Pets at Home Group has made a strategic investment in Project Blu, a leading eco-conscious supplier of branded pet accessories.

The investment supports Pets at Home’s ambition to become the most sustainable pet care business in the world and includes a commercial partnership agreement on the design and manufacture of sustainable pet care products. 

Pets at Home will be the first UK retailer to offer Project Blu’s full product range, available across its 457 stores and online at Petsathome.co.uk from early July 2022.

The importance of sustainable, purpose driven brands and products has never been clearer and the partnership with Project Blu will enable Pets at Home to meet a growing demand from pet owners for planet first, mindful consumption, with a broad range of environmentally friendly products, helping to drive change across the pet accessories market.

Founded in Wales in 2019, with the aim of revolutionalising the pet accessories market through creating sustainable products with the lowest possible environmental impact, Project Blu’s unique manufacturing processes transform polluting materials into premium quality accessories including an innovative range of beds, collars and leashes. Its market-leading range includes durable vegan leather products made from discarded apple skins which reduce carbon emissions by 99% compared to traditional leather. A traditional leather leash has a carbon footprint of 6.4kg of CO2 compared to 0.04kg for the apple leather.

Commenting on the partnership, David Robinson, Chief Operating Officer at Pets at Home said: “This partnership is an important step in our mission to become the world’s most sustainable pet care business, and we are hugely excited to be working with Project Blu to broaden our sustainable offering to our customers and their pets. This agreement demonstrates a continuing commitment to our social value strategy (“Our Better World Pledge”) and importantly creates  further opportunities for additional sustainability initiatives in a rapidly growing segment of the market.”

Geryn Evans, Chief Executive of Project Blu, said: “We are delighted that Pets at Home is aligned to our mission of making environmentally friendly pet accessories and excited to see our products readily available across the UK. Our business was established to address an important gap in the market, with strong demand for our products clearly demonstrating an interest in products that are great for both their pets and the planet.”

Geryn Evans (pictured above, centre) launched Project Blu in May 2019. Exhibiting at PATS Telford that year, the brand won a Green New Product Award.

Pets at Home Group Plc has announced the appointment of Louise Stonier as Chief Operating Officer of the Group’s veterinary business, Vets4Pets.

She succeeds Jane Balmain, who announced her intention in January 2022 to retire from the business, having re-joined Vets4Pets out of retirement over three years ago to lead its successful turnaround.

• Louise will be appointed as COO Designate on 30 May 2022 prior to her appointment as COO on 24 June 2022, with Jane remaining in the business until Autumn 2022 to oversee a seamless transition.
• Louise is currently Chief People and Culture Officer of the Pets at Home Group and the longest serving director on the Group Executive.
• In her current role, Louise has been instrumental in formulating Pets at Home’s values and behaviours and ensuring its unique culture is embedded in decision making across the Group.
• Louise has worked closely with the Group’s veterinary business throughout her time at Pets at Home, with her focus on people and culture providing critical insight into the needs of clinical teams and Partners.

Lyssa McGowan, Chief Executive Officer Designate of Pets at Home, said: “I am delighted that Louise has accepted the role of Chief Operating Officer of our veterinary group. Louise is a highly regarded member of our Executive Team with significant experience across the Group, most recently leading our People Team and helping to embed our strong focus on culture. She has an in-depth understanding of our unique partnership model and the opportunities and challenges facing our Partners and their clinical teams.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Jane Balmain for her significant contribution and expert stewardship of our veterinary business. Having achieved all that she set out to do, Jane is leaving the business on a very strong footing, and I’m delighted that she will be supporting Louise over the coming months before enjoying a very well-deserved retirement.”

Louise Stonier commented: “Vets4Pets is a really special business led by extremely talented and passionate Partners and teams who always put pet welfare first. I am thrilled to have been appointed Chief Operating Officer and excited to pick up the baton from Jane to take the business through its next phase of growth.”

Gemma Stocks, founder of Newcastle-based Herbal Dog Co, has made a guest appearance on daytime TV show, Steph’s Packed Lunch. 

Appearing on the item, Steph’s Small Business Market, Gemma demonstrated her range of herbal pet supplement powders, tonics and natural grooming products to presenter and actress, Gemma Atkinson. 

The item also featured a number of other small businesses who similarly produced sustainable products.

Presented by Steph McGovern, Steph’s Packed Lunch is broadcast live from Leeds bringing viewers “a daily dose of entertainment, lifestyle and consumer news with celebrity guests, fantastic food and intriguing real-life stories.”

The Herbal Dog Co provides an entirely animal-centric range of lotions and potions for any size or breed of dog. Each product has been lovingly created in the UK using 100% natural ingredients and contains no harsh chemicals.  

The range is designed to cater for a variety of skin conditions and provides grooming solutions for different types of coat. The natural herbal pet powders and tonics are designed to cater for a number of wellbeing issues in dogs which look after the inside as well as the outside. All the packaging is sustainable, compostable, reusable and recyclable. 

Gemma grew up making perfume at the kitchen table from flowers she collected, and that's where the Herbal Dog Co's passion for sourcing extraordinary ingredients is rooted.

It was from her Nanna that she inherited an early fascination with both flowers and dogs, and since then she has spent her life perfecting what she does. 

Her aims are to make pet care products affordable and the best that they can be using natural and healthy ingredients.

