Amazon.co.uk has added a range of grain-free pet food suitable for dogs and cats to its Lifelong brand of pet supplies. 

Amazon says: "Developed by pet nutritionists and checked by vets, Lifelong’s Grainfree premium recipes are made with fresh lamb, salmon or chicken and no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives to ensure 100% complete and balanced nutrition for your pets.

"All are made with high quality ingredients and care, helping your pets be at their very best."

The new products are:

• Lifelong Grainfree Dry Dog Food with Fresh Lamb, currently priced at £19.99
• Lifelong Grainfree Dry Dog Food with Fresh Salmon, currently priced at £28.99
• Lifelong Grainfree Recipe Dry Cat Food with Fresh Chicken (Light), currently priced at £20.99
• Lifelong Grainfree Recipe Dry Cat Food with Salmon, currently priced at £19.99

Visit www.amazon.co.uk/lifelong to find out more

Welsh-based Happy Hounds is recalling certain types of frozen raw dog food because salmonella has been found in the products, says the Food Standard Agency.

The products are: 

• Frozen Chicken & Beef Sleeve Dog Food: pack size 1kg; Batch code 1205; Best before 3 September 2020
• Frozen Chicken Mince Sleeve Dog Food: pack size 1kg; Batch code 1205; Best before 3 September 2020
• Frozen Chicken Mince Dog Food: pack size 2.5kg (bag of 4); Batch code 1205; Best before 3 September 2020

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 product could therefore carry a potential risk because of the presence of salmonella, either through direct handling of the pet food, 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.

“Happy Hounds is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these 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 alert can be read in full here https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-01-2020

Interpet Limited, the market leader in innovative aquatic and pet accessories, has launched a new ‘trade only’ website  https://trade.interpet.co.uk/. 

Designed and created specifically for trade customers, the site features the company’s leading brands including Interpet Aquatics, Blagdon Pond, Mikki Pet, and Nylabone alongside several others. 

The fully integrated website allows customers to create an account where they can keep up to date with the latest products, innovations and promotions. With instant access to over one thousand products, ordering is quick and simple, with an online payment facility (World Pay) also available. Other features include the option to save favourite products for easy re-ordering and the ability to upload orders using Fastlines.  

The site is open to both existing and new retail customers. 

Speaking about the new website Commercial Manager Jason Booker said: “In a growing industry where our retail customers are under pressure to offer quality products at a competitive price, we are delighted to be able to offer this new facility that will not only keep them up to date with the latest developments, but also speed up the ordering process."

PATS, the UK’s number one pet industry exhibition, enters a new decade with two major shows lined up in 2020, starting at Sandown Park in Surrey in February and followed by another prestigious event at Telford in Shropshire in September.

The past 10 years have seen PATS exhibitions become vital events in the pet industry calendars, enabling hundreds of suppliers and manufacturers to showcase their products to UK and international buyers.

Inspired Pet Nutrition were the first company to book a stand with PATS in 2009 under the Wagg brand and have been exhibiting ever since. Trade Sales Director Ben Anderson summed up the importance of a show like PATS by saying: “At IPN we believe in the concept of a trade show – how else can you fully display your entire range of products to your customers under one roof?  As our brands and ranges expand, we will continue to utilise the PATS event to showcase these to our customer base. 

“The PATS team are experienced, knowledgeable, approachable and go out of their way to ensure the show is a success each and every year. We’re looking forward to another successful 10 years and thanks to all the team at PATS for their hard work in organising such a well run industry show.”

This year’s PATS Sandown, taking place on February 9-10, will be packed with more than 150 exhibitorsshowcasing an amazing number of new products. Meanwhile, plans for PATS Telford, being held on September 27-28, are well advanced and the show promises to be even bigger and better this year.

PATS Sandown opens its doors at 9.30am on Sunday, February 9, and visitors will be greeted by key brands, household names and a long list of new exhibitors, with potential bestselling items displayed on their stands as well as in the New Product Showcase. The Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, is a great opportunity for visiting retailers to see and touch the new products they will be stocking for the coming season. 

All entries in the Showcase will judged by a panel of retailers for the New Product Awards on the first morning of the show, so the results will be known and highlighted throughout the Surrey and Esher Halls for the rest of the exhibition. 

There will also be a full programme of free retailer-focused seminars, sponsored by Pet Product Marketing and produced in association with Pedigree Wholesale. A wide range of topics will be covered, including: how to make customer loyalty the driving force of your business; helping cats and dogs to thrive will help your business to thrive; using calendar events in 2020 to drive sales; how to increase footfall by stocking raw foods; and how retailers can dominate the market and smash the competition.

There will also be a chance to earn Suitably Qualified People (SQP) points for those people attending an AMTRA-accredited seminar on canine and feline dental hygiene by Beaphar UK. 

The PATS Grooming Workshops, in association with the Welsh Grooming Academy, will feature state-of-the-art demonstrations from leading names in the industry.

To help make the experience even more enjoyable and rewarding, visitors can access the show via the main Esher Hall entrance and also the Surrey Hall, and benefit from free show entry, free parking, a free catalogue and many special offers.

There will also be a wide range of food available from all the various outlets and visitors will receive a free cup of tea or coffee voucher, which will be redeemable all day.

To register for free entry to the show and to view the full list of exhibitors visit www.patshow.co.uk

Opening times

Sunday 9^th February: 9.30am-5.00pm

Monday 10^th February: 9.30am-4.00pm

Independent retailers might not be benefiting fully from lifestage products for small pets, according to Supreme Petfoods and the category showed a slight decline in 2019 as a result.

The company has highlighted that starting small pets on a petfood brand that is not in grocery and providing for their needs throughout life, will help ensure that pet owners remain long-term, loyal customers, rather than allowing those valuable sales to drift to other channels.

