Worcester-based inventor, Peter Hill, was seen securing investment in the Dragons’ Den on BBC2 on Sunday for his innovative pet products ‘Pedaldish’ and ‘Katfone.’

Dragon Deborah Meaden offered to invest £30,000 for a third of the business, an offer Peter accepted. He had asked for the same amount for 25% of the business.

Peter designed the Pedaldish, a sealed pet lunchbox that prevents food from spoiling, from parts he found in his garage.

The product is already available in national retailer Pets at Home after Peter succeeded in pitching it to buyers at the national retailer’s Innovation Day in August 2015 – a day held for up and coming pet product designers.

Peter’s invention provides a long-term, sustainable solution to the problem of having to throw away spoilt pet food. Flies can’t reach it and floating airborne microbes are kept away, reducing the risk of infections.

The design of the Pedaldish means that cats and small dogs can open the lid by stepping onto the ramp, and the container is also raised off the floor, so pets don’t have to crouch to eat, helping digestion.

Peter has also designed the ‘Katfone’, a whistle that contains ultrasounds which can be heard by cats from up to a mile away and can be adjusted to create a unique tone for each cat. 

Peter said: “I had the idea from my own experience of coming home and finding my cats’ food untouched and covered in fly eggs. With a sense of frustration, I modified a pedal bin, fitted it with a ramp and taught my cats to step onto it when they wanted to eat. From that day I never lost pet food to flies ever again. Over the months, people coming to my kitchen saw my cats using the homemade feeder and it became the source of many discussions. When I started getting requests to make them, I knew it was something that could help other pet owners.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to have successfully pitched in the Dragons’ Den and grateful to Pets at Home for believing in my product from the start. My dream is for the Pedaldish to become a staple item in the home of every small dog and cat owner in the UK!”

Claire Gavin, Director of Private Brands and Innovation at Pets at Home, said: “When Pete presented his invention to us several years ago, he was one of the most prepared and well thought through candidates of any of the Innovation Days we’ve ever held. We’re delighted that Pete has secured this monumental investment and raised his profile on the show, and we can’t wait to see what he comes up with next!”

Head to the Primus stand (G35) at PATS Telford to see the new craze for 2019 – the  Bobble Buddies – from Primus, specialists in handcrafted gifts for the house and garden.

Five of the cutest guys and gals you could wish to meet!

• Sammy the Schnauzer
• Billy the Bulldog
• Darcey the Dachshund
• Pablo the Pug
• Bonnie the Basset Hound

Cute, adorable, charming and delightful, with lifelike colours and “Bobbling” head, people are guaranteed to fall in love and want to adopt them all!

Totally unique to Primus, The Bobble Buddies are going to be the New Craze for 2019.

Contact:

A Perry Ltd. (Primus)

Doulton Road, Cradley Heath West Midlands B64 5QW

T: 01384 414069

W: www.primus.co.uk

E: sales@primus.co.uk

See us PATS Telford, Stand G35

Five generations of expertise in animal nutrition and 100% Irish ingredients are at the heart of Go Native – a new complete range of grain-free dog food, treats and dental sticks from Connolly’s Red Mills.

The Connolly family has been making animal feeds in Co Kilkenny, Ireland since 1908 and has used that know-how and commitment to quality to create this ultra-premium, grain-free range.

Go Native has been developed by nutritionists and vets at Connolly’s Red Mills’ purpose-built facility and crafted in their kitchens. Go Native is a complete diet for all dogs, whatever their size, breed or age.

 When only the best is good enough – sourcing the finest Irish ingredients

Connolly’s Red Mills are very particular about using trusted suppliers and only the best, carefully  sourced, natural ingredients are selected for Go Native. 

Fully traceable and sustainably sourced, Go Native food contains 70% meat from a single meat source  – either organic herring or salmon or free-run chicken and turkey  – combined with superfoods like v kale, spinach, broccoli and carrot.

Connolly’s Red Mills’ stringent quality control goes a step further– they even make the poultry feed that’s given to the duck and chicken they select for Go Native.

