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A share transfer transaction which took place earlier this month has seen Sharples 'n 'Grant return to being a privately-owned UK business, and is no longer part of the Karlie Group GmbH.
In 2012, European entity Karlie Group GmbH acquired a majority stake in Sharples 'n 'Grant. But the past few years have been a challenging period for the Karlie Group of companies and a restructure of the Group is now necessary.
All shareholding in Sharples 'n' Grant Ltd that was acquired by Karlie Group GmbH has now been transferred.
In a statement, Bryan Sharples said: "‘We are looking forward to the opportunity of re-establishing a great company with a great history.
"We have the team in place to drive forwards and a secure strategy for the future. We are now moving forwards with great enthusiasm."
Karlie Group GmbH is an iinternational wholesaler of pet food and supplies and operates across Europe, but its holding company, Flamingo Holding Belgium B.V.B.A., was declared bankrupt three weeks ago. It is uncertain if a serious negative impact on the financial situation of Karlie Group GmbH is to be expected.
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Armitage flea and tick products recalled after packaging mix-up
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate this week issued a 'product defect recall alert' for Armitage Pet Care Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs and Armitage Flea Drops for Cats & Kittens manufactured by Bio-Tech Solutions Ltd after a mix-up with packaging...
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate this week issued a 'product defect recall alert' for Armitage Pet Care Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs and Armitage Flea Drops for Cats & Kittens manufactured by Bio-Tech Solutions Ltd after a mix-up with packaging.
Bio-Tech Solutions admitted it had incorrectly put tick medicine for dogs in packets for flea drops used on cats.
The company says an 'unknown quantity' of Armitage Pet Care Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs, which contains permethrin, has been sent out in packaging labelled Armitage Flea Drops for Cats and Kittens.
Exposure to even small quantities of concentrated permethrin can cause severe and fatal poisoning in cats.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate issued the warning about the potentially fatal mix up urging pet owners not to use the treatment.
The statement – issued on the Gov.UK website – said: "We wish to make wholesalers, veterinary surgeons, retailers and pet owners aware that the VMD has been notified that Bio-Tech Solutions Ltd has issued a recall of Armitage Pet Care Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs 702 mg spot-on solution (Vm 20205/4003) and Armitage Flea Drops for Cats and Kittens
"An unknown quantity of the Armitage Pet Care Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs containing permethrin has been distributed in packaging labelled Armitage Flea Drops for Cats and Kittens.
"Exposure to even small quantities of concentrated permethrin can cause severe and fatal poisoning in cats.
"If you have one of the products, do not use it on your cat. Return the product to the place of purchase or contact the company."
Anyone who may have any of the products can call John Tharratt, Bio-Tech solutions. Tel 08704 450154 or email JTharratt@btsl.uk.com
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate statement can be found by clicking here
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How to become an award-winning grooming business
Vita Canis was named Grooming Business of the Year at this year’s Pet Industry Federation (PIF) Awards. Owner Jitka Krizova explains how the company became so successful...
Vita Canis team from left to right: Klaudia Szonji, Jitka Krizova and Zoe Oakes.
Vita Canis was named Grooming Business of the Year at this year’s Pet Industry Federation (PIF) Awards.
The award was open to all grooming businesses with the award judges looking for a consistently high level of overall excellence with a high achievement in several commercial areas including customer service and satisfaction, animal welfare and innovation.
On receiving the award, Vita Canis founder and owner Jitka Krizova commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award. This is recognition of the dedication and hard work from all within the Vita Canis team and our commitment in providing a first class grooming service together with loving pet care. We feel so lucky to work in an industry we love.”
Vita Canis is a professional dog grooming salon and spa located near Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, and Jitka Krizova spoke to Pet Trade Xtra about how the company became so successful.
How and when did you get started in grooming?
In Slovakia when I was about 15 I started to trim my first dog, a Miniature Schnauzer, because there were no grooming salons in Slovakia at that time. Then I started to trim dogs for my friends and family. I started grooming professionally in 1998, working for a local vet who had grooming salon. I opened my first grooming salon in 2000 in Zvolen, Slovakia.
Have you got a favourite breed that you like grooming?
