Two new initiatives have been added to the line-up for the prestigious New Product Awards at PATS Telford 2019.

Selected from the existing entries into the New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, will be a Best In Show Award and a Green New Product Award.

The addition of these awards comes at a time of record-breaking entries and reflects the growing importance of product innovation and sustainability within the pet industry. Both will be judged and presented at the PetQuip Awards dinner by Sean Kelly, Head of Pets at Dobbies Garden Centres.

The Best In Show Award will be selected from among eight category winners, while the Green New Product Award will go to the most sustainable product from across the board.

There are 259 entries from 103 exhibitors into the New Product Awards at Telford this year. This is the largest exhibitor entry to date and the biggest-ever number of individual entries. All entries are judged by an independent panel of pet retailers after viewing the products on the first morning of the show.

All awards will be announced and presented at the PetQuip Awards Dinner at the Telford International Centre on the evening of Sunday, September 22.

Sean Kelly said: “I am very much looking forward to judging the Best In Show from the shortlisted eight winners, and feel honoured to be asked to select and present the winner of the Green New Product Award.

“The Green New Product Award is a fantastic idea and I am eager to see how many of the entrants will fit into the sustainability category. The pet industry has a long way to go to catch up with those leading the sustainability drive, but we do have a fantastic mix of products and categories to work across to identify those exciting and innovative solutions.”  

The New Product Showcase - just one section of the UK pet industry’s leading event, PATS - is a great opportunity for visiting retailers to see the new products they may wish to stock for the coming season.

It is designed to help visitors locate the latest and most exciting products coming into the pet industry, as they are gathered together in one extensive display and grouped into the following categories:

• Cat Product (29 entries)
• Dog Food Product (44 entries)
• Dog Treat Product (48 entries)
• Dog Accessories and Toys (41 entries)
• Dog Harnesses, Leads and Dog Wear (28 entries)
• Small Animal and Bird Products (23 entries)
• Pet Care Products (26 entries)
• Grooming Products (20 entries)

Winning entries will receive a plaque to display on their stands on the final day of the show, as well as support with publicity around the award, which for past winners has proved a launchpad to increased sales.