Experts in raw, natural and freeze-dried pet food True Instinct, has introduced a ‘High Meat’ kitten product line to its premium range of dry, complete cat food.

High Meat Cat and Kitten offers irresistible dry food, made from the finest cuts of free-range meat, nutritionally blended with 20 superfoods, vegetables, vitamins and minerals. The range is grain, gluten and cereal free with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives; all complete, balanced and veterinary approved.

Free-Range Chicken for kittens offers delicious high meat biscuits perfectly shaped for young cats, with no added sugar. Made from premium-quality, boneless meat, combined with a select blend of natural fruit and vegetables to provide essential nutrients to support optimal growth and development, strong bones and teeth, and a healthy immune system. High Meat kitten comes in 400g bags at an RRP of £4.29.

Also new to the range are three ‘High Meat’ cat products, which will be replacing True Instinct’s Raw Boost range for adult cats. The range consists of Free-Range Chicken, Turkey with Duck and Salmon and Tuna.

Reported benefits of the nutritious products include muscle mass maintenance, support for cats’ immune system, brain and vision development. The ‘High Meat’ cat range comes in 300g and 1.5kg bags at an RRP of £2.99 and £17.99.

To celebrate the launch of the new products, True Instinct is offering discounts across the range.

True Instinct specialises in a complete and balanced range of natural raw and raw-inspired products. Its varied products offer nutritional, complete and balanced frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, dry and high meat fillets for both cats and dogs.

For more information about True Instinct High Meat cat range please visit https://www.trueinstinct.co.uk  

Retailers wanting to find out more information about True Instinct and its range can emailinfo@naturesmenu.co.uk phone 0800 0183770 or visit trade.naturesmenu.co.uk.

By registering for a trade account, retailers can gain access to hassle-free online ordering, great value freezer deals and point of sale, plus free training and the option to become a qualified Raw Advisor.

The Armitage Good Boy and Good Girl Advent Calendars are once again outselling all other Advent Calendars in UK Garden Centres.

Weekly analysis of EPOS data from Garden centres by our sister publication Garden Trade News has shown that the Armitage Good Boy Dog Advent Calendar has been the best selling Advents calendar in garden centres throughout October appearing as high as No 13 in the GTN Bestsellers Top 50 Christmas Products Chart.  And last week the Armitage Good Girl Cat Advent Calendar also re-0enterd the GTN Top 50 at No 25.

The chart below of the Top 10 best selling Christmas Pet Products in Garden Centres last week reveals another Armitage Dog Advent Calendar, the Snowman chicken flavoured treat calendar as the third biggest selling Christmas Pet product currently.

More information about Garden Centre Bestsellers can be found in the GTN Xtra e-mail newsletter at: www.gardentradenews.co.uk

Top 10 best selling Christmas Pet Products in the GTN Bestsellers EPOS data for week ending 27th October 2019.

Wilsons Pet Food is excited to launch their brand new campaign, Wilsons to the Rescues, at the National Pet Show on 2-3^rd November.

Having produced pet food for over 150 years, this Scottish-based company produces nutritious and delicious Cold Pressed and Raw Frozen dog food, largely made using local sourced produce. Now, their new campaign aims to help feed dogs in rescue centres across the UK.

For every bag of Wilsons Pet Food sold, they donate another 2.5% of the volume of the bag to charity PLUS they are also giving their customers the chance to get involved by voting for the Rescue Centre they want their donation to go to.

For example, with each 10kg bag that is bought, 250g of Cold Pressed dog food will be donated – that alone is enough to feed a medium sized dog for a day!

Wilsons will be launching their new campaign at the National Pet Show this weekend and will be supporting two charities who are also attending the event, Birmingham Dogs Home and Greyhound Trust Hall Green, along with a Rescue Centre close to their Cold Pressed factory, Perthshire Gundog Rescue SCIO.

“Birmingham Dogs Home is thrilled to be one of the three chosen charities to benefit from the ‘Wilsons to the Rescues’ campaign and know that our homeless dogs will truly benefit from this amazing opportunity.” – Jilly Rivers, Fundraising Co-ordinator.

This campaign isn’t just about promoting nutrition, but also about helping to raise awareness of national and local Rescue Centres by giving them a platform to share their stories and the amazing work they do on a day-to-day basis.

Dan Griffin, Head of Sales at Wilsons Pet Food, says: “After joining the pet industry earlier this year, I was amazed at the amount of pleads of support we received from Rescue Centres across the UK. As a pet food company, I feel it is our responsibility to ensure that dogs, whether they have already found their forever home or not, have access to the highest level of nutrition. Forming Wilsons to the Rescues has been an exciting project and we’re so proud to be able to give something back.”

Visit Wilsons Pet Food on stand D340 at the National Pet Show on 2-3^rd November to find out more and to place your vote, or you can visit www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk.

