To mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, leading vet charity PDSA is paying tribute to the brave hero animals ‘who also served’ and helped save countless lives during World War II.

The charity is commemorating the milestone by sharing exclusive e-books* which tell the remarkable stories of animal heroes honoured with the PDSA Dickin Medal**. These include the story of messenger pigeon, Duke of Normandy, who flew for 27 hours through bullets and bombs to deliver vital, life-saving intelligence to Allied Forces.

The prestigious Medal – known as the animals’ Victoria Cross – recognises outstanding acts of gallantry and devotion to duty displayed by animals serving with the Armed Forces or Civil Defence units in theatres of war.

The Medal was instituted by the charity’s Founder, Maria Dickin, with the approval of the War Office and Imperial War Museum, to raise the status of animals and acknowledge the remarkable roles they play in society. It was first awarded to a messenger pigeon named Winkie on 3 December 1943.

Mary Bawn, Head of Press, Voice and Brand at PDSA, said: “Throughout history, animals serving in the Armed Forces have made an extraordinary difference to the lives of so many, not only the men and women who serve, but also civilians who our military are protecting. Sharing some of these stories on VE day is a great way to celebrate the incredible, life-saving role animals have played throughout history, and continue to play today.”

To download the free PDSA Dickin Medal e-books visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/VE

Some of the featured hero stories include:

Rip - The ‘World’s first Search and Rescue dog’

Rip, a crossbreed terrier, who is often referred to as the ‘World’s first Search and Rescue dog’. He was found on the streets of London by a local Air Raid Warden in 1940.

He had a talent for sniffing out survivors trapped in the blitz rubble and despite never receiving formal training, in just twelve months he helped save the lives of more than 100 people.

Rip was awarded his PDSA Dickin Medal in 1945.

Duke of Normandy (Pigeon No. NURP 41. SBC 219)

Allied paratroopers from the 21st Army Group were dropped behind enemy lines days before D-Day. After their mission ran into numerous problems, the only way to get a message back was a pigeon named Duke of Normandy.

His journey home – through bullets and bombs – took almost 27 hours. But he delivered critical intelligence to the Allied Command – and saved many lives.

Duke of Normandy received his PDSA Dickin Medal on 8 January 1947.

Brian – a parachuting dog

A ‘qualified paratrooper’, Brian (also known as Bing) served with the 13th Battalion Airborne Regiment during WWII. As the D-Day landings began, Brian was parachuted into the Normandy and fought side-by-side with his human allies. He also took part in the final airborne assault of the war.

Brian was presented with his PDSA Dickin Medal in March 1947.

To read the full stories of these amazing animal heroes and more download the free PDSA Dickin Medal e-books at: www.pdsa.org.uk/VE

PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, helping save and protect the lives of pets in need. Funded entirely by public support, we are a lifeline for owners who have nowhere else to turn in times of financial hardship.

Due to coronavirus, PDSA is facing into a national crisis. The pandemic is having a massive impact on fundraising activities and the charity has seen a huge drop in income. Despite this sick and injured pets still need emergency treatment, and PDSA will still be there to help.

The charity needs support now more than ever. With your support we can stop suffering and save pets lives when they have nowhere else to turn.

To support us and help continue our vital work visit: pdsa.org.uk/appeal

*Available to download for a limited time only

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has announced that Virtual Petindex, the UK pet industry’s first virtual trade show, is now open for registrations and stand bookings.

With live days scheduled for 14 & 15 June 2020, Virtual Petindex will provide a unique platform for exhibitors to reach a virtual audience without all the associated costs of a traditional trade show. The event will engage pet industry professionals from all over the world in one virtual venue and will enable exhibitors to talk to trade visitors through live interaction tools which can be accessed from any device. In addition, there will be over 20 webinars scheduled to take place over the two days helping visitors to gain new skills and knowledge to strengthen their business.

Nigel Baker, PIF CEO said: ‘In the face of huge disruption to the pet industry caused by the Covid-19 restrictions, and the cancellation of a number of trade shows, including our own Petindex, a virtual trade show will provide a lifeline for businesses in our industry to connect with other businesses, both in the UK and overseas. It is a cost-effective and low risk way to source new products, sell product and services and learn new skills, something which is more vital now than ever before.’

Exhibitors can expect to have a low-cost fully branded virtual trade stand which can feature videos & product images, documents & presentations, show offers, web links and live chat features. Orders can be taken directly from visitors at the show.

Trade visitors can access:

• Free registration
• Webinars and presentations from industry experts
• New products
• Product promotions and discounts
• Online ordering
• Real time communication with exhibitors

Virtual Petindex will remain open for 30 days after the live days so buyers and exhibitors can still connect after the trade show.

Nigel continued: ‘We are excited about the opportunities Virtual Petindex will bring, and look forward to engaging with as many pet businesses and professionals from the UK and abroad to give our industry a much-needed boost after the unprecedented challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.’

To find out more, to book a stand and to register to attend Virtual Petindex, please visit www.petindexshow.com

 You can also contact Daniel.everett@petfederation.co.uk, or telephone +44 (0)1234 224507 for more information.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and in the best interest of trade fair attendees as well as the pet supplies industry, the organizer of INTERZOO, WZF (Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH), and BolognaFiere S.p.A., organizer of ZOOMARK INTERNATIONAL, will both postpone their respective biennial events by one year.  INTERZOO will now be held in June 2021 and ZOOMARK INTERNATIONAL in May 2022.

The worldwide Corona pandemic has affected health, societies and economies in more than 185 countries. 2020 has been a difficult year for many businesses. As a consequence, the event schedules of many exhibition venues, trade fair organizers and industrial sectors are in a state of upheaval. This is also true for trade fairs in the pet supplies sector: Given the severity of the global crisis and in the hope of finding a solution that serves the interest of the industry, WZF, organizer of INTERZOO, and BolognaFiere, organizer of ZOOMARK INTERNATIONAL, have rescheduled each of their events to the respectively following year. Both companies see this as an approach towards finding a minimally invasive solution.

Replying to the pet supplies industry’s needs, INTERZOO has been postponed to next year and will thus be held in Nuremberg from 1 to 4 June 2021, while the industry will meet again in Bologna from 9 to 12 May 2022 at ZOOMARK INTERNATIONAL  

Dr Rowena Arzt, Director Exhibitors at WZF GmbH, explains that “after a global crisis a global trade fair is needed to provide the industry with a positive impulse. Trade shows are a crucial instrument in enhancing the rehabilitation process in the aftermath of a crisis and act as catalysts for industries and national economies.” Norbert Holthenrich, President of the German Pet Trade and Industry Association (Zentralverband Zoologischer Fachbetriebe e.V., ZZF), the honorary sponsor of INTERZOO, adds: “In the aftermath of a crisis such as the one we are currently facing, it is our obligation as association and trade fair organizer to support the industry in recovering economically. Our exhibitors state that a biennial rhythm for an event with the magnitude of INTERZOO is simply ideal and should therefore be maintained. We are optimistic that postponing both trade fairs by one year holds solid benefits for the industry at large.”

