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Merry Christmas to all Pet Trade Xtra readers
This is the final issue of Pet Trade Xtra for 2019. We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thanks for your continued interest in our weekly newsletter and just tio let you know we'll be back on Thursday, January 9th...
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Raw dog food manufacturer Poppy’s Picnic has created the most exclusive Christmas dinner for dogs. The £450 fresh food hamper contains luxurious ingredients such as caviar, wagyu beef and truffle, and comes hand delivered to your door.
The menu includes a three course dog-friendly feast and seasonal tail-wagging tipple that is perfect to give our four-legged friends their very own Christmas day feast.
The ‘Santa Paws Christmas Menu’ comes lovingly packed in a wicker picnic hamper containing a gingham tablecloth, silver cocktail shaker and handcrafted ceramic dog bowls.
And while owners are spoiling their own dog with the luxury hamper, they can be safe in the knowledge that they are helping others in need as Poppy’s Picnic will be donating all proceeds to dog charities.
Santa Paws Christmas Menu
Starter
- A Christmas Walk on the Beach
- Cornish crab layered with black tiger prawns topped with Beluga caviar
- Served with a quail’s egg and hop shoots
Main
- Winter Wonderland Meatballs with Rudolph Bone Broth
- Wagyu meatballs with porcini mushrooms
- Served with a venison bone broth
- Topped with fresh cranberries and truffle
Pudding
- A Christmas Tail Tart with Golden ‘Fox Poo’ Mousse
- Bone shaped crustless tart
- With partridge, poached pear and saffron
- And a gold leaf liver parfait ‘poo’
To refresh the paw-late
Best in Snow Cocktail
- Mineral water infused with elderflower, ginseng and a dash of honey
Poppy’s Picnic founder and fresh dog food fanatic, Dylan Watkins, says: “There’s so much anticipation ahead of a Christmas dinner and dogs can sense that excitement. We think they deserve to be included during the season of sharing. Their eating experience shouldn’t be an afterthought as their senses need stimulating just as much as ours.”
Fresh dog food fanatic, Dylan, is no stranger to championing the finest and freshest ingredients, having demonstrated dog-friendly dishes to James Martin, cooked live on This Morning with Eamonn and Ruth, and served recipes to unsuspecting guests on Come Dine With Me.
To refine the Santa Paws menu, Poppy’s Picnic sought nutritional input from canine nutritionist, Anna Webb and set up a panel of taste testers both human and canine. The panel’s job was to carefully balance textures, flavours, and aromas to create a fine dining experience for our four-legged friends. Anna ensured the menu contained plenty of canine superfoods such as cranberries and bone broth to aid a dog’s immune system, and provide a nutritious source of minerals and vitamins, to support a dog’s joints and digestion.
Anna Webb says of the menu: “This is a fantastic Christmas feast to feed as a special treat. The provenance and preparation of fresh food needs to be done with care and Poppy’s Picnic does this to a high standard across its entire handmade range. I particularly like the inclusion of raw wagyu and partridge. Diets high in meat content are ideal for a dog’s digestive tract and as carnivores, is what they thrive off biologically.”
Dylan adds: “Partridge and pear might not seem an obvious choice but actually it’s much like eating pork with apple sauce. If you were ever tempted to try your dog’s dinner, this would be it!’
While the exclusive Santa Paws Christmas Menu comes at an equally lavish price, every day of the year Poppy’s Picnic feeds thousands of the nation’s dogs with its affordable balanced Mince and Meatballs. The manufacturer knows that just as many individuals are reviewing their own diet and its effects on their health, they are now questioning what’s best for their dog’s health too and joining the ‘rawvolution’ against highly processed pet food.
Pictured: Dylan with his dogs Poppy and Slipper (taken by Chris Allerton, who took Harry and Meghan’s wedding photos).
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PATS is the show on everyone's 2020 'must-do' list
Get your 2020 off to a great start by attending PATS Sandown, the Spring pet industry exhibition. All the latest products to be launched by UK and international suppliers will be on view, giving you a great opportunity to see the best new stock of the new decade.
Taking place on February 9-10 2020 PATS Sandown is the ideal chance to get down to business with customers.
Get your 2020 off to a great start by attending PATS Sandown, the Spring pet industry exhibition. All the latest products to be launched by UK and international suppliers will be on view, giving you a great opportunity to see the best new stock of the new decade.
Taking place on February 9th-10th, PATS Sandown is the ideal chance to get down to business with customers old and new, as well as sourcing some innovative and sustainable new stock from the hundreds of planned launches.
There is always something new to see at PATS, but the one thing that never changes is the warm welcome extended to visitors on both days of the show.
PATS remains a firm favourite with both visitors and exhibitors alike and here are just some of the visitor comments from previous shows:
“This show has everything – a great selection of exciting new products and a wide variety of exhibitors. As retailers we are spoiled for choice.”