Spa booking service, Spabreaks.com, is looking for the paw-fect critic to review dog-friendly spa hotels in the UK - and their humans will enjoy a free holiday too with all expenses paid.

The lucky winner will enjoy three 4* spa hotel stays, experiencing the luxuries the UK’s best spa hotels have to offer - from gourmet dog dinners to gift bags full of treats and toys.

Is your dog up to the job? Furtunately the application process is surprisingly simple. Humans will need to snap a pawsome photo of their dog, upload it to Instagram and simply tag and follow @Spabreaks and use the hashtag #PamperedPooch2020.

The winning critic’s humans will be asked to post snaps during their stay and write reviews for Spabreaks’ blog covering important canine criteria such as: dog enjoyment, practicality, local walkies and nearby dog-friendly amenities.

Abi Selby, founder of Spabreaks.com, said: “As the owner of two wonderful dogs, I can attest that finding a hotel that truly caters for your pup isn’t an easy feat. But there are some top quality dog-friendly spa hotels in the UK - and who better to review these places than the dogs themselves? Many owners, myself included, see our dogs as part of the family and, just like anyone else, we don’t want to leave one of us behind.”

Entries close on 30th November.

Full terms and conditions apply, to find out more please visit: https://www.spabreaks.com/hottub/2019/10/wanted-a-pampered-pooch-to-review-spa-hotels-across-the-country/

Leading Yorkshire-based pet accessory company, Collared Creatures has introduced a fashionable range of Harris Tweed collars for dogs.

Collared Creatures has been creating exquisitely designed handmade dog collars for over 6 years. They have spent many years sourcing the finest fabrics and fastenings to ensure that all their handmade dog collars are comfortable, durable and pleasing on the eye.

All of the handmade dog collars use 100% wool fabric that is hand-woven on the Isle of Harris in the outer Hebrides. The dog collars are available with an alumax clip, buckle or martingale style. All collars are lined inside with Kona Cotton fabric and have a strong webbing core inner for strength and durability and are fitted with a welded stainless steel D ring.   

The last three years have seen Harris Tweed remain "on-trend" and a regular feature in both High Street stores and on catwalks in couture collections and the increase in popularity has led to the training of a new generation of weavers to meet production demands.   Harris Tweed is used by many well-known clothing and footwear brands and is used to make hand bags, purses and other fashion items. New markets are emerging within the BRIC nations and more traditional markets are reviving in the USA and Europe as well as East Asian countries including South Korea. Sales forecasts are optimistic for the cloth. The Collared Creatures Harris Tweed dog collars are therefore the perfect pet accessory to complement the currents trends in fashion and should be an attractive option for pet and gift retailers to stock. They are available in an attractive range of colours and designs to fit any size of dog.

Collars can be gently machine washed, its advisable to place in a washbag or pillow case and tie up, to stop the metal hardware banging on the drum, stretch out to shape and dry naturally.

Available in Christmas Check or Christmas Dashes Designs with matching bow tie (optional).

For further information please visit: www.collaredcreatures.com

Mikki has launched a ‘sales promotion’ on its grooming products to support the Company’s independent retailers.  In addition to offering special discounts and some free products, the deal includes a newly created ‘self selection’ freestanding display unit. 

The unit which displays nineteen of the brand’s best selling grooming products features a planogram alongside barcodes and product codes for easy re-ordering. The unit is further enhanced with a ‘self selection’ header which aids consumers in choosing the right product to match their pet’s breed and coat type.  

www.mikkipet.com

Raw dog food manufacturer, Poppy’s Picnic, has received yet more praise from NatWest’s Great British Entrepreneur Awards (GBEAs) South West after being crowned Runner’s Up in the Entrepreneur’s Team of the Year category last week.

The awards acknowledge the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom. The GBEA have celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs over the years including household names such as BrewDog, JustEat and TangleTeezer.

The accolade follows Founder, Dylan Watkins’ shortlisting for Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year in 2018.

The GBEA awards launched the new ‘Entrepreneur’s Team of the Year’ category to champion teams who are supporting enabling entrepreneurs to achieve their goals. They note how behind every great entrepreneur is an army of people helping to make the dream a reality and that these players shouldn’t be forgotten.

Dylan comments, “My team are the true champions of Poppy’s Picnic. There’s no way we would be achieving the five star reviews we are without their hard work. From Kayleigh who packs hundreds of orders daily to make sure our food arrives with customers next day, to Deborah in customer service who helps owners trying raw feeding for the first time, the customer experience wouldn’t be what it is without many individuals’ hard work. We work in multiple locations - eight in Wiltshire, two in London, one in Wales, and one on the road but our dedication and communication means we’re a solid team. To all be acknowledged together has given us a real boost.”

