Made with real cuts of meat, only the finest natural ingredients and nutrient-rich superfoods, Natures Menu’s latest addition to its Country Hunter range, which is inspired by the great British countryside, will provide your customers’ four legged friends with a healthy and wholesome diet that they can thrive on.

Superfood Crunch, the new range brought to you by experts in raw and natural pet food, offers a complete and balanced meal for dogs in a gently-baked biscuit format.  Using succulent meats and natural ingredients, these British baked products provide the very highest level of nourishment – just what your customers’ dogs deserve.

The innovative range, which is suitable for all dogs, boasts an array of delicious variants, including Turkey with Cranberry, Duck with Plum, Chicken with Butternut Squash, and Beef with Redcurrant. The range’s innovative combinations of meats and superfoods will be sure to whet any dog’s appetite as soon as the bag opens, and the delightful meaty aroma catches their attention.

Gently baked at Natures Menu’s state-of-the-art factory in Norfolk, the biscuits retain the natural goodness of the products’ ingredients and provide a mouth-watering crunchy biscuit with a light texture that delivers great palatability and is easy on digestion, making it the ultimate choice for customers when deciding on a natural pet food.

Another benefit for pet owners is the convenient packaging, involving a 1,2kg resealable bag for continued freshness and an easy-to-read feeding guide on the back of the pouch. The range enables pet owners to provide nourishing meals for their dogs, but in a simple to serve and dry format.

Having operated in the industry for over 37 years, Natures Menu has cemented itself as a pioneer of raw and natural pet food and is a trusted brand for millions of consumers, Developed and approved by a team of professional vets and pet food experts who have a real expertise and passion, all products are produced to the highest standard and are packed from its own production facilities in Norfolk. Natures Menu prides itself on only selecting quality ingredients and human grade cuts of meat from ethical British suppliers and liaises directly with the grower, farmer and meat providers.

The reported benefits of Natures Menu’s products include fresher breath, cleaner teeth, more stable energy levels, a softer, shinier coat, firmer, less odorous stools, increased vitality and a healthier weight, making it the best choice of food for your customer’s beloved pets.

Those who want to feed their dogs a dry food that they will no doubt love, whilst further fuelling their adventures, can purchase the products at an RSP of £9.99.

For retailers wanting to place an order with Natures Menu or to find out more information on the company’s ranges or about feeding raw, simply email trade@naturesmenu.co.uk, phone 0800 0183770 or visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk for expert advice.

Contact details:

T:  0800 0183770

W: www.naturesmenu.co.uk

E:trade@naturesmenu.co.uk

Natures Menu and Puppy School are celebrating as groups of puppies across the UK successfully graduate from puppy training.

Puppy School has a network of training classes across the UK for puppies and pet parents, offering help, support and advice on how to train your puppy. Groups of over five puppies, including Cavalier King Charles cross Poodle, Honey, Beagle cross Springer Spaniel, Bella and Miniature Daschund, Oscar and their owners have completed a comprehensive programme over the last six weeks learning obedience basics to give them a solid foundation for life and to graduate from Puppy School.

To mark their success, Natures Menu has been rewarding the top pups, with tasty, nutritious treats as well as offering advice to pet parents on responsible raw and natural feeding and how to provide a complete and balanced diet as their puppies grow into dog-hood. 

Alongside Puppy School, Melanie Sainsbury, Natures Menu Veterinary Education Manager, also offers some top tips for new puppy owners:

