The dog treats sector has experienced an impressive double-digit growth¹ in recent years, as now more than ever pet owners are keen to pamper their pets by continuing to invest in small indulgences. For retailers, this is a fantastic opportunity to capitalise on this lucrative market.

However, lots of treats in addition to regular feeding is resulting in an obesity epidemic in animals. Obesity is one of the most pressing health issues affecting pets, and it is estimated that currently in the UK one in three dogs are overweight².

Pet owners are becoming increasingly concerned about the health of their dogs and some early adopters are actively searching for more nutritious food to ensure their dog maintains a balanced diet. In order to meet the increasing demand for healthy products retailers should be offering a variety of snacks, including those that offer specific health benefits.

  

8in1 MINIS are bite-size specialist treats which are a healthy supplement to every dog’s diet. They come in three unique flavours which are all deliciously tasty and low in fat: 8in1 MINIS lamb & cranberry 8in1 MINIS beef & apple and 8in1 MINIS chicken & carrot. 8in1 MINIS have been created with a gluten-free formula and contain no added sugar without compromising on taste. All products are enriched with vitamins, low in fat and contain no added sugar or gluten, and are therefore also suitable for sensitive dogs. 

The combination of nourishing ingredients tastes simply irresistible to dogs, whether big or small. The attractive, two-colour design – available in flower or ring shapes – and the meal-like composition of the products will also appeal to consumers in your store. Dog owners can be sure that by offering their pets the new 8in1 MINIS, they are giving them a healthy reward that not only tastes great, but also provides them with many essential nutrients.

Changes in the treats market - Samantha Deacon, Trade Marketing Manager 8in1

“The treats market is the fastest growing category in the market and the astronomical growth seems set to rise. 8in1 has been introduced to offer a broad specialist range of rawhide dog treats with tangible, functional benefits to the pet, thus justifying a differentiated price point.

"The range has been developed in line with customers’ eagerness to spend more on their pets to acquire quality products. This offers retailers the chance to engage consumers and encourage the trade up to better quality products with premium margins.

 "8in1’s investment in research and development has led to the launch of a number of line extensions and innovative new products to appeal to the consumers demand for products which are customised to their pet’s health needs. 8in1 caters for the growing demand for specialised and premium treats, with a wide range of products to delight dogs of all shapes and sizes.”

 For more information, visit www.8in1.eu/en or contact info@8in1.co.uk

¹ DOG FOOD IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, Euromonitor International, November 2013

²http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/467107/Sweet-treats-and-even-alcohol-are-killing-millions-of-British-pets

Pets at Home has grown its revenues by 10.2% to £381.5m in the first half of its financial year and will be paying its shareholders an interim dividend of 1.8p per share. In its interim results for the 28 week period from 28th March to 9th October 2014 annouced today, the company said it was "delivering on the strategic plan across all measures."

Nick Wood, Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased with our first half financial performance. We continue to deliver on our strategy to be the leading destination brand for pet lovers, with particularly strong performance from new growth areas including vets and groom rooms. Our passion for pets guides everything we do and it’s a passion we share with our customers, with more than half a million joining our VIP Club during this period.”

“We end the first half in a strong financial position, the business remains very cash generative and we are pleased to announce our first dividend payment. Looking ahead, we will continue to focus on our successful strategy, and by doing so, we are confident that we can deliver sustainable long-term growth.”

H1 FY15 financial highlights

• Total revenue growth of 10.2% to £381.5m
• Merchandise revenues up 8.9% to £348.3m, comprised of Food revenues up 9.6% to £188.7m and Accessories revenues up 8.0% to £159.6m
• Services revenues up 27.0% to £33.2m, reflecting both new openings and the growing revenue streams from our maturing vet practices and Groom Rooms
• Like-for-like (LFL) sales growth 4.2%, driven by strength in Advanced Nutrition, Health & Hygiene, VIP Club, growth from our vet practices and Groom Rooms, and omnichannel
• Merchandise LFL revenue growth of 3.7%
• Services LFL revenue growth of 10.2%
• Gross margin of 53.8%, +20bps on the prior year; reflecting Merchandise margin +7bps to 55.9% and strong Services margin expansion +546bps to 31.7%
• Underlying EBITDA of £58.6m (+10.8%) and margin of 15.4%, expansion of 8bps on the prior year, despite £1.4m in additional Plc operating costs
• Underlying free cashflow of £33.8m, conversion of 57.7% compared with prior year at 43.8%
• Interim dividend of 1.8p per share