Recipes include Duck with Apple & Cranberry, Organic Herring with Carrot & Kale, Organic Salmon with Spinach & Ginger and Chicken with Potato & Broccoli.

Go Native grain free meaty treats contain 30% meat and come in four varieties: salmon, herring, duck and turkey. They are cold formed  to ensure all of the nutrients are locked in and suitable for dogs over six months.

Go Native dental super sticks have a unique rough texture and spiral shape to reduce tartar build-up and the formation of plaque and come in two varieties: Carrot & Sweet Potato or Pumpkin & Broccoli. The dental super sticks also contain ground peppermint for fresh breath.

The utmost care and attention to detail at every step

All ingredients are tested in Connolly’s Red Mills’ on-site laboratory and the entire range is grain-free, reducing the risk of allergy. Go Native also contains no wheat, maize, soya or corn, so is 100% gluten-free as well as free from genetically modified ingredients.

“A century of know-how, care and attention at every step has gone into creating this exceptional dog food range,” said sales and marketing director Gareth Connolly. “We’re proud that Go Native is produced using the highest quality, sustainably-sourced, Irish ingredients.”

Go Native Dog food is packed using Connolly’s Red Mills’ unique Nutrient Fresh Management System.

To celebrate the launch of Go Native, Red Mills hosted a special dinner party for some very special four-legged guests. They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves, plates completely cleared with not a morsel of Go Native left behind. The meal was then polished off with a tooth-cleansing Go Native Dental Superfood stick before the guests headed home with goodie/doggie bags.

Check it out here: https://www.redmills.ie/products/pets

To find out more or to register your interest in becoming  a stockist, visit www.gonativedogfood.com

With just days to go before PATS Telford opens its doors, the final preparations are being made for what promises to be the most successful show in the event’s 10-year history.

PATS Telford takes place over Sunday and Monday (23^rd-24^th September), and visitors can expect to find more exhibitors than ever with over 200 companies showcasing hundreds of new products.

UK retailers and international buyers will also have the opportunity to take advantage of an impressive number of show offers, and discover trade secrets from leading figures in the pet and grooming industries.

“There has been a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes to make sure that PATS Telford delivers the widest range of exhibitors, new products, seminars from experts and grooming demonstrations…all under one roof,” said organiser Gordon Thomas.

“Visitor numbers have been growing rapidly over the years and we’re confident the trend will continue this year. There is so much to see and do, and everyone can rest assured they will be given a warm and friendly reception.

“I would advise visitors to arrive at the Telford International Centre early – the show opens on both days at 9.30am – because there is so much to see and do inside the exhibition hall. We can’t wait to greet everyone.”

Visitors can expect a warm welcome from the industry’s leading brands as well as a host of new faces. The growing stature of the September trade exhibition has resulted in 63 companies taking stand space at Telford for the first time.

The mood amongst new exhibitors to PATS was summed up by Petface, whose Wayne Stevens said: “We are really looking forward to exhibiting for the first time. We have some exciting news to share with the independent pet trade and PATS is the perfect place to do that.”

And Stuart Malcolmson, of Arctic Wolf Ltd, commented: “We chose to exhibit at PATS as it allows us to meet with a large number of potential new retail partners in a central location.”

On arrival at Telford International Centre, a large majority of visitors will head for the New Product Showcase, which has attracted over 230 entries and will have a huge presence at the exhibition. All entries in the Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, will be judged by a panel of retailers for the New Product Awards on the first morning of the show, and the winners will receive their accolades at the PetQuip Awards Dinner in the evening.

As well as staging their awards during the Telford show, PetQuip have worked closely with PATS over the past few years to increase international interest in the event, as more buyers from overseas companies are realising the exhibition provides them with the chance to source high quality products.

PetQuip will be hosting the Buyers’ Centre on the show floor, arranging one-to-one buyer/supplier meetings during the exhibition, helping the international buyers with all their product sourcing enquiries, organising an escorted retail tour for them round a range of pet product retailers and hosting their attendance at the PetQuip Awards dinner and party.