• Life Lessons: Try and introduce socialising with other dogs, adults and children as early as possible. During this process, they will also need to get used to a wide range of events, environments and situations. Puppy parties run by your vet and Puppy School classes are a great way of increasing your puppy’s socialisation skills with some useful training and behavioural tips thrown in too. Puppies can all react differently in various situations and a Puppy School trainer will be able to advise you on how to handle particular events.
• Training for Life: During training, food treats will be needed to reward your puppy when they perform desired behaviours. Puppies will work for very small rewards so make sure the treats are natural not sugar based and are no bigger than a small pea, to ensure they don’t get full up too quickly and to keep them healthy. Puppies will work harder for smelly, moist food, so Natures Menu’s Real Meaty treats are ideal, made from 95% real meat.
• Patience and praise: Getting a puppy is life-changing and while it can be rewarding, it can also be a challenge. To start with you’ll need to develop a relationship with your puppy, so they build trust. Offering praise to them when they do something good can help this along. Some puppies don’t grasp things straightaway, so it’s important you persevere and keep trying. Shouting, screaming or physically correcting your puppy can have a serious detrimental effect on your special bond and make training difficult in later life. In some dogs, it may even lead to aggression. Always keep training sessions positive with plenty of rewards and seek a professional trainer to help you through those more exasperating times.
• A sense of safety:  Young puppies need a safe place to call home as well as an attachment figure who is with them most of the time who can help them feel safe, protect them from frightening experiences, guide them and help them to navigate an unfamiliar world.  In a busy family, giving your new puppy a bed of their own which is off-limits to children, can make a real difference to a puppy’s wellbeing, as can having a special human who is never cross or too busy to attend to essential needs each day.
• Nutrition: Ensure you give your puppy the best start by feeding them a healthy, natural diet.  Natures Menu works closely with a team of in-house vets to design complete and balanced raw meals, cans and pouches, and natural, complete dry puppy food to nourish your growing puppy. Raw Puppy Nuggets, cooked pouches and cans can be fed from weaning and include a range of natural, nutritious and wholesome ingredients for pups under 20 weeks of age.

Craig Taylor, Managing Director at Natures Menu, said: “Congratulations to everyone graduating from Puppy School’s across the UK. Responsible puppy ownership and nutrition is essential to wellbeing, and Puppy School is a great initiative which highlights the importance of both. The addition of a new puppy to the family is an exciting but busy time for any pet parent and finding the right diet for your new addition can sometimes be overwhelming. We like to keep it simple at Natures Menu with a full range of raw and natural foods that are perfect for puppies and gentle on their small stomachs.

“With the help of our team of vets we have also put together a feeding guide on weaning puppies onto a healthy, natural diet and through our sponsorship of Puppy School, we are working towards educating new puppy owners on feeding wholesome food.”

Gwen Bailey, Founder and Director of Puppy School, said: “We’re delighted to be celebrating the graduation of some of our 2019 classes. The puppies have worked incredibly hard and are a true credit to their owners, we look forward to hearing how they progress after their graduation.

“Working with Natures Menu has enabled us to inform and educate puppy parents on the importance of nutrition and the benefits of raw feeding. I’ve personally seen some amazing results in some puppies and adult dogs when they switch to raw.”

Natures Menu has been creating ‘real in every way’ food for pets for over 38 years and became an official sponsor of Puppy School in 2016 to offer a range of benefits to clients joining puppy classes, including a ‘Puppy School Welcome Pack’ which includes a free advice manual, exciting money off vouchers and tasty samples from Natures Menu.

To find out more about feeding your puppy the 100% wholesome and natural way, visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk  or ask your Puppy School tutor for more information.

For more information on Puppy School and training classes visit: http://www.puppyschool.co.uk/

The superlatives flowed thick and fast after the two-day AQUA 2019, and among the words being used to describe the event were ‘excellent’, ‘innovative’ and ‘fantastic’.

A total of 1,502 visitors attended the show at Telford International Centre, and they were greeted by over 80 exhibitors – clear evidence that AQUA 2019 has been a huge success for everyone concerned.

As the doors closed on another memorable event, Mark Winter, managing director of Aqua One, summed up the mood in the exhibition hall, saying: “This year’s show has exceeded my expectations with the opening day being the busiest day ever at an AQUA exhibition.”

Mark, who celebrated after picking up a Lifetime Achievement Award and New Product Award at the AQUA dinner, added: “I’m so proud to be associated with such a successful event.”

And Steve Davies, managing director of Plimat UK Ltd, was equally enthusiastic about the outcome of the event. “It’s our first time exhibiting at AQUA and I have to say wow! There is so much that attracts the eye – bright and enticing stands plus the diversity of all the products. It has been a great show for us, more than we could have expected.”

