, or to create a dog-related pun. When you rule out these two angles, it doesn’t leave you with many options. The idea came on a walk in Raheny Park, in Dublin. There were dozens of dogs chasing each other around the park, living their best life, and that’s when it clicked. 

What’s your ultimate goal with PARK LiFE?

My vision for PARK LiFE is to become the most loved brand of treats among pet parents and their fur-babies. In 10 years’ time, I’d love for PARK LiFE to be a household name on UK and Irish shelves and further afield.

For more information visit https://parklife.dog. PARK LiFE is exhibiting on stand S7 at PATS Sandown, which takes place on March 27-28. To register for free entry to PATS Sandown visit www.patshow.co.uk.

Just for Pets, voted UK Pet Retailer of the Year in the 2021 PetQuip Awards, is set to open its 21^st store in the Oxfordshire market town of Witney on Saturday, March 19.

The new store is located at the former H&M site at the Woolgate Centre, and follows the opening of Just for Pets’ 20^th store at Leamington Spa a month ago.

The store, specialising in natural treats and raw foods for cats and dogs, has already been well received by residents. One Facebook user said: “That’s great, we need a good pet shop in Witney, can’t wait for you to open” while another commented: “No more driving into Oxford for pet supplies – with 11 pets I need a decent pet shop nearby.” 

Just for Pets also stocks a wide range of well-known British brands, including Barbour, Joules, Hugo & Hudson and Sophie Allport. 

Last year the company launched a Best of British pledge to support smaller, up and coming UK pet product suppliers which has filled the store with some hidden gems that customers can’t find elsewhere.

A number of local people have already been employed and enrolled on a training programme developed by Hannah Molloy of Channel 4’s Puppy School. 

Store manager Declan Cronley said: “The team has been working and completing the training programme at Just for Pets for a number of months now and we can’t wait to offer the best and most up to date advice to our customers. 

 “While the store specialises in dog we will offer a strong selection for cat, small pets, birds, reptiles and even wildlife and we can’t wait to meet Witney’s pet owners when we open on March 19.”  

Pets are always welcome in store with free weighing scales and nutritious treat samples available.

Su-Bridge Pet Supplies Ltd has sent three pallets of pet food to Ukraine to help feed the cats and dogs caught in the conflict with Russia.

Recognising the need for crucial support to anyone affected by the tragedy, Su-Bridge has supplied much-needed pet products to haulage company Waites & Stones Ltd, at its collection point for donations to Ukraine.

“We are glad to do our part for the Ukraine and support them through this difficult time,’ said Su-Bridge managing director Ian Manning.

Waites and Stones Ltd are still accepting donations – to find out more information visit https://www.facebook.com/waitesandstones