A pet bed topper from The Wheat Bag Company has walked off with a major New Product Award at the three-day Glee trade exhibition at the NEC Birmingham.

The topper can be used warm or chilled, for comforting warmth or cooling relief for pets. 

Made up of a super soft fleece cover with an inner bag filled with cleaned british wheat, the product is the ideal size and shape to pop on a dog or cat bed. 

The removable cover is washable, for easy maintenance.              

The pet bed topper is the first wheat bag designed for pets by the company. It can be heated in the microwave for comforting warmth, the natural way to sooth pets’ aches and pains, and can also be popped in the freezer to provide cooling relief in hot weather.

The pet bed topper beat off strong opposition on a shortlisted that also included: Earthy Sustainable medium pet bowl made with coffee (Earthy Sustainable), Extra Large Compostable Poo Bags (Twiggy Tags Ltd), TrailFinder Dog Safety Light (Twiggy Tags Ltd), GET OFF Lawn Rescue (Sipcam Home and Garden)

In the Wild Bird Care and Wildlife Products category the winner was Peckish Natural Balance Coco-Not Wild Bird Feeders from Westland Unwins.

Also at Glee, the pet team from the Old Railway Line at Three Cocks near Brecon in Wales won a major buying award.

The garden centre won the Pet Buying Team of the Year award in the Glee Buyers Power List competition.

The Glee Buyers Power List was set up to recognise the individual buyers and buying teams who have gone above and beyond to make a difference within the garden retail industry this year.

The awards were presented on the second day of Glee.

The Pet Industry Federation Awards, sponsored by Jollyes, showcase excellence across 22 different categories, with new categories launched this year, including Pet Behaviourist of the Year, Garden Centre Pet Department of the Year, Pet Store Manager of the Year and Marketing Campaign of the Year. 

The PIF Awards have grown year on year and judges are expecting a higher than ever standard this year. Entries will remain open until Friday 18 August.

Winners of the Pet Industry Federation Awards 2023 will be revealed at Chesford Grange Hotel, near Kenilworth on Thursday 9 November.

Nigel Baker, CEO of the Pet Industry Federation, commented: 

“We are delighted to be hosting the PIF Awards again this year. Following the sell-out Awards in 2022, we have moved to a bigger venue at Chesford Grange to enable all those who want to attend to do so. The PIF Awards, sponsored by Jollyes and in association with Collar App, Cliverton, Lopay and Su-Bridge Pet Supplies provide a fantastic opportunity to recognise and reward the outstanding performances in the pet industry over the last twelve months.”

There are still some sponsorship opportunities available at category level, which provide excellent promotional and networking opportunities. To find out more about sponsorship, telephone Daniel Everett, PIF’s Events Coordinator, on 01234 224507 or email daniel.everett@petfederation.co.uk. To enter your business for an Award visit www.petfederation.co.uk

Norfolk Industries has secured a new contract with leading pet food and accessories wholesaler Bestpets. 

It’s the organisation’s first contract with a major wholesaler. As a small company employing people with disabilities, the deal means Norfolk Industries products will be joining the 8,000 lines Bestpets hold in stock. 

Bestpets will be fully utilising Norfolk Industries own branded products, extending its reach to smaller retailers across the UK and raising our profile in the marketplace. 

“We’ve already established a great working relationship with two new product lines developed which Bestpets will also stock,” said general manager Sharon Tooke. “The first of these is Cloth Bedding which is currently in production and, for the first time, is being sold using Norfolk Industries own branding. 

:A number of our factory production lines are involved in fulfilling the Bestpets contract, so we’re equally pleased that it provides additional work for our regular employees as well as new opportunities for people on our work placements. 

“The product is supplied to Bestpets on mixed pallets, another first for us and has necessitated a dedicated picking and packing area to be created which is providing further tasks that we can train and develop people to carry out. A big win, win for us.”

Visit us at www.norfolkindustries.co.uk

Pets at Home has unveiled its first location to receive an extensive refurbishment following the launch of its new identity.

The new brand is the next move in the business’ ambition to cement itself as the one-stop destination for all pet care needs, from grooming to veterinary services, dedicated to making life better for pets and the people who love them.

Its veterinary business will evolve to Vets for Pets, formerly Vets4Pets, while its grooming service will now be known as Pets Grooming.

The new brand will be rolled-out across the full 450 plus store estate, starting with four pilot stores around the UK, the first of which is the Pets at Home pet care centre at Leeds Birstall.

The project saw Pets at Home team up with brand and experience agency Household to bring the branding to life in its physical store locations.

With the various Pets at Homes offers unified under the Pets master brand, Household created a blueprint for integration within the retail experience to coincide with the digital launch.

A new customer experience journey was built for the Vets for Pets and Grooming offers that championed the warmth and care of the expert teams in a calming, professional space designed for both pet and pet owner.

Translating the brand into the retail experience, Household established an environmental brand palette alongside principles for wayfinding and retail communications. This formed a visual umbrella that connects the breadth of the Pets at Home offer from the best inspiration and support, through to an incredible range of products and services, to veterinary excellence and expert guidance.