While Supreme has out-performed the category, overall in the independent channel, the small animal category for 2019 is down by 2.6%.

Supreme Marketing Manager, Claire Hamblion, says: "There's no room for complacency here. Retailers should consider developing a clear recommendation strategy that allows them to keep the customers they have worked to acquire, throughout the pet's life. That initial customer acquisition is often the most difficult and expensive aspect of the marketing process - if retailers can keep them over a lifetime, that's when they become profitable."

One of the reasons for the category decline may be indicated in the results of a recent telephone survey of 395 independent pet stores across the UK, willing to stock a small pet lifestage range. The survey carried out by Supreme Petfoods, found that 74% stock a ‘junior' small pet product, whereas only 45% stock a ‘mature' offering. Both junior and mature represent transition points and therefore a chance for owners to switch brands or indeed the outlets where they buy their products.

Junior products, such as Science Selective Junior Rabbit, are fed for a very short time in a rabbit's life - generally only until 20 weeks of age when most breeds will have attained maturity - but it remains a highly important point of market entry. By recommending a food formulated for growth retailers underline their own expert credentials. The next transition is to adult, so recommending a brand that shoppers have to return to the store to buy is in the retailer's best interest. It's not enough just to provide feeding for those first few months and risk losing sales thereafter and it is especially important to look at the lifetime value of rabbits to the outlet as a whole.

Mature rabbit foods are fed from four years of age for the remainder of the pet's life. As the lifespan of a rabbit is 8-12 years, mature foods may be fed for longer than any other lifestage category. It is therefore surprising that less than half of the retailers contacted considered this to be an attractive option to stock.

Claire Hamblion notes that there are big opportunities here, that many retailers are not fully benefiting from. "The switch to mature rabbit provides an opening to start some very interesting conversations about senior care. Remember that by this time, these are very experienced owners and often highly bonded to their pet, so likely to be receptive to what you have to say. We also believe that as a result of better education and veterinary care, more rabbits are living into old age than ever before - so this is a big segment that is largely under serviced.

"Talking about the needs of senior rabbits, she continued, "Senior rabbit foods have to be highly palatable, as these pets often become more picky eaters as time goes on. Higher levels of antioxidants help deal with cell damage associated with aging. And of course, higher levels of fibre are vitally important to support dental and digestive health. Science Selective Rabbit Mature 4 years+ meets those needs. As well as adjusted diets, mature rabbits can also benefit from soft bedding and adjusted housing to help manage mobility problems and toys and enrichments that rely less on active play. Those are additional incremental sales, as well as making a positive contribution to animal welfare."

To find out more, contact Supreme on 01473 823296 or visit www.supremepetfoods.com to see the Selective lifestage range.

A kitten who cheated death by a whisker after suffering horrendous injuries including a severed tail and ripped abdomen, has been named Pet Survivor of the Year 2019 by vet charity PDSA.

Victorious Woody, who came top in a public vote to decide the winner, was up against three dogs, another cat and a duck for the coveted title. All finalists have their own death-defying tales, but survived against the odds thanks to the skill of their vet teams, their owners’ devotion, and their own survival spirit.

Little Woody joined the Wood family from Battle, East Sussex, earlier this year. He is a precious companion for owner Stephanie’s son, who has autism. But one day last July, at just five months old, the playful kitten returned home with terrible injuries and needed lengthy, lifesaving surgery. Having made it through the operation, Woody spent eight days in intensive care at Sussex Coast Vets, followed by months of recovery and rehabilitation at home.

After making a full recovery, Woody and Stephanie visited PDSA’s Brighton Pet Hospital to receive his PDSA Pet Survivor trophy and a luxury pet hamper.

Stephanie said: “It’s been a tough year for Woody and the whole family, but it’s ended on a high by winning this award. Thankfully the experience hasn’t changed his personality – he’s such a friendly little cat, and will do anything for a cuddle or a treat! We couldn’t imagine life without him. Thanks so much to the team at Sussex Coast Vets, to PDSA for recognising our miracle kitten, and to everyone who donated towards his care and voted for him to win.”

PDSA Vet Nurse Louise Chapman, who presented Woody with his trophy and prize, said: “Woody suffered very severe injuries and it was touch and go whether he would survive. But thanks to the skill of his vets and round-the-clock care from his family during months of recovery and rehabilitation, Woody pulled through. He’s a true pet survivor and a worthy winner indeed.”

Woody’s story

After joining the Wood family earlier this year, he settled in very well, and didn’t go out much by himself. When he disappeared for several hours one evening, his family became worried. Later on he suddenly jumped through the living room window, but just sat on the sofa quietly and was eerily calm.

Stephanie noticed immediately there was something wrong with his paw, but it wasn’t until they went to check him that they noticed his other horrific injuries. First they realised that most of his tail was missing, but the stump wasn’t bleeding, it was as if the wound had been cauterised. Then they noticed a deep slash on his tummy – and were horrified when they realised they could see his insides. They rushed him straight to the vet, terrified that this was the end for little Woody.

He needed over three hours of emergency surgery to stitch up his stomach, cleanly amputate the remainder of his tail, and also remove a toe due to a paw wound. His tail injury meant there was a risk he could be left incontinent or even paralysed - if this happened then the kindest option would be to put Woody to sleep, so it was a sleepless night for the Wood family.

When they finally got the call to say that the surgery was a success and that Woody had successfully done a wee by himself, they were incredibly relieved. Stephanie visited Woody the next day, who was up on his paws already, less than 24 hours after surgery! But he was still in danger, as the abdominal surgery and damage to his insides left him at a high risk of infection.