“Due to the COVID-19 emergency, the calendar of international trade fairs have to be substantially altered,” Antonio Bruzzone, General Manager of BolognaFiere, announces. “And today more than ever, fair organizers are striving to offer the business world new tools and increasingly incisive support for kick-starting business, working in close collaboration with institutions, companies and trade associations. ´Our know-how as trade fair organizer with consolidated international experience enables us to offer the business community for the pet sector, which will be in Bologna in 2022 for ZOOMARK INTERNATIONAL, an extensive vision of the very best of advanced international production, with an increasing number of professional operators from the world’s fastest growing markets, where we have been promoting the event for time. We are convinced that the emergency we are currently facing can provide new stimuli for business and that over the next two years the economy will re-stabilize, rewarding, in particular, the most innovative companies.”

In postponing their respective trade fairs each by one year, WZF and BolognaFiere have chosen a sensible way to support the pet supplies sector in the best way possible. Both organizations hope that by choosing such profound measures in difficult times they can help minimize the economic damage suffered by the industry.

Winning a prestigious industry honour like a PetQuip Award could be just the tonic needed by companies following the current coronavirus pandemic.

As well as being recognised and rewarded for outstanding performance by the pet trade, a PetQuip Award would provide a welcome morale boost for pet product suppliers and retailers after such a traumatic period of time.

Entries for the 2020 awards are open, with judging taking place in August and the winners being announced at a special ‘Oscar-style’ event during PATS Telford on 27^th September.

The PetQuip Awards, now in their eighth year, have consistently delivered professional recognition of the pet industry’s successes, celebrated at an enjoyable and lively networking event for the whole industry.

One of the most successful winners in PetQuip Awards history is innovative company HOWND, which has received an impressive four gold awards.

HOWND first did the ‘double’ in 2017 when it was awarded Marketing Project of the Year for its ‘Bring Your Dog to Work Day’ campaign, and Pet Product of the Year (Accessories) for its All Seasons Natural Skin, Nose and Paw Balm.

A year later HOWND repeated its success by retaining the Marketing Project of the Year crown for the same campaign, and picking up a second gold for Pet Product of the Year (Food/Treats) with Hemp Wellness Treats.

Jo Amit, co-founder of HOWND, explains how winning multiple PetQuip Awards has boosted business for the company.

She said: “It’s a great boost to morale and to see our peers in the industry so genuinely happy for us when our name was announced at the awards dinner. Who isn’t grateful for a big pat on the back now and again?

“Even the smallest of suppliers should enter. I recommend submitting your entry with the same passion you infused in your product or campaign. Honesty and integrity are key. Just tell your story.”

Jo confirms that winning PetQuip Awards has helped to promote the HOWND brand, adding: “We use them in all of our marketing materials, brand videos, even our price lists and email footers. It’s something we are very proud of.”

And she recommends booking places for your company’s team at the PetQuip Awards gala presentation evening: “It’s a fun and relaxed night out after a long day at PATS Telford. You don’t often get the chance to unwind with your colleagues in the industry and the atmosphere is lovely.”

The categories for this year’s PetQuip Awards are:

• Marketing Project of the Year

• Exporter of the Year

• Product of the Year (three categories):

Accessories/Technical

Food/Treats
Healthcare/Animal Grooming

• Supplier of the Year

• International Pet Retailer/Distributor of the Year

• UK Pet Retailer of the Year

• Lifetime Achievement

The deadline for entries is 30^th June 2020. Entries will be put through an initial screening test and the finalists will be announced to the trade before an independent judging panel sits down to choose the winners at the end of August.

To enter your company in these prestigious awards, visit www.petquip.com/awards to download an entry form or email info@petquip.com

Contact PetQuip if you require further advice and assistance:

Email: info@petquip.com    

Website: www.petquip.com

Shropshire-based dog food company, Different Dog, which recently appeared on the BBC Worldwide News programme “The Inside Track” has been nominated in three categories in the prestigious Pet Industry Federation Awards.

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) is the membership association for pet industry specialists in the UK and is the only organisation to represent all types of businesses in the pet industry. The PIF Awards are the premier awards for the UK’s pet industry. Celebrating success across a wide range of products, services, companies and individuals, the awards provide the perfect platform to recognise excellence and innovation in the industry.  Different Dog has been nominated for Manufacturer of the Year, E-Commerce Business of the Year and Product Innovation categories. The awards will be presented later on in the year.

Different Dog was started by husband and wife team, Charlie and Alexandra Thurstan. Charlie said; “I used to work for a company that sold a lot of dog food. One day I got to see the food being made and it turned my world upside down. It seemed crazy to me that a diet of purely processed food, which has a two year shelf life and doesn’t even live in the fridge, could really be the best way to health and happiness. So Alex, Crumble and I set out to prove that adding hand cooked food to a dog's diet would change their life, and make them a different dog.

“We started cooking in our own kitchen for Crumble. We asked an experienced vet, Alison, and pet nutritionist to join our team. We spent 18 months experimenting with different processes and recipes and testing our food in the lab. The more we tested our food, the more we learnt and the more convinced we became that this food would make a tangible difference to the health of dogs fed processed foods.

“We launched our subscription business in 2018. Since then our customers have told us time and time again that we have changed their dogs’ lives.

“We use the same fresh ingredients and methods you would at home to cook your family meals. Once defrosted, our food requires refrigeration and will only last for 5 days, much the same as if you had made a casserole yourself. We regularly test our food to fully maximise the nutritional value of our food. We are the first to provide a truly varied diet, by cooking new recipes throughout the year. No one else is doing this. This enables us to use seasonal ingredients and strengthens your dog's internal microbiome, an important factor in overall health. We are all about changing dogs’ lives with real food.” 

The team at Different Dog are as passionate about the environment as they are about dogs, which is why looking after the planet is part of every decision they make, from their eco-friendly compostable pots, to sourcing fruit & veg locally as possible and which isn’t pretty enough to go on supermarket shelves but perfectly good to eat. 

All Different Dog recipes are cooked by hand using high quality fresh ingredients. They adhere to the FEDIAF nutritional guidelines for optimum nutrition for dogs and the company bases their food standards on the Safer Food Better Business guidelines, which are restaurant standard. They also have one of the highest ratings on All About Dog Food (97%) which is the highest in their category and their Trustpilot reviews are phenomenal. (see https://www.trustpilot.com/review/differentdog.com?languages=en&stars=5) In January 2020 Different Dog delivered their 13^th consecutive month of sales growth.

In 2019 Different Dog achieved real traction with the press, including a live interview on the BBC News Channel and 5 minutes of TV coverage on Channel 4 during Crufts which was replicated again this year with another visit from Clare Balding to their stand. “We believe that we are the only UK dog food company that is willing and able to demonstrate its cooking processes at shows and events, and hires chefs from the human food industry,” says Charlie. Different Dog also won “Best Natural Dog Food Company 2019” at the UK Small Business Awards as well as being nominated in three categories for this year’s Pet Industry Federation Awards.

Different Dog recently raised £1,351,250 in crowd funding smashing their original target of £750,000. 50% of the investment money will be spent on marketing and the other 50% will be spent on salaries, tech and working capital.