“Coming here has been great because ordering over the internet or the phone is just not the same.”
“We like to look to see what’s new to offer our customers and we particularly like the show offers.”
“We’ve been coming to PATS now for many years and always find something of interest.”
Exhibition essentials
Here are 10 reasons why pet retailers and garden centres should visit PATS Sandown in February:-
- More than 150 companies and brands. PATS Sandown is the UK’s only dedicated pet industry exhibition showcasing products and services from all the leading pet food and accessory firms.
- International exhibitors. Companies from America, Germany, The Netherlands, Hungary and Lithuania will be joining their counterparts from the UK and Ireland to make PATS Sandown a truly international show.
- Hundreds of new products. Last year Sandown had an unrivalled number of new products exhibited in the New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, and the signs point towards another huge number of entries in February.
- Stock up in time for Crufts. The show dates of Sunday and Monday, February 9th-10th offer retailers the chance to stock new products in time for major consumer events like Crufts.
- Bestsellers of tomorrow. All the products entered into the Showcase will be judged by a panel of independent pet retailers on the first day of the show, and the winners of each category will be announced at lunchtime. Past New Product Award winners have gone on to become bestselling products.
- Great show deals. PATS Sandown is the ideal place to take advantage of money-saving offers on orders placed at the show.
- Strong line-up of speakers. Experts will deliver two days of unrivalled seminars, designed to give pet retailers ahead-of-the-game ideas on new lines, new approaches and new profit potential.
- Top grooming demonstrations. The PATS Grooming Workshops, in association with the Welsh Grooming Academy, will feature state-of-the-art demonstrations from leading names in the industry.
- Everything under one roof. PATS is the only pet industry exhibition in the UK to provide visitors with the opportunity to see all the latest launches in one massive arena. And it’s free to attend – just register at www.patshow.co.uk.
- Extensive catering facilities. Receive a free cup of tea or coffee, and plan your visit using the free show catalogue in one of the PATS Lounges.
For the latest information on the show visit www.patshow.co.uk
Opening times
Sunday 9th February 2020: 9.30am-5.00pm
Monday 10th February 2020: 9.30am-4.00pm
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Every year The Grocer releases a bumper 'Top Products Survey' issue reviewing the big developments across all categories in 2019. The issue tends to be dominated by big corporate brands, however this year, Pooch & Mutt, as part of their ongoing mission to ‘Lead the Pack’ in the pet food industry, has taken top spot as the Pet Food Launch of the Year for its new cat brand, Purr & Miaow.
Pooch & Mutt is proud to be representing the pet food industry and smaller brands against monolithic corporations like Unilever, Modelez, Mars and Nestle. Pooch & Mutt is in good company with other challenger brands in the report including the ethical condiments company Rubies in the Rubble and sustainable baby wipes from The Cheeky Panda, although the majority of products still come from the big corporates.
Pooch & Mutt’s Purr & Miaow has broken new ground in the pet food world, firstly by offering a pouched food with gravy that doesn’t contain any sugar. As founder, Guy Blaskey explains: “Most Big Pet Food companies add sugar to cat food, mainly in the form of caramel to make the gravy look browner. The cat can’t see the difference and can’t taste the difference, but they can suffer the same problems as us from excess sugar including tooth decay and obesity.
"We couldn’t in good conscience launch a product with sugar, just to make it more appealing to people, we believe the pet’s health is the highest priority.”
Purr & Miaow’s second big development was the launch of the Purr-Cycle pouch recycling scheme.
Guy continues, “With the launch of our dog food TetraPaks last year we led the way in helping customers make the right choice for the pets and the planet.
"When launching cat food we knew that customers wanted wet food in pouches, and that although pouches are reasonably environmentally friendly in some aspects, such as transport, disposal was an issue.
"Pouches have a reputation of being unrecyclable, this is not strictly true. They are just hard to recycle and not recycled at home. We worked with a recycling partner to develop the not-for-profit Purr-Cycle scheme where customers can purchase pre-paid postage bags, fill them with their empty pouches and drop them in the post box. We take care of the rest.
"Even the postage bag is recycled. The scheme is available for all pouches from all brands, not just Purr & Miaow ones. We are actually recycling more Felix pouches than Purr & Miaow ones, and losing money doing it, but that doesn’t bother me.
"We have to do the right thing for the planet, and unlike the Big Pet Food companies, we don’t believe that there should be exclusivity on doing the right thing. We actively removed exclusivity from our contract.”
Purr & Miaow has only been on the market a few months and not close to the scale of bigger sister brand Pooch & Mutt. However huge growth in expected going into 2020 as more and more cat owners look to chose food that both tastes good and does good.