Amanda Sizer Barrett MBE, Director General of PetQuip, said: “PATS is an essential event in the UK pet industry calendar. It’s an excellent opportunity for suppliers and retailers across the pet industry to meet and network and it is an order-placing show for many. We are a loyal supporter of PATS and applaud the organisers for putting on a professional and successful exhibition.”

There’s still time to register for free show entry by going online at www.patshow.co.uk. Benefits include free parking, free catalogue, free seminars, dog grooming demonstrations and many special offers. A full list of exhibitors and visitor attractions can also be found on the website.

Opening times

Sunday, 23rd September, 2018: 9.30am-5.00pm

Monday, 24th September, 2018: 9.30am-4.00pm

The PetQuip 2018 Award winners will be announced at a special dinner and party evening on Sunday after the first day of PATS Telford...

The awards are firmly established as a mark of excellence for companies wishing to highlight their products and services to the world.  

Now in their sixth year, such is the popularity of the awards that several hundred entries were received this year, and following the judges’ deliberations, these were whittled down to a list of 39 finalists.

Commenting on the quality of the entries received, PetQuip’s trade association manager, Pat Flynn said; “It has been a mammoth task working with our team of experts to filter through the entries and each and every finalist can be proud of their achievements.  This is particularly true for those companies that have made it into the final line-up in categories where there were a large number of entries. 

“Our final judging panel, made up of independent retailers, a retail chain buyer and a marketing analyst, had hard time deciding the ultimate winners, and everything will be revealed on Sunday evening."

Speaking about how the industry perceives the value of the awards, the director general of PetQuip, Amanda Sizer Barrett said; “News of the winners is always eagerly anticipated, and the publicity generated for those runners- up, finalists and winners should never be underestimated.

“PetQuip receives worldwide recognition and to gain one of its awards demonstrates that the winning firm is a high achiever in the pet industry.  Using the awards as a form of promotion can add significant credibility to both a company and its products in both home and overseas markets.  We are looking forward to finding out who will be the lucky winners this year.”  

Following the success of last year’s presentations, the PATS New Product prizes will also be presented at the dinner.  There are just a few tickets for the event remaining email pat@petquip.com if you're interested.

Tickets are £80 plus VAT or £70 plus VAT for PetQuip members and in addition to entry to the event, the price includes a drinks reception, three course meal with wine and entertainment.  As in previous years, the occasion promises to deliver a fun evening of networking, good food and wine.

Naturediet are on a mission to ditch single use plastics and will be exhibiting their brand-new eco-friendly packaging at PATS Telford, with a not-to-be-missed launch offer.

The Naturediet Feel Good range of healthy, 100% British-made wet food for dogs is a vibrant and exciting variety of products, providing dog owners with premium, natural, complete meals in an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional wet food packaging.

Aligned with the growing consumer demand for recyclability, Naturediet are the first pet food manufacturer in the UK to be able to produce wet food in Tetra Pak and the 3rd pet food manufacturer in Europe to specialise in this technology. The independent British dog food manufacturer have invested in this revolutionary new packaging format and are switching from plastic trays to recyclable cartons made of FSC™ certified paperboard in their Norfolk factory.

Available exclusively to pet specialist retailers, the new Naturediet Feel Good range is available to order direct or from Bestpets (transfer orders can be taken at PATS). Naturediet will be offering exclusive discounts of up to 25% off first orders of their new ranges at PATS Telford.

Naturediet intend on ceasing production of their traditional plastic wet food trays by the end of 2018 and are committed to supporting their retail customers during the transition period of their range re-launch.

For further information on offers, availability and pet specialist retailer support visit the Naturediet team at stand F10 at PATS Telford, email trade@naturediet.co.uk or call 01362 822321.

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has announced details of what visitors to PATS Telford can expect to find on its stand – A31.