But for Stephanie the worst part was hearing about the possible cause of Woody’s injuries. She said that although vets confirmed that some of his injuries were consistent with a traffic accident, some weren’t. His abdominal injury seemed to have been caused by being stabbed with something sharp – there was a possibility that Woody’s injuries has been deliberately inflicted by a person.

He stayed at the vet for eight days receiving intensive care before he was able to go home, but he still needed round-the-clock nursing. Stephanie kept his wounds clean and had to apply cream several times a day, as well as keeping up with his medication. He was kept on strict cage rest for three weeks and wore a special medi-jacket to protect his wounds.

Woody needed further surgery due to an infection, but he seemed determined to survive.  Finally, after months of recovery and rehabilitation he’s back to his normal cheeky self, and doesn’t seem to be bothered by his missing tail.

The cause of Woody’s injuries remains a mystery. Stephanie said: “We reported it to police and they investigated this as a case of animal mutilation. A neighbour said they’d heard a disturbance and a noise like an animal in distress in the field behind his house ten minutes before Woody appeared home. We’d heard of other cats in the area having similar wounds, it was awful to think someone might’ve done this deliberately.”

However, without further information or evidence the case remained unsolved and had to be closed. The family may never know exactly what happened to Woody, but they are just glad to have the cheeky kitty home with them.

Because Woody was treated by a private veterinary practice, Stephanie crowdfunded and borrowed to cover the cost of Woody’s treatment, which reached around £5,000.

The other PDSA Pet Survivor finalists were:

• Custo the Cockerchon – wasn’t expected to survive his aggressive spleen cancer and needed five blood transfusions and over six months of recovery
• Jacob the cat – suffered a potentially fatal abdomen infection at the same time as pneumonia and was on a feeding tube for six weeks
• Milo the Pomeranian – went blind and needed six hours of surgery to correct spinal deformities that could’ve left him paralysed, caused by irresponsible puppy farmers
• Mother Duck the Cayuga Duck – survived a suspected fox attack that left her throat ripped open and had midnight surgery on the kitchen table
• Trinny the Fox Terrier – survived a terrifying attack by a larger dog, leaving her at death’s door with multiple deep injuries, and in danger of losing her leg

The PDSA Pet Survivor Awards 2019 were open to pets treated for a life threatening illness or injury by a vet in the UK between 1 August 2018 and 31 August 2019. The winner received a trophy and a luxury pet hamper thanks to the competition sponsor Petsurance from PDSA. For more information, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/petsurvivor

The Armitage Good Boy Advent Calendar once again proved to be a bestseller this Christmas, according to a nationwide survey.

Weekly analysis of EPOS data from garden centres by our sister publication Garden Trade News has shown that the Armitage Good Boy Dog Advent Calendar has been the bestselling Advent calendar in garden centres throughout the festive period

It appeared as high as No 36 in the overall GTN Bestsellers Top 100 Christmas Products Chart for 2019.

More information about Garden Centre Bestsellers can be found in the GTN Xtra e-mail newsletter at: www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Experts in natural pet food, True Instinct, is revolutionising the dog food market with the launch of its new Freeze Dried range for dogs.

A first of its kind for the UK market, the innovative new products, which are made at True Instinct’s Norfolk factory, offer the ultimate option for pet owners who want to provide their pets with the highest quality, ready-to-serve food. Available in a range of varieties, all freeze- dried to lock in the goodness and intense taste, the range is not only extremely nutritional, but also minimally processed, and extremely convenient to store and serve.

Consisting of Meat Bites in 100 per cent freeze-dried Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Turkey options to provide the perfect sized meat treats with natural flavour and goodness. The range also includes Complete Dinners, combining 80 per cent premium quality Beef, Chicken, Lamb and Turkey, Turkey with Salmon with 20 per cent fruits, vegetables, vitamins and minerals to provide all the benefits of feeding the most natural raw diet with the convenience of traditional dry food. Finally, the Real Chunks varieties come in 100 per cent Chicken, Salmon, Beef, Beef Liver and Beef Tripe, all perfect as a meal component.

The innovative freeze-dried products offer high-quality, delicious and filling food made from only the finest, natural ingredients and contains no grain – something that pets are certain to adore.

The Freeze-Dried range will start at 99p for the Meat Bites, £2.99 for the Complete Dinners and £5.99 for the Real Meat Chunks. What’s more, to celebrate the upcoming launch of the new products, True Instinct is offering discounts across the range to retailers.

Craig Taylor, Managing Director of True Instinct, said: “Having completed in-depth research into the new products, and utilising our state-of-the-art technology here in Norfolk we’re delighted to have them available on the market. The new Freeze-Dried range provides pet owners with food that’s the pinnacle of natural dry feeding. Freeze drying locks in all the goodness of the quality ingredients by simply removing water content. It also delivers a deliciously intense flavour - which we know dogs love from the reactions we’ve seen already.”

True Instinct specialises in a complete and balanced range of natural pet food and treats. Its varied products offer nutritional, complete and balanced frozen raw, freeze dried, high-meat dry and high-meat wet fillets for both cats and dogs.

For more information about the True Instinct Freeze Dried range  visit www.trueinstinct.co.uk

Retailers wanting to find out more information about True Instinct and its range can email info@naturesmenu.co.uk phone 0800 0183770 or visit trade.naturesmenu.co.uk.

By registering for a trade account, retailers can gain access to hassle-free online ordering, great value freezer deals and point of sale, plus free training and the option to become a qualified True Instinct Advisor.

The Pet Food Manufacturers' Associatioin is hosting two events focused on international trade and helping the pet food industry maximise export opportunities.

Day One – Thursday 30 January: Way2Trade Chinese Feed Legislation Course (1000-1600, London)

Focusing on trade with China, PFMA is hosting this event as part of a series of Way2Trade events.