To find out more about Purr & Miaow and the Purr-Cycle scheme visit https://purrandmiaow.com/
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Revealed…Christmas ‘crimes’ committed by pets
Around 12.5 million pets will be in the dog house for committing a 'crime' this Christmas - with Jack Russells and Siamese cats expected to be the most likely 'offenders', according to new research...
Pictured above (Left to right): Boxer, Jack Russell, Cockapoo, Yorkshire Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, German Shepherd (back), Chihuahua (front), Springer Spaniel, French Bulldog, Labrador, Mixed Breed, Dalmatian.
Around 12.5 million pets will be in the dog house for committing a 'crime' this Christmas - with Jack Russells and Siamese cats expected to be the most likely 'offenders'.
Devouring the Christmas fairy, relieving themselves on the Christmas tree and flashing their ‘lipstick’ in front of unwitting relatives, feature on a list of festive ‘faux-paws’ that British cats and dogs commit over the festive season, according to new research from pet wellbeing specialist ITCHpet.com.
The study of 2,000 adults who own a cat or dog revealed that 53 per cent of pet owners admit their four-legged friends have wreaked havoc over the festive period, with one in 10 (12 per cent) saying they’ve embarrassed them in front of their family and friends.
“Your cat or dog might be your best friend, but that doesn’t mean they can’t cause chaos from time to time,” said Charlotte Harper, Co-founder of pet wellbeing specialist ITCHpet.com.
“Whether it’s subjecting Auntie Margaret’s leg to a mortifyingly amorous display of affection, gifting fleas to your mother-in-law’s dog, or dragging their butt across the floor while everyone’s eating, their pet-iquette in front of family members can leave a lot to be desired.”
A quarter (24 per cent) of the nation’s felines and hounds have knocked over the tree and one in 7 (14 per cent) have broken wind during Christmas dinner.
A shameful 7 percent have attempted to play St Nick, leaving a less than festive ‘present’ under the Christmas tree for family members to find.
And 5 per cent have even gone as far as kidnapping baby Jesus from the nativity scene.
The research also uncovered that one in ten (11 per cent ) cat and dog owners worry about their pets behaving badly at Christmas.
Despite this, over a quarter (29 per cent) admit that they don’t actually mind that their four-legged friend is a little bit naughty, as their relatives can be equally testing.
Charlotte Harper added: “Gifting relatives and their pet’s fleas is also an issue at Christmas and one that could easily be resolved. Itch’s personalised monthly subscription service means you’ll avoid unwanted guests this Christmas and help to avoid fleas forever.”
Other festive horror stories that emerged from the study include:
- A naughty feline who brought in a dead rat and placed it on the top of the turkey
- One rascal canine who completely destroyed a Grandmother’s boots, meaning she had to be carried out to the car on Christmas Day
- A puss that used Auntie’s suitcase as a litter tray, spoiling all of her new Christmas clothes
- A respondent’s brother who was armed with presents, was greeted by an excited dog. Welcoming him to the house with an enthusiastic leg hump, the family member dropped the gifts, smashing the glassware inside
- A mischievous dog that left his owner unable to eat turkey for 14 years after he ate the whole turkey. His wind was so unbearable, they haven’t been able to eat it since
Leading vet, Zoe Costigan, provides her guide to a peaceful, pet happy Christmas
Christmas is the perfect chance to spend more time with pets but it can be unsettling for them.
Keep confectionary out of reach
Chocolate poisoning in dogs often peaks over the festive period, with even modest quantities able to cause vomiting, agitation, seizures and sadly death. Our canines often go to great lengths to find chocolate, but it’s highly toxic to them. If you find your dog does eat any, try to identify how much and the type of chocolate they have consumed and contact your veterinary surgeon.
Avoid the nightmare before Christmas and deflea
Fleas are a nightmare for our pets. Worse still if you leave them at a relative’s house. It is so much easier to prevent an infestation than treat one. I love the Itch Flea monthly subscription pack. It makes it really easy to protect your pet so you never forget a treatment and the first month is even gifted free!
Create a calm and quiet space
Rowdy children, unfamiliar people, crackers banging and new smells – that’s a lot to deal with for cats and dogs. Cats aren’t especially fans of big groups, it can be overwhelming. It’s important to carve out a space that our pets can feel calm and safe, providing a hiding place somewhere quiet, with a recognisable blanket, so they can escape the chaos and moving litter trays from busy areas.
Routine is key
It’s one of the first things that tends to go out of the window at Christmas, but having a predictable daily routine that helps your dog anticipate when they will get to eat, go outside, and spend time playing with you, can help them feel more confident and less nervous when outside factors cause stress.
Avoid poinsettias and tinsel
Cats and dogs can be captivated by tinsel, but if ingested, can cause serious problems leading to expensive vet bills. Poinsettias are also a pretty addition to the home over the festive season, but ingesting can lead to a pretty sick pet.