PIF is launching a chocolate member benefit at PATS Telford, thanks to its exciting new partnership with the Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Company. Members will have access to a generous discount off the retail price on any products ordered from the Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Company website. Details will be emailed to members next week, but free chocolate samples will be available from the PIF stand for those who can’t wait that long!

New members signing up to PIF membership at the show will walk away with a free bottle of bubbly and chocolate, and new dog groomer members will additionally be entered into a lucky prize draw to win a huge box of grooming goodies, with complimentary tickets to the British Dog Grooming Championship 2018 and a £50 voucher courtesy of Bestpets.

PIF’s Chinese export partner, Best for Pets Supply Chain Company Ltd, will be available on the PIF stand to discuss the huge potential for UK businesses to export their products into the Chinese market; and there will be free to attend grooming demonstrations and talks, taking place on both days, led by the British Dog Groomers’ Association and the Welsh Grooming Academy.

Fresh from his investment success on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den, Pete Hill from Petvictus will also be spending time on the PIF stand to talk about his experience with his innovative feeding solution, Pedaldish.

Finally, PIF is delivering a seminar on the new animal activities licensing laws on both days of the show. These will provide the perfect opportunity for pet retailers, dog daycare, kennels, catteries and home boarding businesses to come and find out how the new regulations will affect their pet business. These seminars will take place in the Seminar Room (D53) at 11.50am and 12.20pm on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Alexandra Baker, PIF’s marketing communications manager said: ‘The PATS Telford trade show provides us with the perfect platform to reveal new benefits and services that are on offer to our members. There’s lots going on for us at the show this year and we are really looking forward to meeting and talking to members, prospective members and colleagues from the industry at Telford.

There’s never been a better time to be part of the Pet Industry Federation and the team will be on hand to talk to visitors about PIF membership and the full range of benefits we offer pet businesses.’

For further details about the Pet Industry Federation, please visit www.petfederation.co.uk; email info@petfederation.co.uk or telephone 01234 273933.

Exhibiting for the first time at PATS Telford, is locally-based Shropshire business, Different Dog. Established to change the face of dog food and improve canine wellbeing, Different Dog provides a completely new solution to independent retailers. Not raw, dry or wet – it’s a range of nutrient-packed, freshly prepared and gently cooked recipes that are supplied frozen.

Not one dog’s dinner – but three!

The brand is rapidly gaining a loyal following and co-founder, Charlie Thurstan; in-house vet – Alison; and operations manager, Steph will be on Stand A20 showcasing three stunning new seasonal recipes.

• Comforting Chicken (For Dogs Under the Weather) – As well as Chicken and Green Cabbage, this special recipe features iron rich Beef Heart with additional Coconut Oil, Slippery Elm, Alfalfa and Ginger – all prized for their health-giving properties.
• Keep Me Trim Turkey – Key ingredients in this lower calorie recipe include Turkey Breast, Red Cabbage, Butternut Squash, Carrot and Apple so that pets can start 2019 in tip top condition.
• Bone Broth – Already taking the speciality (human) food sector by storm, this complementary liquid food is packed full of nutrients for dogs feeling a bit peaky or for picky eaters who need some gentle encouragement!

Dogs deserve better

Developed by an in-house pet nutritionist and vet, Different Dog launch a new recipe each month for retailers to keep their customers coming back for more. Every meal is handmade using high quality, sustainable ingredients from local suppliers, including British farmed meat, vegetables and herbs. These are supplemented with superfoods such as kelp, salmon oil, chia seeds and turmeric. Grain-free and low in carbohydrates, Different Dog’s nutritionally balanced meals are rich in protein, omega 3 fats, vitamins A and D and minerals, to promote healthy bodily functions and happier hounds.

Co-founder Alex explains; “The team are thrilled to be attending PATS and are looking forward to introducing the latest additions to the range to visitors to the show. It was Charlie’s experiences in the pet industry that inspired us to develop an alternative way to feed our own puppy, Crumble. Giving her highly-processed meals seemed totally inconsistent with the way we value good food for oursleves and our three children. Since launching Different Dog, we’ve come to realise that there is an enormous opportunity to re-educate consumers about the benefits of giving their pets a well-balanced and varied diet. We hope it’s an objective that many retailers will also support.”