For more information on the crowd funding scheme, go to www.seedrs.com/differentdog

For further information on Different Dog visit: www.differentdog.com or Tel : 01743 384562

Beaphar has produced 22,500 bottles of hand sanitiser at its production site at Head Office in Raalte, the Netherlands.

PetQuip has welcomed news that the organisers of the international pet trade exhibitions Interzoo and Zoomark International have worked together to find mutually agreeable dates for their next shows.

Interzoo, whose original date of May 19-22 2020 was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, has now been rescheduled for June 2021, with Zoomark International moving to 2022 to accommodate the change.

The organisers – WZF (Interzoo) and BolognaFiere (Zoomark) – said in a joint statement that, given the severity of the global crisis and in the hope of finding a solution that serves the interest of the industry, they had rescheduled each of their events to the respectively following year.

Interzoo will now be held in Nuremburg, Germany, on June 1-4, 2021, and Zoomark International in Bologna, Italy, on May 9-12, 2022. Zoomark had orgininally been planned for 10-13 May 2021.

Amanda Sizer Barrett, Director General of PetQuip, said: “We are pleased that the organisers of the Zoomark and Interzoo events have worked together to provide a pragmatic and positive solution for the pet product trade.

“We are looking forward to supporting a strong UK exhibitor group at Interzoo on 1-4 June in 2021 and to doing the same at Zoomark on 9-12 May the following year.

“In addition, in order to promote and support UK exhibitors over the next few months, we will be delivering an enhanced international PR and promotional package for the whole UK group, including information on companies who can no longer attend the rescheduled event. This will give British companies an extra opportunity to put their brand and products in front of key pet product buyers, distributors and the trade press internationally.

“PetQuip will then collate additional information before the rescheduled show for the whole British group, so that an updated press release and an HTML UK group show preview can be sent out to major pet product buyers on our exclusive international database in advance of the new show dates.

“We look forward to supporting UK firms at this challenging time and to delivering information, advice and new sales opportunities to them over the next 12 months.”

In postponing their respective trade fairs each by one year, WZF and BolognaFiere have chosen a sensible way to support the pet supplies sector in the best way possible. Both organisations hope that by choosing such profound measures in difficult times they can help minimise the economic damage suffered by the industry.

New trade fair dates

Interzoo: 1-4 June 2021, Nuremburg, Germany

Zoomark International: 9-12 May 2022, Bologna, Italy

Contact PetQuip if you require further advice and assistance:

Tel:  +44 (0) 44 1959 565995

Email: info@petquip.com    

Website: www.petquip.com

York-based insurance company, The Insurance Emporium, have worked alongside the pioneering Medical Detection Dogs* charity for several years as their dog insurance provider.  These amazing sniffer dogs, trained by experts to detect cancers and other diseases as well as supporting people with life-threatening health conditions like diabetes, are now being trained up to detect COVID-19.

Experts at Medical Detection Dogs believe their dogs can be trained up to potentially detect coronavirus symptoms in as little as six to eight weeks and the charity is currently working with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Durham University to try to achieve this.

The Insurance Emporium asked Medical Detection Dogs some questions about the work going on behind the scenes and this is how they replied:

What is Medical Detection Dogs’ plan of action and timescales for carrying out the research, especially given current lockdown?

Medical Detection Dogs: ‘We have a number of intensively pre-trained detector dogs that could be made ready in 6- 8 weeks. Together with our partners LSHTM and Durham University, we have started preparations to intensively train dogs so they could be ready to help provide a rapid, non-invasive diagnosis towards the tail end of the epidemic, and approached government about how dogs can play a role in the fight against the disease. The initial phase will see 6 Bio Detection Dogs undergo intensive training.’

How do you select dogs for this task?

Medical Detection Dogs: ‘Those that will be assessed to take part in this project will show characteristics that we know make great Bio Detection Dogs, such as a desire to use their nose, willingness to learn, eagerness to please and a need to be kept busy.’

Who do these dogs live with normally, do they live a normal family life when not doing the detection work – could you give us an insight into the human/canine story?

Medical Detection Dogs: ‘We have a strict no kennel policy and all our dogs live with socialisers and fosterers in loving, family homes. We always say it is a bit like the school run at MDD – the dogs get dropped off in the morning and picked up later on. During the day they do a few short shifts in the training room and in between that they can be found playing or lounging with other dogs, being walked by our volunteer dog walkers or running around the paddock with their trainers. A lot of our dogs live in and around the Buckinghamshire area for obvious reasons - MDD is based in Great Horwood, Milton Keynes - but we do have some slightly further afield. We are always looking for more fosterers, socialisers and holiday cover. For details of how to volunteer, please see our website at https://www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/volunteer/.  Donations to support the work of Medical Detection Dogs can also be made via our website by following this link: https://www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk/giving/’

 Chief Executive Officer Francis Martin said: “We are proud to be dog insurance providers for the Medical Detection Dogs charity.  Over the years we have seen how their incredible dogs have saved lives through bio-medical detection as well as enabling people with life-threatening conditions to live more normal lives through their Assistance Dog work.  We know this charity is amazing already of course, but the potential to detect COVID-19 symptoms gives this charity’s work a whole new dimension and this truly touches our hearts.”

* Medical Detection Dogs is the world leader in training dogs to detect the odour of human disease. It is at the forefront of the research into the fight against cancer and other life-threatening diseases including Parkinson’s disease, malaria and bacterial infections.

The charity’s Bio Detection Dogs are trained to find the odour of diseases, such as cancer, in samples such as urine and swabs. Its Medical Alert Assistance Dogs are trained to detect minute changes in an individual’s personal odour triggered by their disease and alert them to an impending medical event. Medical Detection Dogs receives no government funding for the work they do and rely entirely on the generosity of donations from the public and charitable trusts.

For more information visit www.medicaldetectiondogs.org.uk

In the last four weeks PFMA members have seen a huge shift in bird food sales from stores to online, and through pet shops. With garden centres and many other retailers closed, communities have come together to find innovative ways for operation until we can surpass this unprecedented time.

Watching and feeding wild birds in our gardens and outdoor spaces is a rewarding and enjoyable activity, not least during these unprecedented times, as the vast majority of us spend most of our time at home.

Providing supplementary food for wild birds is critical for their welfare as it provides essential nutrition when natural food shortages occur. Feeding wild birds is one of the most practiced forms of human-wildlife interactions and contributes to species diversity and sustaining bird populations.

A PFMA survey of 2,000 UK households in early 2020 showed that 41% of people, who have outdoor space at home, engage in feeding wild birds. The survey also found that most people feed wild birds because they enjoy seeing them in their gardens/outdoor space and to support the local wildlife by providing supplementary food. The most common routes to buy bird food are supermarket/grocery (38%), pet shops (23%), garden centres (21%) followed by DIY stores, online and other platforms. The total UK wild bird food market is estimated to be worth £235m (PFMA Bird Food Market Data Report 2019). This represent a 6% increase on 2018, which in turn was up 5% on 2017.

Most people who feed them are aware that the birds in their garden depend on them to survive. This awareness is not just at winter when birds need supplementary feeding, but also other seasons bring their own conditions and challenges for birds. In spring, for example, supplementary feeding is important because it provides nutritious food for adults while they are working hard to find insects and grubs for their growing young. Additionally, the harvest season has not started yet and there is not much natural food left from last year. If they face a shortage of food this spring, they are likely to struggle to survive and successfully raise their young.