Dispose of cooked turkey bones separately
Christmas dinner leftovers are extremely tempting for your pet and the kitchen bin is a Pandora’s box of exploration. Cooked animal carcass’ are really dangerous for your pet, so try and dispose of them separately and keep a close eye out for mischievous four-legged bin raiders.
Consider calming solutions
Naughty and mischievous behaviours such as chewing, raiding food and going to loo in the wrong place can be signs your pets are anxious. Calming supplements can help, such as Itch Calm is made with a unique blend of ingredients designed to promote feel good hormones and reduce stress. Itch Calm is available as an add-on to the Itch Flea subscription.
Top 20 Christmas ‘Crimes’ committed by cats and dogs
- Damaged decorations
- Climbed the Christmas tree
- Knocked over the Christmas tree
- Stole meat from the chopping board or from someone’s plate
- Damaged presents
- Broke wind during Christmas dinner
- Sat with his ‘lipstick’ out in front of friends/family
- Inappropriately humped or sniffed a family member
- Ate a relative’s slippers
- Brought in a dead animal during Christmas dinner
- Relieved themselves on the Christmas tree
- Left a festive ‘present’ under the Christmas tree
- Relieved themselves on a snowman
- Tripped up Granny or Grandad
- Devoured the snacks left out for Santa
- Chewed Christmas gift cards with money in them
- Nabbed a character from the nativity scene
- Ate the Fairy from the Christmas tree
- Stole underwear from relatives
- Brought unwanted guests, giving a relative or relatives’ pet fleas
The Top 12 Festive Felons: The ‘Dirty Dozen’ dog breeds most likely to misbehave at Christmas:
- Jack Russell
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Chihuahua
- Labrador
- Springer Spaniel
- Boxer
- Mixed breed
- German Shepherd
- Cocker Spaniel
- French Bulldog
- Cockapoo
- Dalmatian
The Usual Puss’pects - The Top 12 cat breeds most likely to misbehave at Christmas:
- Siamese
- British Shorthair
- Bengal
- Persian
- Sphynx
- Burmese
- Ragdoll
- Munchkin cat
- Maine Coon
- Oriental
- Norwegian Forest Cat
- Russian Blue
Pictured above (Left to right): Siamese, Bengal (back), Oriental (front), Russian Blue, Norwegian Forest (back), Sphinx (front), Persian, Maine Coon, Munchkin, Ragdoll, Burmese, British Shorthair.
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Different Dog has introduced a tasty new recipe to its range of meals using the finest of British ingredients to give your pooch the perfect start to the New Year.
Pawfect Picnic is a vibrant chicken recipe cooked with 60% chicken mince, delicious sweet potato, red pepper, broccoli. apple, mushroom, salmon oil, olive oil, herbs and superfoods to not only keep your dog’s tail wagging, but to also provide it with all the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants it needs for a fit and active life.
All Different Dog recipes are hand-cooked using the finest British quality ingredients. The food is then frozen and delivered lovingly to your door. Recipes can be served directly from the fridge or gently warmed if you prefer and can be kept in the fridge for up to five days after defrosting.
Each recipe has been developed by our expert nutritionist in conjunction with a vet to make sure that the food is completely balanced containing 60% British meat, freshest veg, fruit and herbs, and no nasties. The recipes can be fed as complete food or as a topper.
By supporting British farmers and growers and using packaging that is recyclable and compostable, we can make sure that here at Different Dog, we only produce real food recipes that are fully traceable, kind to the planet, environmentally friendly and sustainable.
Different Dog deliver perfect portions to meet your dog's specific nutritional needs, helping keep them healthy and happy and at their ideal weight over the festive period and beyond. Recipes are also available to buy in 250g and 600g pack sizes and small and large dog hampers. Freezer packages are available for retailers.
For further information visit: www.differentdog.com
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Riley revisits rescue centre with Fish4Dogs CEO
Bringing ‘Fishmas’ cheer, Riley the two-year-old cocker spaniel returned to his former rescue centre with ‘Christmas Dinner’ for all those still waiting for their ‘furever’ homes. He was joined by his human companion Graham Smith, CEO of premium pet food company Fish4Dogs, in Worcestershire, who along with wife Jo, adopted Riley earlier this year.
Bringing ‘Fishmas’ cheer, Riley the two-year-old cocker spaniel returned to his former rescue centre with ‘Christmas Dinner’ for all those still waiting for their ‘furever’ homes.
He was joined by his human companion Graham Smith, CEO of premium pet food company Fish4Dogs, in Worcestershire, who along with wife Jo, adopted Riley earlier this year.
Riley, had been handed over to Birmingham Dogs Home because his original owners could not afford to pay for the ongoing costs of his medical problems.
Fortunately, when Giles Webber, CEO of Birmingham Dogs Home (BDH), took Riley to visit Fish4Dogs during its Bring Your Dog to Work Day celebrations this summer, the chocolate and white dog immediately stole Graham and Jo’s hearts.