H1 FY15 Operational highlights

• Added 8 stores net to the portfolio total of 385; including 10 new stores, one store closure in Knutsford, and a temporary closure of our Rugby store which will be relocated in H1 FY16
• Opened 26 veterinary practices, bringing the total portfolio to 303
• Opened 23 Groom Rooms, bringing the total portfolio to 152
• VIP Club reached 2.6m members, up from 2.0m at the end of FY14
• Wainwright’s grew 54.8% to £20.5m, driven by launches of WW’s Cat & Grain Free for dogs
• Refreshed 30% of total SKUs, of which over a third are own brand or private label
• Deliver To Store online offering now fully operational, which gives customers access to the extended omnichannel range of 10,800 SKUs for pickup in their local store

Outlook

The pet care market outlook remains positive. We continue to expect gross openings of around 25 stores, 60 veterinary practices and 50 Groom Room salons in FY15.

Management and the Board remain confident in the Group’s prospects for the year and trading since the end of the half year period has been in line with our expectations.

An innovative partnership between Lily’s Kitchen and Country Life magazine has been formed in the quest to find Britain’s naughtiest dog.

Lily’s Kitchen, makers of natural and organic proper food for pets, secured sole sponsorship of this new and exciting competition.

Britain’s Naughtiest Dog in association with Lily’s Kitchen encourages owners to submit their extraordinary accounts of their dog misbehaving, chewing through the Chesterfield or stealing socks aplenty.

The competition will be advertised in the magazine and shared through social media using #naughtiestdog and is open for entries until 5th January 2015.

The winner will be photographed for the cover of Country Life and will get a hamper filled with Lily’s Kitchen recipes.

Henrietta Morrison, founder and CEO of Lily’s Kitchen, will be a judge on the panel to select the winner and the premium pet food company will also have a profile-feature within the magazine.

Henrietta (left) said: “We’re so pleased to be working with the team at Country Life. It’s the perfect brand for us to partner with, great values and a readership interested in high quality produce, so sure to drive awareness of the Lily’s Kitchen brand to our target audience.

"This competition also gives us a chance to get involved in some great light-hearted fun that our customers and readers of Country Life can take part in.”

Mark Hedges, editor of Country Life magazine, said: “Nobody loves their dogs more than the British do, and as this delightful competition proves, we’ll forgive them anything."

For more information on Britain’s Naughtiest Dog in association with Lily’s Kitchen visit http://www.countrylife.co.uk/baddog

A change of dates in 2015 for trade shows Glee and PATS means the two September events won't clash for the first time in years. Glee is switching to a Monday to Wednesday format (September 14-16) while PATS is moving both dates and venue (September 27-28, Telford International Centre).

In September this year Glee and PATS opened on the same Sunday, meaning that pet retailers and garden centres had to choose between the two events.

Since its revamped 2014 show, the Glee team has been gathering feedback from the garden retail industry, which supports the view that Sunday is no longer an essential day for those attending the show. A weekday-only format offers greater flexibility and a stronger platform for business to be done for both exhibitors and visitors.

Glee’s event manager, Matthew Mein said: “Glee’s opening days have been a part of an ongoing discussion regarding the best possible format for the event for many years.  In 2014 we tackled a number of vital aspects, and believe that the changes that were made have kick-started a period of regeneration for the show, whilst also creating a vibrant and revitalised platform for business.  

“The change to a weekday show provides the opportunity to deliver a number of additional benefits, most notably the potential for an increase in visitor numbers, and additional flexibility for those that visit - including when they attend, how many team members they can bring with them, and how long they stay at the show. This latter benefit was certainly a trend which emerged in 2014, in that more people were staying at the show for longer.  

"Over 400 more people revisted the show on the Tuesday compared to 2013 figures, whilst attendance on the Monday was also up year-on-year. I’ve no doubt that an additional weekday will enable this trend to continue to grow in the year ahead, helping retailers and manufacturers to grow profits and develop even more valuable working relationships.”

The move of dates and venue by PATS will also provide pet buyers from garden centres with a better opportunity to attend both shows next year. PATS Telford will take place a fortnight later than this September's show in Harrogate but will continue to open on a Sunday.