What has changed since the beginning of the lockdown (mid-March 2020) in terms of bird food sales, and has there been a shift, e.g. from stores to online?

The current situation, like the previous recession, may encourage many people to focus on what really matters to them. The outcome is likely to see more people engaging with nature in their gardens, growing plants and feeding and observing wild birds. While the demand for feeding birds is there, and birds need the extra nutrition between now and harvest, the challenge is how to safely source the food.

Luckily, many of the channels selling wild bird food are still functioning either because they are considered as ‘essential retail’ due to selling food or pet food or are online businesses that can run as normal. Thanks to the efforts of the UK pet food and pet care sector, pet shops remained open since the start of the lockdown period – another major outlet for sourcing wild bird food. Supermarkets and grocery stores stock a limited range of bird food while many online retailers stock and deliver bird food products.

PFMA members have seen a huge shift in bird food sales, from stores to online, in the last four weeks. Many online stores have been struggling to manage the unusual increased demand, having to temporarily close their online shops as they were unable to cope with the level of business coming in.

One of PFMA members, a major manufacturer of bird food commented: “The largest increase in orders has been from those who have a significant online presence. We are now in our fifth week of lockdown and even still, the volume of orders on our system has never been higher - even at times of snow during winter or good bird populations during Spring and Summer.”

The dedication of people wanting to play their part for their local wildlife, even during more difficult times, makes wild bird feeding fairly recession-proof, as the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) puts it. Add to this the current situation in which people are largely confined to their homes and have more time to enjoy seeing the birds in their gardens, and wild bird food market seems to be expanding. A PFMA member highlighted: “Overall, we are seeing a shift towards online purchasing, with a substantial rise in pet shop sales. It has been brilliant to see communities come together and find innovative ways for operation until we can surpass this unprecedented time.”

Another PFMA member commented on their fund-raising activity: “We have set up a pop-up wild bird shop to raise money for a charity dedicated to helping everyone who works in horticulture when times get tough.”

https://www.pfma.org.uk/manufacturers-of-wild-bird-food

Little BigPaw, the UK based premium pet food brand, has been supporting the great work done by pet rescue centres who are in particular need during these challenging times.

The Blue Cross Animal Rehoming Centre in Bromsgrove recently received nearly 15,000 meals of Little BigPaw pet food generously donated by the Little BigPaw team.

Neil Edwards, Senior Re-Homing Manager said: “We are so grateful for this incredibly generous donation from Little BigPaw. We know all the homeless pets in our care will all really appreciate it too!”

Founded in 1897, The Blue Cross is a nationwide charity helping sick, injured, abandoned and homeless pets. They help thousands of pets every month providing veterinary care, expert behaviour help and finding them loving happy homes.

The Centres remain open during the crisis but with limited services: the cats and dogs still need feeding so donations are particularly important at this challenging time.

Little BigPaw donated three pallets of food and the cats and dogs are now thoroughly enjoying their tasty daily dinners.

Karen Smith, Operations Manager said “We are all pet owners at Little BigPaw and we really care about their well being : so we are genuinely proud to support a local charity and make a difference at this time of great uncertainty”.

Little BigPaw, launched in 2015, is all made in UK with 100% Natural Ingredients. It is available in all leading pet stores and is now exported to over 40 countries worldwide.

For more details see www.LittleBigPaw.co.uk

Plans to celebrate National Pet Month had to change this year, however the charity was delighted to find they had an important new supporter – Her Majesty the Queen!

Her Majesty celebrated National Pet Month and advised on the Royal Family Instagram feed: “Today we are marking National Pet Month. The nation’s pets have kept us company during lockdown and have joined our daily walks.” The post was accompanied by a series of beautiful photos of the Royal Family and their pets.

The first Royal Corgis – Dookie and Jane – joined the Royal Family in 1933, when King George VI gave them to his daughters, Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) and Princess Margaret.

On her 18th birthday, Princess Elizabeth was given her very own Corgi named Susan and has owned more than 30 corgis and dorgis since.

Her Majesty’s love of horses has remained with her throughout her life. From spending time with her pony 'Peggy' at the age of six, today, Her Majesty still rides horses and takes a great interest in the horses which she breeds and owns for racing.

Michael Bellingham, National Pet Month Chairman advised: “We were delighted to hear that Her Majesty is celebrating National Pet Month. We are not surprised; her love of animals is well known. The unconditional love our pets give us is an incredible boost in such challenging times.”

He continued: “For this year’s National Pet Month, which runs until 10 May 2020, we have called on the UK's pet lovers to stay home, stay safe and to get online for the nation’s pets. Visit www.nationalpetmonth.co.uk to find out how you can get involved.”

The beautiful photos are available here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B_FCpdLHwLq/

If you’re staging a digital fundraiser for a UK pet charity or rescue be sure to tell us about it on social media. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

www.oscar.co.uk

With many veterinary practices across the UK now closing doors or restricting face-to-face consultations switching to emergency care only, many pet owners are finding it difficult to access their normal veterinary advice service during the Coronavirus lockdown. The purchasing of certain health supplements for pets may also be problematic but one Hertfordshire natural pet healthcare business, Broadreach Nature has jumped into the breach to offer their customers free 24/7 online access to veterinary support as well as safe delivery of veterinary approved and developed natural healthcare products and premium pet foods during the Covid 19 crisis.

Broadreach Nature has teamed up with PawSquad an organisation who provide pet owners with convenient and instant access to qualified veterinary advice at the touch of a button, without having to search the web or travel to a veterinary practice. This will ensure that all of Broadreach Nature’s customers will always have access to vets via online message and video should they be in self isolation or not wanting to leave home. Of course, in emergency situations clients are advised to contact their own vet directly without hesitation.

Anne Wood, Founder of Broadreach Nature made sure that the business was fully stocked when the crisis hit, working with their partners and suppliers to make sure that there was a steady supply and flow of products to safely send out to customers during the lockdown.

Anne says, “We only use the very best ingredients in our products that are specially sourced with full data to support them. All ingredients used are Non GMO and Non Irradiated and are produced in GMP facilities.

“We now have our own in-house vet and veterinary experts as well as a specialist panel of nutritionists and pet specialists in our team.

“Our range of 47 different supplements, food and treats give a great choice in both support and health so whatever your dog’s or cat’s preference we should have a yummy option for them!

“We also care about our eco system and have already planted 400 trees in a bid to show our commitment to the environment.  We use our own solar-powered system to help generate our own electricity.  We use recyclable materials for our products to continue our commitment to a light footprint on the planet."

Broadreach Nature has recently been nominated for the Sustainablity Award in this year’s Pet Industry Federation Awards. With over 6 awards so far in 2020 and 16 awards received over the past two years, showing our commitment to excellence including the Corporate Livewire Innovation and Excellence Global Awards in Animal Health Supplements of the Year now for 3 consecutive years running 2018, 2019 and now 2020 as well as many others, this demonstrate that we remain committed to you, our customers and your pets – supporting their health through every stage of life particularly through this difficult period of the Coronavirus crisis.