A Wiltshire-based pet food entrepreneur is going for growth after securing a new 4,000sq ft manufacturing facility.

Part of NatWest’s Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme, Dylan Watkins, who owns Poppy’s Picnic, which provides raw, nutritional meals for dogs, has secured the new facility to accommodate growing demand for his unique product range.

Entrepreneur Dylan was inspired to set up the business in October 2016, after recognising a niche in the market for clean un-processed dog food, following a health kick which saw him overhaul his diet. Scrutinising his own food made him realise he was still feeding Poppy, his Miniature Schnauzer, the same processed food every day and decided to experiment by creating healthier versions of the food she enjoyed.

Poppy’s Picnic has been part of the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme – a scheme for high growth businesses - for the past 18 months. With the help of the bank, the business has raised more than £600,000 in crowd funding, enabling it to grow from an idea founded in Dylan’s kitchen, to a business valued at £4.8milllon.

The manufacturing plant in Melksham, Wiltshire will be operational in Q4 and will support the production of online orders, as well as enabling the business to expand its retail order capabilities. Later this year the Poppy’s Picnic will expand its product range further, by launching a first of its kind nutritious raw cat food as well as expanding into Asia following high numbers of sales in Hong Kong.

Dylan said: “I’m proud at just how far Poppy’s Picnic has progressed this year. My mentors on the NatWest Accelerator Programme have been fantastic; they have helped me channel my energy in the right directions, empowered me to build a strong team, and enabled us to make strategic decisions for our future growth. Our new production facility is in the advance stages of planning and we have already brought new and innovative products to the market. The NatWest Accelerator Programme has been invaluable in focusing our vision for an even more exciting future and has helped us to become an award-winning company.”

Sharad Verma, Business Growth Enabler at NatWest, said: “Dylan opened his first NatWest account at the age of 11, and since joining NatWest’s Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme, it is clear he has an entrepreneurial spirit. It’s been a pleasure to support Dylan on his business journey and I look forward to continuing to do so as his businesses goes from strength to strength.”

The popular Sensitive dog food range from Arden Grange is growing, with the addition of ‘Puppy / Junior’ and ‘Light / Senior’ life stage varieties.

The new grain free diets contain highly digestible fresh ocean white fish and potato, making them the perfect choice for dogs with dietary allergies or intolerances. Both life stages will be available in 2kg and 12kg bags, joining the current Sensitive Adult dry food which now benefits from the inclusion of fresh ocean white fish.

The existing Sensitive Adult dog food created by the British owned company, is extremely popular and regularly receives praise for helping dogs with digestive and skin sensitivities. The demand for this acclaimed food led to the development of the specially designed puppy and senior diets. 

Just like all Arden Grange dry food recipes, the new additions are naturally hypoallergenic and benefit from glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM to help support dog’s joints and include FOS and MOS prebiotics to aid digestion and immunity.

The new products will be available from mid-October and will have unmissable introductory offers available with many wholesalers. The new additions will join the existing Sensitive range which includes; Sensitive Adult dry food, Sensitive Partners wet dog food and Crunchy Bites Sensitive dog treats.

For further information on the Sensitive range and other Arden Grange products, visit www.ardengrange.com or call 01273 833390

The Dog Treat Company is a Devon-based, family business for whom top drawer dog treats is its sole raison d’etre (not simply an expedient sideline). 

All-natural, wheat, grain, gluten-free, hand-baked in small batches and 100% British sourced/ human-grade ingredients are just a few of the upbeat soundbites that have already resulted in enviable distribution successes in such highly prized retailers as: Fetch, Ocado, Pet’s Corner, Fortnum & Mason, Forest Holidays and Orvis.