For more information on both shows visit www.gleebirmingham.com and www.patshow.co.uk

The ‘Tail We Can Wag’ range of dog collars and leads, sold in the UK through AmPet Products, has been given the seal of approval by fashion and society magazine, Tatler.

In its next issue, which goes on sale on December 4, Tatler poses the question: What is the fashion conscious dog wearing this season?

“In London, Monte Carlo, New York, Beverley Hills and Milan the choice has to be the Tail We Can Wag collar and matching lead,” reveals the magazine.

“These stunning hand-made collars and leads are woven in Guatemala and lovingly sewn in the USA with brass fittings that won’t rust.”

This ringing endorsement has been welcomed by AmPet’s sales and marketing director Alex Wilson. “For a renowned lifestyle magazine like Tatler to come out with such glowing comments is praise indeed,” said Alex.

“We believe totally in the Tail We Can Wag range but it’s always good to get positive feedback.”

The colourful collars and leads are inspired by nature and a passion for the great outdoors. The story behind the innovative products began in 1988 when dog lover Wendel Wirth turned her favourite belt, made from a colourful, hand-woven Guatemalan sash, into a collar for her rescue dog Aiko. Based on comments from people she met in the street, like “you should make some for sale” Wendel decided to embark upon a venture to create the Tail We Can Wag brand.

As well as been described as “fun fashion accessories for pets and the people who love them”, the products also help to support a small community in the highlands of Guatemala, where the hand-woven material used in their manufacture is produced.

To view the collection, visit www.ampetproducts.com and for more information call Alex Wilson on 0330 088 1673.

Natural pet food company Forthglade has joined forces with TV presenter and keen animal lover Adam Henson to highlight the dangers of sharing rich festive foods with dogs.  

In a survey of 2,000 UK dog owners, Forthglade investigated the extent that Brits share Christmas dinners and all the trimmings with their pets. The research unveiled that over 60% of dog owners plan to dish-up for their dogs on Christmas Day - potentially 5.5 million dogs across the UK*, even though the majority of owners (56%) know that human titbits are harmful to their pets.  

British TV presenter Adam Henson, well-known for his passion for animal welfare, has launched a national health warning to dog owners, highlighting the dangers of sharing indulgent Christmas foods with pets, and hopes to raise awareness of the human foods that could result in trips to doggie A&E.

Unsurprisingly, the most popular foods dished up to dogs on Christmas Day are turkey, gravy and stuffing. Stuffing and gravy frequently contain onion, which can be toxic to dogs if too much is consumed, resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea and in extreme cases leading to a dog requiring immediate veterinary assistance.

One in 10 Christmas treaters surveyed admitted to sharing mince pies, unaware that the majority of Christmas puddings contain raisins or sultanas, which can lead to canine kidney failure.   20% also claimed that sharing meat from fry-ups was a household norm, even though too much fatty food can cause pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas. Signs include abdominal pains and sickness.

Adam Henson said of the research: “These findings are worrying. The research showed that 15% of dog owners admitted needing veterinary assistance on Boxing Day due to feeding dogs festive human foods. 

"I have two dogs at home that I adore but I’m aware of the dangers of humanising and sharing too much with them, especially when it comes to food treats. 

"I hope this health warning provides a wake-up call to dog owners, and will help them see that their misguided kindness to treat their dogs at Christmas with festive foods could actually prove fatal.”

The research unveils that the most common reason for sharing over indulgent Christmas food with dogs was down to humanising our four-legged friends - with people positioning their pet as a ‘part of the family’.   1 in 5 feel their actions are totally acceptable as Christmas is a ‘special occasion’. 

“Sharing foods from our plates with dogs is not only a hazard to their health, but causes many other problems such as behavioural issues, dominance, hyper-activity and also obesity,” explains Adam.

Festive foods that could prove a danger for dogs:

• Splinters from poultry bones can become stuck in throats or pierce intestinal tracts
• Stuffing contains onion which can destroy red blood cells causing life threatening anaemia if consumed in large quantities
• Gravy can contain more onion and high levels of salt which can lead to kidney problems and prove fatal
• Grapes, raisins and sultanas, found in most Christmas desserts contain a toxin which can cause kidney failure
• Chocolate, especially dark, contains theobromine, which dogs can’t metabolise well. It accumulates in dogs’ bodies and becomes toxic or even fatal
• Mouldy leftovers including yoghurt, bread and cheese can contain toxins produced by the mould, causing rapid onset convulsions in dogs

Gerard Lovell, Forthglade's joint MD, added: "I’m saddened to hear that 63% of dog owners never even consider what their dog food actually contains and don’t look at dog food labels.