• Mr. Den Hollander of Way2Trade Netherlands will focus on veterinary import legislation
• Mr. Liu of CCIC Europe will guide delegates through the production and feed safety legislation in China. There will also be information on an alternative to railroad transport and the conditions. 
• Participants will receive a certificate of CCIC about participating in this knowledge exchange, which can be used during future inspection by GACC (General Administration of Customs China).

Cost of event per person:

Members £600.00 per person (discounted from £1060.00). For members rates please log into the Members' Area or contact info@pfma.org.uk. 

Non-members £800.00 per person, please register here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/85617306669

Tickets are very limited so please register soon to avoid disappointment

Day Two – Friday 31 January: PFMA Trade Event (1000-1600, London)

This event is a PFMA event focusing on global exporting. 

• Guide to finding new markets around the world - Peter Kersh (World Feeds)
• The role of an International Trade Advisers in supporting businesses to export – Angus Murray (Department of International Trade) 
• Veterinary health certificate issues and global exports - Tjeerd den Hollander (Way2Trade Netherlands) 
• Tariffs and customs procedures around the world - Gavin Roberts (Trade Flow Customs)
• What do I put on my label? - Steve Spice (Ashbury Labelling)
• Q&A session to enable any questions to be answered on the above areas.

This event is also open to PFMA members and non-members - with limited ticket numbers available.

Cost of event per person:

Members £200.00 per person. For members rates please log into the Members' Area or contact info@pfma.org.uk. 

Non-members £300.00 per person. Please register here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/86908356233

Both events will be held at ETC venues, 50-52 Chancery Lane, Holborn, London WC2A 1HL.

Specialist dog-food brand Autarky has launched a nationwide campaign to find the Hardest Working Dog in the UK.

Autarky is a food specially formulated for active, hard-working dogs - giving canines everything they need to stay healthy and working hard at every stage of their lives - and it is excited to be taking on the challenge to recognise dogs who show incredible dedication in their sphere.

Whether they excel in their chosen sport, serve their country, show unconditional support to their owner or have recently stolen the nation’s hearts on the big screen, Autarky is giving all hard-working dogs the chance to be crowned with the title.

The competition comprises of four categories: 

• Sports & Performance Dogs
• Service Dogs
• Healthcare & Assistance Dogs
• Media Star Dogs

The public will have its chance to vote for the winner of each category. The overall winner will be chosen by a team of expert judges, including Your Dog Magazine editor Sarah Wright.

The five dogs in the running for the first category, Sports & Performance Dogs, have been nominated by national dog sporting organisations, and the shortlisted dogs have all proven to be excellent ambassadors in their sport - from a mantrailing dog who beat cancer and continues to enjoy her sport with three legs, to a collie-cross who was rescued as a four-month-old puppy and has gone on to have a highly successful agility career.

Sam Horrell, Autarky CEO, commented: “We are thrilled to be highlighting the hard work of active dogs across the UK and giving them the chance to be recognised with a national award. We hope that the public will be as inspired by the amazing dedication of these dogs to their chosen sport as we are. Good luck to all of the nominees.”

The award ceremony for the Autarky Hardest Working Dog will take place at Dodson & Horrell Chatsworth International Horse Trials 2020 in May, where the overall winner will be presented with a top prize, including a hamper of canine products worth £500 and a year’s worth of Autarky food.

For more information about the campaign, to read about the five dogs nominated for the first category and your chance to vote, visit www.autarkyfoods.com/hardestworkingdog/

Voting for the Sports & Performance category opens January 20^th, 2020. 

Josera manufactures superior quality, environmentally sustainable and socially responsible foods for pets, cats, dogs and horses as well as agricultural feeds for farm animals.  The brand is a leader in its home market of Germany, where it produces all its food from a carbon-neutral factory. 

Josera is supplied to the retail trade via www.PetFootprint.co.uk, which also represents sister brand Green Petfood which will also be on the stand.

New for Cats: Highlights of this year’s show will include a completely new cat food range which will offer independents important exclusivity (4.25kg and 15kg bags), striking new packaging and the stamp of quality from DLG Certification which is increasingly appreciated by UK retailers. 

New for Dogs: Also, on the stand will be the new Josera Hypoallergenic grain-free recipe that uses insect protein as the sole source of animal protein. The Hypoallergenic range will be available exclusively to bricks and mortar businesses in 15kg and 4.5kg bags with a unique aroma-safe zip close.

Simon Freear from Pet Footprint says: “Consumers are starting to ask questions about sustainability, so we are looking forward to talking to our retailers and new customers about the remarkable eco-credentials of the new Hypoallergenic range.  Insect protein is much more sustainable than livestock protein, and our production is already carbon neutral.  Operations and logistics will be carbon neutral this year – it’s a strong package for retailers who want to offer their customers exceptional food with a tangible eco-story.”

Pictured: Josera new cat food range – Naturecat grain-free recipe  – is launching at PATS Sandown on stand T16.

Beaphar UK is starting the new decade with not one but two exciting new product launches, with both products being featured on their stand at PATS Sandown. They’ll also be returning to the seminar stage with a Dental Care presentation worth 4 CPD points for attending or participating SQPs.

Beaphar NutriSupport is a range of unique, soft jelly, nutraceutical health supplements for cats and dogs, they are made with natural active ingredients to support pet well-being.

Dr Sue Huggett, UK Business Manager, Beaphar UK, said: ‘The Beaphar NutriSupport Range is a unique to the UK pet trade, with the soft jelly formula making it not only easier to give to cats and dogs, but more stable than other products. Pet owners and retailers alike can be confident they have a quality product that pets will love and will support their well-being.’

Samples of Beaphar NutriSupport will be available on Beaphar’s stand, F13, along with a full colour trade booklet explaining more about the natural active ingredients. Amongst these ingredients are sea buckthorn and turmeric, both of which have seen a surge in popularity in human healthcare recently for their health benefits.