Cath Ryan, Head of Brand at Pets at Home, said: “Our new brand expression is all about showcasing the breadth of services we offer, and it's fantastic to see that come to life. Working alongside Household to translate this for our customers has been so rewarding, and the reaction we’ve received so far has been brilliant.”

Siu-Lan Choi, Executive Creative Director at Household, added: “As a studio that has always had an affinity with dogs, it has been a joy responding to Pets at Home’s brief; from the unification of offer and brand to the everyday practicalities of dealing with dogs urinating in-store! We built out from a creative idea that put the pet and pet owner at the heart of every touchpoint. Our framework allowed us to demonstrate category leadership, showcase the brand’s full spectrum of passion to expertise and connect on a deeper emotional level with customers.

“We are excited to see the launch of this new experience for Pets at Home and even more proud to be continuing our work together on future initiatives, bringing forward-thinking services and expertise to pet owners and exploring new and relevant ways to convert new and existing customers into true fans.”

View the new brand identity and campaign here: www.petsathome.com/allforpets

For more information about Household, visit: www.household-design.com

Pet specialist Kennelpak ios celebrating after its YAKERS flavoured occupier chews were voted 'Must Stock Pet Product of the Year' award at the Pet Product Marketing Awards 2023. 

As voted for by Pet Industry Retailers, this award recognises the outstanding quality, innovation, and market appeal of YAKERS flavoured chews within the pet industry.

"We are thrilled and honoured to receive the 'Must Stock Pet Product of the Year' award from the Pet Product Marketing Awards," said Nigel Wright, Commercial Director for Kennelpak. "This recognition reinforces our dedication to crafting high-quality and flavourful chews that promote dental health and provide dogs with a long-lasting chewing experience."

YAKERS chews are meticulously handcrafted from 100% natural, gluten-free Himalayan yak milk. They are infused with delicious flavours including strawberry, mint, turmeric, and apple making them irresistible to dogs of all breeds and sizes. 

These extra long-lasting chews are designed to keep dogs occupied, promote healthy teeth and gums, and satisfy their instinctive need to chew. Each flavour of YAKERS also comes with its own range of health benefits for dogs, including natural antioxidants in the strawberry flavour and promoting fresh breath with the mint flavour. 

Suitable for dogs aged four months and over, the YAKERS flavours are the ultimate combination of taste, nutrition, and extra long-lasting entertainment. 

The 'Must Stock Pet Product of the Year' award highlights the exceptional marketing and sales potential of YAKERS flavoured chews. By stocking this award-winning product, retailers and distributors have the opportunity to attract and retain a loyal customer base seeking high-quality, flavourful, and guilt-free dog chews.

YAKERS flavours are owned by Kennelpak and retail from £5.99. For more information on stocking any YAKERS products, competitive pricing and free marketing POS support, contact sales@kennelpak.co.uk.

Walter Harrison’s newest addition to its wild bird portfolio, the wild bird Peanut Butter and Specialised Feeder duo, has been awarded Bird Product of the Year 2023 by Pet Product Marketing. 

Made from a unique blend of suet, peanut flour, and rapeseed oil, Walter Harrison's peanut butter is available in 2 flavours, Original and Mealworms, and formulated specifically for wild birds. Suitable for all seasons and particularly vital during the colder months, peanuts are naturally high in calories and, when blended into butter, make a tasty high-energy treat for a wide variety of garden bird species from Blue Tits to Woodpeckers. The recipe does not contain any palm oil or added salt! The mealworm recipe combines the delectable peanut butter blend with protein-rich mealworm morsels, which will be a hit in back gardens.

The Harrison's Peanut Butter feeder is a simple, easy-use design, perfect for all garden spaces, including balconies. Feed wild birds by removing the lid of the peanut butter jar and screwing the jar into the peanut butter specialist feeder. The feeder has a rope to hang the feeder and jar from a branch, wall or fence and a little wooden baton to slot into the feeder to act as a handy perch for wild birds. Alternatively, you can feed by setting the jar securely on a bird table or smearing the peanut butter onto a tree trunk for more timid birds to find.

The packaging and materials of this new range have been well thought-through for the environmentally conscious customer: the jars are fully recyclable as they are made with glass, and the lid is made with PP. The peanut butter feeder is made with 100% recyclable plastics in a muted natural green colour, and the rope is made with recycled materials too. 

Walter Harrison's have been creating the highest quality feeds in their Nottinghamshire mill for over 100 years. They source, clean and blend the finest ingredients to create a range of Wild Bird food they're proud to put their name to. Launched in early 2023, Walter Harrison's Peanut Butter for Wild Birds has been a popular novelty in the trade, and it has just been awarded the Pet Product Marketing Retailer Recommended Award for Bird Product of the Year 2023!

These lines are available to order and exclusive to buy from Pedigree Wholesale. 

WildWash, a leading provider of natural and effective pet grooming products, has announced a partnership with NVS, one of the largest veterinary supply wholesalers in the industry. 

This exciting collaboration opens up new avenues for pet owners and veterinary professionals to access WildWash's premium range of grooming solutions.