Another first-time exhibitor was PM Aquatic Wholesale, whose Jeremy Gay commented: “We’ve only got a small stand but it has really worked for us with lots of leads, both from existing and new customers. It’s been so good we’ll definitely be back next time.”

Juwel Aquarium made a return to AQUA and the company’s Kevin Allen said it had proved to be the right decision. “We’ve had lots of comments from customers saying they were glad to see us back at the show so I’m glad we’ve returned. It has been an excellent show for us and we’ll definitely be back in two years time.”

International companies have also given the show the thumbs-up. Marcel Pellekooren, director of AquaLine from The Netherlands, said: “We visited the show two years ago and afterwards made the decision to exhibit this year, and we are so pleased we did. It has provided us with the opportunity to forge new business.”

Satisfaction among visitors was equally high. Stuart Pell, owner of Angel Aquatics, North Walsham, Norfolk, said: “It’s great to see the whole industry coming together under one roof. I particularly like the fact that you can compare products and make an informed judgement about what to buy. It definitely formulates my buying strategy.”

Rick Johnson, manager of Sunny Bank Koi, Congleton, Cheshire, said: “It’s the first time I’ve attended an AQUA show and it has been fantastic. I love the way the show is set out – it’s bright, colourful and enticing. We’re looking to expand into tropical fish, and AQUA has been the perfect place for us to source new products in this sector of the market.

Andrew Stratton, managing director of Pelagic Aquatics, Kent, commented: “It feels a busier show this year with more variety of products and more information, which is good to see and good for the trade. This show gives us the opportunity to see our existing suppliers but also the chance to meet new companies.”

And Matt Hogg, of Custom Reef Aquariums, Surrey, added: “AQUA is brilliant. It provides visitors with an opportunity to see what’s around and what’s coming up. It’s essential to attend this show and I never miss it.”

One of the main talking points was the AQUA dinner attended by 500 guests after day one of the show.

Jo Bladon, who organised the dinner, said: “It was a great evening with an amazing number of exhibitors and visitors enjoying themselves,” a comment echoed by one guest who remarked: “Wow, what a fantastic event. I’m astounded that so many people from the industry were able to attend.”

The AQUA dinner, held after the first day of the show at Telford International Centre, was enjoyed by more than 500 guests. To get a flavour of the event see our picture gallery...

Innovative dog brand Trespaws have announced that they will be hosting an exclusive dog influencer party in Glasgow.

The guest list for the VIP (Very Important Pooch) event will include their insta-famous dog influencers (and their humans!) as well as some well-known social media influencers. Glasgow’s unique courtyard venue Barras Art and Design (aka BAaD https://baadglasgow.com/) will host the event from 12pm – 4pm on Saturday 26th October 2019. The party will be a fun packed event which will include a “dogwalk” fashion show, dog assault course, dog themed canapes and mocktails, a pop-up shop and much more!

Founded in 2017, Trespaws is the dog accessory arm of leading Glasgow based international sportswear brand, Trespass who specialise in outdoor clothing and accessories. A well respected and recognised brand in the UK, Trespass have over 250 stores throughout the UK and are proud to now offer our four legged friends expertly designed coats and accessories.

Marihah Khushi, founder of the Trespaws brand, wanted to combine her passion for animals and the outdoors to create a superior dog range and worked hard to create the perfect collection.  The first capsule collection proved to be a big hit, selling out when it first hit the shelves. The success has allowed the brand to expand their range to include a wider selection so there is something for all dogs no matter what their adventure!

Marihah said “Trespaws has come such a long way in the two years since we launched and we are very excited to be hosting our first dog influencer party in our hometown of Glasgow. As far as we are aware, this will be the first event of this type in the UK so we are working hard to make it a party to remember!”.

Interested in attending or would like to know more information?

Email; trespaws@trespass.co.uk / moragm@trespass.co.uk or call 0141 568 8000

www.trespass.com/trespaws

Wilsons Pet Food, a Perthshire-based pet food company that can trace its heritage back well over a 150 years achieved phenomenal success at PATS Telford. Not only did they get nominated for Product of the Year in the PetQuip awards with their Cold Press range but they also picked up 15 new stockists (making over 100 stockists in Wales, Scotland and England) and launched their new Raw Frozen Range.