"We hope that this Christmas food health warning will raise awareness of the huge health risks for dogs and help stress the importance of good pet nutrition and a natural balanced diet."

Forthglade provides a range of premium nutritionally balanced meals for dogs. Using only the best ingredients to create a range of flavours, which are slow-cooked to lock in goodness.  Made in the heart of the Devonshire countryside, the Natural Lifestage range is made using carefully sourced fresh meat (over 72% meat content) and nutritious brown rice and vegetables to make a wholesome complete meal which helps to care for your pet’s health. It comes in varieties suitable for puppies, adult dogs (aged 1-7) and seniors. Forthglade is free from preservatives, artificial flavours or colours and it is hypo allergenic, meaning all foods are suitable for pets with sensitive stomachs.

For more information about Forthglade visits www.forthglade.com 

*Pet Food Manufacturers' Association 2014.

PetQuip is to organise British groups of exhibitors at Global Pet Expo, Florida, and at Zoomark International, Bologna, in 2015. The association has secured UK Trade & Investment cash grants for eligible exhibitors at Global Pet Expo, and has bid for similar exhibitor grants for Zoomark.

The move follows another highly successful year for British firms that exhibited in PetQuip-organised groups at international trade fairs in the US and Europe in 2014. UK companies returned home from the British pavilions at these shows with substantial sales leads and significant export orders. 

Global Pet Expo (4 to 6 March 2015) is the largest North American trade show for the pet care sector and attracts independent retailers, mass-market buyers and other qualified professionals. At the 2014 edition of the show, an impressive 27% of buyers came from 76 countries outside the USA. Demonstrating the wide range of interest in British products, the UK exhibits that attracted overseas buyers in 2014 ranged from pet food, supplements and feeding equipment to grooming, beds, microchip-operated doors and identification devices for pets. Pet hair removers and various accessories were also in demand with the visiting buyers.

Zoomark International (7 to 10 May 2015) is a biennial trade fair that in 2013 attracted over 22,760 trade buyers from around the world. The Italian market for pet supplies is one of the most dynamic in Europe with retail sales estimated at between €3.8 and €4 billion a year. The market is expanding at a faster rate than those of France, Germany and the UK with supplies for dogs and cats at the forefront.  In 2013, the show brought glowing reports from the 15-strong group of UK exhibitors. Among the many companies that achieved success was Pet Rebellion which secured an order for 6,000 bespoke pet beds and Tastybone which appointed distributors in eight different countries. First time exhibitor Crate Ideas was delighted with its decision to venture into overseas exhibiting, saying “from the first day we knew we had made the right decision to exhibit.”

British firms find that exhibiting in the PetQuip exhibitor group at important overseas exhibitions simplifies the whole process of organising their participation and that they have the added benefit of the association’s comprehensive exhibitor support package. This includes help with logistics and exhibition technicalities, advance marketing and PR promotion, advice about travel and accommodation, stand planning, transporting exhibits to the show, market information and guidance on how to maximise their presence at the show.   

PetQuip personnel have extensive experience of overseas markets and their key buyers, and will be manning a British pet industry information stand at both of these exhibitions, from where they will be providing on-site support and assistance to UK exhibitors as well as meeting overseas buyers on the stand and encouraging them to visit the stands of the British exhibitors.   

Companies wishing to learn more about exhibiting at these shows should contact either Emma Lewis emma@petquip.com or Theresa Swann theresa@petquip.com, visit the PetQuip website www.petquip.com, or call 01959 565995.

Toppl is an ingenious toy which traps treats with its inner ridges and topples over to keep dogs entertained and challenged.

Non-stop wobbling and rolling makes the fun continue.  

And owners can interlock the two sizes  of Toppl (sold separately) to make playtime a more complex proposition.

For high energy dogs the mental challenge of “freeing” a dental stick from it’s confines is a puzzle indeed.

The Toppl is the latest addition to the Zogoflex range of dog toys. Like all the toys in the range, Toppl is made with an amazingly tough material that is buoyant and pliable, non-toxic, BPA and Phthalate free and FDA compliant.

Zogoflex is a recyclable plastic composite which includes recycled plastic bottles, so whilst they look and feel like rubber toys, they’re not and that’s what makes them so durable. They float, can go in the dishwasher and come with a one-time refund or replacement guarantee against dog damage!