The team’s win was assisted by glowing testimonials. Jonathan Lawson, Programme Director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme wrote of the business: “In all my years, I have never encountered such a unique group of extraordinarily high-level and specialist individuals, so early in the life of a business. Perhaps in Silicon Valley, such teams may form, but to gather them around a pet food brand in Wiltshire is almost unbelievable. Dylan has torn up the rule book in his team formation strategy, and ditched the map on how to set up organisational structures, but this very unconventional approach has clearly paid dividends, in the success of the business and the palpable passion you feel within seconds when you meet his team.”

Even the entry submitted by Poppy’s Picnic was a team effort including contributions from individual team members on why they thought they deserved to win. For example, Head of Marketing, Laura Blott wrote: “We are united by wanting to make a difference to dogs' lives. We care about the relationships we've built with customers and making their experience easy and enjoyable. We are committed to standing out from the rest and pull together to make quirky campaigns happen. We're small but mighty and proud. We’re our own ambassadors, telling people about our brand and product.”

“No man is an island” and no entrepreneur is an island either. Working for a start-up can be exhausting but rewarding but the business putting Melksham on the map continues to go from strength to strength with national acknowledgment.

Natures Menu, the UK and Europe’s number one expert in raw and natural feeding, and Puppy School are marking another year of a successful partnership with groups of puppies across the UK successfully graduating 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 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.

Craig Taylor, Managing Director at Natures Menu, said: “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.

Retailers wanting to find out more information about Natures Menu and their puppy range can email trade@naturesmenu.co.uk, phone 0800 0183770 or visit

www.naturesmenu.co.uk/trade-landing.

By registering for a trade account, retailers can gain access to hassle-free online ordering, great value freezer deals and point of sale, plus free training and the option to become a qualified Raw Advisor.

Grant Rogers, the Managing Director of 3P Enterprise and founder of the Henry Wag pet accessories lifestyle brand has been awarded Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year at the South West regional Great British Entrepreneur Awards ceremony held in Exeter. The Gloucestershire based business owner will now go forward to the national finals being held in London on 21st November.

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards are sponsored by NatWest and celebrate entrepreneurship in Great Britain through a portfolio of products, events and initiatives designed to support entrepreneurs and their ventures. GBEA's mission is to support connect and encourage entrepreneurial minds in Great Britain. Now in its seventh year, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs, rather than the business’ balance sheet. It is the first time the Awards have held a dedicated regional final in the South West. The finalists at the South West event, held on 24th October, were selected from an initial entry of over 3000 businesses. The award entries were judged by a panel of successful entrepreneurs and businesspeople from across a wide spectrum of British business including Cath Kidston MBE, Justine Roberts CBE of Mumsnet and Jon Wright co-founder of Innocent Drinks. 

Grant Rogers started his business in 2002, building wooden dog kennels in his garage and a website to sell them from. To grow the business, Grant sourced and imported pet products from US manufacturers and, in 2007, secured the UK distribution rights for the Petmate brand which he began selling to other retailers. In 2013 Grant began developing his own Henry Wag range of pet accessories to develop products to meet the needs he experienced as a dog owner living in a rural location. Grant designed the Henry Wag product range to remove the barriers to a more active outdoor life by offering cleaning and drying solutions for active dogs and their owners and consists of a selection of highly absorbent microfiber towels, drying gloves and absorbent dog coats, car protection and pet travel products.

The award from GBEA adds to an amazing year for the business. The Henry Wag brand won Pet Product of the year at the Petquip trade association awards in September for the Drying range of products, adding to the new products showcase award at PATS Sandown 2019 for the Dog Drying coat. In addition, the brand featured on the BBC's show The Customer is Always Right where the Henry Wag Noodle Glove Towel won over a panel of consumer testers to receive first place and the coveted winner’s trophy.  

'

After collection the award, Grant commented, "Winning the trophy was a real surprise for me, especially given the strength of the other finalists. It's great to be recognised by some amazing people on the judging panel, but much of the credit must go to our team, our customers and our suppliers which have made this journey possible. I made it an objective at the start of this year to put our products and business forward for some awards with the aim of raising the profile of the business and achieving some recognition of what we are doing here at 3P Enterprise and in particular with the Henry Wag brand," continued Grant. "If we were to lift the trophy at the national event in London next month it would be an amazing achievement for us all."

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Vale Vets in Portishead are celebrating 6 years of accreditation as a Cat Friendly Clinic.

The programme, a worldwide initiative from the International Society of Feline Medicine, is designed to help reduce the stress that a trip to the vets can cause our feline friends and their owners. The idea is that if owners find the experience of visiting a vet less stressful for their pet, they are more likely to visit more often for preventative care and not just for emergencies.

To achieve accreditation, the veterinary practice has to prove a rigorous adherence to a set of criteria set out by the ISFM. That includes provision of facilities and demonstration of staff activities and attitudes, aimed at reducing stress in cats visiting the clinic, both as in and out-patients.