With a commitment to crafting high-quality products that prioritise pet well-being, WildWash has gained recognition for its extensive line of shampoos, conditioners, and cleansers. Now, through the partnership with NVS, veterinarians and pet owners alike will have the opportunity to experience the exceptional benefits of WildWash products.

The BestUKVets Awards winners were announced by VetHelpDirect at a memorable Gala Awards Ceremony attended by over 150 veterinary professionals in London.

With over 750 outstanding reviews left online by their clients, Weeley Veterinary Centre in Essex topped the 2023 charts and received the Gold Award.  Also on the podium with over 700 excellent reviews, Streatham Hill Veterinary Surgery in London once again scooped Silver and Briar House Veterinary Surgery in Kent collected Bronze.  

Vet practices also battled for a place in the Top 25 plus Best in County. There were also regional category winners including Best Start Up, Best Small Practice, Best Equine Vets and Best Farm Vets plus a new Best Cat Vets category. An ‘Elite’ award category was also announced to recognise previous Gold winners who continue to receive high levels of positive feedback and last night Cockburn Vets received this accolade.  Over 40 veterinary practices were presented with an Award and a full list can be viewed on at bestukvet.co.uk. 

The BestUKVets Awards celebrate vet practices that delight their clients and are presented to practices across the UK with the most 4 or 5 star online reviews in each category.  In order to select the winners, Awards organisers analyse and moderate over 15,500 reviews left by pet owners on vet practice websites throughout the year. Every vet practice in the UK is eligible and already registered via their listing on any-uk-vet.co.uk and VetHelpDirect.com and around half get involved. 

Susie Samuel, CEO of VetHelpDirect, explains: “The BestUKVets Awards were established to reward vet practices for outstanding feedback from pet owning clients.  The annual event, now in its 11th year, highlights the importance of gathering reviews.  Not only do reviews make it easier for owners to find the right vet but they also boost staff morale and wellbeing. Weeley Vets are well-deserving winners only in their first year of practice! It is always a pleasure to read so many wonderful reviews praising high levels of service.”  

April Young, owner at Weeley Vets commented, “We are absolutely over the moon to receive this Award – especially as we opened only 18 months ago.  Our vets, nurses and all staff have worked so hard to deliver extremely high levels of customer service and we are delighted that our pet owner clients have recognised our efforts. 

Susie continues: “We always encourage vet practices to enhance their online presence and as a team of veterinary and digital experts, we provide vet practices with a unique way of connecting with their clients.  In addition to enabling a practice to receive professionally moderated reviews and build their online reputation, we enhance a practice’s online presence with a range of tools such as our symptom checker.” 

For more information about the Awards or how vet practices can get involved, contact bestukvet.co.uk for expert advice.  We are very grateful for sponsorship from Digital Practice, Vet Dynamics, Colourful CPD, Provet Cloud and Shires Insurance & Finance Brokers.

Frozzys has just launched a new healthy lickable Soft Scoop frozen yogurt treat for dogs. The new Soft Scoop variety is made in the UK and is packed full of carefully selected nutritionally beneficial ingredients.

Dog owners are becoming increasingly aware of the nutritional value of their dog’s diet. Ice cream is notorious for being high in fat and sugar, whereas Frozzys Soft Scoop is lactose free, low in fat, contains no added sugar and is rich in prebiotic fibre to aid digestion.

Perfect for catering and hospitality outlets, Frozzys Soft Scoop is available in two lickable flavours – Vanilla and Strawberry, both of which are rich in calcium, low in calories and have no added sugar. 

Frozzys marketing manager Jackie Kirk said: “At Frozzys we’re passionate about developing healthy and nutritious treats for our pets. This is why we’ve developed a new guilt-free nutritious lickable soft scoop in our two best-selling flavours, strawberry and vanilla.

Frozzys new Soft Scoop is available to order now! Find out where to order and download your FREE online marketing pack at frozzys.com

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The British Independent Retailers Association has said recent figures from the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index are encouraging – but it has questioned the food price hike.

Speaking about the report, which can be downloaded here, BIRA, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, said that inflation levels falling was an encouraging marker for shoppers.

The report shows shop Price annual inflation decelerated to 8.4% in June, down from 9.0% in May - below the three-month average rate of 8.7% - while shop price growth remains elevated.

Also reported:

• Non-Food inflation decelerated to 5.4% in June, down from 5.8% in May. This is below the 3-month average rate of 5.6%. Inflation remains elevated in this category.
• Food inflation decelerated to 14.6% in June, down from 15.4% in May. This is below the 3-month average rate of 15.2% and is the second consecutive deceleration in the food category.
• Fresh Food inflation slowed further in June, to 15.7%, down from 17.2% in May. This is below the 3-month average rate of 16.8% and inflation in this category remains elevated.
• Ambient Food inflation decelerated slightly to 13.0% in June, down from 13.1% in May. This is in line with the 3-month average rate of 13.0% and is the second fastest rate of increase in the ambient food category on record.

Andrew Goodacre, BIRA CEO said: "It is encouraging to see inflation levels falling across all the sectors, but I am sure we would all like to see it happening much quicker.