Improving wellbeing and promoting healing through medicinal plants is as old as the human race, and the development of fragrances has been traced back as far as Ancient Egypt. The Herbal Dog Co is building on this great tradition of using herbs and fragrances and adds their own contemporary twists, to bring something completely new to the pet care market. What you see is what you get with no hidden nasties such as harsh chemicals or preservatives but at the same time the products are effective and appeal to the holistic and savvy pet owner. 

Herbal Dog Co only use a specially sourced 100% PCR plastic which is made from 100% recycled plastic (no plastic is created). They use a fully bio gradable corn starch packing material and certified sustainable FCS approved cardboard.

Last year Herbal Dog Co was nominated for three PetQuip Awards and also nominated for the Sustainability Award at the PIF Awards.

For further information please visit: www.herbaldogco.com

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes has named the manager for its latest store in Scotland as recruitment for new colleagues gets underway. 

The new store at Unit 3 Burghmuir Retail Park in Stirling will open in mid-June and employ 12 colleagues. 

Jollyes has recruited Angela Rennie, who has worked for leading retailers including Home Bargains, Marks & Spencer and Tesco, as store manager at Stirling. She has hands-on experience with pets as “dog mum” to husky-collie cross Blue and border collie Mollie. 

As part of its opening plans, Jollyes has begun recruiting for colleagues at the new store. Applications for those who want a dream job working with animals can be made at https://www.jollyes.co.uk/i/jobs-jollyes. Jollyes is particularly interested in applications from experienced groomers. 

As well as selling a wide range of pet food and accessories, the 6,100 square feet Stirling store will feature Jollyes’ high-quality dedicated dog grooming salon, The Spa, and will sell small pets and birds. 

Jollyes has more than 70 stores across the UK and Stirling will be its third store in Scotland, complementing its popular outlets in Clydebank and Perth. New stores are due to open this summer at Glenrothes and Edinburgh. 

Kerry Midgley Jollyes regional manager, said: “It’s an exciting time for Jollyes as we expand in Scotland and we can’t wait to open our doors in Stirling, taking our place in the community and playing our part in the local economy. 

“The new store is in a great location, and we’ve designed it to make it as easy as possible for pet lovers in the city and surrounding area to find what they are looking for, from toys and treats to our grooming spa.” 

More news on the Stirling store, including the opening date and details of the product range on offer, will be announced in the next few weeks. 

Backed by Kester Capital, Jollyes announced in January it had a pipeline of 20 new store openings over the next year.

Pets at Home has donated more than £5m to charities helping pets and the people who love them in the year to March 2022.

The Pets at Home Foundation, the leading supporter of animal rescue centres in the UK, led a number of fundraising activities across the Group’s stores, Vets4Pets practices and Groom Rooms, including its annual Santa Paws appeal through which customers donate to help feed rescue pets over the festive period. Funds were also donated through Pets at Home’s VIP Lifelines Scheme, which enables VIP members to raise Lifelines for their favourite animal charity each time they shop with Pets at Home. Lifelines are then converted into vouchers for charities to spend in store to help the animals in their care.

Acknowledging the strong bond between pets and the people who love them, the Group’s charitable giving over the past year focused on the positive impact pets can have on both our physical and mental wellbeing.

Thanks to the incredible support and generosity of customers and colleagues, Pets at Home has donated more than ever before through awards to over 750 organisations, ranging from some of the largest national animal charities through to small, local rescue centres.

Dogs for Good was one of the national charities to receive support for their Dementia Assistance Dog Programme in Scotland. This initiative provides specially trained assistance dogs to households where one member has an early stage diagnosis of dementia and another is a full-time unpaid carer. The RSPCA’s Pet Food Bank Partnership also received support to help provide assistance to pet owners as pressure on household budgets increases, enabling more pets to stay in loving homes alongside their families.

Woodlands Animal Sancturary in Lancashire was one of over 70 small independent rescue centres that received a financial grant to help with their essential work for animals in need. The £30,000 donation will help the rescue centre pay for vet bills and pet food.

Louise Stonier, Pets at Home’s Chief People and Culture Officer, and Chair of The Pets at Home Foundation, said:

“The last two years have been tough for the charitable sector, so we were determined to increase our support to help ease the burden for these important organisations. I am immensively proud of what has been achieved and grateful to our incredible customers and colleagues for their continuing support. Pets have an amazing ability to enrich our lives, whether through the pet owner bond or through the great work they do with people in need. This is why we are so passionate about giving our support to help these brilliant organisations to continue assisting many more people and pets for years to come.”

If you are an animal charity or organisation who would benefit from financial support and would like to find out more about how The Pets at Home Foundation can help, visit: https://www.petsathomefoundation.co.uk/get-in-touch/

Award-winning Natural Cornish Pet has added to its range of  natural treats by introducing two new varieties of 100% sweet potato treats.

Sweet Potato Chunks and Fries offer a natural low fat treat option for dogs. Perfect for training and rewarding good behaviour they provide the ideal snack and are suitable for dogs of all shapes and sizes.

Sweet potato is a rich source of vitamins C and B6 as well as being a good source of manganese, potassium and other B vitamins. 

Vitamin C can help to reduce inflammation in dogs and can also be helpful in improving their cognitive function. Vitamin B6 is vital in the functioning of the red blood cells that are responsible for carrying oxygen around your pet’s body and is also essential in maintaining a healthy central nervous system as well as helping to regulate hormone distribution. Potassium aids electrical function in the brain and nervous system in your dog and manganese aids in the preservation of strong bones and cartilage. 