Alongside the nutraceutical range, the manufacturer will also be adding new products to its successful Beaphar CaniComfort® Calming Range, which was launched in September 2019. But, if you want to find out more, you’ll have to visit the stand itself, as Beaphar are being tight-lipped about this latest development!

‘The new Beaphar CaniComfort® products are an exciting expansion of the existing range, complementing the diffuser and spray. It means we can now support dogs of all ages and breeds through a wider range of stressful situations, whether they are at home or on-the-go,’ teases Dr Huggett. ‘We hope all visitors to the show will pop by to see us and find out more!’

As if the pull of exciting new products wasn’t enough, Beaphar’s Technical Support Executive, Georgina Shrimpton RVN C-SQP, will be returning to the PATS seminar stage.

Georgina said: ‘One area of our pets’ health that is so commonly overlooked is their oral hygiene. I am often asked if dental sticks actually work and if pet owners should worry about brushing their pet’s teeth. Just as it is with us, keeping our pets teeth clean and healthy is so important, but can be daunting for pet owners, leading many to avoid it.

‘But, with the right information and support, dental care can become a simple part of a pet and owner’s daily routine – the process of introducing dental care can even be a great bonding experience. My seminar will focus on the importance of dental hygiene, dental problems, how to give dental care to pets and Beaphar products that can help achieve this. All this information is broken down so retailers can easily pass it along to their customers. And best of all for SQPs, they can earn 4 CPD points.’

Dr Huggett concluded: ‘With new products, a fascinating and useful seminar, as well as pre-season flea deals which will be available on stand, we really are showcasing the range of products we have to offer pet retailers across the two day event.

‘Our sales team will be on hand throughout the show to answer any questions you may have about our products, marketing support and the training available to help you increase your pet healthcare sales. We look forward to catching up with our existing customers and meeting new retailers at the show.’

Aqueos, a Wilshire-based company that develops, makes and markets a growing range of ground-breaking alcohol and bleach free disinfectants with low levels of active ingredients, first-aid and grooming products for horses and dogs, has launched Quick Wash, a revolutionary new way of freshening up your dog without water.

Tracy Richards, the Founder and brain-child behind Aqueos said: “Quick Wash is the latest product to be added to our range of Anti-Bacterial Dog Shampoos. It is ideal to clean or freshen up in-between baths or any other situations such as muddy walks where water is unavailable. It will also be useful for dogs who just do not enjoy bathing, for people who may find it difficult to lift their dog into the bath or for use in the winter months.”

With no water required Quick Wash is a foam which is applied to the dog’s coat or face and then towel dried.  It can be used for all over cleaning or just for dirty areas.  As well as a cleaning foam it also includes the Aqueos water based deodorising technology. 

The range of Aqueos shampoos for dogs are both anti-bacterial and anti-fungal and are an effective deodoriser.  They help to combat itchiness, soothe minor skin irritations and are gentle on the skin, leaving the coat soft.They can be used on minor skin wounds and are alcohol and phenol free.  Quick Wash is available in 200 ml size pump sprays for easy use.

Available from 10^th February 2020.

For further information visit: www.aqueos.co.uk If you are interested in becoming a stockist, then visit: www.aqueos.co.uk/account/trade-application or www.aqueos.co.uk/trade-enquiries

Burgess Pet Care is exhibiting its award-winning Neutered Cat food at PATS Sandown. The focus of the Yorkshire pet food manufacturer’s stand this year will reflect the growing interest from retailers in the recently-released Burgess Neutered Cat food, a complete pet food made with a high-protein recipe to meet the specific dietary needs of neutered cats.

Burgess Neutered Cat enjoyed a successful launch late last year, which culminated with a Gold award win in the ‘Food, Treat and Health’ category for cats at the prestigious PetQuip Awards that take place at PATS Telford.

Jonathan Collin, Head of UK sales at Burgess Pet Care said: “This is our first trade show of 2020 and we haven’t exhibited at PATS Sandown for a number of years but thought the show would provide the perfect platform to follow-up on the successful launch of Neutered Cat and our gold award win. We’re really excited to return to Sandown and show retailers why Neutered Cat has been such a hit with cat owners.   

“The repeat orders and the general response we’ve had from retailers so far has been resoundingly positive, with several commenting that the accessible price point makes it a ‘no brainer’ addition to their cat range. We can’t wait to catch up with customers old and new and explain the benefits of the range in greater detail, as well as hearing their valuable feedback first-hand."

As well as showcasing their Neutered Cat range, staff at the Burgess stand will be on-hand to guide retailers through the key features of the full range of Burgess Pet Care products. 

The team will also be available to discuss the free resources on the Burgess website that can be accessed through their Retailer portal, which was created by Burgess to help independent pet retailers grow their sales.

Burgess Pet Care can be found at stand L14 on both days of the show, where they’ll have a number of promotions exclusive to PATS.

For a full range of Burgess Pet Care’s products visit the official website at www.burgesspetcare.com

A fundraising appeal has been set up to help pay vet bills for Coco, a Bully Kutta X Mastiff, badly injured when she was struck by a train.

Coco got out of her home in Tilehurst, Berkshire on 12th December, and her owners feared the worst when a frantic search of the neighbourhood failed to locate her.  

Highways England and Network Rail were contacted as Coco’s last sightings were close to a railway line, and the owners were told a driver had called in to say that his train had hit a dog matching her description. 

Network Rail sent a team to search the area but were unable to find the dog. Coco’s family continued to search and used local Facebook groups to spread the word.

Two days after Coco went missing a jogger spotted a dog lying ‘lifeless’ by the side of the tracks and sent a photo to the owners. Against all the odds she was found alive.

