Pop+Bark, a company organising social events for the nation’s dogs, has appeared on the BBC1 hit series Dragons’ Den where it received two investment offers before walking away with nothing.

The firm’s owners James Morgan and Anushka Fernando appeared on the show a week ago as they sought a £35,000 investment in return for 5% equity of the business.

Dragons Steven Bartlett and Touka Suleyman both made offers but asked for more equity in return – in Steven’s case 20% and Touka’s case 25%. But they withdrew their offers when James and Anushka tried to negotiate a better deal.

Pop+Bark markets its business as being off-lead experiences where dogs can explore and socialise with their fellow kind. 

It claims to be the creator of the world’s first mobile Pupuccino Bar for dogs – serving over 30,000 Pupuccinos. In 2023 it’s set to launch a new Pupcorn Bar.

The edition of Dragons’ Den featuring Pop+Bark can be viewed on BBC iPlayer by clicking here.

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes has reported record Christmas sales driven by higher demand at existing stores, new store openings and online. 

Overall sales in the four weeks to 31 December hit a new high, up 31 per cent compared to the same period a year earlier as December sales set new company records for the second year in a row. 

The figures were lifted by new stores and acquisitions which meant Jollyes by the year end was trading from 84 stores over the period, against 67 previously. 

Even after excluding new stores, like for like revenues were 19 per cent higher than the previous year and 39 per cent higher than Christmas 2020.   

And that December like-for-like growth wasn’t driven by inflation – transactions grew by 9.6 per cent in December as Jollyes continues to build its appeal. 

As in previous years, to give colleagues a well-deserved break, stores were closed for three trading days in the period - Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. 

Jollyes’ busiest day was Friday 23 December when it served 38,000 customers in store, equivalent to one sale every 75 seconds - an all-time high for the business.   

Owners pampered their pets and treated them to presents in line with findings from a comprehensive survey carried out by Jollyes ahead of Christmas. 

That showed Brits may have been planning to cut back on Christmas spending, but were spared from the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.

Almost 70 per cent of pet owners put a present under the tree for their pets at Christmas with a surge in demand for gifts for dogs and cats including squeaky yetis, gonks, winter coats and cosy beds.  

The trend for treating furry companions like members of the family – highlighted during the pandemic which showed the mental health benefits of keeping pets – was stronger than ever. 

Other Christmas trading highlights included: 

• A four-fold increase in sales of Jollyes’ premium artisan Lifestage dog food as customers traded up for Christmas, with Angus beef topping the menu followed by venison and duck. 
• Significant sales of Jollyes’ new dog natural treats ranges, with buffalo ears growing exponentially alongside pig ears which remain a favourite Christmas snack for dogs. 
• Following significant investment in the range, provenance and quality of its products, half of all Jollyes customers now prefer its private label dog food to the brands, generating over 1,500 five star reviews.  
• Jollyes also made progress with private label cat food this holiday – for the first time Rileys became its best-selling cat food with almost a third of its wet food customers buying the brand in December. 
• Other winners include a doubling of sales on Jollyes’ new LF Millers’ hay for rabbits, and a doubling of sales of frozen raw dog food as more and more customers are attracted to Jollyes’ roll out of frozen raw shop-in-shops. 
• As it builds a compelling digital offer, Jollyes saw a 23 per cent rise in online traffic in December. 
• And stores did a great job supporting their communities too – they helped serve over 60,000 Xmas dinners through the donation of Lifestage Festive dog food Tins – and Jollyes plans to build on that by giving an additional 10,000 dog meals to local food banks in January and February. 
• The bumper seasonal sales followed a strong half year to 27 November when sales rose 23 per cent to £53.2 per cent and keeps Jollyes on track to reach its goals of £100 million turnover and 1,000 colleagues this year and 100 stores within 18 months.  

New stores for 2022 included Edinburgh Hermiston Gait and Llanelli in December, Glenrothes and Stirling in Scotland, Wrexham in North Wales, Cookstown in Northern Ireland, Southport, Poole and Stockton-on-Tees, as well as the July acquisition of Penparc with five stores in the Midlands. 

Jollyes has six new stores lined up in the first half of 2023, starting with Peterborough on Saturday 28 January followed by Port Glasgow near Greenock at the end of February. 

Jollyes chief executive, Joe Wykes, said: “I want to give all our colleagues a massive thank you for their hard work serving customers this Christmas.   

"We had a record-breaking Christmas because we have the best people in pet retailing. 

"All our stores, whether they’re long established or newly opened, are well on the road to becoming go-to destinations for their local pet parents. 

“The service our colleagues provide in their communities is one of the secrets of our current success – and it’s clear from our record performance that the value for money we provide our customers, is resonating in the towns we trade.”

The head of the UK’s largest pet trade organisation has called on British business owners to boost the post-pandemic economy by becoming more dog-friendly.

With the UK pet sector worth £7bn and 3 million more people becoming dog owners since the pandemic, now is the time for action, says the Pet Industry Federation.

Its CEO, Nigel Baker, pictured above left with DogFriendly Awards founder Steve Bennett, believes “a lot more can be done” by businesses across the hard-hit £130bn hospitality sector, including hotels, pubs, restaurants, cafés and also other British industries.

Attending the annual DogFriendly Awards 2022, which he praised highly for helping bring about culture change, Mr Baker, whose Federation represents 2,000 UK pet businesses, said many firms “should understand the benefits of becoming dog-friendly”.

DogFriendly Awards General Manager James Waters said: “Our message to the business community is, ‘It’s not just nice to have dogs, it’s good for business’.

“This year, we surveyed people asking them how becoming dog-friendly affected their business. Their replies, our statistics, show businesses will increase by between 20 and 50 per cent if they open their doors to dogs.”

Nigel Baker added: “The awards, now in their 10th year, do such a good job and long may they continue. The awards represent the excellence of businesses that have moved their businesses forward to become dog-friendly and that’s always positive. I think British businesses are moving in the direction of being dog-friendly, but there is a lot more that can be done. A lot more businesses should understand the benefits of becoming dog-friendly.