Long legged terriers are my favourite but any well behaved dog with a good coat.
How do you make a dog relaxed when grooming?
Adopting a gentle approach, using minimum restraint and building trust are very important in making a dog feel relaxed. A good understanding of dog behaviour and anatomy is also necessary. If necessary we use our own hand made Vita Canis Aromatic Floral Spray and Comfort Blend for calming nervous and anxious dogs, with great results. These products are also used by many other dog groomers and grooming schools.
Do you own dogs yourself?
Yes, I have 7 dogs.
What piece of advice would you give would-be groomers?
To be a good dog groomer you need to work not only on your grooming skills but also on your customer service. You also need to understand dogs anatomy and behaviour, read their body language, etc. It's constant learning and it's fascinating.
What’s the worst case of poor grooming (or lack of it) you’ve come across, and did you manage to put it right?
The worse cases of poor grooming are usually done by owners who try to trim their dog with inappropriate equipment such as the kitchen scissors. It is really dangerous. The good thing about this business is the hair always grows back and then we can fix it.
Do you enter grooming competitions, and if so, what’s the best competition you’ve won?
I’ve entered many competitions and have won Best in Show at Eurogroom 3 times, British Groomer of the Year, Groomania Best in Show and Mastergroom Best in Show. My favourite was Mastergroom, because I won Best n Show with a toy poodle and also Best All Round Groomer with an English Cocker Spaniel and Toy Poodle.
What’s the secret of your success?
I love working with dogs, am very professional and dedicated to what I do. I also never stop learning.
Main picture above: Vita Canis team from left to right: Klaudia Szonji, Jitka Krizova and Zoe Oakes.
Below: Jitka and Klaudia receive the award from Chris Barrie.
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The sale of dogs in pet shops should be banned to help stamp out the cruel trade in puppy farming, MPs have said.
It’s one of a series of radical changes to animal welfare laws proposed by a Commons committee.
In a hard-hitting report, they call for a complete ban on the sale of dogs in pet shops, increased penalties for animal cruelty and tougher rules on importing puppies and kittens.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs committee says there should be a ban on selling animals through third parties such as pet shops and animals should only be bought from licensed breeders or approved rehoming organisations.
It also wants laws updated so anyone breeding two litters or more per year must be licensed and a ban on importing dogs aged six months or younger.
The MPs also call for animal welfare classes to be included in the national curriculum and the maximum penalty for animal cruelty increased from six months to five years.
Other recommendations include making it compulsory that all internet pet advertisements should include the registration or licence number of the seller and new laws to ensure dogs are not genetically deformed.
The MPs also say the RPSCA should no longer carry out private prosecutions as a first resort and it should be for the Crown Prosecution Service to take the lead on pursuing animal cruelty cases.
The committee says the puppy market is “extremely profitable” with as many 1.9 puppies sold each year in a market worth between £100m and £300m.
But the MPs say the industry “works in the dark” with “unlicensed breeders able to dominate the market.”
Last year the RSPCA investigated 143,004 animal cruelty complaints in 2015, including: 81,146 cruelty incidents against dogs; 33,844 against cat and 15,965 incidents against horses.
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Animal welfare report raises more questions than answers, says PIF
The Pet Industry Federation has cautiously welcomed the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee’s Report into animal welfare in England but the organisation's chief executive Nigel Baker (pictured) said "the proposal to ban the third party sale of puppies could lead to unforeseen consequences..."
PET INDUSTRY FEDERATION SAYS EFRA REPORT RAISES MORE QUESTIONS ON ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES THAN IT SOLVES The Pet Industry Federation (PIF), the trade association which represents the interests of 2,500 pet businesses, has cautiously welcomed the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee’s Report into animal welfare in England. The report, published today, outlines a number of recommendations for robust new measures, including a ban on the third party sale of puppies and the suggestion that the RSPCA shouldn’t carry out animal welfare prosecutions.
Whilst PIF welcomes the suggestion for animal welfare prosecutions to go through the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), it would want to ensure that the CPS placed a high priority on such cases so that animal welfare wasn’t compromised. Nigel Baker, chief executive, said: "Whilst many of the committee’s recommendations are to be applauded, some, in particular the proposal to ban the third party sale of puppies, could lead to unforeseen consequences.