"However what I am still struggling to understand is why food inflation is 300% more than non-food? We understand that food inflation is being blamed on supply chain costs, and yet non-food products / retailers are experiencing the very same pressures. This is important because the high level of food inflation, seen as essential purchases, is detrimental to consume confidence and impacts on the discretionary expenditure, which in turn is the lifeblood of thousands of independent retailers."

The annual IVC Evidensia Graduate Academy Congress took place in Birmingham across two days, welcoming over 450 graduates across 8 countries, with the intention of encouraging collaboration, discussion and progress for the next generation of veterinary graduates.

And despite being the fifth congress to take place, it was the first to be in-person and group-wide for IVC Evidensia.

Graduates in attendance had a packed schedule of panel discussions, workshops and breakout sessions to get involved in, alongside a full exhibition space and a Gala dinner to enjoy on the evening of the first day. In total this amounted to over 60 hours of CPD across the two-day congress.

After introductions in the morning by Gayle Hallowell, Director of Veterinary Professional Development, and Sophie Haskey, Group Head of Graduate Academies, attendees were treated to a talk by the first keynote speaker Nick Baylis.

And in the evening, graduates received a warm welcome from UK CEO Duncan Phillips, followed by the second keynotes speaker, John Amaechi.

This was all just two weeks after the group’s annual Leaders’ Forum that took place at the same location and welcomed over 1000 colleagues from across the UK.

During the various talks at the congress this year, the overriding theme was that mistakes are to be expected as a graduate, but it’s how you deal with them personally and professionally that makes you a great vet.

Learning from mistakes is all part of the process of gaining experience as a vet professional, and having a strong supportive team is crucial.

By communicating effectively with your team and with clients and ensuring these channels are kept consistent and clear, graduates have a much better chance of creating successful outcomes in-practice, leading to a positive environment for themselves and others.

The two keynote speakers both gave talks that factored into this way of thinking, allowing graduates to take advice on board and use it in their future careers.

John Amaechi gave a talk on resilience and self-awareness, allowing graduates to prepare themselves for the rigorous demands sometimes imposed by the veterinary profession and to overcome adversity when, and if, it arises.

Psychologist and Psychotherapist Dr Nick Baylis gave a keynote speech about thriving in a high-pressure life, giving graduates the tools they need to balance a busy working life in practice. He touched on themes including emotional decompression, developing adult life skills, harnessing the imagination and channelling trauma.

Amanda Boag, Chief Medical Officer for IVC Evidensia, commented: “To be able to see so many graduates at the start of their veterinary journey fills me with pride for the fantastic work being done by the Graduate Academy, as well as a firm sense of optimism that the future of patient and client care across our group is in good hands.

“It is our responsibility now to ensure all our Graduate Academy participants are supported to develop their careers over the coming years in whatever direction it takes them. I wish each and every graduate the very best of luck in their professional endeavours.”

Sophie Haskey, Group Head of Graduate Academies, added: “Being at the congress in Birmingham was not only inspiring, in that you get to see so many enthusiastic future vets in one place, but also a testament to how committed we are in supporting graduate development. 

“I am thrilled that we are able provide so many opportunities to learn from industry experts and to understand the many different career paths available to them as vets. I hope that the graduates in attendance felt encouraged to go out and succeed in their chosen specialty, with the support of IVC Evidensia.” 

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed the frequency and risk factors for osteosarcoma across dog breeds in the UK.

Osteosarcoma, a cancerous bone tumour, was found to be much more common in giant dogs, including the Scottish Deerhound (3.28% of all dogs affected each year), Leonberger (1.48%), Great Dane (0.87%) and Rottweiler (0.84%).

This is the largest study ever undertaken on osteosarcoma in dogs using veterinary clinical records. The results will help owners, veterinarians, breeders and researchers to understand the risks of this important bone cancer in their breed and to update their strategies to support healthier dogs.

Osteosarcoma is a serious malignant bone tumour. Dogs with osteosarcoma often show signs of lameness with bony or soft tissue swelling which can be severely painful. Canine and human osteosarcoma present clinically with similar characteristics, clinical timelines and tumour biology. Therefore, studies on canine osteosarcoma can also be highly valuable in informing studies and knowledge of the disease in humans.

This study found that giant dog breeds had a significant risk of osteosarcoma compared to crossbreed dogs. Scottish Deerhounds were 118 times more likely to develop osteosarcoma than crossbreed dogs, Leonbergers were 56 times more likely, Great Danes 34 times and Rottweilers 27 times.

Fortunately, the study also identified several breeds with a relatively low risk of osteosarcoma in comparison to crossbreeds, including English Cocker Spaniels (x 0.18 times), Shih Tzus (x 0.12 times) and Jack Russell Terriers (x 0.05 times). The differences between these high-risk and low-risk breeds help us to understand that selecting dogs towards having a giant body size is one of the key drivers for osteosarcoma bone cancer in dogs.

The study was led by the RVC’s VetCompass programme and investigated the frequency of osteosarcoma and associated risk factors in different dog breeds in the UK. The study, using veterinary clinical records, looked at a sample of 905,552 UK dogs, consisting of all breeds under first opinion veterinary care during 2016.