Coco had severe injuries, including a fractured spine, fractured and dislocated shoulder, broken leg and damaged tail. She received round the clock care and surgery at one of the best vets in the country. 

A spokesperson for DogLost said: "Amazingly after just two weeks at the vets she was able to go home and is now undergoing extensive physio with visits back to the vet every four days.

"Her doting family are giving her all the love and attention that she could possibly wish for, whilst fundraising to make sure that they can meet the vets bills which currently stand at £13K."

The fundraising page can be found here https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cocovetfunds?utm_term=eVKGRGzXg

So far £8,317 of the £10,000 tagert has been raised.

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The UK and international gardening and pet industries have been paying tribute to Theresa Swann, Head of Events at Gardenex and PetQuip, who sadly passed away in December.

Theresa began working for Gardenex and PetQuip in 1996. She became a very well-known and much-loved figure who brought a wealth of knowledge and a great deal of passion to her work.

Amanda Sizer Barrett, Director General of Gardenex and PetQuip, who worked alongside Theresa for 23 years, had this to say: “Theresa was a vibrant and bubbly personality who exuded warmth to many different people in our sectors and helped make industry colleagues feel like part of a large family. She was loyal, hard working and dedicated and made it a matter of pride to help members in whatever way she could.

“Many of our team have worked for the Federation for many years and view our colleagues, members and our industry as part of an extended family and during her many years of service to British businesses, Theresa absolutely loved interacting with everyone in the UK and with international buyers and contacts too. She is greatly missed by us all. We would like to thank everyone for the touching and heartfelt messages we have been receiving and will ensure that these are passed on to her family”.

Tributes from UK and international contacts have been pouring in. Among them, Matthew Mein, show organiser for Glee, said: “Theresa was a joy to work with, kind-hearted with a positive outlook and warm smiles. On behalf of my team, our thoughts are with Theresa’s partner, family, friends and work colleagues. We thought so much of her.”

“I am so sorry for the loss of such a lively and great person. Theresa will always be remembered in our hearts. I feel so lucky that I got to know her,” said Thomas Karl, of international trade fair organiser Messe Berlin.

And Gordon Thomas, of Impact Exhibitions, said: “Theresa was lovely to work with and so very kind to me personally. I always thought of her as far more than just a ‘work’ colleague. We travelled to many international shows together and she regularly attended PATS shows as part of the PetQuip team - we will sadly miss her. She was always helpful and supportive towards our international visitors and exhibitors.”

Theresa passed away peacefully at Tupwood Gate Nursing Home on 11th December aged 55 years. Her funeral service will take place at Randalls Park Crematorium in Leatherhead, Surrey, at 10.15 am tomorrow  (Friday, 17^th January), followed by a reception at Reigate Manor Hotel at 12pm.

The team at Gardenex, PetQuip and the CHA and non-executive directors of the trade associations will be attending the Committal and Reception and Theresa’s family has indicated that industry friends and colleagues are also welcome to the service, subject to numbers. Please email amanda@gardenex.com if you would like to attend to pay your respects.

Donations to Cancer Research UK, Guide Dogs For The Blind and St Catherine's Hospice can be made via the following link:

https://www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/11-12-2019-theresa-karen-anne-bernadette-swann/

Bestpets UK has just been appointed as an approved ROGZ wholesaler in the United Kingdom.

“This comes as great news to us,” stated John Henshilwood, General Manager of ROGZ Europe.

“We have been present in the UK market for many years, and have slowly seen our brand grow in recognition and distribution. We have historically chosen our partners carefully to ensure we team up with like-minded businesses who share our philosophy of quality and superior service.

"We are confident that Bestpets embody this outlook, and we look forward to increased exposure, coverage and success in partnership with them. When Sallie-Ann Reed (ROGZ Key Account Manager for the UK) came to us with this proposition, we jumped at the opportunity. We wish them every success and Sallie-Ann is looking forward to working with their fantastic sales team and depots to take ROGZ to new heights in the UK in the coming months”. 

All Bestpets UK delivery depots now have a well stocked range of ROGZ accessories.

Contact your local Bestpets delivery depot, Bestpets RSDM or Sallie-Ann Reed (sallie-ann@rogz.com) if you’re interested in becoming a ROGZ retailer. 

A man has admitted selling a number of sick puppies at an illegal 'pet shop'.

Marco Tondo kept the dogs in cramped conditions at the address in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire, in October 2018.

Two of the animals had to be put down shortly after they were sold while others were found to be unwell and underweight.

At Glasgow Sheriff Court Tondo, 32, pleaded guilty to causing the puppies "unnecessary suffering".

Tondo and co-accused Nadine Campbell, 31, both admitted to a separate crime that they did "keep a pet shop" without proper authority.

This involved the sale of five puppies while they also had eight other young dogs.

Tondo, of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, and Campbell, who lives at the address in Bishopbriggs, were bailed pending sentencing next month.

Do you have a business to be proud of? If the answer is yes, then why not enter the 2020 Pet Industry Federation Awards and get the recognition you and your team deserve?

Entry for the Pet Industry Federation Awards is quick, simple and absolutely free. To be in with a chance of winning you need to outline, in no more than 500 words, why you think your business should receive the award.

Judging criteria and entry information are available from the online Awards page at www.petindexshow.com

Pet businesses are invited to submit a nomination across the 16 categories available this year:

1. Product Innovation Awards – Dog, Cat, Reptile/Fish, Small Mammal/Bird (the product awards will be judged at Petindex)
2. Manufacturer of the Year 
3. Wholesaler or Supplier of the Year 
4. New Business of the Year
5. Grooming Business of the Year 
6. Kennel of the Year
7. Cattery of the Year
8. Pet Service Business of the Year
9. Home Boarding Business of the Year
10. Dog Daycare Business of the Year
11. Online Business of the Year
12. Exporter Award
13. Green Award
14. Pet Retail Chain of the Year
15. Independent Retailer of the Year
16. Special Achievement Award

Those interested in applying should check the list of criteria which are available at www.petindexshow.com and cover the areas that judges will be specifically looking for in the entries. 