For practical help Telephone: +44 (0)1223 855857 24 hour order line & answerphone or during office hours 9.00 – 6.00

Email us at: sales@broadreachnature.com

For further information on Broadreach Nature + visit: www.broadreachnature.com

Home hairdressing has become a big topic of conversation in lockdown - with some regrettable results.

One pet owner also recently hit the headlines after giving her pet Pomeranian a rather disastrous hair cut (https://www.instagram.com/p/B-6x1emJV_n/). And it appears that many more pets might have cause to be quaking as their owners pick up the scissors because wholesaler Vital Pet Group has been tracking the trends and has spotted a 15% increase in sales of pet brushes, combs, clippers, salon scissors and nail trimmers in the last 8 weeks.

Perhaps because of the colder weather, the same trend hasn't affected sales of pet shampoos and conditioners yet, so it appears that pets are ‘benefiting' from a dry cut rather than a more comprehensive make over. It clearly follows in the same vein as parental haircuts inflicted on children over the years and is perhaps driven more by inspiration than desperation. Home care treatment during the boredom of lockdown? Why not?

Vital Sales and Marketing Director, Heather McManus, says maybe it's time to make sure that pet owners receive a little extra expert guidance from retailers before they are let loose on their pet, "The evidence seems to point to results that are more Sweeny Todd than Vidal Sassoon. Enthusiasm can be a wonderful thing but grooming a pet is a highly skilled job. If pet owners have time on their hands there's lots that they can do to improve the appearance and health of their pets. If customers are determined to go all ‘Edward Scissorhands', make sure they are given some helpful hints. Sticking to brushes, combs, even pet sprays or colognes, will ensure there's no nasty niffs and doesn't generally cause the sort of embarrassing mistakes that might take a little longer for a trained groomer to sort out."

Customers are encouraged to follow Vital on social media for the latest updates and can contact Vital on 01837 883000 or visit www.vitalpets.co.uk.

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The Pet Industry Federation will be running a webinar next week for exhibitors interested in attending Virtual Petindex, but aren’t sure what to expect!

The webinar will take place on Monday 11 May at 2pm, and will cover areas such as:

• How does the show work?

• Do I have to ‘man’ my stand?

• How much does a stand cost?

• Can I sell products?

• How do I set up my virtual trade stand?

The webinar is free to attend, but attendees must register ahead of the event. Questions can be submitted in advance.

Registration is available by following the link below: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mO9VCobRQuOVBbh60LGVXw

You can also contact Daniel.everett@petfederation.co.uk, or telephone +44 (0)1234 224507 for more information.

Since the UK’s lockdown to the Coronavirus, gardening has become one of the top pastimes for people to pursue but with dog owners being limited as to how many walks they can take with their dogs each day, this means that pets will be spending more time out in the garden which can ultimately lead to damage to lawns.

Overby Farm’s GrassSaver Soft Chews from All About Pet Health, provide a safe, natural and practical solution to yellow spots on the lawn caused from a dog’s urine. Veterinary formulated, these soft chews contain a formula of healthy enzymes, synergetic B-complex vitamins and amino acids which help to neutralise the elements in your dog’s urine that causes your nice green lawn to turn yellow. They also contain Yucca which helps to reduce stool odour.

To remove yellow spots on your lawn simply water the areas effected for two weeks and once your pet has been fed GrassSaver Soft Chews for two weeks, re-seed all the yellow spots. This product is not suitable for cats and should be fed to dogs only. GrassSaver Lawn supplement is veterinarian formulated and manufactured in the USA in an FDA audited, cGMP compliant facility.

For further information visit: www.overbyfarm.eu, Tel : (0)1892 839989 or email: dan@allaboutpethealth.co.uk

National Pet Month (NPM) is joining with The Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) to put out a sobering message calling for help.

David Bowles, ADCH head of public affairs and trustee has advised: “Although most of the country is on lockdown, animals still need rescuing, feeding, walking, taking care of – and all of that is extremely expensive.”

Whilst much of the fundraising activities have been postponed, this work continues. Small charities are particularly at risk and need our help now more than ever.

As a result, Michael Bellingham, National Pet Month Chairman, put out a special request: “In any other year, right now we’d be asking UK pet lovers to stage or attend events celebrating our life with our pets, spreading the word on their care and raising funds for National Pet Month, or a favourite local pet charity or rescue. Supporting UK pet carers and rescuers is at the heart of what we do, and 2020 is no different in that regard.

He continued: “We’re asking you to take to social media and use these online platforms to set up mini fundraisers for NPM and other UK pet charities and rescues between April 1 and May 10 – our campaign month.”

To encourage pet lovers to join the #NPMonline challenge, we have developed lots of creative ways to raise funds such as hosting a virtual pet party on Zoom or running a pet themed film marathon.

Please remember that National Pet Month is also a charity, dedicated to supporting UK pet charities AND educating our nation on the importance of responsible pet care. So, we would welcome anyone raising much needed funds for us too.

These are unprecedented times, which call for unprecedented action. So, please help us help others this #NationalPetMonth #NPMOnline.

For activity ideas and inspiration, please visit: www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk

PFMA and NOAH are the trustees of National Pet Month.

Inspired Pet Nutrition, home of Harringtons, the fastest growing major pet food brand in the UK*, and Wagg, the largest dry dogfood brand by volume, has promoted James Lawson to Managing Director as part of an ambitious strategy to double sales to over £200 million by 2024.  Since joining in July 2018, James has been a group director and also Managing Director of IPN’s subsidiary The Real Pet Food Company, where sales of wet food and treats have doubled. 

Prior to joining IPN, James was Managing Director at GA Pet Food Partners for seven years during which time he championed the use of high-quality, fresh ingredient foods and led the business to grow five-fold. 

Richard Page, CEO, will continue to focus on longer term culture and strategy. Richard, who has been running the business since 2006, said: “James will lead the board of directors on a day to day basis and ensure the further development of IPN across all pet categories, markets and geographies.  He will also continue to head up our nutritional teams and drive innovation and product quality, where we believe that IPN has a tremendous amount to offer.  Making great pet food affordable to everyone, combining our superior pet nutrition and quality with our owner manufacturer model will be a key point of differentiation in a world emerging from the current COVID crisis.”

James Lawson said: “I am very excited about the future for this business.  I believe we will continue to grow rapidly by focusing on what we do best, innovating across all aspects and offering nutritionally superior products for any given price.  From innovation in product development with our FreshCook^TM technology, for making ‘freshly prepared, meat first’ wet and dry foods more appealing, to reducing our carbon footprint with efficient manufacturing and patents in compostable bags, to world first SIOC** big bags for lightweight and direct to consumer delivery solutions, particularly relevant right now. We have so much to offer, all with the aim of supporting healthy, happy, pets and owners.”

Following James taking up his new responsibilities as MD, IPN has also confirmed that David Proctor – who joined the business in October 2018 as Group Operations Director – will now also formally be responsible for the manufacturing site at Kinmel Park in North Wales as well as the Dalton factory in North Yorkshire.   IPN has invested some £70 million at both sites during the past nine years and remains one of the best invested companies in the sector.