The research found 331 osteosarcoma cases in the population, giving a one-year frequency of 0.037%, showing that osteosarcoma bone cancer is not common in dogs generally. Increased bodyweight and aging were associated with increasing risk of osteosarcoma; the average age at diagnosis was 9.64 years and the average adult bodyweight of affected dogs was 33.04kg, compared with an average of just 13.95kg in dogs without osteosarcoma.

Additional findings include:

• Skull shape influenced osteosarcoma risk. Breeds with long faces (dolichocephalic skulls) had increased risk (x 2.72) of osteosarcoma while breeds with flat faces (brachycephalic skulls) had reduced risk (x 0.50) compared with breeds with medium-length faces (mesocephalic skulls).
• Breeds with a genetic mutation towards shortened legs (chondrodystropy) such as Dachshund and Corgi had reduced risk (x 0.10) of osteosarcoma compared with breeds without this chondrodystrophy mutation (e.g. Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd).
• Insured dogs were 1.71 times more likely to be formally diagnosed with osteosarcoma compared with uninsured dogs, indicating the value of pet insurance to promote improved healthcare for dogs.

The study confirms that giant breeds, dogs with heavier bodyweights, longer legs or longer skull lengths are all at higher risk of developing osteosarcoma. As body size (giantism) is controlled by genetic factors, these new results can help owners, veterinarians, breeders and researchers to understand the risk factors for this devastating bone cancer and to update their strategies towards choosing to own or breed healthier dogs with lower osteosarcoma risk in the future. Additionally, these findings will help veterinarians to have higher clinical suspicion of typical signs in dogs showing greater risk factors.

Importantly, this new information will also help owners to make more informed choices when deciding on what type of dog to acquire and should encourage us all to prioritise the health of the dog over extreme body shapes. The results can also help researchers to extend the research on osteosarcoma in dogs to improve fundamental and translational bioscience on human osteosarcoma.

Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC, and lead author of the paper, said: “Given that dogs are recognised as man’s best friend, every dog-owner in return has a responsibility to be a dog’s best friend. We can fulfil this responsibility by ensuring that no pet dog is born into body shape that puts them at substantially increased risk of disease. This new study once again flags the costs that dogs pay for our human drive to own dogs with extreme body shapes that do not occur in nature. By choosing instead to own pet dogs with natural body shapes, we can each do our bit to put the health of the dog above our human whims.”

Dr Grace Edmunds, Clinical Research Fellow, Resident in Internal Medicine at the University of Bristol and co- author of the paper, said: “Understanding the biological risk factors associated with any disease can help us to work out what causes it. In this case, the risk factors associated with canine osteosarcoma may tell us what causes a dog’s bone cell to become a cancer cell, and how we can kill that cancer once it develops. For those of us who routinely see osteosarcoma in clinical practice, any step towards new treatments for our canine patients is necessary and exciting.

“However, even more thrilling is the idea that, given the similarities between canine and human osteosarcoma, we might be able to use information taken from dogs to help human patients. It is very hard to obtain tissue from human osteosarcoma to work with in the lab and thus we as cancer researchers lack knowledge about the human disease. My hope is that samples from my canine patients can act as the perfect model for me to devise prevention and treatment strategies that can also be translated to humans”.

Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeding Services Executive at The Kennel Club, added:

“These data importantly help to identify which dogs are most at risk of osteosarcoma and support the growing body of evidence that this disease is sadly more common amongst larger dogs and particular breeds. The findings will be used collaboratively as part of The Kennel Club’s Breed Health and Conservation Plans, to create strategies to tackle health priorities within those breeds that are affected.

“Ultimately this research, funded in part by The Kennel Club’s Charitable Trust as part of our mission to make a difference for dogs, should help owners that may need support in spotting the initial signs and seeking appropriate veterinary care, particularly in those breeds and crossbreeds identified as being at most risk of being affected. Cancer sadly is a common disease of all dogs; statistics suggest around 1 in 3 dogs develop cancer in their lifetime. Causes of cancer are largely unknown, making prevention extremely difficult, but if owners are aware of possible signs of disease, this can help early detection, ensuring appropriate care for recovery.”

Pedigree Wholesale has announced the appointment of Rob Palin as the new Head of Operations.

Rob has spent the last 12 years of his career in the logistics industry, working across various sectors such as automotive, retail & leisure, technology, utilities and healthcare. With a background in running operations and delivering projects from small-scale warehouse start-ups to multi-million network redesigns, Rob brings a wealth of knowledge gained while working with brands such as the NHS, McLaren, Bentley, Tesco, Apple and Vodafone.

Starting his career in retail, Rob progressed through various management training programs, then said that he “accidentally fell into working in logistics”, but once he’d experienced it, he knew it was what he wanted to spend the rest of his career doing. Rob said, “There is a buzz and cadence to warehouse operations that you rarely find elsewhere, which is highly motivational.”

Joining Pedigree Wholesale 9 weeks ago, Rob said: “I’m impressed with the passionate teams we have around us. The Customer is truly at the heart of what we do, from our Buying Teams, who ensure that we have the very best range to offer our Customers, through to Operations, where we are fully supported to innovate and continuously improve, to offer the best service to Specialist Pet Stores.”