Entries must be submitted to awards@petfederation.co.uk by Monday 3 February 2020, and shortlisted companies will be announced in March 2020.

The winners will be presented with their awards on Sunday 26 April at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel,  Milton Keynes – on the same site as the Petindex trade show, providing a convenient way for companies to visit or exhibit at the show, and then enjoy a fabulous black-tie dinner with entertainment in the evening. 

Sponsorship opportunities are currently available for the Awards categories. Further details on these or any other aspect of the event are available at www.petindexshow.com, or from Daniel Everett on 01234 224507; Daniel.everett@petfederation.co.uk

With a new government in Westminster, veterinary practice owners considering a sale of their practice are urged to act now to avoid being hit by potential changes to Entrepreneurs’ Relief in the next Annual Budget.

Entrepreneurs’ Relief (ER) is a very valuable tax relief, applicable to business owners, which restricts the capital gains tax payable on a sale of their business, in most cases to 10%. In recent years, previous Chancellors of the Exchequer have mooted changes to ER, but it was Philip Hammond in 2018, who last tightened the rules.

The cost to the exchequer is around £2bn per year and it is expected that the government will explore changes to ER in the next budget. The new government is likely to make unpopular decisions in the first part of their five-year term.

Entrepreneurs’ Relief is a very generous tax relief which benefits only those who have held businesses for two years or more and it could be argued that ER does not benefit wider society. The Conservative Party manifesto outlined that they would ‘review and reform’ ER but it does not state when or how they will go about it.

Keith Chandler (pictured), M&A Director for IVC Evidensia in the UK, said: “Practice valuations have been at an all-time high and whilst we have seen prices decline a little across the board for practice purchases, it would seem likely that 2020 may be the last chance for practice owners considering an exit to benefit from both a high sale price, and a reduced level of tax paid through Entrepreneurs’ Relief.

“We purchased over 70 practices in 2019 and we continue to acquire great veterinary clinics of all shapes and sizes, across the UK, offering veterinary practice owners a secure future for their practice, their clients and most importantly, their employees.”

Supermarket shelves have been left empty of cat litter following a major supplier falling into administration, according to The Grocer.

Bob Martin, which accounted for a large proportion of the UK cat litter market, appointed administrators in November and parts of the business were sold to Pets Choice.

But complications in transferring supermarket listings from Bob Martin to Pets Choice have led to a widespread cat litter shortage across a number of supermarkets, according to The Grocer report.

Pets Choice said the transfer of supermarket listings from Bob Martin had resulted in delays but normal supply should be available shortly.

The Grocer report can be read in full here

BETA International has celebrated the New Year in style with the news that bit and bitting specialist Neue Schule has signed to continue as main sponsor in 2021 and 2022.

The company, which first took up the sponsorship mantle seven years ago, has been a positive force in flying the flag for this leading trade show, which takes place again this month.  

“BETA International is the essential event for the equestrian trade,” said Neue Schule chief executive officer Sarfraz Mian. “It has a proud and strong heritage, not only in the UK, but also around the world. Neue Schule has been bringing significant innovations to the equestrian marketplace over many years and BETA International is our showcase event.

“Our proud association as main sponsor has been invaluable in drawing attention to developments and the quality of our products. I am thrilled that, as we start a new decade, we are continuing our relationship as main sponsor and very much look forward to working with the super organising team in further enhancing the value of BETA International for both exhibitors and visitors.”

Show organiser Claire Thomas added: “We are absolutely delighted that Neue Schule has taken this decision. The company is our longest-serving main sponsor and its forward-thinking, dynamic approach has been of tremendous benefit to BETA International. Sarfraz and the rest of the Neue Schule team are joining us at an extremely exciting time in the show’s development and we are thrilled to have them on board.”

BETA International is the leading trade show for equestrian, pet, country and giftware products. The 2020 show runs at the NEC, Birmingham, UK, from 19 to 21 January. Its other supporters this year are Demonstration Arena surface supplier Aspfase, The Spotlight sponsor Charles Owen, official media partner and Innovation Awards sponsor Equestrian Trade News, exhibitor bags sponsor Henson Franklyn, Demonstration Arena sponsor Liveryman, Champagne Bar sponsor NAF, New Product Gallery sponsor Shires Equestrian, model horse supplier Stubbs England, official clothing supplier Toggi and Coffee Shop sponsor VetSpec.

Entry is strictly trade-only and free on registration at beta-int.com. For further information, please contact Fiona Berry, email info@beta-int.com or telephone +44 (0)1937 582111

Will Clulee of Poolgreen Gundogs is renowned in gundog circles with a superb track record over many years.

This season Will has amassed another incredible tally of making up three Field Trial Champions and qualifying six for the Championships - 5 Cocker Spaniels and 1 English Springer Spaniel. 

His wife Sue told CSJ, “The wins this year include:

Tink - Championship Winner 2020  F.T.CH Trochry Eau Rouge of Poolgreen - made up to Champion this season. 

Placed 1st - West Midland Field trial society open cocker 22/11/19 open      cocker

Sam - F.T.CH Poolgreen Griffin - Gained diploma of merit at the 90th cocker spaniel championships 2020.  Made up to a Champion in 4 trials. 

        Placed 1st Scottish Spaniel Club 1/10/19 novice 

        Placed 1st - Glamorganshire Field Trial society 26/11/19 open cocker 

        Placed 1st - Essex field trial society 4/12/19 open cocker. 