"PIF would have no problem with third party sales of puppies being banned per se, provided that doing so doesn’t result in further welfare concerns arising as a result of a ban.
"However, the reality is that the demand for puppies (estimated at about 800,000 per year) clearly outstrips the supply. PIF is therefore concerned that puppy sales could be forced underground and the opportunity to put regulation and enforcement into these vendors to ensure that the welfare of the animals remains paramount would be removed. "In the USA, 30% of puppies are now acquired through unlicensed and unregulated rehoming centres as a result of certain states banning third party sales of puppies, and whilst the committee suggests ‘approved rehoming’ centres are a possible source of puppies, it is important to remember that in the UK re-homing centres are also currently unlicensed. Such a move begs the question - is it right to move puppy sales from a licensed premises to an unlicensed premises? "As an alternative to banning third party sales, PIF would suggest that the guidelines and the criteria used when licensing the third party sale of puppies is made far more robust, with puppy welfare rather than commercial considerations at their core." Nigel continued: "PIF is also concerned that the recommendation to ban third party puppy sales has been made without the committee completely understanding the picture of the puppy market in the UK today.
"The report quotes some wildly differing statistics for the size of the puppy market (cited as between 700,000 and 1.7m puppies) and if a ban were to be implemented today, it would only actually affect 80 premises (i.e. those currently licensed to sell puppies; split between 30 retail premises and 50 private dwellings).
"PIF would prefer to see recommendations made on concrete data so that the scale of the issue is fully understood. The risk is that basing a ban on uncertain data might not have the impact that it is intended to have, because sadly large parts of the puppy trade are already likely to be underground."
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PetSafe's spoof video is a hit on Facebook
PetSafe reacted to the John Lewis Christmas TV advert by producing their own version involving a cat instead of Buster the Boxer... and the company's response notched up thousands of views on Facebook.
PetSafe reacted to the John Lewis Christmas TV advert by producing their own version involving a cat instead of Buster the Boxer... and the company's response notched up thousands of views on Facebook.
Under the caption "We've seen #BustertheBoxer, but what if the John Lewis advert had tried to use a cat instead...?", the PetSafe video showed a cat in front of a roaring fire while the family trampoline remained unused in the garden.
You can view the video at https://www.facebook.com/petsafeuk/videos/10154320786658725/
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York’s leading pet store is planning to be “nuggets only” by the end of the year, following the success of a ‘Muesli Amnesty’ in conjunction with Burgess Pet Care, which urged rabbit owners to swap unhealthy muesli for nuggets.
James Nixon, the owner of Pets Pantry in Huntington, says about 80% of his customers are now nugget buyers after being educated about the benefits of nuggets during the campaign, which ran in September and October.
Supported by Burgess Pet Care the Muesli Amnesty was highlighted across local radio and social media, with a Facebook video having close to 2000 views.
 Pets Pantry customers were able to trade in their rabbit muesli for a 1kg bag of Burgess Excel Nuggets, a £1-off voucher against their next purchase and a handy guide to changing their rabbit’s diet and over the course of the event dozens of owners exchanged their muesli type of diets for Excel nuggets.
Commercial rabbit mueslis, have been shown to increase the risk of serious illness in rabbits, with the 2013 PDSA Animal Wellbeing report suggesting they are at the root of severe dental and digestive problems.
“The October campaign provided a fantastic platform to educate more customers about the benefits of nuggets,” says James. “We have always championed top quality foods for rabbits, but to have the backing of Burgess behind us made a big difference. It’s given us the confidence to go forward and continue to educate more customers about best practice when it comes to rabbits.”
As one of the first pet food manufacturers to create a nugget food for rabbits – combining all essential nutrients into one pelleted food – Burgess is keen for all rabbit owners to ditch muesli in favour of nutritionally rich nuggets, fed alongside high quality feeding hay to aid digestion and dental health.