The common dark orange coloured sweet potato is also a source of beta-carotene which is converted to vitamin A and can help to maintain and nurture your dog's eyesight as well as improving immune function. Sweet potato can also help to balance blood-sugar levels so is a good alternative treat for those dogs suffering from diabetes. 

This richly nutritious food source is also great for the environment as it reduces the amount of meat that a dog consumes. It's also irresistible to dogs with its sweet and sticky flavours and textures, making it a top choice for any dog owner who is looking for a sustainable and nutritious option for their canine companions. 

Natural Cornish Pet was voted the Best Independent Pet Retailer of the Year in the 2021 PetQuip Awards.

For further information visit: www.naturalcornishpet.co.uk. For trade enquiries visit: www.naturalpetwholsale.co.uk.

Harringtons has added to its popular Advanced Science Range with its latest supplement launch – offering quality, tailored and nutritionally advanced supplements, which are both affordable and accessible.

It is estimated that the dog supplements market is worth at least £120 million a year and growing at over 50% across retail and online channels. Given the exceptional rate of growth in the category and the value of supplements to consumers, IPN is staying at the fore of the market trends.

Launching four new products in the form of chews and tablets, Harringtons are helping to eliminate the struggles of dog owners who are forced to hide or disguise supplements, with these new easy formats.

Available in two age ranges, with two product formats, the new supplement range will include:

• Harringtons Shield Joint Support Chews for Adults Dogs (150 chews) - £29.95
• Harringtons Shield Joint Support Tablets for Adults Dogs (300 tablets) - £44.95
• Harringtons Shield Senior Hip & Joint Care Chew Supplement (150 chews) – £29.95
• Harringtons Shield Senior Hip & Joint Care Tablet Supplement (300 tablets) – £59.95

Endorsed by Peter Wright, The Yorkshire Vet, these new supplements, aimed to be fed alongside a healthy diet, are packed full of nutritional benefits.

Harringtons identified the three key essential purchase factors for owners as being taste, naturalness and meatiness; resulting in a product made from completely natural ingredients and freshly prepared meat and fish. Four-legged-friends get a tasty, meaty product, which they will naturally love, whilst being accessible to all. 

Green Lipped Mussel provides an incredibly concentrated source of Omega3, benefitting a dog’s skin and coat, whilst improving mobility by supporting stiff and aching joints. Alongside this, there is a bespoke blend of Vitamins C and E to neutralize free radicals - helping to maintain and prolong joint mobility. Added magnese and glucosamine assist collagen formation in the cartilage, tendons and ligaments, with a boost of Hyaluronic Acid which supports the synovial fluid in lubricating and cushioning the joints.

Speaking of the new supplements, Peter Wright, The Yorkshire Vet, said: “Our dogs deserve a life filled with joy and comfort, where they can walk, run, jump and play to their hearts’ content. I’ve partnered with Harringtons on its Advanced Science Diet supplements to make sure we help give provide our dogs with just that.”

Chris Wragg, Marketing Director at Inspired Pet Nutrition, commented: “When your pet gets older or suffers from health issues and starts to slow down, it can be a difficult time for the whole family. With this new launch we are hoping that alongside a healthy diet and active lifestyle, owners will be able to share those special moments with their pets for longer.”

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has called for a reduction in business rates to support those struggling to deal with extra costs. 

In figures released today by the ONS, rates have risen to 9%, the the highest rate in 40 years as energy bills, fuel and food prices drive up the cost of living.

In response to this news, Bira's CEO Andrew Goodacre said: "Inflation at these levels, the highest for 40 years, is a new challenge for many independent retailers.

"Whilst there is understandable focus on the cost of living, we would urge the Government not to forget about targeted support for businesses also struggling to deal with the extra costs due to inflationary pressures.

"Retailers are doing all they can to reduce the impact on prices for shoppers which means reduced profit margins for everyone. We would like to see this year’s 100% increase in business rates reversed and some way of helping businesses manage the rising costs of energy," he said.

Just for Pets opened its doors in Witney, Oxfordshire in March this year and the new store welcomed the arrival of warm weather with its own ice cream bike for dogs.

Store manager Declan Cronley said: “The whole team couldn’t wait to hop on and try out the bike. It has been great fun meeting even more local pups and their owners."

The tasty frozen treats are a firm favourite at all Just for Pets stores with brands including Scoops, Frozzys and doggy doggy yum yum in flavours such as Peanut Butter and Banana, Mint and Vanilla. 

The store also offers options that are 100% organic, vegan friendly, gluten and dairy free in recyclable tubs meaning there’s something for every conscious pet owner.

The ice cream for dogs also allows owners to feel comfortable avoiding Xylitol , a sugar alternative which can be found in human foods but is toxic to dogs.

Clydach Farm has launched its first charity dog treat: Grain-Free Treats For Ukraine, with 100% of profits being donated to support the Ukraine relief effort.

This follows the company's recent donation of 5,000 nutritious meals donated to dog in Ukraine to play a small part in helping to show solidarity during this devastating time. 

Our Ukraine dog treats are made with freshly prepared Fish and Sweet Potato. They're gently baked at low temperatures for a lovely, crunchy snack. These nibbles are packed full of valuable protein and omega 3, making a simply delicious, natural treat.