Outside The Dog Treat Company’s commitment to wholesome, beneficial ingredients, (turmeric, coconut oil, parsley…) is a light, quirky sense of a humour that enables this all-natural treats provider to marry memorable brand names with vibrant, left field packaging design that underpins the enviable functional benefits of its flagship products: Run Free & Jump For Joy (joints health), Fabulous Fur (versatility) & Take My Breath Away (yup you guessed it)….

According to company founder, Joe Halliwell,’As an enthusiastic dog owner, I found myself horrified by the deliberately foggy and unappetising ingredient decks that dominated the pet treats skyline, so called treats saddled with unsavoury masking salts and sugars, dubious grade meats and inappropriate artificial nasties (dyes and flavourings).  Ingredient transparency and integrity sits at the heart of my rural operation, whose quintessentially English identity and unflinching commitment to ‘clean-deck’ recipe decks has results in exports to: Italy, Germany, Scandinavia. Poland, Estonia, Croatia, Singapore) becoming a key strand (30% sales) of our blossoming bottom line. We’re not a business that chooses to stand still.’ concludes Joe, ‘which is why in response to the growing vocal for recycled/recyclable packaging, we’re using PATS as a springboard to launch our NEW eco-friendly 125g ‘treat tubes.’

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HOWND are once again disrupting the pet care market with the launch of its revolutionary Miracle Hand Barrier Serum for groomers.  

The cruelty-free certified serum is set to be a game changer for professional groomers whose hands are constantly under attack from hair splinters and the effects of water, shampoo, dryers and blasters which strip the skin of its natural moisturising barrier. With regular use, the serum forms a shielding barrier that protects and strengthens the natural barrier of the skin.

Formulated with penetrating moistures actives including Pro Vitamin B5, the serum effectively blocks free radicals and irritants from penetrating the skin.  This ground breaking new product is a powerful yet breathable skin barrier treatment that is fast absorbing and non-greasy.  It is paraben and fragrance free and requires 10 minutes to activate once applied to the skin.

Using the Miracle Hand Barrier Serum morning and night for 4 weeks or longer, depending on the condition of the skin, will strengthen the epidermis, as well as combat dry, chapped, sensitive skin that is an occupational hazard especially for groomers. It will also help prevent painful dog hair splinters from penetrating the skin. Treatment bottle size is 100ml. RRP £15.

Jo Amit of HOWND says: “It’s great to be back at PATS with another new product. We’re thrilled at the fantastic feedback we’ve gotten so far from groomers that have been trialling the serum over the past 6 months. We have developed something that protects groomers’ most valuable asset: their hands. One treatment bottle provides approximately 240 applications, costing groomers 50p a day. We think their hands are worth it.”.

www.dogslovehownd.com

HOWND will be on H61 at PATS Telford

Pets at Home is inviting pet owners in to stores across the country to help celebrate the crème de la crème of pet products by voting in this year’s My VIP (Very Important Pet) Reader Awards. 

From favourite feline toys to tasty treats for small furries, customers can have their say on which products they feel have proved indispensable for their pet by voting online at www.petsathome.com/MyVIPAwards

Categories include Nutrition, Accessories and Health and Wellbeing and all products have been shortlisted by Pets at Home experts based upon their benefits to both pets and owners.

Anyone who votes will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five £100 gift vouchers to spend at Pets at Home. 

Claire Gavin, Director of Private Brands & Innovation, said: “We’re encouraging all of our customers to have their say and vote for their favourite pet products - and be in with a chance of winning £100 worth of vouchers!

“We want to recognise and celebrate the best products in the industry, that deliver great benefits to our customers and their pets.  A lot of work goes in to ensuring we offer our customers what they need, so it would be great to understand what they find benefits them and their pets the most.”

Voting closes on 30 November 2018. Winners will be announced in the Spring edition of My VIP in store in March 2019.

Following changes in the UK direction of the KONG Brand, Vital has confirmed it will continue to partner and support this key brand and has announced a new everyday lower price across the KONG range.

The price change will be activated this week and will apply to all subsequent orders, including those taken at PATS Telford.