Wilsons Raw Frozen Range is available in choice of standard varieties, Beef Hotpot, Salmon Medley, Pork Casserole, Lamb Tagine, Chicken and Vegetables and Turkey Dinner. Each recipe contains a balanced and nutritious range of human grade meat or fish and vegetables all sourced locally where possible. Additional recipes will also be added throughout the year to reflect the quality and depth of Scottish seasonal produce and will include key ingredients such as venison and pheasant.

Wilsons Raw Frozen recipes can be fed as a standalone diet but they have also been designed to complement Wilsons Cold Press Range and are suitable for dogs that like a mixture of wet and dry food. The Raw Frozen recipes break down at the same rate as the Cold Press Food meaning no upset tummies!

Wilsons Raw Frozen Range comes in 500g resealable pouches which do not take up much space in the freezer and can be resealed for freshness once defrosted and stored in the fridge.

Branded freezer deals are available on the Raw Frozen Range.

For further information on Wilsons Pet Food visit: www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk

If you are interested in becoming a stockist then visit: https://www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk/become-a-stockist/ or contact our Head of Sales, Dan Griffin email@dan@wilsonspetfood.co.uk

Clydach Farm Food for Dogs Christmas range has arrived! Back by popular demand, pet parents can now treat their dogs during the festive season. Comprised of two hypoallergenic festive recipes that can be used either as a complete food or a treat.

Three Bird Roast sees a blend of British poultry and orange, cranberry and thyme, while Christmas Cuisine boasts meat, fish and poultry, including Yorkshire venison and Gressingham duck.

Both recipes are grain free, using sweet potato alongside the British meat sources and Omega 3 and 6 with botanical herbs.

Packed into shelf-ready 1kg pouches, both SKUs retail at £7.99, offering ‘strong margins for retailers’ and next-day delivery as standard.

The Wales-based business was developed by young poultry farmer Callum Griffiths, who said: “At Clydach we strive to manufacture food for dogs that are naturally healthy, sensibly-priced, and, of course, responsibly sourced.

Clydach works closely with independent stockists that we know and trust to spread the word about our lovely products. We sell direct to the trade, direct from our farm. We can’t wait for dog owners to discover these remarkable festive recipes!”

Discover the Christmas range today!

For more information: hello@clydachfarmgroup.co.uk

www.clydachfarmgroup.co.uk

It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas as specialist dog food brand Autarky releases a berry festive recipe to make sure our four-legged friends feel included this howl-iday season.

The Limited-Edition Festive Turkey & Potato diet is a naturally hypoallergenic turkey dinner, featuring a sprinkling of Christmassy cranberries, so that all dogs, both pet and working, can enjoy a festive feed.

Specially formulated by one of Britain’s leading canine nutritionists, this seasonal meal is cereal free and features a unique joint-care package made up of olive extract, green lipped mussels, marine algae and glucosamine, and added prebiotics to aid digestion. Plus, Zinc and B vitamins promote a healthy coat and skin and natural antioxidants and beneficial herbs are included to support the immune system.

Ben Lewis-D’Anna, Communications & Events Manager at Autarky, said: “Christmas is about spending time with our loved ones, and that includes our dogs too! That’s why for a second year running we’re offering our limited-edition turkey recipe with seasonal cranberries, so our paw-some pals don’t miss out on the festivities!”

Available for a limited time only, the Festive Turkey & Potato with Cranberries is sold at an RRP of £3.75 per 2kg bag.

Ben adds: “Giving dogs everything they need to keep active, healthy and hard-working at every life stage is our top priority. While our Festive Turkey & Potato diet is only available for a limited time this winter, owners will find tasty and nutritionally balanced food across our whole range.”

To stock this festive diet, please call 01832 737400 and press option 1 – or get in touch directly with your Autarky sales rep.