Riley is now in fine fettle. During the adoption process he was transitioned to Fish4Dogs Superior Weight Control food which has assisted the balance of his pH levels and alleviated his urinary tract and digestion problems.
During his visit to BDH headquarters in Catherine-de-Barnes, near Solihull, Riley said hello to many of the resident dogs. The centre has on average 145 waiting to be rehomed at any one time.
Riley delivered ‘Christmas Meal’ boxes to the residents – the boxes provide a three-course meal of delicious fishy goodies from the Fish4Dogs range:
- Starter: steam cooked Salmon and Seaweed mousse
- Main: grain free Finest White Fish topped with luxurious Trout Mousse, served with a side of Fish Sausages
- Dessert: crunchy Sea Jerky treats
Fish4Dogs is an active partner to BDH supporting their operations through food donations and joining forces to raise awareness and raise funds.
Said Graham: “At this special time of year, it seemed appropriate to bring Riley to visit one of our chosen charities and provide a few extra treats for those dogs who may not have yet found their forever homes, but are in a safe place run by people who are devoted to their welfare.
“We feel privileged to have found Riley through BDH and hope that others looking to take on a new dog will find their ideal match here too.”
Added Giles: “It was delightful to see Riley again. He is clearly enjoying his new home, the companionship of Graham and Jo, their family and their other dog and cats. He is in great condition which shows the nutritional benefits of feeding a fish-based diet.
“We are grateful for the ongoing support that Fish4Dogs gives to us. Their food really helps to restore the dogs who come into us, some of whom are in a very poor state, and radically improve their health and wellbeing as they wait for the next chapter of their lives to unfold.”
For further information on Fish4Dogs products visit: www.fish4dogs.com
For information on BDH see: https://www.birminghamdogshome.org.uk/
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Multi-award winning Broadreach Nature has, following the success of its newly launched retail site, gone one step further to offer all trade partners access to an online trade site.
Fully stocked with all original range and new range pet supplements, food and grooming hygiene products, as well as advice and product highlights, our trade partners will always have access to the latest ranges and information from our Ethically Awarded company.
Broadreach Nature is focussed on delivering high quality products aimed at every aspect of a pet’s life. With supplements and food products split out into relevant Dog / Cat / Rabbits and Guinea Pig categories with subcategories listing products aimed at:
- Calming Support
- Digestion Support
- Joint Support
- Senior Support
- Liver and Urinary Support
- Skin and Coat Care
- Health Food
- And Treats and Chews,
Trade partners can easily navigate the site whilst at the same time adding relevant products and quantities, all at trade prices, to their basket immediately – no need to order outside of the trade site itself on cumbersome order forms like so many of other trade sites.
With free shipping in the UK for all orders over £150 this trade site allows for easy access and restocking of these award winning products such as their New Range of Calming, Digestion and Joint Care Supplements and Grooming Aids.
As members of PetQuip, the International Trade Association for Manufacturers and Suppliers of Pet-Care Goods and Services, as well as the Pet Industry Federation, who particularly support, Groomers, Kennels, Catteries and education within the Pet Sector, Broadreach Nature is looking to invite Distributors, Wholesalers and Retailers both in the UK and Internationally to sell the Broadreach Nature range.
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To register on the trade site follow the registration instructions here or email us with any further queries at sales@broadreachnature.com
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New insurance package launched for PIF members
The Pet Industry Federation has launched a new insurance solution for its members to help ensure that they have the right cover in place to protect their businesses, at the right price...
The Pet Industry Federation has launched a new insurance solution for its members to help ensure that they have the right cover in place to protect their businesses, at the right price.
Developed exclusively for PIF members and designed in conjunction with leading insurance broker, Pet Business Insurance, this new insurance covers the core risks faced by pet businesses.
Features covered as standard within the insurance include up to £5m public liability insurance, accidents and injuries to animals, loss of keys, equipment cover and legal expenses cover, as well as options to purchase personal accident and employers’ liability.
PIF members receive an additional 10% discount off PBI’s usual premiums and also include £1,000 free veterinary cover as standard.
Nigel Baker, Chief Executive of the Pet Industry Federation said: "We are delighted to offer our members this fantastic new insurance product. Pet Business Insurance are well-known and respected insurance brokers in our industry and have used their knowledge, expertise and professionalism to develop this highly competitive product exclusively for our members, which I can wholeheartedly recommend."
Members will be able to access the PIF Insurance website through the online members’ portal at https://pifmembers.petfederation.co.uk for their quote, or can telephone PIF customer service on 01234 273933.
This new insurance products comes at a time when PIF are re-evaluating many of their member benefits, with new and revised benefits due for rollout early in the new year.
With a new online members’ area and membership platform being installed earlier in 2019 and features such as membership cards ready for delivery in January and more regular trade-wide information being sent directly to members, there’s never been a better time to be a member of the UK’s largest trade association for pet businesses.