Senior Buying Manager at Vital, Sam Hearn says he believes this will be a hugely competitive price point, “We’re bringing in a significant price drop across the board on the KONG range, allowing retailers to improve both percentage and cash margins on every purchase. We know this is an important brand for our customers and we want to ensure that they are confident they can continue to source it at great value for money prices from Vital.”

KONG Handipod is one of the brands joining Vital in its Gallery at PATS Telford this month. Also joining Vital are nearly 20 key suppliers, some of whom are new to the UK. They include Almo, Forthglade, Armitage and innovative tech-led companies. 

As well as exclusive products, there will be exclusive promotions available in the Gallery that are unique to the event. The company will also be offering hospitality to visitors in the Gallery and have a generous stand (A50) in the main hall. Customers and prospective customers are invited to attend both areas to snap up exciting deals.

Those that can’t attend can still access some of the exclusive promotions through Vital's Regional Relationship Managers. Account holders can call for details of the PATS promotions and the latest KONG price list. 

The Pet Industry Federation has announced a licensing support package for its members to help them comply with the requirements of the new Animal Activities Licensing (AAL) regulations, which come into force on 1 October 2018.

The new regulations address the huge changes in pet owner attitudes and lifestyles and take account of different business models which have sprung up in recent years and the rise of internet.

There will be one generic licence for commercial pet businesses, regardless of how many licensable activities they undertake and there will be standardised criteria on the various activities providing a framework of minimum standards which businesses must meet in order to gain a licence. In addition, a star-rating system will be introduced for businesses, and there is a requirement within the legislation for trained inspectors.

PIF’s range of measures includes:

• New and updated pet care leaflets on a range of animals have been created to enable retailers to distribute these to prospective new pet owners. These will be freely available to PIF members to download.
  
  
• Policies and information documents to help businesses comply with the written procedures requirements of the legislation. Again, these will be free for members to download.
  
  
• Online training courses, including City & Guilds Level 3 Pet Store Management, and shorter courses on a range of subjects including canine welfare, first aid, small mammals, fish, birds, and reptiles to help businesses comply with the staff training requirements of the legislation. Discounts are available to PIF members.
  
  
• Access to PIF’s Primary Authority scheme, which we operate with the Corporation of London. This scheme can be used by PIF member businesses if they encounter difficulties with their local authority or receive unusual licensing stipulations. Again, this scheme comes as part of PIF membership.

Nigel Baker, PIF chief executive said: "We know that many pet businesses have concerns about complying with the new regulations, particularly if they are falling within the scope of licensing for the first time. We hope that our package of benefits will give members reassurance and take on some of the hard work that businesses would have to do to find suitable documents, leaflets and training courses. Our package will evolve and develop over time to best meet our members’ need and as we act on feedback from them about what they would find most beneficial."

PIF members will be emailed directly with details of this package and how they can access the documents. The full licensing regulations are available to view online at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111165485, with the supporting guidance available on the PIF website.

In addition, PIF will be attending PATS Telford (stand A31) where we will be delivering a seminar on both days on the new Animal Activities Licensing regulations. Visitors can talk to the team about PIF membership at PATS; by emailing info@petfederation.co.uk or by telephoning 01234 273933.

Pet accessories and treats company, Pet Brands, has been chosen as a finalist in the Examiner Business Awards in the ‘SME of the Year (21-50 employees)’ category. The company has previously won the ‘International Business of the Year’ category award in 2016 and was a finalist in 2017 for the Innovation award.

The overall winners in each category will be announced on 1st November in Huddersfield.

PetBrands Director, Ravi Sharma, says he and his team are delighted to be finalists, “The feedback we have had is that this has been an outstanding year for entries, making the judges’ decisions extremely difficult and we know from our previous involvement with the awards that the calibre of entries is very high. We’re therefore very pleased that our achievements have been recognised.”

Explaining why he thinks Pet Brands is through to the next round of judging, Ravi says the company has had some remarkable successes this year, “We’ve extended our export business into new markets in South Korea, Italy and Sweden, bringing the total number of countries we export to up to 58. Our market share in established territories such as Australia, Germany and Spain has also grown through 2017-18. In the UK, we’ve made a lot of progress in the business, our Foaber range is performing strongly and we have new, exciting products in the pipeline.”