For more information visit www.burgesspetcare.com
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Six miracle pets up for national award
Public vote to decide who is crowned PDSA Pet Survivor 2016
The vote is now open for the nation to decide who is the UK’s most miraculous pet! Three dogs, a cat, a rabbit and a ferret have all reached the finals of the PDSA Pet Survivor Awards – a national competition run by the leading vet charity...
The vote is now open for the nation to decide who is the UK’s most miraculous pet! Three dogs, a cat, a rabbit and a ferret have all reached the finals of the PDSA Pet Survivor Awards – a national competition run by the leading vet charity.
All six much-loved pets have death-defying ‘tails’ of survival against all odds. It’s now over to the public to decide who will receive the coveted PDSA Pet Survivor 2016 title. The brave pets are:
- Arthur the cat – dragged himself home with an illegal animal trap clamped to his leg, which had to be amputated.
- Bodie the Labrador – was left with horrendous injuries after a vicious dog attack, requiring several major operations.
- Buddy the Jack Russell – suffered extensive burns after pulling a boiling casserole over himself.
- Darcy the Cocker Spaniel – sustained horrific injuries after falling down a 60-foot dam.
- Dobby the ferret – nearly died after sustaining terrible internal injuries when shaken by a large dog.
- Hans the rabbit – was close to death when abandoned with a severely infected head injury, caused by a dog or fox attack.
People can vote for their favourite pet by visiting www.pdsa.org.uk/petsurvivor. The vote closes on Sunday 4 December.
Entries for the awards, run in association with PDSA Petsurance, were received from all over the UK and a celebrity judging panel, including actress and PDSA supporter Pam St Clement, helped select the finalists.
Animal lover Pam said: “It was so difficult to choose one near-tragedy over another; they are all deserving of the PDSA Pet Survivor title. These pets are truly brave survivors with loving two-legged owners and skilled veterinary teams for support.”
Meet the finalists:
Arthur the cat, from Bures, Suffolk
In June, two-year-old ginger cat, Arthur, went missing for days. He eventually dragged himself home where his owner, Gemma Harris, was horrified to see a rusty old animal trap clamped to his mangled back leg. Arthur was in a terrible state and was rushed to Ardmore Vets in Sudbury. Vets had no choice but to amputate his leg. The speed of Arthur’s recovery was remarkable, and he was soon dashing about on three legs!
Bodie the Labrador cross, from Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex
Eight-year-old Bodie was returning from a walk in July when a dog came out of nowhere and launched a vicious and completely unprovoked attack. Bodie’s owner, Natascha Relf, was shocked by the horrific wounds all down his side – it looked like his insides were hanging out. Priors Leaze vets in Chichester spent five hours stitching Bodie back together but, sadly, his injuries were so extensive the damaged skin started to die. Bodie needed several further operations, which were performed at Portsmouth PDSA Pet Hospital. Months of recovery followed and Bodie was a perfect patient throughout. Remarkably, his wounds are now almost completely healed.
Buddy the Jack Russell, from West Molesley,Surrey
In December last year, thirteen-year-old Buddy managed to pull a slow cooker full of boiling chicken casserole off a worktop and over his body, leaving him with extensive second and third degree burns across his back and sides. After emergency treatment, he endured twice-daily dressing changes while staying at the vet, and then his nursing and care continued at home. Months of recovery followed, but Buddy never stopped wagging his tail, and his wounds are now completely healed.
Darcy the Cocker Spaniel, from Kellas near Dundee
Two-year-old Darcy was out walking in July when she suddenly jumped over a five-foot wall, only to plummet down a 60-foot concrete dam on the other side. Her owners, Wendy and Gordon Lyon, were distraught, but amazed that she survived, although she was very badly injured. Darcy had serious internal injuries, a fractured pelvis, a shattered open fracture on her back leg and a broken and dislocated front leg. It took four major operations and months of rehab, throughout which Darcy’s tail never stopped wagging. She’s now able to run around enjoying life to the full again.
Dobby the ferret, from Stanley, County Durham
Named after the house elf in the Harry Potter series, five-year-old Dobby escaped and ended up in the jaws of a large dog. At first it seemed Dobby had escaped unharmed, but his owner, Jade Gardiner, became very concerned as his health quickly deteriorated. A scan showed his intestines had been ruptured and, in such a weakened state, he only had a tiny chance of making it through surgery, but it was his only hope of survival. Dobby’s resilience shone through – he endured the operation, his quick recovery astounded everyone and he was soon reunited with his brother Kreacher.