IPN is the UK’s leading independent producer of dry pet food and best known for its Harringtons and Wagg brands.  IPN also manufactures quality own label products for supermarkets and specialist pet retailers.  The business has some 250 employees and group sales for the financial year ending June 30^th 2019 reached £96.3 million with rolling turnover recently breaking through past the £100m mark.

* ‘fastest growing major pet food brand in the UK’.  IRI major pet food brands (excluding treats) MAT to March 2020

** anacronym to describe the principle of ‘Ship in own container’, relevant for direct to consumer, without need for an outer card board box

After 6 months of working hard behind the scenes The Hatchwell Company are delighted to announce that the very popular Mr Miracle’s Tonic is now back available!

Sales manager David Tracey commented ‘We get fantastic reviews for Mr Miracle’s Tonic which has been sold in the pet trade for a very long time. Unfortunately, we had issues obtaining key ingredients but this has finally been resolved and the exact same formula has been used in the new batch.’

Retailers are advised to stock up to keep up with demand.

The Hatchwell Company Limited

www.hatchwell.co.uk

Tel: 01254 888479

CSJ has seen an increase in sales of their Dem Bones! healthy treats since lockdown and they attribute it to knowledgeable owners being aware of the danger of their pets becoming overweight.

CSJ’s owner and founder Ceri Rundle says, “With many owners and children spending more time at home due to the current situation they are more likely than ever to give their dog too many titbits or perhaps of the wrong type.

For health-conscious owners Dem Bones! are ideal as they’re low fat/low calorie, and the inclusion of seaweed and herbs, and the crunchy texture, is great for cleaning teeth and fighting bad breath.”

She goes on, “Dem Bones! are totally natural, hypo-allergenic and free from wheat-gluten, dairy products and soya ….. they are even veggie!

Charcoal has long been recognised as an ingredient which helps ‘icky stomachs’ and gas so tasty, charcoal coloured Dem Bones! are a welcome addition to the armoury of those of us aiming to treat our dogs to natural  health.”

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470

… and follow CSJ winners on

Facebook: https://facebook.com/specialistcaninefeeds/

Twitter:  @CSJDogFood

Instagram: @CSJDog_Food

YouTube:  CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds

www.awaywithdogs.co.uk

Pet insurance specialist Animal Friends Insurance has announced a new partnership with Aviva, following a twelve-month tender process.

Animal Friends Insurance, whose head office is based in Amesbury, was selected by one of the UK’s leading insurers, Aviva, to provide and manage pet insurance policies for new customers. Aviva customers visiting Aviva’s website or app to buy pet insurance will now be introduced to Animal Friends Insurance.

New policy holders to Animal Friends Insurance will receive complimentary access to online veterinary service provider, Joii. The Joii app features a free and industry leading symptom checker, video consultations with vets, and the addition of a range of health clinics with vet nurses to help owners receive information on topics from puppy and kittens through to weight management and dental checks.

Wes Pearson, managing director at Animal Friends Insurance, comments: “We are extremely proud of this partnership with Aviva and we are committed to providing the high-quality service customers expect from such a well-known and respected brand. We are uniquely placed to offer owners the right insurance cover for their pet and at the same time helping animal charities worldwide, at no extra cost to the customer. To date, we have donated over £4 million and will continue to support and raise awareness of animal welfare causes.”

To find out more, please visit: https://www.aviva.co.uk/insurance/pet-insurance/

Animal Friends Insurance provides cat, dog, equine and rider insurance policies. The company has a 4.4 rating on Trustpilot and 9/10 customers renew with Animal Friends Insurance every year.

PetPanion – an App focused on using technology to deliver better healthcare for pets and intent on bridging any barriers between pet owners and veterinary surgeons through digital means, is offering veterinary surgeries an income line and a three-month free trial, to assist them whilst social distancing remains.

PetPanion has responded to issues raised in an RCVS survey last week, which found two-thirds of veterinary practices (68%) have seen turnover halved and 29% have shut either main or branch premises during the coronavirus crisis.

The App, which aims to give companion animals the same level of health and wellbeing enjoyed by humans, is reminding vets that it is not seeking to replace their services or take business away but rather continually finding ways to better support veterinary clinics.

By registering with PetPanion, vets can keep their turnover ticking by generating in-app payments with just a click. This removes the need to physically take cash or credit card payments in the surgery. The App offers enhanced security over other methods of taking remote payment, as customers do not need to give out card details via the phone and no receptionist is required to manually charge clients.

The App’s digital platform also provides the means for vets to offer online consultations and digital prescriptions. Clients can share pictures and videos easily, rather than having to send large files with attachments. A pet’s full medical records are also accessible, if the App user had requested and received their pet’s medical history to keep with them at all times, via PetPanion’s functionality.

A higher volume of business could come the way of vets, if they use PetPanion as a business introducer. An analysis of current users shows only 59% are currently registered with a vet and only 48% of pets are microchipped. 53% of PetPanion users have more than one pet.

With the App offering guidance on the closest vets’ surgeries to hand at any given moment, walk-in business could also be available, especially when greater social mobility is allowed. Currently, it can enable an owner to find a surgery open and able to treat an emergency.

The PetPanion service has been developed in conjunction with Dr Peggy Middlemiss, a vet with 21 years’ experience. Both she and the App’s creator, Qian Huang, are focused on encouraging pet owners to observe their pets more closely, picking up on possible signs of health issues that could be treatable, if detected early. Qian has been the beneficiary of an innovation grant and has been working with the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey to develop a Wellness Score programme, to be launched soon.

Registering with PetPanion also enables vets to stay in touch with clients, via push notifications sent out via the App.

To show its commitment to vets, PetPanion is offering a free three-month trial, to allow practices to see how the App can benefit their business financially, practically and through marketing. Now could be the ideal time for vets to discover more.

To register your veterinary practice with PetPanion, simply visit "For Vets" section on our website. More information is at www.mypetpanion.com

PetPanion is a new App that enables dog and cat owners to request their pet's medical history from their vet and then keep all of that at hand, via the App, in case they need treatment from another clinic, or mobile vet, at some time or other. The App also facilitates virtual vets appointments, allowing consultations to be carried out digitally, and enables vets to be paid via the App.

Lily’s Kitchen, creator of proper food for pets, yesterday announced that it has been acquired from Private Equity Firm L Catterton by Nestlé Purina, a world leader in pet care. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Established 12 years ago in founder Henrietta Morrison’s kitchen in London, Lily’s Kitchen has become an internationally recognised £85 million retail brand offering its natural recipes for dogs and cats across 6,000 stores in 30 countries. Last year the company was awarded The Royal Warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales.

Lily’s Kitchen has experienced rapid growth in both international expansion and continued product innovation, and in the last year alone saw a 30% increase in revenue. In its next chapter of growth, Nestlé Purina will help to build upon the Company’s momentum by further increasing Lily’s Kitchen’s brand awareness and supporting the continued expansion of its global footprint to reach more pet parents.

Lily’s Kitchen will continue to operate out of its offices in London as a standalone entity led by Lily’s Kitchen’s CEO, David Milner and the existing management team. Lily’s Kitchen’s employees, both junior and senior, who own a stake in the Company, will also be able to share the success.