“There are people who don’t want to leave their dogs at home and want to get out and about. The more places that are dog-friendly the better. The economy will benefit as well as people will get out and bring their dog to pubs and restaurants which we know are being hit badly at the moment.”

The Pet Industry Federation’s sister company, the National Pet College, in association with DogFriendly, has launched a course named ‘Dogs In Hospitality’, outlining the benefits and everything business owners need to know about being dog-friendly. 

Steve Bennett, founder of the DogFriendly Awards, added: “We have been working with the National Pet College helping them launch a new training course for businesses in hospitality. It’s aim is to help them understand the benefits of being dog-friendly and how to be truly dog-friendly. The course is now available to purchase online.

“When we started the awards nearly 20 years ago, there were very few places that welcomed dogs and understood the fact that welcoming dogs has so many beneficial impacts on a business. It increases revenue and profit because people will spend more time in a pub, for example, if they have their dog with them.

“There is research to show people stay longer and spend more because they have the dog with them, and are more likely to enter a shop if it’s dog-friendly and they have their dog with them, rather than have to leave it with a friend or tie it up outside.

“There are three million more dog owners since the pandemic. Now one in three households has a dog. One in three customers of every business should welcome dogs as well. When we started DogFriendly, probably less than one in 50 businesses on the High Street welcomed dogs, now it’s closer to 50 per cent.

“It really has increased, but the phrase ‘dog-friendly’ is very subjective. What’s dog friendly for me may not be dog friendly for someone else.”

BBC presenter Katie Thistleton, who hosted the DogFriendly Awards said: “I love going into a business and seeing loads of dogs there. I’d be more likely to go back to that place if there were dogs in it. I’d be well up for more British businesses being dog-friendly. It’s going to help the economy, isn’t it, because people are going to go in and spend more money.”

Pet industry business owners were named winners in 15 categories and were honoured at the DogFriendly Awards, held at The Kennel Club in London. There was warm applause and loud barking as entrepreneurs and their dogs attended the event, hosted by TV celebrity and BBC Radio 1 presenter Katie Thistleton.

The winners and runners-up were:

Camping and Caravanning

WINNER: Lynmouth Holiday Retreat, North Devon

RUNNERS-UP: St Agnes Holiday Park, Norfolk; Tighnavon Glamping Pods, Perth and Kinross

Cottages and Self-Catering - Less than 5 properties

WINNER: Puddle Duck Cottages, Shropshire

RUNNERS-UP: Haviland Cottage, Isle of Wight; Quantock Cottages, Somerset

Groomers

WINNER: Alyson's k9 Grooming, West Glamorgan

RUNNERS-UP: Grooms By Emily at My Pet HQ, Northumberland; On All Pawz, Nottinghamshire

Kennels and Homeboarding

WINNER: The Hayloft Pet Services Dog Hotel, Worcestershire

RUNNERS-UP: M44 Animal, Lancashire; Trelawn boarding kennels, Devon

Pubs

WINNER: The Lion at Basford, Nottinghamshire

RUNNERS-UP: The Lacon Arms, Norfolk; The Runner Swindon, Wiltshire

Shops

WINNER: Cardies, Hertfordshire

RUNNERS-UP: Austin and Co, Worcestershire; Friars Square Shopping Centre, Buckinghamshire

Trainers

WINNER: The Dog Trainers (Prev. South Shields Dog Training), Tyne and Wear

RUNNERS-UP: Pets2impress, Tyne and Wear; The Puppy Master, West Yorkshire

Vets and Well Being

WINNER: Canine Massage Guild, Nationwide

RUNNERS-UP: Animal Physiotherapy Ltd, Berkshire; East Yorkshire Hydrotherapy Centre ltd, East Yorkshire

Cottages and Self-Catering +5 properties

WINNER: East Ruston Cottages, Norfolk

RUNNERS-UP: Clyne Farm Centre, Swansea; Letheringham Mill Cottages, Suffolk

Days Out

WINNER: Canine Dip and Dive Maldon, Essex

RUNNERS-UP: Canine Dip and Dive, Norfolk; Zoomies Zone, Anglesey

Hotels and B&B

WINNER: The Three Crowns, Devon

RUNNERS-UP: Stone’s Throw Guest House, Dorset; The Ashleigh, Dorset

Pet Shops

WINNER: Tonys Pets and Garden Supplies, Tyne and Wear

RUNNERS-UP: Pets & Friends Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire; Sam's Place, County Durham

Restaurants & Cafes

WINNER: Doggie Diner Cromer, Norfolk

RUNNERS-UP: Hope Park Games and Café, Cumbria; The Grange, Buckinghamshire

Sitters

WINNER: Four Acres Doggy Day Camp, Manchester

RUNNERS-UP: Dogs and Divas, Manchester; The Waggy Warehouse, Tyne and Wear

Walkers

WINNER: Anything’s Pawsible, Lancashire

RUNNERS-UP: Shropshire Canine, Shropshire; The Woof Pack Dog Walking, Lancashire

More details about the DogFriendly Awards and this year's winners and finalists, also listed below, can be found at: https://www.dogfriendly.co.uk/awards/finalists

The National Pet College has announced that Vanity Fur Dog Grooming is now a NPC Approved Training Centre for dog grooming, further increasing the coverage of NPC approved centres across the UK.

Recent winners of the Grooming Business of the Year at the prestigious Pet Industry Federation Awards, Vanity Fur Dog Grooming is based in Barry, South Wales and is owned and managed by Brian Howell with Abbie Pope who will be the lead tutor and assessor. 

As a NPC Approved Training Centre, Vanity Fur Dog Grooming will be able to deliver the City and Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 dog grooming qualifications to learners across Wales, providing the future generation of dog groomers with the highest quality of training on topics such as bathing, drying, styling, legislation and maintaining animal welfare. 