Hans the Dutch Rabbit, from Richmond, North Yorkshire
Earlier this year, poor Hans the rabbit was abandoned close to death. He was in a terrible state and had a severely infected head injury, thought to have been caused by a dog or fox attack. His rescuer Gwen Butler refused to give up though – she paid for him to have life-saving surgery and named him Hans – after the author Hans Christian Andersen – as he was something of an ugly duckling like the famous fairy tale! The vet managed to save his ear and, with months of love and care, Hans transformed into a beautiful swan, reminiscent of his namesake’s story!
PDSA Senior Vet Sean Wensley also helped judge the competition. Commenting on the finalists, Sean said: “Reading these extraordinary cases makes me proud to be part of such a hard-working and dedicated profession. Veterinary teams save the lives of much loved pets like these every day. The tragic and painful circumstances endured by these pets, along with the devotion shown by their owners, makes them all worthy contenders for the PDSA Pet Survivor title.”
The competition was open to pets treated for a life threatening illness or injury by a vet in the UK between 1 August 2015 and 1 August 2016. Only one vote per person is allowed. The winner will receive the coveted PDSA Pet Survivor trophy and a year’s free PDSA pet insurance*. Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 4 December.
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1m owners wash pet bedding four times a year or less
One million households, that’s almost one in ten (9%) pet owners, admit to washing their beloved furry family member’s bedding four times a year or less, increasing the risk to both pet and animal residents potentially catching fleas...
One million households, that’s almost one in ten (9%) pet owners, admit to washing their beloved furry family member’s bedding four times a year or less, increasing the risk to both pet and animal residents potentially catching fleas.
Fleas can live within pet bedding as well as soft furnishings used by the whole family, posing a risk to the entire household’s health if blankets and bedding aren’t regularly washed. Worryingly, 37 per cent of the pet owners share a bed with their pet on a nightly basis, increasing the risk of fleas spreading.
While many of us believe that fleas are a summer specific pet problem, they do in fact live throughout the winter quite easily, thanks to milder British weather conditions and the toasty home environments created thanks to modern central heating systems.
Fleas rapidly multiply when left untreated, with a single adult female being able to lay around 40 eggs every day. As well as living on a pet, the fleas can live in household furnishings while continuing to breed and may bite humans in the most serious of cases. That’s why taking regular preventative medication is the best way to keep the risk of a pet being infected by fleas to a minimum.
The research was conducted by Pets at Home’s Subscribe and Save Flea service, a new subscription service, which sends perfectly timed flea treatments conveniently in the post.
Each delivery is tailored to target the specific needs of the individual pet, making the treatment as effective as possible. The treatment starts from £4 per month, depending on the size of the pet, and is sent directly to the pet owner free of charge. Not only does the service eliminate the need to remember to purchase the treatment, it also provides a saving of up to £19.50 each year for subscribers.
Dr. Maeve Moorcroft, Veterinary Advisor for Pets at Home, said: “Fleas can be a very nasty – and quick to expand – problem for pets, particularly if left untreated. Long term flea infestation is very irritating to the pet due to repeated bites and could cause the animal to scratch themselves, resulting in hair loss or even a secondary skin infection which can be traumatic.
“A severe infestation in a puppy or kitten could cause anaemia due to blood loss, a very serious situation indeed. Therefore it’s imperative that pet owners keep preventative treatments and soft furnishing-hygiene front of mind.
“While the risk to a pet varies from animal to animal, it is possible for a pet to become infested after missing just one preventative treatment. We often associate fleas with the summer months, but in actual fact, the increasingly mild British winter coupled with the humid atmospheres created by modern central heating, means that fleas can be a year round problem. That’s why seeking regular treatment, even during cold seasons, is a sensible precaution for all pet owners.”
The Subscribe and Save Flea service is available exclusively to members of Pets at Home’s VIP club which is free to join and now has over 4.5 million members.