To ensure their continued accreditation, Vale Vets, part of the IVC Evidensia group, have recently upgraded their cat friendly waiting room and have built a cat specific consult room, dedicated to examining their feline clients in a stress free environment.

Another requirement is to have a cat advocate within the practice. This job was eagerly taken up by vet, Vicky Morton. She is very proud of the clinic’s ongoing accreditation and the strides they have taken to ensure stress-free visits for the cats in the local area.

“Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation means we’ve committed to delivering high standards of feline care, with compassion and expertise. Our cat facilities are specifically geared towards the reduction of stress and all our staff are trained in gentle handling techniques.” said Vicky. She went on to say,

“Through our accreditation, we want to show cat owners that routine preventive care, and a prompt visit if their cat seems unwell, will help to give it a longer, healthier and happier life.”

A report issued by the House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee has acknowledged online sales as a route for invasive species to enter the UK, after OATA highlighted the issue at the committee’s recent inquiry into non-native flora and fauna.

But OATA is disappointed the report fails to make any specific recommendations about tackling this pathway nor acknowledges the need to engage directly with industry when horizon scanning and identifying problem plants and animals for the future.

The report has also called on the Government to set up a ‘citizens army’ of trained volunteers to help identify and respond to biosecurity outbreaks, as well as to create a separate invasive species inspectorate at the border.

“While we are pleased the committee has cited our point about online sales, the continued lack of enforcement measures means there’s still nothing really that can be done about them at the moment and it remains to be seen how well this issue will be tackled when they are eventually introduced. The ongoing failure to tackle this problem means that people can continue to sell illegally with impunity,” said OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“We’re also disappointed this report has missed an opportunity to involve trade more in horizon scanning to identify the problems of the future. As a trade association we believe we are particularly well placed to engage on this but we need a formal gateway to Government to do this. We have already shown the industry is willing to always do more, particularly in identifying species that will cause a problem within the UK, because of course not all non-native species will do so.

“We are also concerned by the report’s call for the horticulture industry to rely less in imports. It’s simply not possible for our industry to rely just on home-grown aquatic plants and it shows the need to hear industry’s voice when these pronouncements are made because the incoming Plant Passport may already tackle some of the issues raised in this report. Our worry is that this is a precursor to a campaign to only stock native species and ban the trade in all non-native species which is not something we would ever support.”

The House of Commons’ Environmental Audit Committee launched its inquiry into invasive species in April 2019. OATA was among a number of organisations which were invited to give evidence in hearings organised by the committee. The background to the inquiry and final report can be read here. https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environmental-audit-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/invasive-species-17-19/

The cause of a cat’s mystery paw pain has been revealed – after 5cm-long sewing needle was removed by vets at PDSA.

Seven-year-old Kedah from Chingford Mount was rushed into Ilford PDSA Pet Hospital after his owner Natalie Hillier (35) spotted him limping across the living room.

Natalie said: “Kedah is usually a very lively and energetic cat, so I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw him limping.

“I suspected he might have got something stuck in his paw. I was really worried because Kedah was clearly in pain. I knew I had to get him to see a vet quickly.”

Kedah was examined by PDSA Vet Grant Hampson, who noticed a metallic object had penetrated the poor cat’s foot. Grant gave Kedah pain relief and used forceps to remove the object – which turned out to be a sewing needle that had narrowly missed Kedah’s tendons.

Grant said: “Kedah was incredibly calm during the procedure. We managed to extract the needle without any issues, but it’s amazing how close Kedah came to suffering a serious injury. If the needle had hit a major artery or vein, he would have needed surgery, or if Natalie had waited to bring him to the vet an infection could easily have developed and there may have been some long-term damage. Fortunately, because of her quick action, we were able to remove the needle quickly without the need for major surgery under general anaesthetic.”

Natalie added: “I am so relieved that Kedah is okay. He made a speedy recovery and is now back to his usual, bouncy self. It was horrible seeing my beloved cat in pain. I’m now very careful to make sure the sewing kit is packed away when Kedah is around and that all needles are accounted for.

“The world needs more people like the vets at PDSA. Kedah received first class care and I cannot praise them enough.”

Grant is one of nine newly qualified vets whose roles are kindly being supported thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery this year. Through PDSA’s dedicated Graduate Scheme, these vets gain valuable experience and skills, enabling them to prevent suffering and save pets’ lives in their local communities. Over the last seven years, players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised more than £8.5m in ongoing support for PDSA.

PDSA have produced a pet first aid guide with lots of helpful information and advice. You can get a free copy of the guide, and sign up for PDSA Pet First Aid courses, by visiting: www.pdsa.org.uk/firstaid

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...

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

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.”

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

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