“I created Lily’s Kitchen in the belief our pets deserved better, more natural food that would make them healthier. I was inspired to do this by my own dog, Lily, who was ill and is happily now nearly 17 years old,” says Henrietta Morrison. “I’m proud we have been able to bring the business this far and by working with Purina we will accelerate Lily’s Kitchen, becoming truly global so that pet owners worldwide can have access to really healthy, natural pet food. I have always believed passionately in growing the business by doing the right thing by our people, our consumers and the planet. We have created a brand that people and their pets really love. I’m so proud of what we have achieved and know the brand will be taken good care of in its next chapter and beyond.”

“We are greatly humbled to have been acknowledged and backed by L Catterton and now Nestlé Purina,” said David Milner. “From the ingredients we use in our recipes, to the relationships we have built with our partners, retailers and consumers, our Company remains committed to this award-winning formula for our loyal customers around the world. Our vision, purpose and values will always be at the heart of who we are and what we do.”

“Lily’s Kitchen has done a brilliant and unique job of creating a wonderful brand with its ethical approach to business. We are very excited to help bring the brand to the next level and to continue to make a positive impact,” said Calum Macrae, Regional Director, Northern Region, Nestlé Purina.

“We are proud to have partnered with Lily’s Kitchen over the last four and a half years to grow the business and provide more pets and pet parents access to natural and wholesome pet food of the highest quality,” said Michael Farello, Managing Partner, L Catterton Growth Fund. “We are excited to watch the company continue on its exciting trajectory.”

Natural foods represents one of the fastest growing segments in the pet food category, reaching 7% of total pet food with double digit growth of 10%.

With the backing of private equity firm L Catterton, Lily’s Kitchen has recently expanded into the Middle East and Asia and already has a growing presence in France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. Lily’s Kitchen will continue to be run as a stand-alone business from its base in Fitzrovia, London.

Nestlé Purina is a world leading pet care company that makes many popular and trusted pet food brands, such as Purina ONE, Pro Plan, FELIX and Winalot, and works continuously to enrich the lives of pets and the people who love them.

Founded by Henrietta Morrison in 2008 with the purpose of creating natural, wholesome pet food, Lily’s Kitchen has since grown from Henrietta’s kitchen table to reach the homes of loyal customers across 30 countries with over £85m in retail sales. After noticing a discernible lack of quality, natural and nutritional food options for her border terrier, Lily, Henrietta partnered with vets, nutritionists and farmers to create unique recipes of wholesome, natural ingredients. Today, those recipes – and many more – created the premium natural pet food category in the UK, and can be found in 6,000 stores around the world. Lily’s Kitchen holds the prestigious honour of having been awarded a Royal Warrant in 2019 and was the first pet food brand in the world to become a B Corp, a worldwide group of organisations using business as a force for good. For more information please visit lilyskitchen.co.uk.

How do you feel about the sale of Lily's Kitchen?  Please use the comments button below or e-mail trevor.pfeiffer@tgcmc.co.uk

Pets at Home have made the following announcement today about their Year End trading:

For most of our fourth quarter the Group traded in line with market expectations1, reflecting the continuous execution of our proven pet care strategy. In the closing weeks of the financial year we have, however, experienced exceptional levels of demand, both in-store and online, as the COVID-19 crisis has developed, and have seen existing customers increase average basket size by pulling forward purchases as well as new customers access our pet products and healthcare services.

Our previous investments in omnichannel capacity, new customer acquisition channels and subscription services had equipped us to meet above-trend levels of demand and, with disruption in Far East supply stabilising relatively quickly, our product availability held up well.

Accordingly, we now expect underlying pre-tax profit for the full year to be slightly above the top end of the range of current market expectations (see note below)

Balance sheet and liquidity

Our balance sheet is resilient and we maintain strong and supportive relationships with our banking partners. We have extensive headroom on debt capacity and covenants with a significant proportion of our committed £248m Revolving Credit Facility (RCF) remaining available for drawdown pre maturity in 2023. Total liquidity including cash balances is approximately £160m, and we expect to end FY20 with a net debt/EBITDA ratio pre IFRS16 of under 1.0x.

In view of the prevailing backdrop, we remain vigilant across our funding requirements, ongoing measures for cash preservation and prudent allocation of capital.

COVID-19 Update

Our priorities are first and foremost to safeguard the wellbeing and safety of our colleagues, Partners, suppliers, customers and pets, as well as ensure continuity of customer service in our stores, Distribution Centres and support offices, and we have implemented a number of protocols in this respect. These include removing all but essential travel, the adoption of alternative working arrangements for colleagues, procedures to protect the health and safety of our colleagues and customers and advice and support to colleagues on maintaining good health and wellbeing.

Our designation by the UK Government as an "essential retailer", together with the national distribution of our UK store estate, means that we can continue providing those pet products and health care services that are deemed essential to the nation's pet owners, at a time when pets are playing an increasingly vital role in our daily lives.

In seeking to strike a balance between providing essential services to the public alongside safeguarding the health and wellbeing of our customers and colleagues, we have closed our Groom Room salons and implemented all Government advice regarding social distancing across our operations. While nearly all of our First Opinion veterinary practices, and all of our Specialist Referral centres, currently remain open to provide urgent and emergency pet health care, in line with industry guidance, we do anticipate reduced customer revenues. This, together with the likelihood of lower store revenues resulting from other necessary measures we have implemented, is expected to have a negative impact on our normal levels of Group turnover as we start the new financial year.

Outlook

Pets at Home is a resilient business with the capability to adapt and respond quickly to changing market conditions. We have an experienced management team who are not only determined to successfully navigate the Group through these unprecedented times, but also to create a stronger pet care business for the future, in line with our previously communicated longer-term strategy.

Given the uncertain backdrop, we do not think it is appropriate to give financial guidance for FY21 and beyond at this stage. Subject to audit completion timelines, the Group currently plans to announce its final results on Thursday, 21 May 2020, although this date will be confirmed in due course.

Peter Pritchard, Group Chief Executive Officer, commented: "While FY20 has undoubtedly ended strongly for Pets At Home during this unprecedented time, the period ahead is uncertain for us all, and Pets At Home will not be immune to these challenges that we collectively face. I am extremely grateful that our colleagues and operations have shown such resilience and flexibility to meet the recent exceptional level of demand from both existing and new customers. As ever, in difficult times consumers turn to trusted brands and advice, and that is why we are working tirelessly to ensure that we continue to provide essential products and healthcare services for the UK's pets.

"The health and safety of our colleagues, Partners, suppliers, customers and pets remains our top priority. We continue to take all appropriate action in line with Government advice and remain vigilant to the potential impact of COVID-19 as we start the new financial year. We are also providing support for the communities that need us through £1.1m of funding to nominated pet charities, a £1m crisis fund for colleagues and discounts to NHS workers as they care for the nation's health. Finally, I would like to thank all our fantastic colleagues, Partners and customers for their amazing support during this challenging period. Amidst an unprecedented backdrop, never has our role as a pet care provider been more important, and never have we been more determined to serve the nation's pet owners".