Pets at Home’s Subscribe and Save Flea service costs from as little as £4 a month and the subscription can be set up online by visiting www.petsathome.com/subscribeandsaveflea.
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AQUA 2017 shaping up to be a fantastic show
With just under a year to go before AQUA 2017, the UK’s No 1 aquatics and water gardening trade exhibition is shaping up to be one of the best shows ever staged in its history...
With just under a year to go before AQUA 2017, the UK’s No 1 aquatics and water gardening trade exhibition is shaping up to be one of the best shows ever staged in its history.
Returning exhibitors include AQUA One, Berry Ring, CASCO Pet, Evolution Aqua, Gordon Low, Interpet, Lotus-Atlantis, JMC Aquatics, OASE, Pedigree Aquatics Wholesale, Tetra and Tropical Marine Centre.
The two-day exhibition at Telford International Centre on October 18-19, 2017, will have a strong international presence with companies like Eheim and Tunze (from Germany), and Aquadip and Velda (The Netherlands) taking stands. A full list of exhibitors is on the AQUA website www.aquatelford.co.uk.
“It’s great to see the industry getting right behind AQUA 2017,” says organiser Annie Foord. “Major companies from both the UK and abroad are returning to show, and we’re confident it will be another fantastic show.”
AQUA, which is staged every two years, has grown in size and popularity with companies like Gordon Low Products agreeing it’s the perfect stage to launch and showcase products. Director Ruth Low (pictured above centre) says: “We are looking forward to next year’s show. As it gets closer you can feel a real buzz within the trade. From our point of view being able to showcase our products at such a prestigious and industry focused event is key to our business.”
It’s a similar story for OASE UK, whose Managing Director Chris Wright says: “We are really excited about attending AQUA 2017. The show has been a huge success for us over past few years. We can't wait to show our valued customers our innovations and new business segments for the first time at next year’s show.”
Ashleigh Pope, Marketing Manager at Tetra, comments: “We’re always excited to be involved with AQUA as it gives us such a great opportunity to meet with a wide range of retailers. It also allows us to demonstrate our innovative and new product ranges as well sharing our expert knowledge on the latest trends in fishkeeping.”
There will be lots for visitors to see and do at AQUA 2017 and one of the most popular features is the New Products Showcase where exhibitors get the chance to unveil their latest launches. A panel of retailers will judge all entries on the first morning of the show before the New Product Awards are handed out to the winners later in the day.
Annie Foord talks to exhibitors on a regular basis and she knows that AQUA 2017 is an important date in their calendar. “Companies will be working hard between now and next year’s exhibition to produce new and innovative products and services. So if you’re a retailer or buyer make sure you put the date in your diary. It’s an event you can’t afford to miss.”
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Pets at Home saw a huge surge in the number of visitors to its website using the search term ‘dog trampolines’ in the seven hours following the launch of the John Lewis Christmas advert...
The advert also reminded pet owners not to leave their pets out when buying Christmas gifts this holiday season, as a surge in sales has been recorded, particularly on the specialist pet retailer’s website: www.petsathome.com.
The large dog stocking available at Pets at Home has seen a 350% rise in sales compared to yesterday’s sales (9 November) and the Reindeer Harness and Antler set has seen a 322% rise in sales over the same period. Dog toys also saw an uplift with sales of the Christmas Pudding Ball rising 130%.
In addition, it’s not only the dog Christmas range which has seen a spike, sales of cat Christmas teasers, including the Candy Cane Holly Teaser have seen a 120% rise in sales.
Scott Jefferson, marketing director at Pets at Home, said: "While we’re not sure we would ever sell a trampoline for dogs, we have seen a huge surge in people searching for fun gifts following the launch of the Buster the Boxer advert this morning.
"We have a huge variety of Christmas gifts for all pets and we hope that if anything, the John Lewis advert has encouraged owners to treat their pets this holiday season, after all, they are part of the family."
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Stock up now on Animal Instincts Forest Friends wildlife plush dog toys, perfectly themed for this year’s festive season.