Head of Education at The National Pet College, Vicky Skinner, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Vanity Fur on to the NPC roster of Approved Training Centres. Abbie has recently completed the Level 3 Award in Education and Training so will be able to plan and deliver inclusive, practical teaching sessions and undertake assessments to a high standard. We will be supporting the Vanity Fur team every step of the way and would encourage other groomers interested in becoming trainers to get in touch with us here at NPC.”

Owner of Vanity Fur Dog Grooming, Brian Howell, added: “There have been major changes within the dog grooming sector over recent years.  A massive increase in dog ownership has brought new demands upon the role of grooming professionals. Changing work routines, increased popularity of some breeds and higher clients’ expectations need to be reciprocated by groomers’ standards. We want to contribute to this effort by developing the future talent that will ensure owners and their pets have the protection of the highest qualified practitioners.”  

Howell continues, “City and Guilds remains the ‘gold standard’ sector qualification offering unparalleled support for trainees and their training pathway.  When offered with The National Pet College framework our trainees are assured that our tutors are not only sector qualified but are also verified to the highest delivery standards.” 

To find out more about NPC approved training centres visit:  https://www.nationalpetcollege.co.uk/training_centres/

Dr Roger Mugford and his expert team of trainers at the Company of Animals Pet Centre have combined their 100-plus years of experience to launch a new training brand – Coachi.

In an industry first, Coachi unites the training and play categories to help owners bond with, celebrate and enhance the lives of pets. The range is designed to suit dogs of all life stages, sizes, weights, abilities, and motivations be it food, praise, or play! 

Introducing Coachi 

This NEW and exciting range of accessories has been expertly crafted to include fun, innovative and friendly designs. The easy-to-use training range is set to launch worldwide in October 2022 and while many may consider training to be a specialist category, Dr Roger and the team are on a mission to inject some fun and play to every pet’s learning journey.

Dr Roger Mugford said: “All dogs, regardless of age or breed, require training and here at the Company of Animals Pet Centre, we have seen over half a million dogs since 1979 and each one is, like humans, entirely different from the next. What is certain though, is training a dog will strengthen the bond between the pet and owner and ultimately ensure both parties can settle into a happy, harmonious life together. What’s more, play is of course an essential part of cognitive, emotional, and physical development and so, in the interest of animal welfare and happiness, it seemed only logical to combine the two for a positive, balanced, and happy approach to dog training.”

Making training easy, approachable and fun for all! 

COA has created a training range that was consumer friendly, simple to shop and most importantly easy to use and understand! Suitable or all puppies and dogs 8+ weeks, the Coachi range is perfect for tackling challenges presented to all new and existing dog owners, as well as providing new innovation for those more experienced, dog trainers and professionals. To support dog owners in their product choices, the range has been uniquely divided into 3 simple colour coded categories: Learn, Play and Fun & Tricks, to cover all stages of dog training and development.

Learn: Recall & Manners, is the first stage and focuses on learning the basics of social behaviour through positive and rewarding experiences.

Play: Play & Reward, is the second stage and focuses on engaging through play to develop a positive and happy relationship with our dogs. Play with a purpose.

Fun & Tricks: Tricks & Retrieval, is the last stage and is all about offering our pets extra fun, strengthening the bond between dog and owner, and building the relationship further, helping us all to raise confident dogs.

Transforming the training category

A recent global study commissioned by Company of Animals found that consumers prioritised humane training methods (68%) above all other training product needs, with effectiveness (65%), good quality (51%) and easy to use designs (45%) following suit.  As such, the Coachi team designed the range to directly adhere to these consumer desires and have created unique QR codes on packaging to offer dog owners further support. Each code directs to a dedicated online product guide and top tips to equip dog owners with the information they need to get the best from their purchase. Once complete, the packaging can be recycled in its entirety. 

Targeted ‘play’ category is great motivation

The Company of Animals Pet Centre experts know all too well that while treats may get some dogs working, many dogs remain unfocused or may be overstimulated by the offer of food. However, most dogs will engage in play. Despite the domestication of our four-legged friends, play will lend itself to a dog’s basic predatory instincts such to chase or retrieve. In contrast, the infantilising of our dogs means that Coachi, designed to help harness the power of play, can ensure dogs remain young at heart. By getting even the oldest or laziest engage in play, life will subsequently be richer, happier, and even longer. 

Great for gifting! 

In addition, a recent study found that 95% of dog owners purchase Christmas gifts for their pets and 61% purchase birthday gifts. Coachi not only provides distraction and eventual relief from undesirable behaviour but also builds a pet’s confidence and offers hours of fun, games, and create a loving bonding with their owners – the perfect gift for any four-legged friend!  

PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, has revealed it will be opening the doors of its new shop in Barry next week.

Bargain-loving customers will have the opportunity to pick-up an array of pre-loved and brand new items when they are welcomed into the Holton Road store for the first time on Thursday 26 January.

The charity shop will support PDSA’s vital veterinary work across its 48 Pet Hospitals - including at Cardiff PDSA Pet Hospital, The Marian and Christina Ionescu Centre​​ - which care for thousands of pets whose owners struggle to afford essential treatments.

Cluster Shop Manager Kirsty Waite said the new store will provide cash-conscious customers with the opportunity to purchase high-quality, cut price products while supporting a vital veterinary service.

She said: “We are absolutely delighted to be opening our brand new shop in Barry and supporting the vital work of PDSA’s Pet Hospitals which help thousands of poorly pets and supported their owners through challenging times.

“We understand that many people are struggling financially due to the rising cost of living and are looking forward to helping those who are feeling the squeeze by offering a wealth of pre-loved and brand new items at great prices. From clothes and books to homeware and toys, we are certain that shoppers will find some incredible hidden treasures.”

Volunteer roles, which offer a great opportunity for people to boost their CV, gain valuable work experience, and grow in confidence while helping sick and injured pets, are available at the new charity shop.