Note:  As at 26 March 2020, the Company compiled consensus for full year pre-IFRS16 pre-tax profit was £93.7m, ranging from £92.0m to £97.1m. The impact of IFRS16 is expected to reduce Group underlying profit before tax by c£6-7m in FY20

Vital Pet Group company directors, Ravi and Sunny Sharma, are keen to support the trade in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak and have now set up a dedicated Lifeline Fund that will enable them to offer extended credit terms to the loyal retail customers who have supported Vital over the last two years through its testing times.

Ravi explains that it seems like the right thing to do, "While the government has made promises to help the self-employed and employed workers, there's still a great deal of anxiety over what the future holds for the pet trade. The supply chain has been recognised as an essential business and we are still working to fill the need, as well as service the demand created by panic buying. It's a time when we all need to pull together and think of others."

He continued, "While we can't promise to support everyone, we'll do our best to support as many loyal customers as we can with extended credit lines. Both retailers and suppliers have been hugely supportive of us as we've made the changes we needed to turn Vital into a business fit for the 21st Century. Now it's our time to recognise that and support them."

Retailers who want to apply to the Lifeline fund should send their account number and reasons for needing an extension to simon.shaw@vitalpetproducts.co.uk and add Vital Lifeline Fund to the subject line. The Vital team will aim to review the application and respond in no more than five working days. The fund will be available to access for the next 90 days and will be reviewed thereafter in light of what is happening in the external environment at that time.

Many suppliers are also facing difficulties with distribution and Ravi says Vital is working hard to fill the gaps where suppliers have been let down on the transport front, "We've invested heavily in our infrastructure and right now we are seeing the benefits of having in place new technology and vehicles and a robust approach that allows us to flex capacity. If suppliers are experiencing difficulties with their delivery, we encourage them to speak to their Vital Buyer to enable us to help them complete the supply chain and get their products to the point of sale."

Customers are encouraged to follow Vital on social media for the latest updates and can contact Vital on 01837 883000 or visit www.vitalpets.co.uk.

Pet shops are allowed to open under the restrictions introduced by the Government last week (23 March) for the sale of essential items only.

According to guidance on gov.uk here these are the shops that can remain open: supermarkets and other food shops, health shops, pharmacies including non-dispensing pharmacies, petrol stations, bicycle shops, home and hardware shops, laundrettes and dry cleaners, bicycle shops, garages, car rentals, pet shops, corner shops, newsagents, post offices, and banks.

It is of course up to each individual business as to whether you stay open to the public. You know your personal circumstances and those of your staff and how practical it is to stay operating some kind of service within your premises to enable your customers to get essential supplies for their animals, like food and medicines/treatments.

Shops must stop selling livestock immediately if you haven’t already (unless there is a very good animal welfare reason) – they are not considered an essential item. Limit your sales to food or other essential supplies such as medicines/treatments or replacement kit that has broken down. This will help to keep the flow of customers moving in your premises where the priority should be to deal with them as quickly as possible.

If you decide to close to the public totally we believe you can still travel to your shop to look after the animals under your care. You should carry some kind of proof of where you work to explain to officials should you be asked.

Below are some ideas on what to think about to safeguard your staff and customers if you stay open.

• Remember to keep safe and well – follow the latest advice from Gov.UK and the NHS on ways you can protect your and your staff if you are open to the public e.g. regular hand washing with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds etc, wiping down surfaces regularly.
  Place tape markers on shop floors 2 metres apart and tell customers to use these markers to keep a safe distance from each other. Place such markers near to tills so those queuing to pay 2 metres distance apart.
  Use markers to introduce a one way lane around your store so that customers avoid being within 2 metres of each other
  Take payments via contactless card payments and clean/wipe down card machines regularly
  Limit the number of customers who can be in the shop at any one time. Have a clear sign on the door that explains your system eg knock and wait before coming in or what is your limit on customer numbers in the shop at any one time.
  Introduce a ‘click and collect’ system so people can order ahead. This will enable you to package items up and leave it in a place before customers approach to pick it up.
  If possible sort out a home delivery for customers in your area which will also help to ensure people are going out infrequently. Set out a defined geographical area for such deliveries and communicate this clearly with customers.
  Make a clear list of the essential products you will sell so customers know what they can purchase. We would suggest this is limited to food, medicines/treatments and replacement equipment that has broken down.
  Think about supply chains to ensure you can help as many customers as you can. We would suggest you do not let people ‘stockpile’ so establish buying rules on numbers if you think that is appropriate. We are currently working with other pet trade associations to ensure supply chain businesses can still work to ensure you remain stocked.
  Keep your websites up to date! Tell customers what you are doing to protect public health. Make sure you have information prominently on your home page about whether you are open, what people need to do to when they visit your shop to buy essential supplies, what you will sell (make clear what you won’t sell as well), if they can buy online and if you are operating a home delivery service in your town
  If you have social media channels keep these up to date as well. ‘Pin’ a post at the top of your feed explaining how you are selling and what – eg online, home delivery etc. Seek out local Facebook groups for your town and post information on that.
  Make a short video explaining what you are doing in your shop, what you will sell, how and to whom and post this on your social media channels and relevant local Facebook groups.
  Post offices are still open but think about how you can safely visit these to send items through the post.

We have other ideas on our Covid-19 information hub for businesses which can found at https://ornamentalfish.org/what-we-do/advice-information/covid-19/

Interzoo has now been postponed beyond 2020.

The following statement has been posted on the Interzoo website: https://www.interzoo.com/en/news/press-releases/beyond-2020-dyyw0dk0ph_pireport

Given the exceptional circumstances regarding the COVID-19 pandemic WZF has decided to postpone the world´s leading trade fair Interzoo to beyond 2020. This decision follows intense consultations between WZF and its organizing partner, NürnbergMesse.

Due to the current worldwide consequences of COVID-19 Interzoo can no longer be realized in 2020. The organizers are instead working on a new time-slot beyond 2020. This approach was agreed upon by the organizer of the world’s premier trade show for pet supplies, WZF Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft Zoologischer Fachbetriebe GmbH, after careful assessment of the current situation and in consultation with NürnbergMesse as its assigned partner, and with representatives of the industry.

“Interzoo attracts leading companies of the pet supplies industry from around the world. Against the background of the current situation involving health hazards, travelling restrictions and constraints of movement, large-scale economic damage and other adverse factors we consider it impossible to still offer a trade show in 2020 which lives up to the expectation the industry at large associates with a global premier event such as the Interzoo“, says Norbert Holthenrich, President of the German Pet Trade and Industry Association, ZZF, the honorary sponsor of Interzoo. “As we are speaking, the majority of companies are finding themselves in crisis mode and certainly not geared to plan and prepare the presentation of their products and services at a trade fair“, Holthenrich continues.

Search for a new trade fair date

WZF is working with caution at finding the best possible date for the postponed 2020 Interzoo. In doing so, WZF is in constant dialogue with the Interzoo Advisory Committee as well as other industry experts and event organisers. “Our primary objective is to find a solution that serves the interests of our exhibitors and visitors“, states Dr Rowena Arzt, Director Exhibitions at WZF, “because Interzoo’s status as the world’s leading trade fair for pet supplies depends hugely on the exhibitors´ commitment, their well-focused preparation and presentation at the show and, of course, on the ideal mix of trade visitors.“