Like many businesses, Pedigree Wholesale experienced heightened growth during Covid, which required quick solutions and fast reactions to handle the increased demand of Customers. Rob said, “Now that we are on the other side of Covid, I want to look at standardisation and operational efficiency, reviewing our operational processes to find the most robust, repeatable and reliable ways to serve our Customers. I’m looking forward to working and delivering some of the exciting plans we have for the not-so-distant future!”

Gerard O’Mahony, Managing Director of Pedigree Wholesale, said: “Our main goal this year is ‘Raising the Bar’, and the changes and processes Rob is currently working on introducing to our Operations will help us do so. Our Operations team are the backbone of our business, and working on improving in every way we can will help us serve our Customers even better.”

CSJ’s owner and founder Ceri Rundle doesn’t just ‘feed the most champions in the most canine activities’…she breeds many of them too, under her Moel affix. 

Crufts 2023 was no exception with Stephen Richardson winning the hotly contested Intermediate Agility Championships with his Border Collie ‘Gamble’, or to give his full title, Agility Champion Moel Gamble Demonic Risk.  Stephen is a professional dog agility trainer based in Cumbria with over 20 years’ experience in agility.

Ceri says, “We really enjoyed the TV coverage and spotting so many people who feed CSJ doing so well in a variety of activities. 

It was thrilling to see Toni Dawkins and her Miniature American Shepherd win the nail-biting Medium Agility Final, which gave Tiger his Champion title to become Agility Champion Bachero Cross My Heart.”  Toni later posted, ‘Thanks to my bestest pals and to CSJ who have now sponsored me for the best part of 20 years.’

Ceri continued, “In the Gundog rings, amongst so many enjoying their day was Debra Harker with Hector, her beautiful Gordon Setter Ch. Hernwood Achilles at Ettrick JW, who was shortlisted in a fantastic Open class and James Reavil of Cwnsaethu Gundog Training with his lovely Vizsla dog Nadorpusztai Gore at Cwnsaethu getting a VHC in Junior.”

Whilst Crufts was in full swing Ceri, herself a world-renowned sheepdog trainer and triallist, heard the news that another CSJ user, Kevin Evans, had won the EU Nursery Championship 2023 in Belgium on 12^th March with Kemi Jack and also his Balearic Meg coming 6^th.  

Ceri added, “Congratulations to everyone, unfortunately just too numerous to mention!”

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470

A popular independent pet store with a turnover of £370,000 has been put up for sale as the owners have decided to retire.

The asking price for Northumbria Pets in Alnwick is £179,995 plus Stock at Valuation.

The business is being marketed by Hilton Smythe Business Advisors, a national firm that assists with the buying and selling of businesses. Its marketing material states:

“Offered for sale is a long-established independent pet supplies business, based in the Northumberland market town of Alnwick, that has been under the meticulous ownership of the current owners since 1992 and is now celebrating its 30th anniversary. Located in a busy trading location, the business sells a comprehensive range of premium pet products, and caters to a wide variety of pets, including dogs, birds, cats, rodents and reptiles.”

The agents added: “The shop aims to bring a friendly face to the pet supplies market, and benefits from both a local loyal customer base and thousands of tourists, attracted by the natural beauty and historical interest of the area. The shop prides itself on providing informed and impartial advice to customers, as well as offering free deliveries to local destinations. Within recent years, the shop has also introduced a premium key-cutting service that has proved popular with the locals.”

Owner Keith Nichols said: “It is with mixed emotions that we announce the sale of Northumbria Pets. We have poured our heart and soul into this business for over three decades, and it has been an absolute privilege to serve our loyal customers and their beloved pets. We are immensely grateful for the trust and support we have received throughout the years.”

Northumbria Pets has been a member of the British Independent Retailers Association for 16 years. Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre expressed his admiration for the pet store and its invaluable contribution to the independent retail sector.

He said: “Northumbria Pets has been a longstanding and esteemed member of Bira, and we are incredibly proud to have had them as part of our association. Their commitment to providing excellent customer service and their passion for the welfare of pets has made a significant impact on their community. We wish the owners all the best in their future endeavours, and we are confident that their legacy will endure.”

More details on the pet store sale can be found by CLICKING HERE

Jollyes has completed a record-breaking financial year and intends to accelerate growth as it brings its offer to more communities across the UK.

Sales in FY23 broke through the £100m threshold, rising 33% from £87m in FY22 to £115.5m in the year to 29 May 2023.

Like-for-like sales also grew by 17% over the full year, over double the market which grew at eight per cent.  Sixty per cent of the like-for-like increase has come from transaction growth not inflation – an indication of how Jollyes has protected customers from rising prices.

The increase in turnover continues through a mix of higher sales at existing stores, new openings and acquisitions, and rising digital demand for home delivery and click and collect services.

Stores

Now trading from 90 stores across the UK, Jollyes opened 13 new locations in the financial year and today confirmed it had secured a new £3m facility from HSBC that will allow it to open at least 10 additional stores in the balance of calendar 2023.