Kirsty added: “We’re looking for friendly and dedicated people aged 18 or over to join our team. Volunteering with us is a great way to give something back to the community and make a real difference to the lives of people and pets. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have previous retail experience - we provide full training and we’ll reimburse your travel expenses so you’re not out of pocket. All you need is a few spare hours a week, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn.

“The pandemic had a huge impact on PDSA’s fundraising activities which is why the support provided by our retail volunteers is so important. We don’t receive any government funding towards running our vital veterinary services so the generosity of the community who donate items to our shops, and the time dedicated to us by our volunteers, mean we can be there for pets when they are most in need.”

The new shop will be open from 9am-5pm Monday to Saturday.

To find out about volunteering opportunities at the new store, please contact Kirsty Waite by calling 07990 782422 or email waite.kirsty@pdsa.org.uk. Alternatively, visit the following link to apply for a role online: www.pdsa.org.uk/volunteer-barry.

No pet owner should be faced with losing a beloved pet because they can no longer afford to pay for treatment. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn.

PDSA encourages all supporters to sign up for Gift Aid* if they are a UK tax payer, to help their donations go even further. Gift Aid allows PDSA to claim an additional 25 per cent of the value of each item sold.

To find out more visit PDSA’s charity shops page.

Mars Petcare is expanding Crave’s care and treats range with the launch of Meaty Rolls, available in two premium flavours – Chicken and Beef. The packs will not only call out the products’ natural credentials but will also feature a category endorsement from the European Veterinary Dental Society (EVDS).

Crafted with layers of protein and made without grains, artificial colours or flavours, Crave Meaty Rolls will help retailers cater to those consumers looking to offer their dogs an irresistible, high protein treat. The high-quality ingredients Crave is famed for across the brand is a key reason why consumers continue to purchase from the portfolio[1], with the latest addition set to offer even more choice. A new ‘tough yet safe texture’ tagline will appear across Crave Meaty Rolls, alongside the EVDS endorsement, helping to educate pet owners on the suitability and safety of treats and chews.

Pioneering research[2], led by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and commissioned by Mars Petcare, confirmed that a dog’s jaws are easily powerful enough to break their teeth if they are allowed to chew on products that are too hard for them. This breakthrough research offered Mars Petcare the opportunity to create its own new standard for dog chew safety, of which all its care and treats products adhere to and which will be evident on packs with the EVDS safe texture endorsement rolling out further next year across its portfolio. The desire for change is also supported further by the FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) who advise to always avoid excessively hard chews and treats, and to ensure owners choose a chew that is the appropriate size and shape for their dog. They also recommend ensuring dogs are supervised at all times while using chews[3].

Dr Marie-Louise Bennett, Scientific Communication Manager at Mars Petcare, comments: “The launch of Crave Meaty Rolls continues to drive momentum and strengthen our popular range. It’s important we continue to innovate to bring new and safe treats to all shoppers looking for a variety of quality ingredients. These have been designed to provide pets with the ultimate distraction, a tough yet safe outer roll, filled with a delicious meaty reward at the core. We’re incredibly proud that Crave Meaty Rolls will be the first to carry the EVDS endorsement demonstrating the safe texture of the product.” 

As the fastest growing dog care and treats brand in the UK[4], Crave is perfectly positioned to support Mars Petcare’s mission to encourage shoppers to ‘choose with care’. Pet owners use chews and treats in a number of ways, whether that be for training, to reward good behaviour or to provide mental stimulation, but it’s important they understand the impact some chews are having on their dog’s wellbeing. Dog tooth enamel is up to six times thinner than human teeth[5] and it’s estimated that one in four dogs have a tooth fracture, many of which are the result of chewing objects that are too hard[6], therefore, raising awareness of suitable chews is vital. 

Dr Marie-Louise Bennett continues: “It’s important for us to raise awareness of dog oral health among owners and across the industry. Choosing a toy or chew that cares for dogs’ teeth isn’t always easy, so our aim is to help pet owners, as well as retailers, better understand how they can choose and stock chews that are safe and suitable for dogs’ teeth, thereby minimising the risk of painful tooth fractures.”

The EVDS endorsement will also be rolled out across further Mars Petcare dental chews in 2023.

Pet Trade Innovations has announced extensions to the Bamboodles Dog Chew toy range. The new Y-Bone Bacon and Puppy range will be available to order from 30 January 2023.

Steve Driver, MD of Pet Trade Innovations, commented: “The T-Bone has been a phenomenal success since the launch so we are thrilled to be able to introduce the Y-Bone and Puppy range to our Bamboodles brand of dog chew toys. 

“The Y-Bone comes with the unique fan favourite T-Bar for ease of holding, but now splits at the top to massage gums. The bamboo fibres mean the chew toy will flake rather than shard when chewed.

“And for our younger, smaller fans we now have the Puppy range. These come in three shapes with an enticing chicken scent, and are specially created for puppies and tiny breeds up to 7kg.”

All the Bamboodles range are infused with bamboo and nylon so built to last even for the most aggressive of chewers. 

To find out more about stocking the Bamboodles or to order a display stand deal contact The Pet Trade innovations office.

Email info@pettradeinnovations.com or telephone 01276 919808.

With Crufts on the horizon where the best dogs in the world will be on show, now is the time to think about conditioning your dog whether it is a show dog, an agility dog or just a beloved pet.

There are many factors that go into producing a championship winning dog. These include hours of training and exercise so that a dog has the right temperament, gait and frame to impress the judges and perhaps more importantly, a good balanced diet which has a high meat content and is packed full of healthy and natural ingredients.

Alfora Cold Pressed Food from award winning Natural Cornish Pet is the perfect way to get those tails wagging. Cold Pressed Dog Food is a dry dog food which is pressed at a lower temperature of 55-65°C compared to ‘kibbled’ dry dog food which is extruded at a temperature of approximately 145°C. 

High temperatures result in the denaturing of proteins and complexing of starches (sugars) reducing digestibility and thus absorption within the gut. Cold pressing minimises the impact of temperature damage and produces a food with greater digestibility and superior nutritional value. 