For more information about Autarky dog food, visit: www.autarkyfoods.com

Autarky offers a range of hypoallergenic and grain-free diets designed for hardworking dogs. Our holistic approach ensures dogs get the optimum nutrition they need to support a healthy, active lifestyle.

Specially formulated by one of Britain’s leading canine nutritionists and manufactured in Northamptonshire, Autarky gives dogs everything they need to keep them active, healthy and working hard at every stage of their lives. The combination of locally sourced, quality ingredients and our unique, holistic approach has created a range of tasty, nutrition rich foods that are both balanced and free from wheat, gluten and soya.

Our delicious feeds feature succulent meat, quality rice as well as nutritious vegetables and beneficial herbs. Our two new grain-free recipes give dogs the same great taste of Autarky, without the rice.

Each unique recipe has been created to give your dog exactly what it needs at every life stage and each recipe includes natural antioxidants to ensure each bag of Autarky stays fresh and tasty.

All our naturally balanced recipes contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

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Three-year-old cat Stovie from Essex narrowly avoided disaster after a shocking airgun attack, thanks to emergency treatment from PDSA vets.

Stovie’s owner, Eve Worthington (55) from Chelmsford, knew something was wrong when her feline friend was acting out of character and hiding under the kitchen table.

“Stovie didn’t come when I called him, which isn’t like him at all,” said Eve.

“When he did come out, he was really struggling to walk. I checked him over and noticed a small round wound on his back. When I saw it my heart dropped - I was so worried he might have been shot.”

Eve rushed Stovie to Basildon PDSA Pet Hospital where x-rays confirmed her worst fears: her beloved cat had been shot with an airgun and the pellet was lodged inside his tummy. “I was so angry to think that someone had shot my poor Stovie,” said Eve. “I was terrified that he might not survive.”

The charity’s vets rushed Stovie into emergency surgery, where the airgun pellet was removed during an hour-long operation.

PDSA Vet Hannah Johnston said: “Stovie needed immediate treatment to surgically remove an airgun pellet lodged in his tummy. We flushed his abdomen and thoroughly checked to make sure that his intestines had not been damaged. It’s amazing that the pellet did not cause further damage - luckily Eve spotted the wound and brought him in when she did. He was incredibly lucky.”

Eve added: “I was absolutely terrified thinking about what could have happened. It really is a miracle that the pellet didn’t hit any of his major organs.”

After a day spent recovering at the pet hospital, Stovie was well enough to return home – under strict bed rest – with a head cone collar, antibiotics and painkillers to help him back to health.

Stovie returned for a check-up a few days later and has now made a full recovery.

Eve added: “I’m over the moon with everything PDSA has done for Stovie. It was marvellous to be given the all clear and know everything is ok.”

PDSA Vet Hannah added: “Unfortunately this isn’t the first injury we have seen caused by an airgun pellet. These types of wounds can be incredibly painful and in some cases prove fatal. Pellet wounds can be very difficult to spot as they are often tiny and cats are very good at hiding when they are in pain. We would recommend getting any unexplained marks or injuries, or changes in your cat’s behaviour, checked by a vet as soon as possible.”

Every year, the dedicated teams at PDSA’s 48 Pet Hospitals work tirelessly to provide 2.7 million veterinary treatments. This includes emergency operations like Stovie’s, as well as routine preventive care such as neutering and vaccinations.

www.pdsa.org.uk/phh

A Bristol vet was recognised last week with a special award from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) at the House of Lords, honouring her work to galvanise members of the public to support centres rescuing rhinos and other iconic but threatened African wildlife.

Elisa Best, of Rowe Veterinary Group, is the founding member of UK registered craft conservation charity Blankets for Baby Rhinos. In less than three years the group has amassed a global Facebook community of around 3,500 members, primarily knitters, crocheters and crafters, to make blankets and other items to supply to wildlife centres taking in orphaned and sick rhinos in Africa, as well as other wildlife threatened by poaching.

Originally from South Africa, Johannesburg-born Elisa had planned to work as a vet treating wildlife and despite working as a small animal vet in Cape Town after qualifying, her colleagues and friends often told her of the terrible injuries they saw inflicted on rhinos targeted for the illegal trade in their horns.