Zogoflex® is distributed in the UK by Collarways Limited. Visit www.collarways.com or call 0845 4568395.

Tribal Pet Foods has produced a Coconut, Banana and Peanut Butter treat which it claims will help owners to keep the weight of their dogs under control.

Using uncommon and specifically selected ingredients, this treat works to make dogs  feel fuller and boost their metabolism.

This particular treat contains Coconut Oil which is a great source of the rare fatty acids that boost canine metabolism – these also act as an essential courier for many vital vitamins such as A, D, E and K. 

The slightly higher fibre content of the Coconut, Banana and Peanut Butter treats means that dogs feel fuller for less calories, further helping to control their weight. 

Owners can easily select the treat that’s best for their dogs with Tribal’s innovative and accessible traffic light labelling system, which measures fat, fibre and calories – the three most important factors in helping control rising canine obesity.

Oxford Chemist Fatima Maktari formulated the recipe using her dedicated research into organic chemistry and diet to ensure these treats are healthy and full of nutritious ingredients to support your dog’s health. 

The treats are hand-baked using only human grade, 100% natural, gluten-free and wheat-free ingredients.

For more information visit www.tribalpetfoods.co.uk

AQUA 2015 is set to be the UK’s biggest aquatics and water gardening exhibition ever with nearly 70 companies already committed to taking stands at the Telford International Centre.

With still 10 months to go before the big show on Wednesday, October 14, and Thursday, October 15, AQUA 2015 has already booked the same amount of stand space as when the doors opened on the previous event in 2013.

And the show is also creating massive interest among retailers with more than 100 retailers having registered to attend.

“We’re really pleased with the response so far from exhibitors and visitors,” said organiser Annie Foord. “The fact that so many companies and retailers have committed to being at AQUA 2015 with still 10 months to go is clear evidence that this event is growing in popularity.”

Norwood Aquarium Ltd is one of a growing number of companies exhibiting at AQUA for the first time, and general manager Rob Street said: “We have been supporting the bricks-and-mortar aquatic trade for 50 years, and we have recently made significant investments in our infrastructure. We believe AQUA 2015 is an ideal opportunity to demonstrate these changes and show retailers why we believe we can offer them the best service in the trade.”

Returning exhibitors include Alf Ltd, Aqua One, Bermuda, Berry Ring, CASCO, Certikin, Cloverleaf, Evolution Aqua, Interpet, Lotus-Atlantis, J&K, JMC, Mars Fishcare, OASE, Pedigree Aquatics Wholesale, Peter Golding, Tetra and Tropical Marine Centre. A full list is on the AQUA website www.aquatelford.co.uk.

Berry Ring’s Richard Hale said: “One of our main aims of exhibiting at AQUA 2015 is to achieve a wider recognition of the Berry Ring brand and to meet with existing and potential new customers at what has now become the leading show for the aquatic industry.”

And Bermuda’s senior sales manager Bob Meacham commented: “We are again extremely pleased to be attending the industry's largest aquatic show. We will be showcasing many new and exciting products, including water features, ponds and numerous accessories. There will also be innovative promotional offers to help retailers grow their margins even further with Bermuda during 2016.”

AQUA 2015 has also attracted an impressive list of overseas exhibitors, including Aquadip, Sibo and Velda (all from the Netherlands), Eheim and JBL (both from Germany), Amblard (France), Petra Aqua (Czech Republic), Tropica (Denmark) and Hamac Trading (Ireland).

There will be lots for visitors to see and do at AQUA 2015 and one of the most popular features is the New Products Showcase where exhibitors get the chance to unveil their latest launches. A panel of retailers will judge all entries on the first morning of the show before New Product Awards are handed out to the winners later in the day. In 2013 nearly 100 new products were showcased, and with a higher number expected next year the feature will be housed in a much larger and more prominent area.

CASCO Europe won a New Product Award at AQUA 2013 and CEO Matthew Bubear says they’ll be entering again next year. “We have various products and innovations in development at the moment which we will launch at AQUA 2015.

“AQUA is a very well organised and attended trade show which gives us a great opportunity to reach out to the trade,” adds Matthew. “At the show our aim is to provide brand and product awareness. It also gives us the opportunity to demonstrate features and provide an excellent platform to launch new products.”