Alfora Cold Pressed comes in two varieties, Chicken and White Fish and Beef and White Fish. It is 100% natural and grain free with wholesome meaty goodness locked into each crunchy bite. Cold Pressed food is low in fat, making it great for controlling weight and perfect for elderly dogs. The food provides slow energy release, keeping any four-legged friend satisfied for longer. The combination of Chicken or Beef and White Fish provides a high protein content, perfect for aiding dogs with an active lifestyle.

The recipes also include Sweet Potato instead of more commonly used White Potato, as they contain a much higher level of fibre, as well as Vitamins A, C & B6 Sweet Potato is also ideal for stabilising Blood Sugar Levels, which is beneficial for all dogs, but especially those who suffer from Diabetes.

In the finer details of Natural Cornish Pet’s recipes you will find Sage, Thyme and Oregano; all boasting holistic benefits known for aiding in fighting infections and boosting general wellbeing. The recipe also includes Seaweed, which in small quantities is known for aiding healthy thyroid function. The white fish content also contains added omega oils for joint, skin and coat care. Other ingredients include: Peas Tapioca, Beet Pulp Rapeseed Oil, Linseed Oil Vitamins & Minerals (Vitamin A, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Thiamine, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin C), Dried Vegetables (Carrot, Celery Root), Dried Apple, Dried, Yucca, Fennel, Nettle, Chondroitin, Glucosamine, Turmeric and Dandelion Root.

 Alfora in made in the UK using quality ingredients. 5 star rating on Trust Pilot.

For further information visit: www.naturalcornishpet.co.uk or visit their trade site at: www.naturalpetwholesale.co.uk

• Report details a Group commitment to science-based targets for net-zero by 2050, with 65% of electricity already from renewable sources
• 1.8 million syringes have been replaced with alternative models, saving 1.3 tonnes of virgin plastic 
• Over 2,700 animals were given lifesaving treatment through the IVC Evidensia Care Fund, with additional support given to more than 700 Ukrainian refugee pets
• Across the UK, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, antibiotic use has reduced from 17% to 9.9% year-on-year

One year after the launch of its Positive Pawprint sustainability strategy, leading veterinary care provider IVC Evidensia has published an update on its progress and achievements within the programme.

The annual sustainability report includes a commitment to reduce the operational (Scope 1 and 2) carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 through initiatives including increased use of renewable energy and low flow anaesthetic gas usage, with a goal to ultimately reach carbon neutral by 2050. 

IVC Evidensia’s Positive Pawprint strategy aims to protect the health and happiness of people and their pets while reducing the group’s environmental impact and promoting a cleaner and more sustainable environment. A powerful statement of the business’s belief in setting and sharing new standards of sustainability in animal health, the strategy is based on three pillars: People, Planet and Patients.

On its 2021 launch, targets were set across IVC Evidensia operations worldwide with a commitment to report against those targets.

Duncan Phillips, UK and Ireland CEO said: “Embedding a sustainable business is core to our UK strategy.  Every member of our team is passionate about sustainability and I’m proud of the progress made during 2022 to develop and implement plans in support of all three pillars of the IVC Evidensia Group’s Positive Pawprint commitments.

“As one of the largest veterinary groups in the UK, we have a responsibility to use our scale and influence to improve standards of sustainability, both within our own operations and more widely in the veterinary profession. Positive Pawprint is our way of making sure we are developing for the benefit of our team, the veterinary industry and the world around us.”

The 2022 report highlights several achievements across the group globally against each pillar, with some of the key UK achievements being as follows:

People

IVC Evidensia is one of the UK’s largest veterinary care providers, and its team is very much at the heart of the business, fuelling the huge strides that have been taken against this pillar over the last 12 months. 

As well as bolstering its network of 300 Mental Health First Aiders and Wellbeing Champions, programmes which were launched in 2020, the business has introduced a range of menopause support initiatives and carried out a full review of flexible working policies. This has led to improved annual leave for thousands of team members, enhanced pay and working conditions across the team, better sick pay and the introduction of private medical insurance for vet nurses.

One of the Positive Pawprint strategy’s goals is to have women in half of all senior roles in IVC Evidensia by 2025 with 45% of these roles currently held by women. 

The group also piloted a leadership programme for practice staff designed to improve gender balance in critical roles and develop a pipeline of future veterinary care leaders. The Artemis Emerging Leaders programme saw 56 participants across 11 countries including the UK, 85% of whom were women. 

Alongside gender balance, IVC Evidensia is also focused on improving diversity within the UK veterinary profession, awarding 17 ethnic diversity scholarships over the last 12 months against its target of funding 65 scholarships between vets and vet nurses by 2025.

Recognising the important part that IVC Evidensia clinics play in their local communities, over £104,000 worth of grants have been provided to 147 charities and non-profit organisations which have been nominated by team members across the Group. 

Planet

65% of electricity across IVC Evidensia sites is already being generated from renewable sources, with the aim of reaching 85% by December 2023. The Group has also agreed a science-based decarbonisation strategy which will reduce operational (Scope 1 and 2) emissions by 50% and has committed to a Net-Zero target of 2050 for greenhouse gas emissions. Energy reduction initiatives have been rolled out across UK practices, cutting energy consumption by over 30% in many cases.

A recycling programme has been launched in the UK which accepts previously hard-to-recycle medical blister packs and nutritional supplement syringes. 1.8m syringes have been replaced with models which use 30% less plastic, saving 1.3million tonnes of virgin plastic each year. 

This year, IVC Evidensia will launch a training programme across its UK practices that will focus on teaching low flow techniques to reduce the volume of anaesthetic gas used in surgery, minimising the environmental impact without any compromise to patient welfare.

Patients

IVC Evidensia’s commitment to animals and their owners is to provide world-class veterinary care, delivered locally. Combining the passion and skills of its team members and non-clinical support staff creates a powerful, collective driving force for good and gives practice teams the opportunity to innovate and achieve professional excellence in the care they provide.  The Positive Pawprint commitments focus on the positive impacts the business can make on global issues, for example, through the responsible use of antibiotics.