As the rhino poaching crisis has continued to decimate populations in the years since she moved to the UK, often leaving young rhinos orphaned and in need of care, Elisa and a friend decided to help when they saw the need for equipment for rescue centres, including basic but essential supplies such as blankets, to not only keep vulnerable animals warm but to comfort youngsters without a mother to lean on. From this she started her group with a website and Facebook members’ group with the initial aims of knitting blanket squares for rhinos while spreading awareness of the impacts of poaching.

After quickly building a following and supplying thousands of blankets for a growing number of wildlife orphanages in Africa, she wanted to harness the enthusiasm of members to help meet the other practical needs of the centres, as well as helping rangers and dogs working in anti-poaching units. Now a registered charity, members supply all kinds of equipment including animal feed, medicine and veterinary supplies to a wide list of centres, as well as food for anti-poaching dogs while continuing to run appeals which crafters can assist with. Currently they are asking knitters to knit hats, scarves and blankets in black or dark colours for rangers, so they can keep warm at night without being spotted by poachers.

James Sawyer, UK Director of IFAW, said: “Elisa’s pioneering approach to harnessing practical public support to help rhinos and other rescued African wildlife is really impressive and she is a great example of animal welfare in action. We hope her efforts will inspire the next generation of animal welfare and conservation campaigners. She is a very deserving winner of IFAW’s Vet of the Year Award.”

As well as donations of knitted and crocheted blankets made by members, a small online shop selling donations of crafts and other handmade items helps fund requests for other equipment from the many rescue centres in South Africa and the wider region that the charity supports. They now supply dozens of orphanages and rescue centres which primarily help the species most affected by poaching, including elephants and pangolins as well as rhinos. Where possible, they also provide an element of educational work in the local communities.

Elisa said: “The idea of blankets for rhinos came about by chance really when a friend and I were talking about it, and once we started it took off really quickly so we took on others to help. Soon I could see there were other items the orphanages needed and we wanted to supply what was needed most. Our philosophy has always been to stay volunteer-based so no-one takes a salary and we run on goodwill. We hope it shows that everyone can do a little to help and this can make a big difference.

“I also want to give credit with my award to my colleague Nita Smith who runs the South African side of our operation, as she works tirelessly to help us get so much done and get our supplies to where they are most needed. Our latest project to supply knitted items for rangers enables members to write a personal note with each donation showing their appreciation for the work they do. Some of the rangers have been reduced to tears to read the messages and know people, half way around the world, are thinking of them and have made something personal for them.”

One of the group’s biggest challenges is transporting supplies without needing to pay expensive transportation costs. As much as possible items are transported from country to country by friends and contacts but the group is always on the lookout for more assistance with this.

Elisa received her award at IFAW’s prestigious Animal Action Awards event, presented by TV wildlife presenter Bill Oddie at the House of Lords.

Elisa is based at the Bradley Stoke practice of Rowe Veterinary Group which is part of Independent Vetcare.

Petindex has seen a surge in trade stand applications this autumn taking it to over 50% full, with six months still to go to the event.

Taking place from Sunday 26 and Monday 27 April 2020 at the Marshall Arena (Stadium MK) in Milton Keynes and organised by the Pet Industry Federation, Petindex will offer a fresh take on the traditional industry trade show and provide an innovative range of features to encourage visitors from the full spectrum of the pet industry to engage with exhibitors. In addition, the show will have a strongly education focused theme, with dozens of short, bite-sized seminars across four seminar rooms being planned, aimed at boosting business and providing technical insight.

The Pet Industry Awards will take place on Sunday 26 April at a lavish black-tie dinner next door to the exhibition hall, complete with entertainment and live music. Open to all types of pet business, the Pet Industry Awards provide fantastic recognition for businesses and their staff and are a great showcase for the best the pet industry has to offer. Details of how to enter will be announced at the end of October.

The British Dog Grooming Championship takes place on Sunday 26 April to determine the 2020 Groomer of the Year, with classes aimed dog groomers of all abilities. A firmly established and successful event now in its 38^th year, the competition attracts dozens of competitors and their supporters each year and will be supported by a range of grooming demonstrations from top UK and overseas groomers. Registrations to enter will open in November on the Petindex website.