Richy - F.T.CH Mallowdale Rocky of Poolgreen - qualified for the championships 

and made up to Champion 

            Placed 1st & guns choice -Kent Working Spaniel club 20/11/19 open cocker 

            Placed 1st & guns choice - Coventry & district 10/10/19 open cocker 

Jess - F.T.O.W Poolgreen Grace - qualified for the championships 

            Placed 1st Welsh & English Counties Spaniel Club open cocker 14/12/19 

Pepper - F.T.O.W Poolgreen Hubba. - qualified for the championships. 

            Placed 1st Pembrookshire Working gundog society open cocker 5/12/19 

Stevie - F.T.O.W Skronedale Stephen of Poolgreen  (black & white springer) - Qualified for the springer championships 2020. 

            Placed 1st novice - Glamorganshire Field Trial Society 5/11/19 

            Placed 1st open - Welsh & English Counties Spaniel Club 30/11/19 

CSJ has been delighted to support Will as a long-time user of their CSJ range and look forward to his continuing success.

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470

All 266 employees at Inspired Pet Nutrition have several good reasons to celebrate the New Year as the Yorkshire-based business has achieved three key milestones.

The firm, which has manufacturing facilities in Thirsk and North Wales, achieved record sales for the month of November at £11 million, including the highest ever weekly sales of £2.4 million.  Further, on a 12-month rolling basis, sales have now broken through the £100 million barrier.

Richard Page, Managing Director of IPN, said: “I want to thank the whole IPN team who have worked so hard to achieve these tremendous results, giving us all an excellent reason to celebrate. 

"The continued growth of the business is being driven by strong sales of our branded and own label ranges in the supermarkets as well as through outlets such as Pets at Home, underpinned by significant improvements in factory and production efficiencies.”

Pictured: Richard Page (foreground) and a group of IPN employees celebrate the firm’s recent sales success.

GA Pet Food Partners has announced the appointment of four new directors who will lead the company in future and help deliver success for its partners.

Chairman Roger Bracewell said: "GA is built on the three core values of Quality, Integrity and Innovation, and seeks to lead with these values every day. I am extremely pleased to announce that we have four new Directors who will lead GA in the future and help deliver success for our valued partners.

"GA's expertise in Pet food manufacturing is known throughout the world and our Freshtrusion process means we can provide partners with outstanding products using fresh meats collected at source. GA need visionary people to guide the company in the coming years which is crucial in seeking to make and deliver the world`s finest pet food.

"I am delighted that my two sons will join the board. James Bracewell, will lead the company in its European expansion, with William Bracewell, being responsible for manufacturing of all our products. 

"Lois Woods joins as Sales Director in order to assist in building service, and John Hewitt will lead our Technical service team compromising of Marketing & Design, Nutrition, R&D, Projects.

"At GA we understand the importance of not just providing fantastic product but also outstanding service and I am confident that we now have the leadership team able to build value for our partners."

Disruptors in all their guises can be like gold for the pet industry, says recruitment specialist Lynda Ward, the founder of Pet Trade Solutions.

She explains: “Having recruited, trained, been part of and also led sales forces I believe that all businesses can benefit from unusual ideas from the people at the coalface … yet too many are seen as disruptive and so disregarded. 

"Why this is so may be that senior management simply think they know better or that they feel protective of their own domain and resent input from others.

"It’s a great pity as the salesperson is closest to the customer and able to give valuable feedback on their needs and opinions as well as having the ability to conceive ideas about how the company can develop new strategies or products.

"That some of the proposed plans may be disruptive from the current track should not be seen as a negative nuisance but should give rise to debate and evaluation with who knows what eventual outcome.

"Likewise retailers and wholesalers need to look carefully at new offerings and novel goods.  Whilst it’s true that some will be a flash in the pan please look at the disruptor companies the disruptor lines and listen to the disruptor personalities…there will always be a gold nugget hidden somewhere.”

Lynda is always happy to personally advise on any aspects of recruitment and marketing strategy and can be contacted on 07946 743784 or at lyndaward@pettradesolutions.com

Bestpets has expanded the choice of pet accessories, RAW and premium foods available to its customers after reaching agreement with six new suppliers.

Peter Brame, Director of Trading – Pet, said: "We’re excited to be working with our new suppliers and we look forward to forging an excellent working relationships, that in the end ultimately means more choice and opportunity for sales growth for our retailers.’

They are pleased to welcome Rogz, Rosewood & Verity and Voss on board for accessories.

“This comes as great news to us,” stated John Henshilwood, General Manager of ROGZ Europe. “We have been present in the UK market for many years, and have slowly seen our brand grow in recognition and distribution. We have historically chosen our partners carefully to ensure we team up with like-minded businesses who share our philosophy of quality and superior service. We are confident that Bestpets embody this outlook, and we look forward to increased exposure, coverage and success in partnership with them. Our U.K. key account manager Sallie-Ann Reed is working closely with the sales team to bring Rogz quality and innovation to pet retailers across the country. We wish them every success and look forward to taking ROGZ to new heights in the UK in the coming months”.  

To help retailers maximise sales from consumers who are looking for alternatives to traditional pet foods, Bestpets has expanded their frozen food offering by introducing ranges from Benyfit and Nutriment. Bestpets has also started working with the super premium brand, Billy + Margot.

Peter goes on to say ‘premiumisation is key to growth within the pet industry and we’re passionate about helping our customers to grow their business. The trend for the humanisation of pets shows no signs of slowing down. As consumers become more aware of nutritional values and provenance of food for themselves, they are thinking about their pets food too. This is where RAW feeding and premium foods come into play.’

Benyfit, Nutriment, Billy + Margot, Rogz, Rosewood and Verity & Voss products are all now available to buy from Bestpets.