Recognising the importance of antimicrobial resistance as a worldwide health threat, IVC Evidensia has set a target of reducing antibiotic use to 5% by 2030. Over the last 12 months it has already reduced from 17% to 9.9% in clinics across the UK, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Almost 6.5m animals were treated in IVC Evidensia Group practices across the world in the last 12 months, with the IVC Evidensia Care Fund facilitating life-saving treatment of more than 2,700 animals. 700 Ukrainian refugee pets were also treated under this fund in practices across Europe.

Case studies

Three IVC Evidensia UK practices have already become Positive Pawprint partners since the scheme launched in 2021, with the business aiming to recruit over 100 in the next 12 months. Many clinics are already working through the Positive Pawprint Toolkit which provides step-by-step guidance on how to improve sustainability locally. 

Initiatives undertaken so far include water-saving measures, waste reduction and recycling, the nomination of wellbeing champions and the installation of bird boxes in a bee friendly garden to encourage wildlife.  Positive Pawprint Partners currently include Rhyd Broughton Vets in North Wales, Cogges Vets in Witney and the Neighbourhood Vets in London.

Find out more about what Positive Pawprint partner practice Rhyd Broughton has done as part of the programme in this case study video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yf3XvEDB40&t=1s  

For more information on IVC Evidensia and Positive Pawprint view the full report at www.ivcevidensia.com/positivepawprint

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The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has announced Bruce Casalis as its new Chair following a board meeting this month.

Founder of Bruce’s Doggy Day Care (www.bruces.dog) in 2008, Casalis has been a board Director of the Pet Industry Federation since 2018 and is a recognised pioneer in the pet service sector.

PIF CEO, Nigel Baker commented: “We are delighted to have secured someone of Bruce’s calibre to Chair PIF. There are a lot of exciting developments in the pipeline for PIF members this year and we very much look forward to working with Bruce to help bring these to fruition.”

New Chair, Bruce Casalis added: “I am excited to be taking on the Chair role in PIF’s 75th year and am looking forward to using my experience and passion to help the Federation grow and become an even more effective ambassador for the pet industry.”

Casalis began a two year term as Chair in January 2023; details of PIF’s 2023 event schedule will be released shortly. 

To join PIF and take advantage of the great business benefits that are available to PIF members, including a legal helpline, fuel card discounts, up to 20% IT discounts from Dell plus local authority help and advice, please visit https://petfederation.co.uk/

A pet shop is planning to move to new premises in a seaside town 10 miles away in a bid to boost footfall.

Frankie and Twinkles Pet Supplies has been based on Belford Industrial Estate in Northumberland for the past 18 months, but the owners now hope to transfer their business to a busier spot in Seahouses.

Ruth and Malcolm Riley plan to open the new shop by the spring.

Ruth told the Northumberland Gazette: “Hopefully Seahouses has more footfall and we will see more customers.”

The couple had looked to move from the industrial estate into premises in the high street of Belford but eventually decided on an empty unit in Seahouses.

Customers of Pets & Friends donated over 17,000 pet meals, plus other pet essentials weighing in at a massive 1,500 kilos, to food banks in local communities during the Christmas period.

The retailer said on its Linkedin page: “We would like to say a huge thank you to all our customers for their generous charity donations, helping families and pets in their communities during tough times.

“Our Donate to a Pet in Need programme will continue throughout 2023 supporting pet parents in our local communities who need an extra hand to help take the best care of their pets. Our stores are accepting packaged pet food and treats, plus other essentials such as cat litter and grooming products.”

Picture taken from Pets & Friends Linkedin page.

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College are inviting pet owners with dogs who have a newly diagnosed autoimmune disease to take part in an observational study to better understand the prognosis and help improve the wellbeing of those diagnosed in the future. 

The practitioner researchers, led by Dr Barbara Glanemann and Dr James Swann at the RVC, have created an observational registry to collect information about dogs who have recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. The ‘ImmunoRegistry’ data will be collected in real time over a year after their diagnosis to find out how they respond to treatment.

Autoimmune diseases, where the body attacks its own cells, can lead to severe illness that requires intensive veterinary care and carefully adjusted, prolonged treatments. Common conditions in dogs include immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA, where the body attacks its own red blood cells); immune thrombocytopenia (ITP, where the body attacks platelets important to stopping bleeding); immune-mediated polyarthritis (IMPA, affecting several joints); and steroid-responsive meningitis arteritis (SRMA, resulting often in severe neck pain and fever).

In some dogs, the necessary treatment can cause side effects that negatively impact their quality of life. Almost all research into autoimmune diseases in dogs has been conducted in large specialist veterinary hospitals, but many dogs are diagnosed and treated in local first opinion veterinary practices, meaning that current information may not reflect real world trends. 

To address this, the observational registry will collect data on dogs diagnosed in both local practices and specialist hospitals. With this information, the team will then examine the prognosis associated with the diseases, if there are risks of relapse and whether medication works better in certain breeds of dog.

The RVC is looking for dogs who have been diagnosed with IMHA, ITP, IMPA or SRMA. In order to meet the criteria, pet owners should:

• Be UK based 
• Register their interest and consent to participate in the study within 14 days of their dog receiving a diagnosis of one of the above conditions
• Be willing to fill out six, five-minute surveys on the quality of life of their dog over a period of 12 months following diagnosis.

Dr Barbara Glanemann, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine and Head of the Small Animal Internal Medicine Service at the RVC said:

“We are looking to observe as many dogs as possible so that we can examine the data and ultimately share more informed advice and guidance with vets, and in turn, owners. 

“This ambitious project relies on the enthusiasm and support of dog owners, and we look forward to using our results to improve the wellbeing of any dog diagnosed with immune-mediated disease in the future.”

Participating in the study will not alter the treatment or management of any dog – the animal’s own vet will still be in charge of treating the dog, and the RVC will only collect information about how this is going. All personal data will be treated confidentially and securely, and dog owners can choose for their pet to opt out at any time, and this will not affect the care of the dog.