Nigel Baker, PIF CEO said: ‘We have been really thrilled with the support we have had from our members and the wider pet industry about Petindex, which have, in turn, translated into sales of trade stands. In a marketplace which isn’t simply about the pet retailer and exhibitor relationship anymore, an event is needed which connects different businesses into this mix to communicate with and influence discerning pet owners. In addition, traditional retail needs to look at way of diversifying in order to remain competitive and relevant. As we count down the next six months to the show, the PIF team will be making regular announcements about the various features we are developing for the show to generate these connections between people and create opportunities for pet businesses to grow and thrive.’

In addition, Petindex offers excellent sponsorship and trade stand opportunities to companies looking to open dialogue with a broad range of pet businesses that have strong brand influencing qualities. Get involved, by emailing daniel.everett@petfederation.co.uk or by telephoning 01234 273933.

For all the latest information on Petindex including now to book a trade stand or register as a visitor, please visit www.petindexshow.com

The winners of the AQUA 2019 New Product Awards were chosen by a panel of highly respected aquatic retail judges, and were presented with their honours at a special dinner attended by over 500 guests last night (Wednesday).

The judges chose the winners of seven categories from the highest number of products ever entered at an AQUA show ever – 110 in total.

Their decisions took into account a number of guideline criteria such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging and value for money.

The judges agreed that the New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, had produced a high calibre of entries with a tremendous variety of innovation.

The awards were presented by show organiser Gordon Thomas and OATA Impact chairman Dr David Pool.

Here is a full list of the winners together with the judges’ comments:

Marine Food, Care, Accessories & Decor

Winner: Marine Lab Multi-Test Kit

Entered by: NT Labs

The judges said: The customer-friendly winning product had eye-catching packaging, which provided the consumer with some very important information about water testing. Any product that encourages fishkeepers to test the water in the their own tanks more often is a welcome addition to the market.

Marine Equipment & Aquaria

Winner: Dosetronic

Entered by: Aquarium Connections

The judges said: A lot of thought and time has gone into this product to suit people with busy lifestyles. It is a professional piece of equipment that is very user-friendly.

Freshwater Equipment & Aquaria

Winner: OakStyle 230 Urban Grey

Entered by: Aqua One

The judges said: This product offers great value for money, and will attract new customers into the market. It’s also looks good and will fit neatly into the home. It’s keeping up with lifestyle trends.

Aquarium Food, Care, Accessories & Decor

Winner: Waste-Away Gel Freshwater

Entered by: Aquarium Systems UK

The judges said: This product is very user-friendly and will encourage repeat sales.

Pond Equipment & Construction

Winner: Smart Lights

Entered by: Certikin

The judges said: This LED lighting system has some nice and attractive features, and will appeal in two sectors of the markets – ponds and gardens.

Pond Food, Care, Accessories & Decor

Winner: Deep Water Oxygenators

Entered by: Anglo Aquatic Plant Ltd

The judges said: Pre-packed in an aquatic basket, the winning product not only looks good it is also easy to handle. 

Reptile

Winner: Herptile Premium Reptile Food

Entered by: Hikari

The judges said: Attractive packaging made this product stand out.

There have been celebrations at Company of Animals as HRH The Duke of Kent KG officially presented the business with its prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

Company of Animals was granted the Queen’s Award in 2018 for its success in international trade. The business has now received the award, which will be on display at the company headquarters in Chertsey, Surrey.

HRH The Duke of Kent KG was given a tour of the company premises, which includes a working farm, equine facility  and the internationally renowned Animal Behaviour Centre.

Company of Animals is dedicated to developing and producing world leading products in training and behaviour, that work to enrich and improve the lives of pets. The company is best known for its HALTI range of dog walking products, that help to provide a comfortable and pleasant walking experience for owner and dog. 

Founder of Company of Animals and animal psychologist, Dr Roger Mugford, said: “We are extremely proud of what Company of Animals continues to achieve, which was recognised when we received the Queen’s Award back in 2018. It was an immense honour to welcome HRH The Duke of Kent for a Royal Visit at the company’s home.