Visit www.petfederation.co.uk for more details.
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The Referral Team at IVC Evidensia hosted a special ‘Improving Clinical Practice’ CPD in the East of England last week.
Sixty small animal vets and nurses from all over the East of England congregated at the Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon to listen to talks given by five local IVC Evidensia practices.
Referral clinicians from Abington Park Vet Referrals in Northampton, Byre Veterinary Referrals in Peterborough, Mill House Veterinary Hospital in Kings Lynn and Taverham Veterinary Hospital in Norwich all presented. They were joined by Specialist Dental Vet Gerhard Putter who works from Mulberry Vets in Sudbury and Wood Street in Barnet, as well as Byre Vets.
A wide range of topics were covered, from dealing with damaged crowns, dermatology tips and a hip dysplasia update to radiographic positioning and best use of endoscopy in practice.
“We have a number of good quality referral practices in this area,” said Chris Trickey, part of the IVC Evidensia Referral Team.
“This is a great way for us to show local vets what they can offer - and at the same time provide some useful practical tips for clinicians and nurses in first opinion practice. I think it helps that all of these referral vets work in practices with a first opinion service running alongside, so they are very aware of the unique pressures in modern first opinion practice.”
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Vet-AI, an award-winning UK start-up that gives pet owners access to affordable and convenient veterinary care, has exclusively partnered with one of the UK’s largest pet insurers, Animal Friends Insurance.
Vet-AI’s app, Joii, enables owners to check their pets symptoms, get advice on treatment or find out if they need to visit a vet clinic. Animal Friends are launching their pilot programme and will be looking to roll this out to more customers in the near future.
Founded in 2017 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Vet-AI aims to improve the lives of animals by increasing access to vet care through Joii, and veterinary professionals who are leaving the industry due to the high pressures and stresses of clinic life. Joii launched in May this year and has over 10,000 registered users.
Animal Friends Insurance are the only insurance company founded on providing pet insurance as a means to help support animal welfare charities. Over the past 21 years, the insurer has donated over £4million to charities worldwide and have insured more than a million pets.
Paul Hallett, co-founder of Vet-AI comments: “Animal Friends is a perfect partner for Vet-AI, not only do we share common goals around animal welfare and the profession as a whole, but strategically we are both laser focused on the customer. In the coming few years we will support their customers by providing them with 24 hour expert-led care, at the click of a button. This will drive our business forward, helping us reach more pet owners and improve the care their pets receive.”
Wes Pearson, Managing Director of Animal Friends adds: “This partnership demonstrates our commitment to provide our pet parents with innovative options to ensure their pet receives the best care. Being able to access professional advice from the comfort of their own home and at a time that suits them can dramatically reduce stress for both the pet and the pet parent. We are excited to be working with Vet-AI and believe that the Joii app will bring expert knowledge and extra peace of mind to our customers.”
Vet-AI have been recognised by a number of industry awards in 2019. Shortlisted by TechCrunch as one of the Top 50 startups of 2019, featured in Startups.co.uk 100 list 2019 and in the Disruption 50 Index.
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Members of Heelwork to Music (HTM) Team GB made their country proud as they choreographed their way into second place in the Freestyle Final at the FCI World HTM Championships.
The Championships, which took place at Messe Stuttgart, Germany from 21st – 24th November, saw Heelwork to Music Team GB place second in Freestyle out of 13 international teams, whilst also placing fifth in the Heelwork to Music Team Championship.
As well as achieving success in the team events, there was also cause for celebration in the Individual Championships. Two members of the GB Freestyle team finished in the top five places out of 57 competitors from 18 countries – Lucy Creek from Warwickshire with Skiffle (Border Collie) was fourth whilst Nicci Hindson from Nottinghamshire with Elsa (Border Collie) came fifth. Helen Dennis, also from Nottinghamshire with Kara (Border Collie) finished in 22nd and Kath Hardman from Derbyshire with Denby (Border Collie) in 46th.
In the Heelwork to Music Individual Championship, Lucy Creek with Skiffle also placed third out of 52 competitors from 17 countries. Additionally, Helen Dennis with Kara finished 28th, Cathy Bates from Lancashire with Twinkle (Border Collie) in 30th place and Kath Hardman with Denby in 31st.
Team Manager Kath Hardman said: “This was the first FCI World HTM Championships that Team GB had competed in since 2010 and after months of organising, I am so proud to have been team manager this year in Stuttgart.
“Heelwork to Music Team GB was made up of a very accomplished team of handlers and their wonderfully talented dogs who represented Great Britain with distinction throughout the Championship. Congratulations to all involved!”
For further information on Heelwork to Music Team GB visit bit.ly/2RdwF7I.
For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470
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The best of last weeks Pet Trade Xtra
The top-read stories from last week's Pet Trade Xtra can be seen below, if you missed them...
Pet firm shares TV billing with PM Boris Johnson
It’s not every day your product range appears live on TV. It’s perhaps even rarer, that it follows on from an interview with the Prime Minster ahead of an election. But that’s exactly what happened to HayPigs!...
It’s not every day your product range appears live on TV. It’s perhaps even rarer, that it follows on from an interview with the Prime Minster ahead of an election. But that’s exactly what happened to HayPigs!
The company’s multi-award-winning Guinea Pig Circus range made an appearance on ITV’s This Morning programme with Phil and Holly, in a feature entitled ‘The Best Christmas Gifts for Your Pet’.
 Co-founder Rik Cridland said: “On Tuesday afternoon we received an email from an Assistant Producer at ITV’s This Morning programme. She explained that they were doing an item on what to buy for your pet this Christmas.
“We were obviously very keen to oblige and willing sent some goodies in. Now as with all TV, features can change, be moved or even cancelled at the last minute, so we didn’t allow ourselves to get too excited. But come Thursday morning when we heard the words ‘A circus tent for guinea pigs’ in the ‘what’s coming up today’ intro, we knew it was going to be an unusual day.”
“And that’s when we realised our warm-up act was none other than PM Boris Johnson,” explains co-founder Helen. “He was being interviewed ahead of the election and controversially took a selfie with Phil and Holly!
“We do have many surreal moments running a Guinea Pig Circus, but this has to be up there with the best of them. Suffice to say, we got some great coverage and the range looked fab on TV. It’s nice to know that we are doing our bit to put guinea pigs in the spotlight.”
You can watch the HayPigs! Coverage on ITV’s This Morning programme by clicking here
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IPN confirms £250,000 investment at Kinmel Park site
Inspired Pet Nutrition is investing £250,000 at its Kinmel Park site in Bodelwyddan in North Wales, home of its subsidiary The Real Petfood Company. The investment includes new production and robotic equipment, additional storage and racking and employee safety initiatives.
Inspired Pet Nutrition is investing £250,000 at its Kinmel Park site in Bodelwyddan in North Wales, home of its subsidiary The Real Petfood Company.
The investment includes new production and robotic equipment, additional storage and racking and employee safety initiatives.
As part of the investment, additional mincing equipment is being installed which will enable the business to take full advantage of growing consumer demand for paté-style wet dog food.
Previously the business sourced this ingredient from a third party and so the investment gives the firm complete quality control over the whole manufacturing process. Additional robotic equipment is also being installed to remove the manual stacking and wrapping of products. This will increase production efficiency by some 20% and the robots have the capacity to handle more than 200 trays per minute.
The firm is committed to growing sales from their current level of around £15 million pa to more than £25 million pa over the next two years. Warehouse space has been increased by more than 50% which has enabled the company to enhance its pallet storage capacity by some 40% to 4,600 pallets.
Finally, following the appointment of James Angus as safety manager for IPN, several steps have been taken to further improve on-site safety and segregate pedestrians from vehicles. Additional collision proof fencing has been installed along with marked walkways, and training sessions also organised to increase safety awareness.
James Lawson, managing director of The Real Petfood Company, said: “Our wet food tray products under the Wagg and Harringtons brands are performing extremely well with customers appreciating our FreshCook technique where ingredients are cooked just once to ensure the full nutritional value is maintained.
"Sales of Harringtons wet pet food are particularly strong and during the past 12 months have risen more than 30%.
"The continued investments enable us to increase production, achieve even greater levels of efficiency, store more product and, ultimately, supply super quality FreshCook products at lower cost.”
Pictured (left to right: Graham Wheeler (Director of Product & Process) and James Lawson (Managing Director) with new production equipment installed at IPN Kinmel Park.
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Broadreach Nature has welcomed Mike Dixon to its growing business team as UK and International Sales Director.
Whilst working for many years within the OTC Medicines and Pharmaceutical industry with major players such as SKB, Novartis Consumer Health and more recently Equazen Nutraceuticals, Mike brings to the team his invaluable experience gained and ultimately an understanding of the fundamentals required within the healthcare environment.
Mike said: “With the last decade spent building brands within the Pet Channel it has long been a desire of mine to transfer the knowledge gained across the healthcare environment into the pet industry.
"Broadreach Nature is listed as a Top Ethically Accredited Company, recognised as a leading provider of Natural Pet Supplements, which is further supported with high degree of professional endorsement.
"The multiple awards won across the industry lays testament to the professionalism undertaken to ensure this veterinary developed science-based range will continue to build upon achievements to date. These credentials were of enormous appeal and so naturally I am delighted to be joining the team."
Broadreach Nature believes that Mike’s new appointment, the launch of its trade site and the new high quality range launched at PATS, will fuel considerable growth for the both the company and category alike.