If your dog has recently been diagnosed with one of the above immune-mediated diseases, you can register you interest viarvc.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/immunoregistry and the team will be in contact via email.

A pet shop has been holding the final days of a closing down sale as the owners get set to retire.

Fishnet Aquarium and Pets in Oldham has been owned and run over the past four decades by David and Lynn Hague. 

In a post on the shop’s Facebook page the couple said: “With mixed emotions, after 40 years of trading, we are ready to call time on Fishnet. This is not a sad announcement, it’s the end of an era and the start of the next chapter in our lives. 

“We would like to give our heartfelt thanks to every single person that has graced our shop with your custom over the last 40 years, it has been our pleasure to serve you. 

“To everyone who has helped and supported us in any way, shape, or form, and to all of our family and friends, we really appreciate and thank you all, and we couldn’t have done it without you.”

Pawsome Paws Boutique has secured listings at leading retail outlets Pets at Home, John Lewis and Bents Home & Garden following a one-day event called Pet Huddle.  

Pawsome Paws Boutique “huddled” with the large retailers and secured life-changing listings within a few months of joining the first-of-its-kind hybrid trade event.  

Sophie Chesman is the inspiring founder and creative director of Pawsome Paws Boutique. Sophie’s inspiring journey started as side hustle in 2016 when she began developing the Pawsome Paws Boutique products and brand. 

Juggling a full-time job, late nights sewing dog accessories and weekend selling her range at Artisan Markets, Sophie eventually took the leap to give PPB her full attention. 

Six years on, Pawsome Paws Boutique is thriving with seven members of staff, a huge social media following and with the benefit of a 3,000 square foot HQ in Leeds, Sophie’s creative and exceptional quality dog accessories are being shipped all over the world. 

While they could rely on loyal customers through direct sales, and their strong community of followers, Pawsome Paw Boutique knew that getting into retail was always going to be the next step of their growth journey. With little contacts in the pet industry and looking for a way to get the attention of pet retailers, the Huddle events presented the perfect opportunity to get facetime with leading pet retailers. 

Huddle, powered by Product Guru, is a one-day event which has a strong focus on curated meet-ups, where brands have eight minutes to engage with every buyer from the retailer panel. 

“The Huddle was a big learning curve for us, it got us in front of people and a variety of buyers. It gave us a good experience of dealing with different types of retailers (within Pet). It was quicker to have those eight-minute meetings and then follow-up after. Unlike emails, Huddles gave us eight minutes and face-to-face conversation. It was a casual conversation and got easier as the day goes on,” said Jason Chesman, managing director at Pawsome Paws Boutique. 

The inaugural Pet Huddle hosted in Birmingham in March 2022 has been pivotal for the continued growth of Pawsome Paws Boutique, that led to securing ‘dream’ listings for Jason Chesman and his team. 

“Huddles was a great experience for brand and buyer alike. John Lewis was introduced to us at Huddles, the working relationship was made then and there on the day. All the conference calls after were a lot less formal. Huddles made developing our relationship a lot easier and helped us understand exactly what they wanted. Bents was a new introduction as well, they actually followed up with a site visit to our office! Huddles helped us strengthen our relationship with Pets at Home and forge a relationship with their innovation manager, which helped us get a listing." 

Melanie Sykes, buyer at Bents Garden centre, was left impressed by the Yorkshire brand at the Product Guru’s event. 

“We were on the lookout for something new and exciting to add to our current leads & collars range. Here at Bents, we love to champion independent, local businesses so when we came across Sophie and Jay’s brand, PPB, we thought it would be a perfect fit! We love the fun and colorful designs and think they are a great addition to our dedicated pet store. We found working with Sophie, Jay, and the rest of PPB team a lovely experience and we’re excited to see what the future brings for Bents and PPB.” 

Jason is projecting exciting developments ahead: “We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved in 2022 and can’t wait to see what 2023 brings us. We’re going from strength to strength with our current retailer partnerships, with John Lewis allocating us more stores for this year’s spring-summer exclusive collection.  

“We are so excited to coming back at the Pet Huddle, this January in Manchester to meet with new pet retailers and strengthened our relationships with our current partners. We love the informal format of the event that facilitates down to earth conversations with buyers. It will also be the opportunity for us to introduce our exclusive new homeware range with our distribution partner Captivate Brands to the panel of retailers ahead of our official launch in February.” 

The sold-out Pet Huddle will take place in Manchester on 26th January with an exclusive panel of Pet retailers including the likes of Jollyes, John Lewis, Wilko, B&M, Farm & Pet Place, and new retailers joining this year including The Range, Morrisons, Asda and TK Maxx. This would be a new opportunity for pet challenger brands to impress the buyers during the one-day speed dating event.  

Simon Coyle, CEO at Product Guru, commented: “We are ecstatic to see the continued success of our hybrid events, as it shows our disruptive event format is the perfect stage for challenger brands to have meaningful interactions with retailers. The magic happens at Huddle, and we look forward to supporting our brands at this year’s events. We never get tired from receiving positive news from brands and buyers who join our Huddles!”

Sammie Hunt, the owner of award-winning Redpaw Pet Supplies in Devon, has admitted the move to a larger store has proved challenging. But she says the change of location has increased the chances of retail business survival in the current difficult climate.

Sammie told Pet Trader Xtra this week: “The thinking behind moving to our bigger store was such a difficult decision in these challenging times. It has given me many sleepless nights and I had long conversations with my team and close friends, talking through everything involved in running a successful business. 

“Many times I thought I must be mad, and other times I just thought I would regret it if I didn’t try. 

“The journey to get to open my new store has been incredibly difficult, and on a few occasions I felt like giving up because of the many hurdles being put in the way.

“Throughout the Covid pandemic my old store remained open, with limited opening hours, nevertheless our customer-base increased due to the exceptionally high number of pets purchased during lockdown. 