Pet Brands is one of the UK’s top designers and manufacturers of accessories and treats for pets and wild birds and aims to be the number one preferred partner for pet trade businesses worldwide.

For further information visit www.petbrands.com

The pet food market is a prime example of the hypocrisy of the large, multinational ‘Big Food’ companies, claims Guy Blaskey, the founder of Pooch & Mutt.

According to Blaskey, yet another multinational is trying to claw back some of the decreasing market shares of its brands with the launch of a new product in the UK.

The brand in question claims to have a 'commitment to clean'. They say that a pet’s food 'energizes them from the inside out' and that the recipes are “simple, purposeful and trustworthy - made of real, recognizable non-GMO ingredients'. This stinks of hypocrisy, says Blaskey.

He goes on to say that it is not an independent company, it is a division of a multi-national. "If the company cared about ingredients being 'real' and 'recognisable', then why not apply it to all pet products that they make?"

He says that an even bigger hypocrisy is about to hit the pet food market.

"One of the most important issues at the moment is the environment and the recyclability of packaging. Pet food pouches are notoriously difficult to recycle. 

"The solution would be working with TerraCycle, a company who can recycle this difficult-to-recycle packaging. Pooch & Mutt, along with a few other pet food companies have been in discussions with Terracycle about launching a national recycling scheme for pouches. However, one ‘Big Pet Food’ company have swooped in with their deep pockets and signed a 2-year exclusivity deal to prohibit other companies working with TerraCycle and offering to recycle for their packaging. 

"This is not a call out to Big Pet Food to stop their acquisitions or to not use companies like Terracycle to offer to recycle. This is a call out, to be honest, and be ethical.

"If these companies care about the environment, why prohibit other companies from using a recycling scheme? Why not work with all other manufacturers to create a national programme to help customers recycle all brands of pet food pouches, instead of just one?

"If these companies care about high-quality ingredients in food, why not apply it to all brands?

Guy Blaskey's full comments can be read by clicking here

An inventor of cat products will feature in BBC2’s hit TV programme Dragons’ Den this Sunday at 8pm.

Peter Hill, the man behind Petvictus, will be seen presenting his pet inventions to the Dragons, including Katphone (an ultrasonic whistle that calls a cat home) and Pedaldish (a lunchbox for cats).

If you can’t wait for Sunday you can view a clip of Peter’s presentation by clicking here

Cotswold RAW sausages have been withdrawn from this October’s National Sausage Awards on account of the fact the food ‘is not for human consumption'.

A spokesperson for Cotswold RAW said: "We were clearly very excited to receive our unique entry code to the competition a few weeks back, and whilst we made it very clear on all our correspondence that our sausages couldn’t be consumed by humans, we were keen to benefit from the positive sausage aura that always surrounds such a prestigious event.

"The point of our entry was two-fold – to pronounce our appreciation for fine sausages (dogs are just as enthusiastic as humans) and the cool by association tie in with an organisation that actively showcases the often under-appreciated premium credentials of a fine banger. 

"In recent years pet foods have been mirroring human trends with the growth of artisan providers creating tastier, more ‘nutritionally proud’ alternatives to the usual multinational fayre."

The RSPCA range of pet products has been a great success on the RSW International stand at the Glee exhibition, NEC Birmingham, including winning a prestigious New Product Award.

The slow-feeding pet bowl, which won the award in the Wildlife and Pets category, has an intricate maze design. This encourages a pet to eat and drink at a slower pace, helping to encourage better digestion.

The rounded rubber bottom prevents the bowl from skidding along the floor and the movement adds another challenge for a pet. The bowl features high sides to prevent mess and comes apart for easy cleaning.

The company's Fetch & Treat Ball Game was also shortlisted in the New Product Awards, a clear indication that this RSPCA range is a winner for RSW Inetrenational.