Made from premium quality, ultra-soft fabric the range includes Frankie Fox, Barry Badger, Sammy Squirrel, Walter Woodpecker, Raymond Rabbit, Sally Stoat and Ollie Owl.Available exclusively from Pedigree Wholesale, Animal Instincts Forest Friends are available in both small and large sizes making them suitable for all sizes of dog.
The toys are made using double strength thread which, combined with a low stitch density, provides extra strength. The machine washable toys are supplied on eye catching hanging cards, making them easy to merchandise and display. If you would like more information about the Animal Instincts Forest Friends Plush Dog Toys contact our Customer Services Team on 0115 982 3900, email info@petproducts.co.uk or speak to your Relationship Manager.
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Suffolk-based Skinner’s Petfoods will be shaking up the sector from early in 2017 with the launch of its ‘Life’ range.
Life builds on Skinner’s extensive experience in developing the highest quality products for working dogs – something they’re now keen to share with pets, as explained by Will Delamore, Skinner’s Marketing Director.
“Skinner’s Field & Trial range has been the number one working dog food for around 25 years and we’re well known throughout that sector because of our absolute passion for making sure we provide the dogs with the best possible nutrition.
"The main aim of our food has always been to produce happy, healthy dogs – and as Field & Trial is already doing that with working dogs we decided it was time to turn our attention to pets.
"With our proven track record we understand the importance of making sure all dogs have access to the best possible food and that is what our new Life range offers.”
Life has been carefully formulated with the help of vets and other experts in canine nutrition, to create healthy recipes featuring easily digestible chicken and is available in Puppy, Junior, Adult and Senior, with Sensitive available for those dogs needing a fully hypo allergenic option. The range is perfectly balanced with super premium ingredients – including optimum levels of all nutrients and essential vitamins and minerals – to form a highly palatable diet for all stages of a dog’s life.
Skinner’s many years of experience in producing high quality dog foods have given them a unique understanding of dogs and the role good nutrition plays in maintaining optimum health. Skinner’s pride themselves on the fact that all their diets have been carefully formulated by expert nutritionists to provide the correct balance of protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals required for all dogs throughout every stage of their life.
The range will be available for wholesalers to stock from the end of January and launches in 12.5kg (RRP from £24.99) and 2.5kg (RRP from £6.99) bag sizes. The 2.5kg bags are re-sealable, for added convenience and freshness.
For further information contact your Account Manager or Skinner’s direct on 01379 384247 Email: will@skinnerspetfoods.co.uk
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Beaphar UK has added two new products to its dental range – Beaphar Puppy Dental Kit and Beaphar Dental Sticks.The Beaphar Puppy Dental Kit includes Beaphar Toothpaste and a soft grip toothbrush. Beaphar Toothpaste is a veterinary strength product and the Beaphar Puppy Dental Kit is a perfect starter pack to get puppies used to having their teeth brushed from an early age.The enzymatic toothpaste counteracts plaque and prevents the formulation of tartar, resulting in fresher breath and healthier teeth. It contains protease and glucose oxidase. Protease destroys the protein structure of plaque before it binds with calcium to become tartar. Glucose oxidase transforms glucose into harmless gluconic acid. This process produces a small amount of hydrogen peroxide which is an antibacterial and will kill dental bacteria. In addition, zinc and sodium tripolyphosphate are added to bind with calcium and prevent plaque from turning to tartar. The toothbrush has a handy soft grip and is small enough for most puppies. It has different length bristles to ensure even hard to reach areas are kept clean and healthy. The Beaphar Puppy Dental Kit is easy to use and offers great value for you and your customers. Beaphar Dental Sticks are an exciting addition to the Beaphar Dental Range. Their formulation is one of the best on the market and contains a whole host of dental disease fighting ingredients such as Natural Brown Seaweed, Anti-Tartar & Anti-Staining agents and De-Caffeinated Green Tea. Natural brown seaweed has been proven to counteract common dental problems by removing underlying causes of tooth decay, even after the stick has been eaten. Anti-Tartar and Anti-Staining agents, prevent plaque and tartar adhering to the teeth which will reduce the occurrence of dental disease, leaving dog’s teeth strong, healthy and stain free. De-Caffeinated Green Tea Extract keeps doggie breath at bay by neutralising bad odours. They are also a great source of the superfood, Spirulina which encourages the body’s natural mouth and teeth cleaning processes throughout chewing and long after ingestion. Beaphar Dental Sticks come in 2 different pack sizes; Small Dogs and Medium & Large Dogs. They are also naturally low in fat, with no artificial flavourings or colourings. The Beaphar Dental Range is fully supported with eye-catching sales material which will drive customers to pick these off the shelf and put them in their basket. These include ‘A complete Dental Guide for Cats and Dogs’, educational A2 dental posters and the very popular animated dental dog display. Don’t forget to take advantage of our professional product training which is available online via the trade zone via beaphar.co.uk or available through your local Sales Executive, please ask us for more details. To stock Beaphar Puppy Dental Kit, Beaphar Dental Sticks or any other item in the Beaphar range, contact your local Sales Executive or call our award-winning Customer Care team on 0333 0066236 or email info@uk.beaphar.com for further information.
