Pedigree Wholesale was named Wholesaler of the Year at this year’s Pet Industry Federation Awards, following closely on similar success at the PetQuip Awards in September. So what makes this Nottingham-based company so successful? Pet Trade Xtra finds out....

What makes Pedigree Wholesale stand out from the rest?
At Pedigree Wholesale we have a mission and set of values that we ask of ourselves and each other to ensure that we deliver our promise to customers. Our dedicated team are passionate about providing the very best service across all areas of the business. Focusing on supporting the specialist independent pet and aquatic sector Pedigree Wholesale also have an exceptional portfolio of market leading products ensuring customers can make the best choices for their individual business. Pedigree Wholesale also offer a frozen delivery service to satisfy the growing demand for frozen lines.

Do you supply any size of pet retailer, no matter how small?
Pedigree Wholesale supply any size of pet retailer.

How do you manage to deliver an order to a pet store so quickly?
Customers who have an account with Pedigree Wholesale can place their main order by 12.30pm, with additions up until 4pm, if their delivery day is the following day. Orders are delivered via Pedigree Wholesale’s own fleet of trucks, of which over 50% have been updated in the last 2 years, to models which offer greater fuel efficiency, cheaper running costs and are more environmentally friendly.

How is an order processed?
A customer can place their order in a number of different ways; phone, fax, email, CSV or FTP. An increasing number of customers are placing their orders via Pedigree Wholesale’s online ordering system. Once received orders are then processed on the same day by our Customer Services Team, before flowing through into the warehouse and ultimately distribution.

Is there a minimum order size?
Minimum order value to qualify for free delivery is £250.

How many exclusive brand labels to you now have?
Being able to support independent retailers with exclusive product ranges is a key element of Pedigree Wholesale’s business. Pedigree Wholesale have an excellent selection of exclusive products including Alpha Spirit, SmartBones, Orbiloc, Chuckit!, All for Paws, Walter Harrison’s, Hurtta, Canidae, LitterLocker, PitPat and Hikari.

How important are industry awards like PIF and PetQuip?
The awards are a fantastic endorsement and help differentiate us from our competitors. Alongside the publicity the awards generate for the business they also demonstrate to current and prospective customers, suppliers and employees our commitment to the industry and our credibility as a business.

What next for Pedigree Wholesale, for instance, how do you keep winning more awards?
Going forward Pedigree Wholesale will continue to focus on improving both the service it offers to its customers and the efficiency of its operations to deliver the best possible service at the best possible price. To this end we will continue our ongoing investment and improvement in operating systems, supply chain management, transportation and human resources.
The next stage of this improvement is a major investment in the IT infrastructure of the business which will see new operational systems, offering new ways of working, and a full upgrade of the entire IT infrastructure to harness the potential of the latest technology.  This is a very significant project that will run into 2017 and will give Pedigree Wholesale a much improved operational and IT platform to provide firm foundations for the business for many years to come.

What’s the secret of you success?
Pedigree Wholesale feel that their continued success can be attributed to putting customer service and satisfaction at the core of their business. Continuing to invest in people, systems and infrastructure helps ensure that this momentum can be built on ensuring a bright future for both the company, its customers and suppliers.

For more information about Pedigree Wholesale visit www.petproducts.co.uk

Pictured: Pedigree Wholesale MD Steve Brown (left) receives the PIF Wholesaler of the Year Award from Chris Barrie.