Responsibly sourced MSC certified Salmon & Trout treat, made with love in the heart of Wales. 

Businesses can help Clydach Farm help Ukraine by stocking their ‘Grain Free Treats for Ukraine’ to allow pet parents to help support the relief effort in a small, but we hope, impactful way. 

Each pack retails for £2.99 and is now available to order by emailing the Clydach Farm team at hello@clydachfarmgroup.co.uk. Deliveries will take place from the 23^rd May.

After a pandemic pause, the Agria Dog Walk is back for 2022 hosted by Adam Henson, Cotswolds farmer and rural TV presenter. It takes place on a circular 3km- to 5km-walk around Waddesdon Manor, one of the UK’s loveliest National Trust sites, on Saturday (May 21).

Pet insurer Agria will donate £5 to charity for every canine participant who puts their best paw forward around the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside.

Those attending will also be joining thousands of other dogs and their families taking part simultaneously in the Agria Dog Walk in Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden.

The day is packed with entertainment for the whole family, including have-a-go agility, a rock choir, bubble artist and face painters, plus demonstrations illustrating how to teach dogs tricks or whizz around an agility course. Learn, too, how Hearing Dogs For Deaf People make such a difference to the deaf community.

Everyone who attends the Agria Dog Walk will receive a host of goodies plus lucky winners could walk away with some very special prizes, such as a pet-friendly stay in a top hotel; pet treats, toys and accessories; or a pet portrait.

Vicki Wentworth, CEO, Agria Pet Insurance, says: “Last year, despite being a virtual Agria Dog Walk, we still raised over £21,000 for causes close to our hearts. This month, we can’t wait to be united in person with a horde of dog lovers for a glorious spring walk. It is very much the more the merrier; not least because the greater the number of dogs walking, the more is raised for this year’s charities: Hearing Dogs For Deaf People and Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary.”

“We are delighted that Agria has chosen to support us with its Dog Walk this year. All funds raised will go directly towards helping us care for and rehome our animals,” says Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary.

“It’s sure to be lots of fun and it’s all for a good cause! The money raised at the Agria Dog Walk allows us train more life-changing hearing dogs who help deaf children and adults to leave loneliness behind and reconnect with life.” says Hearing Dogs For Deaf People.

Visit the website to find out more (click here). Pre-event registration for the 2022 Agria Dog Walk has now closed but anyone is welcome to register on the day.

The Pet Industry Federation has announced a new affinity partnership with pet salon management software Tuft. A leader in the pet software industry, Tuft enables salon owners to focus on grooming, safe in the knowledge that their bookings, marketing and e-commerce is being taken care of within the fully comprehensive app. 

From today, PIF members will be able to take advantage of a six month, no obligation, free trial of the software which is sure to be a popular addition to the range of PIF membership benefits already in place. To access the free trial PIF members will be sent a unique code.

Nigel Baker, CEO of the Pet Industry Federation, commented: “We are delighted to be adding market leader Tuft to our raft of member benefits and are really looking forward to working with the Tuft team. We are always looking to add value for our members and are sure that the Tuft software will be very positively received.”

Chloe Smith, Founder of Tuft, added: "Being an affinity partner of PIF is the gold stamp of approval from the pet industry that Tuft needed. We cannot wait to be an active member in the community and a strategic partner to PIF moving forward."

To become a PIF member today, or to find out more about the benefits of PIF membership, visit www.petfederation.co.uk , email mollie.richardson@petfederation.co.uk or telephone 01234 273933.

The recently extended and fully refurbished hospital in Dursley has received special accreditation based on the current criteria set out by the International Society of Feline Medicine, a veterinary division of the charity International Cat Care.

International Cat Care was established in 1958 by Joan Judd and they have been pioneering change for cats ever since. They now campaign tirelessly to protect cats by pushing for changes in the way cats are treated and cared for, raising issues such as declawing, Toxoplasmosis and microchipping. The Cat Friendly Clinic programme, created in 2012, aims to encourage the use of specialist facilities that reduce stress and anxiety in cats during veterinary visits. 

Led by Sian Blakey BVetMed CertAVP (SAM) MRCVS and her team of nurses, Vale Vets & Referrals worked through the required criteria to achieve Gold Cat Friendly Clinic status, based on the specialist facilities built in Dursley.

These facilities include separate cat waiting rooms, consult facilities and treatment areas all designed to minimise stress in felines and provide the best possible environment for cats that come into the practice. All facilities needed to be designed to a certain specification, which are double the size of most regular spaces found in practices, along with meeting incredibly specific guidelines.

The strict criteria set out by the ISFM states that in order to qualify for Gold Cat Friendly status there must be a cat-only hospitalisation ward, a darkened examination area for ophthalmic exams and an operating theatre available at all times, as well as appropriate dental and radiographic records kept on-site. 

In addition, the criteria put a particular emphasis on the safe handling of cats, meaning that veterinarians, veterinary technicians and nurses had to be specially trained to ensure they are actively reducing fear and anxiety in any cat entering the practice.

With these state-of-the-art rooms completed in late 2021, the team are now looking forward to increasing the number of feline referrals they receive.

SianBlakey commented: “We are thrilled that the ISFM have honoured Vale Vets & Referrals with Gold Cat Friendly Clinic status and we look forward to making use of our fantastic facilities in the future. Congratulations to the whole team for their incredible work and getting the recognition they deserve.”