As well as getting to see all the new products to be launched on to the market, visitors will be well looked-after during their stay, including a free deli bag lunch and more catering facilities. And retailers and buyers will also be invited to join exhibitors at an AQUA dinner on the first evening of the exhibition. The dinner, which will also be free, has been moved to a larger room to accommodate nearly 700 people. More details will be announced nearer the show.

Visitors can also benefit from free parking next to the exhibition hall, and will be able to take full advantage of a new events village called Southwater Square, recently opened close to the centre with a new hotel, restaurants, and one of the UK’s largest town-centre parks.

The AQUA 2015 website can be found at www.aquatelford.co.uk and the AQUA hotline is 01892 862848.

Date for the diary

AQUA 2015, October 14-15, Telford International Centre

New York City is seeking to ban the sale of baby rabbits in pet stores.

A bill currently before the city council would make it illegal for pet shops to "display, offer for sale, deliver, barter, auction, give away, transfer or sell” rabbits.

"They’re frequently dumped in city parks and brought to city shelters. There’s simply not enough room,” said Christine Mott, head of the city bar association’s Committee on Animal Law.

Following dogs and cats, rabbits are the third most common animals left at shelters.

This ban is part of a bill that prohibits pet shops from buying dogs from so-called puppy mills.

Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago already have banned the selling of rabbits in pet stores. 

Pet product expert Petface has broadened its wings and launched into the Wild Bird category with an innovative and industry-leading range of bird feeders. 

With patented LokTop technology, single-handed operation and an easy to clean assembly, Petface has taken bird feeders to a new level. No matter which range of bird feeders you feature in store, these are sure to complement your range, offering customers interesting, innovative designs and value for money. 

The Petface range of LokTop bird feeders are available in both 2 and 4 port seed feeders, a small and large nut feeder and fat ball feeder. Retail prices start from £3.99. 

For more information contact Petface Ltd on01462 744500, email info@petface.com or visit www.petface.com

Cats are dying in their dozens every month by accidental drinking anti-freeze. 

Environment minister George Eustace said he was concerned that many were being poisoned because of the trend of putting anti-freeze into garden water features over the winter months.

The product is attractive to animals as it contains an extremely toxic sweet chemical called ethylene glycol.

Consuming it, even in small doses can lead to kidney failure and death. 

Charity, Cats Protection, recorded  1,197 reports of anti-freeze poisoning of cats in the country since November 2012. 

In a debate on Monday December 1 in the House of Commons, Mr Eustace called for warning labels to be placed on bottles of anti-freeze to warn consumers of the dangers to pets.

He said: “I do understand some people may even be using anti-freeze in their garden water features to stop them freezing up in winter and there are some reports of this.

“There are internet chat forums discussing whether this is sensible or not to use anti-freeze in such features and this could result in animals being inadvertently poisoned, whether domestic pets or wildlife.

“We don't know again whether this is the cause but it certainly has the potential to be and it's another issue that caused me some concern when investigating this issue ahead of the debate.”

A total of 4,699 veterinary professionals, not including exhibitors, packed out the annual London Vet Show at Olympia, London – cementing its position as the UK’s largest event over two days for the profession.

Delegates and exhibitors alike have welcomed the show over the past six years and the show is now the leading event in the veterinary calendar. Over the two days delegates filled the exhibition hall and the CPD-accredited lecture streams and hailed the cost-effective, compact format of CloserStill Media’s leading healthcare event.

Andrew Lightbody, a Mixed Practice Vet travelled down to the show on recommendation from his colleagues. “This is my first year at London Vet Show and it has definitely been worth the trip. I have been able to expand my knowledge on a wide range of specialities attending sessions and workshops specific to farm, equine, and companion. The networking opportunity has been great and I will definitely return for next year.”

David Bell, owner of his own practice in Leicester, added: “The CPD content was excellent and there is plenty packed into the exhibition and conference over the 2 days from clinical workshops to roundtables and discussions."

396 suppliers and service providers to the veterinary sector reported brisk business and more than 296 of the exhibitors have already booked for the 2015 event which returns to Olympia on November 19th and 20th 2015.

IDEXX Laboratories, a Platinum Partner of LVS which has grown with the show year on year, noted the huge success of its opening day at the show. “Everything is in one place so we have had great footfall, a constant stream of high quality delegates throughout the day – meaning that we have gathered valuable leads. It has also been a great platform to promote our new product range, our related sessions have actually been oversubscribed and we’ve had an overwhelming response from delegates,” said Paul Tye, Director at IDEXX.