“Company of Animals has always created leading pet training equipment and accessories for pet owners worldwide, and it’s fantastic to be recognised in this way. We have many new products in the pipeline, that will continue to make the lives of pets and their owners easier and more enjoyable.”

For more information on Company of Animals please visit: www.companyofanimals.com

A survey of UK pet food manufacturers by the trade body for the sector, the PFMA, reveals that the last three and a half years of uncertainty and no-deal planning has damaged businesses.

Furthermore, urgent practical advice is needed to help smooth the bumps ahead as the UK prepares for a no-deal EU Exit by the 31 October deadline.

The survey highlighted:

• A high level of uncertainty about what will happen if the UK leaves the EU without a deal (83%)
• A strong view that Government is not doing enough to prepare industry (77%)
• Almost 60% of respondents confirmed that the decision to leave the EU, or planning for a No Deal, had damaged their business
• Over 60% of businesses have put off investing in the future with expenditure diverted to No Deal planning or managing the ongoing uncertainty   

In response to these findings, PFMA is hosting a webinar on 21 October to provide practical support and a step-by-step guide on what members need to do next.

Michael Bellingham (above), PFMA Chief Executive, advised: “Since 2016, PFMA has been guiding its members along this bumpy journey and whilst members have been planning for a no-deal EU Exit, guidance is still needed in a number of areas including tariffs, veterinary certificates, trading with the EU markets and even basic fundamentals such as filling out forms and documentation. We want to make sure we fill the knowledge gaps and help members continue their business operations as normally as possible.”

PFMA supports its members with a dedicated Brexit Task Force and digital Brexit Toolkit.

To find out more about PFMA membership, please visit: https://www.pfma.org.uk/about-membership

For more information, please contact nicole@pfma.org.uk or michael@pfma.org.uk

Aqua One Managing Director Mark Winter has been recognised for his work in the aquatics industry by being awarded OATA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mark was presented the award at the AQUA2019 show dinner by Dr David Pool.

Mark has worked for more than two decades in the aquatics trade, first with OASE before he went on to set up Aqua One in the UK. He has also been actively involved in the AQUA show behind the scenes lending his ideas and expertise to the show organisers through his work on its steering committee. He also sat on the OATA board for six years.

“Mark is a very worthy winner of this award,” said OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“We know from his time on the OATA board that he is full of ideas and has huge experience of this industry. He has given a lot of his time voluntarily to improve the trade both through his time on the OATA board but also his long-standing contribution to planning for the AQUA trade show.”

Mark was involved in the creation of the AQUA show and has been involved ever since. He joined the OATA board in November 2012 and stood down in October 2018.

He set up Aqua Pacific UK in 2004 after being sales manager at Oase for 12 years.

FEDIAF, the European Pet Food Industry Federation, took part at the 23rd European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ESVCN) Congress in Turin last month and launched a new expert review paper on carbohydrates in pet food.

The paper was recently adopted by the Scientific Advisory Board which includes independent and renowned scientists from across Europe. The board also assists FEDIAF in updating the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Cats and Dog.  

Dr Thomas Brenten, Chair of the FEDIAF Nutrition and Analytical Science Working Group advised:  “There is currently a lot of controversy surrounding carbohydrates and this expert review will help to debunk some myths and to shed some light on what the carbs are and their role in nutrition”.  

Free download 

The expert paper “Scientific Advisory Board Carbohydrate Expert Review” can be downloaded in the section on Nutritional Guidelines on FEDIAF’s website www.fediaf.org 

FEDIAF represents the European pet food industry with around 200 production sites. Serving as an umbrella organization of national pet food industry associations and five direct members, FEDIAF’s mission is to be the credible and responsible voice of the European pet food industry collaborating with authorities, regulators and academics for achieving favourable conditions for the supply of safe, nutritious and palatable products to pets and their owners.

Based in Brussels, FEDIAF is fully committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, to the wellbeing of pet animals, to their important social role and to the respect of sustainable development.