This expert setup will enhance the current offering by Vale Vets & Referrals by a considerable margin, as well as encourage owners that their favourite felines will be in very safe hands. You can find out more about the accreditation via the Cat Friendly clinic website.

You can also find out more about Vale Vets using their website or Vale Referrals using their website.

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Plans have been approved to turn a former pet shop into an MOT and repair centre, recruitment agency and wholesale shop.

Stamford Animal and Pet Supplies (SAPS) in Spalding, Lincolnshire, closed a year ago with online shopping and a decline in the high street being blamed for the store’s demise.

Now, South Holland District Council has approved a change-of-use application, stating: "The new businesses would ultimately serve the needs of the local area and contribute to the local economy, as well as creating jobs.

"It is considered that the change of use of the existing units would not have a significant adverse impact upon the viability of delivering any allocated employment site.

"Moreover, the proposal is acceptable on highway grounds and no objections have been received from local residents.”

The British Independent Retailers Association has launched its latest initiative, a product buying platform for retailers called Bira Direct Plus.

Bira Direct Plus, which is available for download on phones, tablets and browsers, has been designed to make ordering more flexible as it offers full visibility of live pricing and stock levels through the app and allows retailers to place orders straight from their devices.

The new ordering platform has been designed to solve some of the biggest ordering issues faced by independent retailers; saving valuable time by making ordering simple, keeping prices and stock levels transparent and making it easy to keep track of orders with shopping lists.

Jeff Moody Managing Director of Bira Direct said: “We’ve listened to what our members have been asking for, and we’ve delivered. Now retailers can buy from Bira Direct suppliers online and only need one app to take care of all of their product buying.”

An early adopter of the app John Jones Managing Partner, Philip Morris and Son said: “The new ordering platform from Bira Direct, Bira Direct Plus is an excellent idea, having near-live data on stock availability from suppliers makes a massive difference to our efficiency”

Currently, retailers can order from Toolstream, Dexam, Bulk Hardware, HG Hagesan, LG Harris and Big K Products with new suppliers being made available every week. As well as the preferential terms, 30 days end of month credit and exclusive offers, Bira can offer retailers an extra 0.5% rebate on all orders placed through the app until the end of 2022.

The app is open to all independent retailers, for Bira members the platform is available on the app store or google play at no extra cost and for non-members at the cost of £12.50 per month. To apply for a login click here.

Find out more at: bira.co.uk

One new pet food brand tackling the issue of healthy hydration is Furr Boost, manufacturer of a selection of new smoothie drinks created by a former technical manager to the food industry, Louise Toal.

Louise’s beagle Phoebe became unwell at the age of 18 months with bladder problems which after investigations with her vet, were linked to the dog’s food. 

Using her technical background, Louise started experimenting with protein shakes to help flush out Phoebe’s system and to provide her with the hydration that she needed when she was refusing to drink enough water in the summer months. This led to the creation of the Furr Boost range of smoothies.

Louise says: “There is no one else making a product like ours. Yes, there are drinks on the market that are botanical, broth based and electrolyte based etc, but none that are like a natural smoothie. Each of our recipes contains a meat, fruit and vegetable, along with added oils and vitamins, so it’s more than a hydration drink, it supports the dog’s wellbeing in areas such as digestion, skin and coat, anxiety, metabolism and immunity.”

Furr Boost can be used in a variety of ways. Served frozen, it can be placed in a Kong Toy or lick mat for dog training or as a distraction, or simply given to a dog as a tasty icy treat. Unfrozen, it can be added as a topper to meals or on hot days, simply pour into a bowl for instant hydration.

Furr Boost is available in three varieties which all use the best quality 100% natural human grade ingredients: Chicken, Butternut Squash & Cranberry, Pork, Apple & Sweet Potato and Beef, Broccoli & Blueberry. Other added ingredients include flaxseed, coconut and salmon oils, dried sea kelp, chicory root extract, yeast beta glucan, vitamins B&C and water.

Furr Boost is also a sustainable product using packaging materials which are recyclable avoiding single use plastic as each smoothie is available in a Tetra Pak Carton.

OATA is launching a new plant ID guide during Invasive Species Week 2022 to help aquatic businesses ensure they are selling the right types of Milfoil (Myriophyllum) species.

OATA has been alerted by regulators to a rising number of illegal imports of the two Myriophyllum species that are illegal to sell in the UK.

The new guide has been created with help from aquatic plant experts to enable businesses to spot the right Milfoil species and distinguish them from the species they should not be selling.

Myriophyllum aquaticum and Myriophyllum heterophyllum are both banned from sale in the UK but incorrect naming or misidentification of these two species seems to be leading to the plants appearing for sale in shops.

“There are a number of Milfoil species that can be sold, and several are also native species, so we want to make sure aquatic businesses feel confident to check plants they receive from suppliers to ensure they only put legal species out for sale,” explained OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“Our industry is a big supporter of Invasives Species Week so this was the perfect time for us to launch this new ID guide.”

The new ID guide is free to download from OATA’s website (click here).

Invasive Species Week, organised by the GB Non-Native Species Secretariat, runs from 16 to 22 May.

Paleo Ridge has extended its sponsorship of the Tails We Win flyball team to fulfil the team’s dog food needs.

Since 2018 Paleo Ridge has partnered with Tails We Win, offering a discount across its market leaving raw food range. With the Paleo Ridge brand logo featuring on the team’s shirts, the company has now increased its association as the official food partner and major team sponsor.

Tails We Win are five times British and European flyball record holders and are the current holders with an impressive time of 14:53. Tails We Win have qualified to compete in the Flyball Open World Cup (FOWC) 2022 at the end of the month. The FOWC will see the best flyball teams from all over the world gather to compete in Belgium. 

Paleo Ridge is supporting Tails We Win by providing the flyball team with high-quality raw dog food. Flyball is an agility-based sport with complex technique and training behind it, so Tails We Win need to ensure its dog athletes are in the best possible condition to compete. Feeding a raw diet is believed to improve overall dog health and can also improve gut health.

Joe Lamont, owner and lead trainer at Tails We Win, says: “We are delighted that our partnership with Paleo Ridge has been expanded. Feeding Paleo Ridge products reassures us that we are giving our athletes the right food, with the quality and nutritional value to help them thrive. We’re honoured to be representing the nation in the upcoming Flyball World Cup and will be proudly wearing the Paleo Ridge logo on our team shirts.”

Will Green, Director of Marketing at Paleo Ridge, says: “Flyball is the largest dog sport in the country and it’s mentally and physically stimulating for our furry friends. Tails We Win is an excellent team, and Joe is a world-renowned dog trainer, so we are extremely proud to be increasing our sponsorship to continue our support.” 

OATA is reminding retailers to only sell Japanese rice fish or Medaka (Oryzias species) for indoor aquariums and to ensure customers understand they cannot be kept in outdoor ponds or barrels.

The Import of Live Fish Act, which governs which freshwater species can be imported and sold in the UK, only grants a general licence to sell these fish for indoor set ups. They cannot be kept outdoors because of their tolerance for low temperatures. This means if they managed to escape into UK waterways they could survive and cause an invasive risk.

“We’ve been alerted by the Fish Health Inspectorate to issues of these fish being kept in outdoor set-ups so Invasive Species Week seems a good opportunity to remind retailers who sell these fish to make it clear to customers they must only be kept in indoor aquariums – and explain why that is,” said OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“Our industry has a responsibility to ensure the species we trade in cannot become invasive and I’m sure if customers understood why they cannot be kept in outdoor ponds etc they would be happy to comply.

“Keeping Oryzias species in any capacity outdoors would breach the terms of the ILFA licence under which they are imported and if there continues to be reports of Oryzias species being kept outdoors then this could also result in action being taken by government bodies to ban the import and keeping of these popular species.”

The Import of Live Fish Act grants a general licence for the trade of certain freshwater species for ornamental purposes. Check out the list of freshwater fish that can be traded here on the Government website (under Licence to keep non-native freshwater fish). https://www.gov.uk/guidance/introduce-or-keep-non-native-fish-and-shellfish

Picture copyright Maidenhead Aquatics

BVA President Justine Shotton has celebrated the work of veterinary teams across Scotland to make animal health and welfare a top priority despite contending with multiple pressures in recent times.

In her speech to around 70 guests at BVA’s Annual Scottish Dinner at the Scottish Parliament, Dr Shotton said that Scottish vets had worked incredibly hard to keep animals healthy, protect public health and keep the food chain moving against a backdrop of Covid, Brexit and a recent surge in pet ownership.  However, she cautioned that this has been an incredibly challenging time, saying:

“But we also need to acknowledge that this has come at a significant – and ultimately unsustainable – cost to the profession’s capacity and wellbeing.  If we are going to cope with ongoing and new or unforeseen challenges ahead, we need action now to improve recruitment, retention and rates of return to veterinary work, to ensure that all existing vets can feel supported, safe and rewarded in their careers, and to encourage future vets from all walks of life to follow in our footsteps.”

Addressing guests including Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, MSPs, key representatives from animal health and welfare organisations and colleagues from across the veterinary profession, BVA’s President called on Scottish and UK governments, animal owners, the profession itself and vets of the future to take a range of actions to help create a “flexible, resilient and future-proofed workforce”. 

These ranged from ensuring that new vet schools such as the site proposed by the SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College) are adequately funded, to reminding animal owners to “Respect Your Vet” and the difficult decisions that they have had to make to keep colleagues and clients safe during the pandemic.  Dr Shotton also praised the recent “Vetastic Adventures” project, where BVA teamed up with the Scottish SPCA to showcase veterinary careers in a fun and accessible way for both primary and secondary school pupils in Scotland. 

Reflecting on recent months, Dr Shotton said that the profession’s “resilience and dedication” had really shone through in how vets had responded to and mitigated against recent disease outbreaks in Scotland and across the UK, including the Avian Influenza outbreak.  She said that with disease control sitting within the scope of the proposed new Scottish Veterinary Service it was important to make sure that systems collaborated closely with the rest of the UK and beyond, cautioning:

“I don’t have to tell any of you around the room tonight that diseases and animal welfare problems don’t respect borders.  It will therefore be critical that the new service has systems that collaborate and liaise with the rest of the UK, and beyond, on disease surveillance, data collection, and information sharing.  We’re engaging closely to ensure that veterinary expertise is at the heart of these new proposals.” 

Turning to animal welfare legislation, Dr Shotton said that BVA was really pleased by the Scottish Government’s commitment to banning the sale and use of glue traps, describing them as “inhumane devices, which subject trapped animals to prolonged pain and suffering and can often accidentally trap non-target species including cats and birds.”  She called for similar action against snares, as they can also cause significant and needless harm to animals, including pets and protected wildlife.

On pet welfare, Dr Shotton acknowledged some significant campaign wins in the past year, including BVA successfully lobbying alongside others for the UK Government to take action against the “barbaric and purely cosmetic practice” of cropping dogs’ ears.  She said that BVA will now be turning its attention to the rise of canine fertility clinics in Scotland and the rest of the UK, saying:

“We are building a picture of the scale and severity of this worrying trend, and already seeing multiple red flags in the clinics, which may be operating with no regulation or veterinary oversight.  The recent action taken against a clinic owner in Lanarkshire following a joint investigation exemplifies what can be achieved when we come together to clamp down on unregulated and dangerous practices.”

The BVA President ended her speech by thanking BVA Scottish Branch colleagues for all their support, and welcoming Gareth Hateley, who was formally elected as the new Branch Junior Vice President at the AGM on Tuesday afternoon.

Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, responded to the speech as BVA’s Guest of Honour.

Tributes have been paid to the founder of a popular pet shop, who sadly passed away at the age of 73.

Norwich-born Lorna Raven opened Fido's Pet Bazaar with husband Alan in 1977 and ran the business for 43 years before they both retired in December of 2020.

The shop was first located in Meadow Way in Hellesdon before moving to Dixons Shopping Centre in Reepham Road in 1984.

They sold Fido’s to Alison and Adrian Pettitt of Pettitt and Boo, who posted on the shop’s Facebook page: “We are devastated to hear the very sad news of the passing of Lorna Raven. Lorna and her husband Alan, ran Fidos for 43 years until December 2020, when they retired. Lorna remained a ‘regular’ in the shop though, often popping in to see the team and drop off newspapers for Cheryl’s Guinea Pigs. We send our deepest condolences to Alan and the Raven family.”

Customers were quick to pay tribute to Lorna:

• “That is so sad to read, such a friendly helpful lady over the years that I went in, and only just retired.”
• “She was a lovely lady and always so helpful all the years we went into Fido’s.”
• “Such a lovely lady always very helpful, sending our condolences to all the family at this very sad time.”
• “So sad to hear this news Lorna was always such a supporter of the city of Norwich rabbit and cavy club she will be greatly missed and my thoughts are with her family at this sad time.”
• “Sorry to hear that Lorna is no longer with us. We met though our interest in guinea pigs.”

Alison Pettitt told Pet Trade Xtra: “Lorna was a highly regarded member of the community in Hellesdon, and we are so shocked and saddened to hear of her passing. She was known as a passionate and knowledgeable animal lover, often relied upon in the community for pet-care advice.

"We have arranged a collection at the Hellesdon store so that customers of Fidos can contribute to a charitable donation to Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Lorna’s name.”

A funeral service to celebrate Lorna's life will be held at St Marys Church in Low Road, Hellesdon on Wednesday, May 18 at 2pm, followed by her committal in the church grounds.

Picture of Lorna above is taken from Fido's Facebook page.

A dog owner, who quit a career in finance to start her own firm making pet treats, is now reaping the rewards of a thriving business…in fact, she’s living the Life of Riley.

Sarah Meredith started her company four years ago, making the treats in her home kitchen after discovering her dog Riley was intolerant to many foods.

As the company grew, she moved manufacture into an outbuilding before taking on much larger premises on a business park in Market Drayton, Shropshire.

The aptly-named business, Life of Riley, now has its own pop-up shop on the premises and the range of products are flying off the shelves.

Pet Trade Xtra managed to grab a few minutes of the busy entrepreneur’s time to find out more about the Life of Riley.

How did you come up with the ingredients and recipes for your treats in the first instance?

We realised there was a shortage of grain free non-meat/diary-based treats. Riley was allergic to pork, beef, rabbit and some fish, and to try and distinguish what was in the treats was often quite difficult, so we decided to negate animal proteins completely and use hypoallergenic, grain free, natural and nutritionally beneficial ingredients – this helped us narrow down what ingredients we should use.

What gave you the confidence to attempt to sell the treats?

Research, research, and more research. We also had help from vets and nutritionists to develop the recipes. Feedback was also crucial – we tested our treats on dogs with sensitive tummies and their owners reported back to us.

When did you move out of your home kitchen into a commercial unit?

We started off by converting an old stone outhouse in our garden into a dedicated bakery. We found this was the safest way. Many human foods are not safe for dogs and the risk of cross contamination from using my own kitchen seemed to defeat the whole point of what we were trying to achieve – to provide a safe, reliable product dogs could enjoy without any concerns of upset. We don’t advertise, we rely on word of mouth and our social media to promote ourselves – it takes a little longer that way but with this we have grown nice and steadily into the business we are today, developing as we go along with feedback from our customers. We try to offer a natural alternative to all the novelty type options out there as well as providing the everyday treats. Towards the end of last year we decided that it was time to take the plunge. We found two brilliant commercial units for let, we converted them into a full scale production unit and moved in, in March this year – we have more than 20 times the space that we did, but we seem to be outgrowing this fast too!

Where and how did you start selling the treats?

We started with our own website, but it soon became clear we were much more passionate about providing a great service to our stockists – we are now 90% wholesale/trade and we love it that way – they get just as excited as us when we launch new products and many of them help us come up with ideas and pass on valuable customer feedback. We have a great retention rate and many of them have been with us since the start. We started with a few local stockists but we have now spread from the furthest points of the Scottish Isles, down to Cornwall.

Which retail outlets sell your products?

Pet stores, zero waste shops, garden centres, subscription services, dog groomers, dog friendly holiday accommodation and café’s, but we also have some weird and wonderful ones too!

Do you sell much online?

We do indeed, our wholesalers have special access to our trade prices on our website so it’s very busy on our website. We decided to ditch the old order form and invoice method years ago as it caused too much work for everyone so we have a live system now.

Tell us about your pop-up store.

Since we have moved to our commercial unit, we made our office into a show room to showcase our range when we had meetings. Funnily enough we had that many members of the general public come in and ask to buy things, we felt bad about turning them away all the time. So to keep everyone happy and to receive direct feedback from our customers we decided to open a pop-up shop on Thursdays! It’s fab as we get to meet our doggy customers this way too!

What’s the ultimate ambition for the business?

Oh that’s a tricky question, it’s my passion, it’s what gets me up in the morning so who knows what may happen! At the moment we are really enjoying developing all the ideas we have had over the years and bringing them to market – watch this space!

For more information visit www.lifeofrileyuk.com

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes  has announced the appointment of Joe Wykes as chief executive officer to lead the business through a period of ambitious expansion that will see annual turnover grow to £100m in the next 12 months. 

Joe joined Jollyes as chief operating officer in July 2021 and has played a key role in its recent expansion through new store openings, acquisitions, online investment and the extension of its distribution and logistics contract with Wincanton. 

Prior to joining Jollyes, Joe served two years as chief operating officer at Benson for Beds and held senior roles in finance and operations in a number of private equity-backed retail businesses. 

Joe brings considerable experience across finance, logistics, property, legal, HR and distribution in multi-site retail environments to Jollyes. 

Richard Cotter, Jollyes’ executive chairman, said: “I am confident that in Joe we have a CEO who has the energy, drive, passion and commitment to deliver our strategic objectives - and, just as importantly, someone from inside our business who knows and understands what we stand for.  

“Because of the amazing Jollyes team, I’m looking forward to the bright future ahead of us as we look to open new stores, acquire new businesses and invest in our people.” 

Joe Wykes said: “I’m really honoured to get the opportunity to lead the Jollyes team as we look to bring the brand to more people in more places.   

“The strength of the whole Jollyes team – in store and in our central operations – and the fantastic reaction of customers to what we bring them, makes me excited about what more we can achieve as we grow.” 

Richard Cotter will continue as executive chairman of Jollyes and over the next few months transition back to the role of non-executive chair he assumed when first joining Jollyes in 2018. 

In January, Jollyes reported record sales of £42 million for the half year to November, a 12.5 per cent rise in like-for-like sales against a year earlier and 30 per cent up on the same period in 2019. 

Backed by Kester Capital, Jollyes plans to open 20 new stores in the next 12 months, organically and through acquisition.  Last year it purchased The Pet Store with three shops in Yorkshire and Bannerbrook Pets in Coventry – which took the total number of stores over 70. 

A new Jollyes store opened in Cookstown, Northern Ireland, in March and it opened its second Welsh store in Wrexham earlier this month.  

New stores planned for this year include Edinburgh, Glenrothes and Stirling in Scotland, and Brislington and Stockton-on-Tees in England.  

Store relocations include Warmley in Bristol and Newtownabbey in Northern Ireland, with store revamps including Totton, Wakefield and North Harbour.  

Jollyes has also invested in its click and collect service and extending online ranges as well as in training, such as an increase in the number of staff qualified to prescribe certain authorised veterinary medicines.  

TV star Tim Vincent (right) officially opened the new Jollyes store in Wrexham.

The HUGO BOSS Group has entered into an exclusive global dog apparel and accessories license agreement with Kanine Pets World Limited, for a five-year term. The exclusive license covers the design, production, and worldwide distribution of products for dogs including apparel, accessories, home products, and toys under the BOSS brand.

Designed to correspond with the BOSS fashion collections, BOSS is the first premium fashion brand to offer a full-fledged dog collection from apparel to accessories.

"Our new CLAIM 5 strategy is broad-based, as we want to grow across all regions, touchpoints, brands and product areas. We are very excited that in Kanine Group, we have found the right partner to enter the dog accessories business and exploit the full potential of BOSS in this entirely new segment. Kanine Group can draw on extensive experience in the strongly growing premium dog supplies market, and together we look forward to offering high-end products to customers worldwide," says Daniel Grieder, CEO of HUGO BOSS.

"We are delighted to be part of the BOSS family and to collaborate with one of the most renowned and recognizable fashion houses in the world. HUGO BOSS Group’s recent record- breaking global campaigns and the significant continued focus on digital activation is a perfect match for Kanine as we strive to be the most relevant platform for premium dog products globally, offering amazing products to proud pet parents and their furry loved ones.” stated Samuel Wong, CEO and CFO, Kanine Group.

BOSS dog accessories will launch two collections per year, starting in August 2022 with the Fall / Winter collection. The products will be available worldwide in the online stores hugoboss.com and kanine.com, as well as in selected BOSSsStores, department stores and pet stores.

Kanine Group designs, sources, and globally distributes pet apparel and accessories under various owned and licensed brands, including its namesake Kanine brand, and operates www.kanine.com, an exclusive platform for premium and exciting products including apparel, accessories and home products for pets.