Store openings already agreed for the coming months include Belfast Boucher Road (July), Swindon (July), Merthyr Tydfil (August), Harrogate (September) and Swadlincote (November). 

Subject to successful lease negotiations, it also has plans to open at least five additional new stores this calendar year in central Scotland, Northern Ireland, Berkshire, Kent and Somerset, putting Jollyes on course to reach its 100-store target ahead of schedule.

Jobs

As Jollyes has rapidly developed its reach, it has been able to deliver more dream jobs to those looking to work with animals. 

Over the financial year it has added over 160 people across the UK, employing its 1,000th colleague in April at its new Christchurch store and ending the year with 1,021 on the Jollyes team. 

During the year it has given colleagues £600 to help support them through the cost-of-living crisis and enhanced staff discounts of up to 60 per cent. 

It has also continued with its SQP training programme in FY23 through Vetpol, and after 45 colleagues passed their exams in H2, Jollyes now has 131 suitably qualified colleagues trained to dispense veterinary medicines.  One of its team – Paul Cartledge from Cannock – was named Companion Animal SQP of the Year.

Services

As well as investing in its colleagues and new stores, Jollyes has invested in its existing estate, giving significant makeovers to an additional 10 stores across the UK.

As well as introducing new branding, it is investing £1m over the current financial year to supercharge the provision of vet clinics, grooming parlours, and other pet services in its stores.

Between now and the summer of 2024, Jollyes is doubling the number of stores that offer community pet clinics and doubling opening hours for those clinics.

Jollyes is also doubling the number of grooming locations and by the end of June, all its pet spas will be re-branded, refurbished and re-launched as “The Jolly Groomer”.

Private Label

Jollyes is investing in its pet food ranges to deliver its promise to be the best value pet shop in town.

As more and more pet owners switch on to the health and wellbeing benefits of raw frozen food, it has rolled out five full raw ‘shop-in-shops’ in Edinburgh, Llanelli, Milton Keynes, Newport (Isle of Wight) and Romford.

It has also invested significantly in high quality private label pet food such as its own Lifestage, K9 and Rileys brands which offer a premium experience without a big brand price tag. 

Over the course of the financial year, private label sales have grown by 64 per cent as customers take advantage of the value and quality its in-house brands provide.  Now over half of all dog food sold in Jollyes is an in-house brand, approximately 25 per cent better value than its branded equivalent.

Jollyes chief executive officer Joe Wykes said: “The value we provide, the local service we offer and the ranges we’ve developed are proving to be a powerful combination in the growing number of communities we serve.

“Fundamental to our continued outperformance of the market has been the deep pet expertise of our own people. 

“I’d like to thank the whole team – colleagues old and new - for their efforts over the last 12 months.

“But like them, I’m excited about what more we can achieve in the years ahead.

“Today, fewer than one in five potential customers lives within five miles of one of our stores.  With the right team, the right backing and the right ambition, we have a tremendous opportunity ahead of us to bring the value and service that’s already making an impact, to significantly more UK communities.”

Other key FY23 highlights:

• Opened new stores in 2022/3 at Edinburgh, Glenrothes, Port Glasgow and Stirling in Scotland, Llanelli and Wrexham in Wales, and Christchurch, Southport, Peterborough, Poole, Scunthorpe, Stockton-on-Tees and Warrington in England.
• Brought Midlands-based Penparc into the Jollyes family in July 2022, with five stores in Cannock, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, West Bromwich and Telford.
• Gave makeovers to stores at Lurgan, Newry and Enniskillen in Northern Ireland, Bedford, Dartford, Gosport, Newport (Isle of Wight), Romford and St Helens in England and Clydebank in Scotland as part of its investment and modernisation of its estate.
• During the financial year added 30 community pet clinics to stores and launched a partnership with Leeds-based Eville & Jones to provide in-store veterinary services from fully trained and Royal Veterinary College-accredited vets.
• Introduced Jolly Groomer rebrands to Bedford, Dartford, Eccles, Edinburgh, Gosport, Halifax, Scunthorpe, Skegness, Stevenage, St Helens, Tonbridge and Wrexham.
• Grew its total PetCLUB membership to over 1m, with over 700,000 active users helping footfall in store reach a record 6.3m.
• Validating the commitment of its people to top-notch customer service, added 20,000 five-star customer service reviews on Trustpilot.
• During the year Jollyes has also strengthened its leadership team through the appointment of fresh talent to help drive its ambitious growth plans.  Recent hires include estates director Warren Bester from Topps Tiles, chief financial officer Ross Chester from Primrose and retail director Craig Smith from Pets at Home.

The Pet Industry Federation announced Huskaloo as the winner of its Innovation of the Year Award in front of attendees gathered at its Business of Pets conference at Cranfield Management Development Centre.

Huskaloo fought off competition from a finalist pool of 10 innovative products and services, all of whom had to deliver a presentation about their innovation to those attending the event. CompanionPass and HayPigs Pig n’ Mix treats range came in joint second place. 

