Up to £70m is being invested in a Teeside factory to produce high protein products for the UK and European aquafeed and pet food markets.

The company behind the project is Ensus, owned by the German biofuels manufacturer CropEnergies AG. The investment will see the construction of a new £60m to £70m unit to produce high protein animal feed at the Wilton International plant.

For more than a decade, as well as producing renewable ethanol as a road fuel and being the UK’s main supplier of biogenic CO₂, Ensus has been the UK’s largest producer of protein animal feed to the farming industry. The plant currently produces 350,000 tonnes a year of protein enriched dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) primarily for UK cattle and pig farmers. 

In a separate investment aimed at improving plant reliability, Ensus is planning to replace one of its feed driers at the plant and upgrade a second. A further investment in a project to install a mechanical vapour recompression unit will also bring about significant reductions of CO₂ emissions. 

The total sum invested will be around £90 million by 2025. 

Grant Pearson, