The 2017 Pet Industry Federation Awards were announced on Tuesday at a thrilling awards dinner held at Whittlebury Hall Hotel, near Northampton, in front of hundreds of pet industry delegates. Among the winners were Bestpets, Marriages, Inspired Pet Nutrition and Natures Menu.
The event was organised by PIF, which this year celebrated its 70th Anniversary with a special birthday themed awards dinner.
The PIF awards recognise entrepreneurial talent, commercial acumen and quality customer service in a range of businesses across the pet industry. The judges whittled down a record number of entries across thirteen categories, as part of the process to choose the overall winners.
The final honour to be presented was a Lifetime Achievement Award which went to Richard Higgs of Trust Pet Products.
The full list of winners were:
Independent Pet Retailer
Winner: Unique Pets, Aylesbury
Finalists: Creature Comforts, Glasgow; Millies Wolfheart, Keighley; PetLondon, Marylebone, London; The Pet Experience, Weymouth; Trusty Pet Supplies, Derby.
Pet Retail Chain
Winner: Kennelgate, Hucknall Branch
Finalist: Pets Corner, Horsham branch
Wholesaler of the Year
Winner: Bestpets
Finalists: Pedigree Wholesale, Trust Pet Products, Vital.
Manufacturer of the Year
Winner: Marriages Specialist Foods
Finalists: HOWND, JR Pet Products, Naturediet, Pet Foods UK Ltd, Sea Treats.
Exporter of the Year
Winner: The First Class Pet Company
Finalists: Armitage Pet Care, Danish Design, Naturo Pet Foods, Pero (Foods) Ltd, Benevo.
Sustainability Award
Winner: Inspired Pet Nutrition
Finalists: Benevo; Wildwash.
Innovation Award
Winner: Natures Menu
Finalists: Bruces Doggy Daycare, HayPigs, Tailster, Pet Remedy, Wildwash.
Kennel/Cattery Business
Winner: Chetwynd Firs Boarding Kennels & Cattery, Telford
Finalists: Quintessential Quarters, Stafford; Hedgerows Cattery, Alpington, Norwich; Lea Wood, Gainsborough; Chequer Trees, Heathfeld, E. Sussex; Lower Mill Boarding Kennels & Cattery, Pontesbury, Shropshire.
Pet Grooming Business
Winner: Shampooches of Harrogate
Finalists: The Muddy Paw, Northampton; Barkingham Park, Neath; The Doghouse, Eltham London; Poppy’s Parlour, Clacton on Sea, Essex; Canny Cuts, Shrewsbury.
Charity of the Year
Winner: The Burns Pet Nutrition Foundation
Pet Service Business – Doggy Daycare
Winner: Suffolk Canine Creche
Finalists: Bruces Doggy Daycare, Cobham; Claires Comfy Canines, Burnham; Happy Hounds, Winchester; K9 Cares, Hereford; Willow Tree Canine Daycare Ltd, Biggleswade.
Pet Service Business– Dog Walking & Home Boarding
Winner: Woof Walkies, Wrexham
Finalists: Bona-Fido, Warwickshire; Barking Mad, Middlesex; ChristchurchK9, Dorset; Creature Comforts, Cheshire; Holidays4Dogs, York.
Pet Service Business – Other
Winner: Very Important Pets, London
Finalists: Agria Pet Insurance, Aylesbury; Amity Pet Care, Redhill; Friends for Pets, Cheddar, Somerset; Rhodes2Safety, Elloughton, E. Yorkshire.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Winner: Richard Higgs, Trust Pet Products
The Awards took place against the backdrop of the Pet Industry Forum, which was packed with a fantastic line-up of a range business speakers whose presentations were often insightful and interactive. An outstanding array of talks covering packaging, retail theatre, exporting to the US and online security ensured that delegates took away top-level information and advice to help them develop their businesses.
PIF Chief Executive, Nigel Baker said: “The PIF awards showed that the UK pet industry is thriving.
“The record number of entries we received this year, the range of businesses; the innovative approach that so many companies are taking and the positive response to what the consumer is looking for, show that the pet industry in this country has got a lot to be optimistic about and is working hard to secure its future.
“Many congratulations to our worthy winners. Our judges had their work cut out to determine the winning businesses this year, from the exceptionally tough competition in each of the shortlists.”
Further details about the event can be found at www.petfederation.co.uk