Huskaloo, from company Tailor-Grace, is the world’s first eco-friendly cat litter and is made from coconut husks, a by-product of the coconut industry. CompanionPass is a dog access solution to allow dogs into more public premises and HayPigs Pig n’ Mix treats are confectionary-themed foraging treats for small animals. 

The Business of Pets conference was a new event aimed at pet businesses that wanted to find out about the various types of finance and investment and learn about a range of issues such as Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) strategies, intellectual property, legal pitfalls when running a company and the trends to look out for in the UK pet industry. 

The conference was supported by MHA, with Mark Lumsdon-Taylor, MHA Partner, co-chairing the event, with Nigel Baker, PIF CEO. 

Nigel said: “The 10 finalists delivered fantastic presentations over the course of yesterday and today to persuade conference attendees that their product/service was the most innovative. The knowledge, passion and creativity shone through from each of the finalists and many had clearly worked hard to ensure their innovation had strong sustainable credentials which were central to its values.

“The presentations provided an excellent backdrop and context for the brilliant talks which followed over the two days and covered the different types of funding options, intellectual property, pet industry data insights and innovations in the UK. The industry clearly welcomed this unique event and we look forward to delivering something similar in the future.”

As the number of exhibitors at PATS Telford in September surpasses the 200-stand mark, emerging businesses have revealed why they feel it’s the BEST place to launch new pet products.

Plans are well advanced for the UK’s National Pet Industry Event, which takes place on Sunday, 1^st October, and Monday 2^nd October 2023, at Telford International Centre in Shropshire.

The New Starter Zone, supported by PetQuip with media partner PPM, is one of the most exciting additions to the show with start-up companies taking advantage of the dedicated area in Hall 3. Already 18 companies have signed up to exhibit in the Zone, where companies launched in the past three years are being given the chance to showcase their product ranges and services. 

Tangle, a new company that collects end-of-life fishing nets from ports and recycles them into sustainable dog products, will be taking a stand in the Zone. The company’s Sam Cartwright said: ““After speaking with a ton of retailers and being told that PATS Telford was the go-to trade event, we knew we had to attend. We’re excited to showcase our products and connect with buyers. We’ll be debuting some new products and really look forward to getting them into the industry’s hands.”

Another New Starter Zone exhibitor is No Fuss Fill, an enrichment toy filler. “As the leading UK pet exhibition, PATS was the obvious choice for us to showcase the popular No Fuss Fill range,” said Tracey Powiesnik. “We are looking forward to meeting potential customers whilst unveiling exciting new products that enable retailers to boost their revenue and delight their customers.”

It's a similar story for Paws in Earnest, whose owner Melissa Smith revealed: “We have regularly attended as a visitor, and it’s always been our goal to exhibit. This year we are launching an exciting new pet enrichment product and felt that now was the perfect time. We hope to meet lots of businesses that are looking to expand their enrichment range.”

Pettle Pets is taking advantage of the New Starter Zone to introduce its new range of luxury pet care products. “We chose PATS to showcase our products because of the quality and range of buyers attending the show and we look forward to seeing everyone at our stand,” said the company’s Nick Salter.

Other companies exhibiting in the New Starter Zone include: Dernier and Hamlyn, Dot Dot Pet Co, Extreme Lounging, Furr Boost, Injoya, Ralph & Co, Simon’s Kitchen, Snif Snax, Snoots & Sploots, Walker & Drake and Wyld Cub.

Irish company Borvo Nutrients, which manufactures a range of superfoods for dogs, will be travelling from its County Wicklow base to exhibit at PATS Telford for the first time. Tom Shearer said: “We’re excited to exhibit at PATS Telford 2023. The UK is a key market for our business and PATS is the leading pet show in this market. We will be launching three new, innovative, supplements for dogs targeting dental, joint and gut health.”

Many other pets brands are new to exhibiting at PATS Telford, including: Aloise & Co, Aniforte, Bona, Cocopup, Coveris, COYA Pet, Fetched, Fountasia, Inspired, Kittilitt Cat Litter, Pooch & Hound, Poorly-Paws, ProTrainings, Rogz, Rosetta Brands, Star Pets Wholesale, Sure Petcare & Home Again, and The Animal People Recruitment Company.

PATS Telford is also attracting a host of international companies like Italian business Di Fillippo Legnami. Sale Di Filippo commented: “We decided to take part in the exhibition because of its importance in the British pet care sector. We believe it will fulfil our purpose of finding reliable distributors in the UK market. We are going to present new natural and biodegradable litters for cats and small animals.”

Di Fillippo Legnami will be joined at the show by another Italian brand Imac Pet Products, as well as companies from further afield like Earthz Pet from New Zealand, and Zoo Med Laboratories from the US

“It is great to see so many new companies at PATS Telford, both from the UK and overseas,” said show director Gordon Thomas. “They will be joining an impressive line-up of regular exhibitors at the biggest show we’ve ever staged. The exhibition will now fill three halls at the Telford International Centre so visitors can be certain of seeing the most comprehensive collection of new products from the industry’s best brands.”

Pet product retailers and buyers can now register for free entry to PATS Telford at the new look website www.patshow.co.uk where a full list of exhibitors can also be found.