“For Redpaw this meant demand grew for our own products and also for our services, which included nutritional consultation and advice. It was great as I was able to do some of this online or via email. 

“We were able to meet demands for products when the store was restricted to low customer footfall, but when restrictions were lifted and the shop reopened fully, it meant we were very short on storage space. 

“So, I began looking for a new unit, and what a task this was! Eventually I heard of a unit becoming available just over the road from my old shop, and after nine months of anxiety, bureaucracy and delays I finally got the keys in November. 

“Then the hard work started to turn an empty unit into my dream. What was certain was I needed to make sure my store stuck to my original ethos of high quality and natural products. With all this in mind I also had to consider how I would keep the shop on trend, modern and stand out against the bigger chain pet stores who are located within a few miles. 

“Working with my incredible team we managed to open the doors to my new store on the 1st December. The initial focus was not to cause any disruption to customers, so we did not close the old shop until the day we opened the new store. Christmas displays helped to give the new store an extra special festive look for the opening. Perhaps we were lucky to be opening at Christmas time but the push to get the store open in just four weeks was immense. I look back now and wonder how on earth we did it all. 

“Moving forward in my new shop, I can proudly say we are settling in well, developing new displays with the help of some fantastic pet suppliers as well as finding new trade partners to work with. 

Redpaw has been able to bring customers many more products. I know we have lots of challenges ahead with the current financial situation but as a strong team Redpaw is always looking ahead and we will continue working as hard as we can to stay fresh and exciting for our customer base. 

“When I started Redpaw nearly 10 years ago I didn’t expect the journey to be quite so difficult but it definitely holds an exciting future, and it’s always so rewarding seeing our customers pets happy and healthy.”

Redpaw Pet Supplies was UK Retailer of the Year in the PIF Awards 2018. 

For more information visit www.redpawpets.co.uk

Jollyes is putting the finishing touches to a new store – its 85th in the UK – and prepares to open it with an exclusive performance of the ‘Peterborough Pet Proms’. 

The nationwide retailer is opening its first Peterborough store at Unit 2-3, Rex Trade Centre, Maskew Avenue, Peterborough on Saturday 28 January at 10.00am. 

The 4,400 sq ft store will initially employ 10 colleagues and will offer pet owners in the area a wide range of pet products, from food and treats to toys and accessories, as well as the services of a Community Pet Clinic.   

The team will be led by new store manager Tracy Shipman, the proud mum of a cat, who joins Jollyes from Nottcutts garden Centre and after a stint at B&M  

The official opening ceremony will be performed by the deputy mayor of Peterborough, Councillor Nick Sandford, Deputy Mayoress Alderman Bella Saltmarsh but they’ll also be assisted by Peterborough-based Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues and cockerpoo Scamp. 

Peterborough-based Gabriella has performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall and Royal Festival Hall, as well as the likes of Peterborough Cathedral, St John’s Church, and Stamford Arts Centre. Trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, she has performed for the late Queen and is in demand as classical crossover singer. 

Gabriella will help launch the store with the first pet proms, performing from 9.45am on opening day.  

Her repertoire is expected to include little ‘Pooch-ini’ while Jollyes new customers do their ‘Chopin’ and favourite Disney songs such as: 

• "Everybody wants to be a cat" from Aristocats 
• "Feed the birds" - from Mary Poppins and  
• ‘Once upon a dream’ from Sleeping Beauty which is on Classic FM's list of calming music for dogs. 

The schedule of events for the opening day includes:  

• Official opening at 10.00am by Peterborough deputy mayor Councillor Nick Sandford and deputy mayoress Alderman Bella Saltmarsh 
• Pet Proms with Gabriella Pineda-Rodrigues from 9.45-10.15am 
• The chance to win prizes by playing the “wheel of fur-tune” 
• Goodie bags for the first 100 visitors 
• Face-painting for kids and stilt walkers dressed as animals 
• A live broadcast from 10am-1pm hosted by PCR FM Saturday breakfast hosts Keith & Claire. 

Jollyes’ regional manager Sarah Farrar said: “We’re so excited to be opening in Peterborough and bringing Jollyes to Cambridgeshire for the first time.   

“We’ll have a fantastic range of food, treats, toys and accessories in Peterborough’s best value pet superstore and we think that will be music to the ears of local pet owners. 

“We’re looking forward to pet owners bringing their animals on opening day to join in the fun and join our Pet Proms.” 

Backed by Kester Capital, Jollyes’ Peterborough store will be its 85th across the UK and has ambitious opening plans for 2023 as it continues its rapid growth.

Aquatic businesses have not been singled out for extra government help towards energy bills in the new business support package announced this week.

Under the new Energy Bills Discount Scheme, which replaces the current scheme when it ends in March, all eligible non-domestic consumers will receive a per-unit discount to their energy bills for 12 months from April 2023 to March 2024, subject to a maximum discount. But some industries deemed to be very heavy energy users will also get additional support on top of this. Despite representations the aquatics industry is not one of these.

“It is of course welcome that help will continue to be available to businesses but we do find it very strange that energy heavy businesses such as aquatics have not got additional support, particularly when for example manufacturers of knitted and crocheted fabrics and hosiery do get chosen!” commented OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“At its heart, this is an animal welfare issue because aquatics businesses cannot choose to turn down the heating, lighting, pumps and filters which must run all day, every day to ensure the welfare of the animals in their care.

“We are making further representations to highlight this and have written to the Prime Minister, Defra and BEIS departments because we believe our sector has a far greater case for additional support than many currently listed.

“We would also urge businesses to ask their MPs to advocate on their behalf to get aquatics listed for extra support and have created a letter to personalise which can be found on our website.”

Under the new EBDS scheme prices have been set per kilowatt hour, up to a maximum, to help eligible businesses calculate what to expect with bills for the next 12 months. Businesses can read more about the scheme and find the MP’s letter on OATA’s website. https://ornamentalfish.org/add-your-voice-to-energy-crisis-call-for-help/