The inaugural PetQuip Industry Awards are set to be a strongly contested affair after the finalists for the September showpiece were announced this week (see below). 

The awards will be presented at a Gala Awards dinner during PATS Harrogate.

The awards ceremony, which will take place in the Carriage Suite, The Majestic Hotel, Harrogate on Sunday, September 15,  at 7.30pm promises to be a fun-filled evening of networking for the pet trade. 

The awards, sponsored by Westland, Petface, Group55 and PATS with the media partner being Pet Business World, are aimed at bringing together suppliers and retailers in the UK and internationally.

Commenting on the awards Pat Flynn, trade association manager for PetQuip, said: "We have attracted an impressive number of entries for this our first event and we are looking forward to celebrating with all the winning retailers and product manufacturers.  

"Whilst there is a business element to the evening when the awards are presented, the ceremony will be short and professional so that everyone can enjoy the networking and dancing to a live band."

Gordon Thomas, of Impact Exhibitions, the organisers of PATS, said: "It's great that PetQuip has decided to stage these new awards alongside our Harrogate exhibition. PATS Harrogate promises to be a brilliant show for the industry, a fact that can only help to enhance these awards.

"The fact that the awards  have attracted an impressive line-up of finalists in their first year shows that the pet industry welcomes these new awards."

Tickets to the evening include a pre-dinner drinks reception, a three course meal with wine, the awards ceremony and live entertainment, and cost £56 plus VAT (£46 plus VAT for PetQuip members).

Book now by calling Pat on 07778 313623 or emailing her on pat@petquip.com

List of Finalists
UK Pet Retailer of the Year

• The Natural Pet Pantry, Gosport, Hants
• Just for Pets, Nationally
• Diddy Dapper Dogs, Morecambe, Lancs
• Tails ’n’ Whiskers, Oakham, Rutland
• Scampers, Soham, Cambs
• Not Just Pets, Bath, Wilts
• Dobbies, Atherstone, Warks

International Pet Retailer of the Year

• Musti ja Mirri Oy – Finland
• Ranzijn Tuin & Dier – Holland
• Animax – Romania
• Aveve – Belgium

 Groomer of the Year

• Joanne Angus
• Colin Taylor
• Zoe Duffy
• Alison Rogers

Supplier of the Year

• Lily’s Kitchen
• Burgess Petcare
• Hagen
• Symply Petfoods
• Natures Menu
• Beaphar UK
• Gor Pets
• Wagg

Wholesaler of the Year

• Collarways
• Peregrine Livefoods
• Pet Revolution
• Vital Pet Products
• Pedigree Wholesale
• Bestpets

Pet Product Innovation of the Year

• EezyEat4Pets with the Eezy Eat Collar 
• Baggee & Doggee with the Baggee Lush range
• Animal Care College with their Pet Shop Assistant Course
• Group 55/Animology with Fox Poo Shampoo
• Pure Pet Food for their pet food range
• Pooch & Mutt for their Treats
• Pet Revolution with the Wildwash
• Westland for the Natures Feast range

Pet Product Exporter of the Year

• Dog Rocks
• Group 55 Ltd
• Litter Kwitter
• Get Off
• James & Steel
• Barking Heads/Meowing Heads
• The Canny Company