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OATA welcomes a new face to its Board of Directors
The aquatic industry trade body has welcomed a new director to its Board, following its annual general meeting held in November. Matt Stevenson, of Seneye, joined five other directors who were voted back onto the board...
The aquatic industry trade body has welcomed a new director to its Board, following its annual general meeting held in November.
Matt Stevenson, of Seneye, joined five other directors who were voted back onto the board at the AGM.
The trade association also said goodbye to Peter Wheeler, of Aquajardin, who has stepped down after more than 20 years on the board.
OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee said: “We were sad to say goodbye to Peter Wheeler who has been on the board since OATA was set up in 1991 which really shows huge commitment to this industry. And we’re very pleased to welcome Matt to the Board, who has been seeing what we do through our New Blood scheme.”
Ruth Low of Gordon Low Products Ltd has also taken over the Chair from Devotedly Discus’ Mark Evenden while Kevin Rose of Lynchford Aquatics has become Vice Chair.
The other returning Board members are James Allison, of Aquapic Solutions, Robert Edgecock of Independent Aquatic Imports Ltd, Simon Langdale of Maidenhead Aquatics, Kevin Rose of Lynchford Aquatics, and Andrew Stagg of NT Laboratories Ltd
OATA’s Board of Directors is made up of 18 people who represent the whole of the industry, from wholesalers and manufacturers to importers, pond and aquarium consultants and retailers. The complete OATA Board of Directors is now made up of:
- James Allison, Aquapic Solutions
- Kevin Barton, ALF (Aquatic Distributors) Ltd
- Pete Carey, Pets at Home
- Robert Edgecock, Independent Aquatic Imports Ltd
- Mark Evenden, Devotedly Discus Ltd
- Jane Flaherty, JMC Aquatics Ltd
- Richard Hale, Berry Ring Herpetological and Aquatics Supplies Ltd
- Neil Hardy, Neil Hardy Aquatica Ltd
- Simon Langdale, Maidenhead Aquatics
- Philip Lawton, Kidsgrove Tropicals
- Ruth Low, Gordon Low Products Ltd
- David Pool, FishScience
- Kevin Rose, Lynchford Aquatics Ltd
- Andrew Stagg, NT Laboratories Ltd
- Matt Stevenson, Seneye
- Paul West, Tropical Marine Centre
- Ben Windeatt, Pets Choice
- Mark Winter, Aqua Pacific UK Ltd
Members interested in finding out more about how OATA’s Board works can put themselves as New Blood. If you want to know more about this then ring OATA on 01373 301352.
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In line with its growing stature AQUA 2017 has launched a new and improved website www.aquatelford.co.uk. As well as being bright and colourful, the new website is more user-friendly and easy to navigate for both visitors and exhibitors. It is also a great resource for retailers and buyers searching for new products and suppliers.
Retailers and buyers can find everything they need to know about visiting AQUA 2017 while exhibitors can post their latest news, including show offers and new products they’ll be launching at the show.
The new website features:
- A clearer exhibitor list at first glance – showing companies and their logos and stand numbers instantly.
- Improved e-zone for exhibitors, giving them more areas to upload information.
- A fresher overall look and feel to the whole site.
- Systems to allow more showcasing of new products, and entries into the awards.
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