James Weston from MRI Northwest, partnered with PLH Medical, was also delighted with the results: “We have already received great interest from many clinical directors and senior decision makers and it is not even 10.30am on the first day.”

Rob Chapman, Event Director, London Vet Show said: "The London Vet Show 2014 was a massive success with 4,699 unique delegates attending over the two days, which is a 15% increase on the previous year’s attendance. The feedback we have received from both exhibitors and delegates has been outstanding.

"The range of content was better than ever before and in 2015 we will be looking to continue many of these relationships. The 2015 programme will be confirmed at the start of next year when we have had a chance to collate and review all of the feedback from our delegates, exhibitors and partners."

CloserStill Media, organiser of the annual London Vet Show (LVS), has announced that it has established an annual bursary of £25,000 for students of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

The bursary was announced at the recently concluded London Vet Show 2014 (www.thelondonvetshow) held at Olympia. The funding will be used to support travel costs of veterinary students who commute between the RVC’s London and Hertfordshire campuses.

RVC Principal Professor Stuart Reid commented on the annual bursary: “The RVC's five-year BvetMed degree attracts students from a broad range of backgrounds, and this funding from the London Vet Show for travel to placements will help many enormously.

“During a veterinary degree students must gain experience within a variety of practice settings to gain the skills and knowledge required to become competent practitioners. Funding to support travel expenses for student vets therefore also supports the veterinary profession more generally, as well as animal health and welfare,” Professor Reid added.   

The RVC has been the education partner of the London Vet Show since the 2009 launch of the annual conference and exhibition.  The grant from CloserStill Media recognises the contribution the RVC has made as educational partner to the event, which promotes the professional development of veterinary surgeons and nurses.  The first annual bursary cheque was presented to RVC’s Professor Reid by Michael Westcott, director of CloserStill Media.

Commenting on the bursary, London Vet Show event director Rob Chapman said: “The bursary will help to safeguard the future of the profession by making the courses as accessible as possible to the best calibre of candidates, regardless of their circumstances. Travel in and out of London has become very expensive and the bursary will help ensure that no students are disadvantaged.”

CloserStill Media produces some of the healthcare sector’s largest and most influential events for vets, GPs, community and clinical pharmacists, dentists and dental technicians, commissioners, care workers, occupational therapists and hospital consultants. 

Pictured: Michael Westcott, director of CloserStill Media, presents the bursary cheque to Professor Stuart Reid, principal of the RVC.

Eight years after VetSavers opened their first premises in Shenley Brook End, Milton Keynes they have now opened another two vets in just one week.

The new VetSaver surgeries are housed within the premises of Dobbies Garden Centre at Fenny Stratford, Milton Keynes, and Walnut Pet Supplies at Walnut Tree, Northants, providing local pet owners seeking veterinary care for their pets, on the doorstep services, for their four legged friends.

“We are so excited to be working with two such well known pet focused businesses in the area. 

"Both sites have already made us feel so welcome and we’ve had a great response from their clients before we’ve even opened” said owner and head vet Andrew Bennett MRCVS.

The new VetSavers surgeries will be offering GP veterinary care such as consults, routine pet vaccinations, microchipping and on going care for pets with medical conditions. 

The sites are open Thursday through Monday each week, with a no appointment necessary policy, so clients can pop along during their opening hours and just wait to be seen. 

Surgical procedures and diagnostic work ups are still available at the traditional VetSavers low prices, they are just provided via the Shenley VetSavers surgery site.

Pets at Home has taken an additional office close to its headquarters in Handforth.

The business has agreed a deal for 9,598 sq ft of space at the three-storey Stanley Court at Stanley Green Business Park to accommodate up to 90 of its staff.

The site, owned and managed by Orbit Developments, is close to its existing base in the town.

Graham Harrison, head of property at Pets at Home, said: "We are pleased to announce our growth plans and have secured additional office space with Orbit Developments to accommodate our expansion.

"Stanley Court will be used as a base for administrative purposes as well as training facilities for our customer facing colleagues to ensure our customers continue to receive the best possible service."

Paul McLeman, director of Orbit Developments, added: "We are delighted to be able to assist Pets at Homes with suitable office space after working closely with them for some time."

Pictured left to right: Paul McLeman, director of Orbit Developments, Graham Harrison, head of property at Pets at Home and Coco the dog.