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Less than 40% of rabbits and guinea pigs being fed correctly
A recent survey of UK veterinary professionals, carried out by Supreme Petfoods, found that they believe that less than 40% of all rabbits and guinea pigs are being fed correctly, with lack of owner knowledge on how to feed judged to be the major cause.
A recent survey* of UK veterinary professionals, carried out by Supreme Petfoods, found that they believe that less than 40% of all rabbits and guinea pigs are being fed correctly, with lack of owner knowledge on how to feed judged to be the major cause.
The main consequence of this is dental disease. On average, vet clinics are seeing 16 rabbit and guinea pig consults each month and 75% of these cases involve providing nutritional advice to improve health.
Veterinary professionals identified that small pets are often being overfed concentrate that is too low in fibre, are not eating enough hay and not being given the correct amount of fresh greens. This has led to pets being presented with conditions such as dental disease and obesity.
In 44% of consults where a nutritional recommendation was made, the dietary change was recommended to help combat dental disease, while in 25% of cases, a dietary change was recommended to help manage weight. Vets and vet nurses highlighted that they had significant concerns about the level of weight gain and obesity in small pets and have estimated that 55% of rabbits and 47% of guinea pigs are overweight.
A further 13% of dietary recommendations were made to help support urinary tract health. In 19% of cases, a liquid recovery feed was used.
The fibre content of diets for rabbits and guinea pigs was reported as the most important decision-making criteria when making a nutritional recommendation and 32% of respondents said they looked for a rabbit food containing around 20-30% fibre; although 9% vets said that they were unsure about ideal levels.
A further 22% said they would look for a rabbit food with 70-100% fibre but this can’t even be achieved by feeding hay alone, which has a crude fibre level of around 35%. Although rabbits can live on hay and water alone, most experts recommend also providing some fresh leafy green vegetables and a measured amount of commercial feed to ensure vitamin and mineral intake (source Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund). Taking into account all extruded small pet foods available in the UK, Supreme’s Science Selective contains the highest fibre content, with 25% Crude Fibre – the legal measure of fibre in a pet food.
Quality, palatability, knowledge and fibre content were all cited as important criteria when making a brand recommendation. Supreme ranked highest among vets when recommending a food for small pets, with respondents stating that Supreme was also the first brand that they would recommend in the next 12 months.
Asked to say what they would most like to change to improve the health and wellbeing of small pets, the top answers given by veterinary professionals were improved owner education and better diets.
Supreme supports veterinary teams to educate owners with free rabbit nutrition packs, which contain rabbit care guides that focus on the correct amounts of hay, concentrate and fresh greens that should be fed, using an easy-to-understand visual guide.
There is also a poster for the waiting room and samples of Science Selective, with a money off next purchase coupon included in the packs. To order free rabbit nutrition packs, veterinary practices and pet shops can email experts@supremepetfoods.com.
*The online survey was carried out in September 2019 and based on feedback from the 372 veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who responded.
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This Christmas at Dobbies Garden Centres, dog lovers have the chance to book their beloved pooch in for the ultimate festive photoshoot.
Britain’s biggest garden centre is promising ‘a doggie dress-up session like no other’ at selected stores across the country.
At the shoot, pet owners can transform their four legged friend into ‘Doggie the Reindeer’; giving a nod to Dobbie the Reindeer who organises Christmas for Santa in Dobbies’ festive advert.
Sixteen Dobbies’ centres across the UK are hosting the special shoots where dogs can get dressed up with fun and furry accessories. With antlers and even Santa’s sleigh, pooches can strike a pose against a festive backdrop.
Making for the ultimate Christmas card or perfect Instagram snap, dogs booked in for the shoot, which costs £6.99, will also get an early Christmas present of a festive goodie bag packed with toys and treats worth £10 from big brands like Lily's Kitchen, Forthglade and Carnilove.
“With dog food, treats and toys in store, we have a very loyal group of four-legged customers – who pop in all year round with their owners’, said Sean Kelly, Head of Pets at Dobbies.
“This year we have a special treat for them and the chance to come in for a Christmas they won’t forget.
“With Christmas lunch being served every day, the chance to meet Santa and festive teas for little ones, there is also plenty going on for their human companions at Dobbies.”
Dogs who feature in the shoot can also be entered into a competition to win £100 worth of Dobbies vouchers. To take part, simply post your best snaps on social media with the hashtag #DoggieTheReindeer and tag the Dobbies’ Facebook or Instagram account.
The next shoot takes place on the weekend of 22nd December between 12pm and 4:15pm (some stores time slots may differ).
Booking is essential and subject to availability at the following Dobbies stores: Aberdeen, Atherstone, Ayr, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Gillingham, Huntingdon, Lisburn, Liverpool, Livingston, Milngavie, Milton Keynes, Morpeth, Peterborough and Southport.
You can find the full list of festive events and more information at dobbies.com
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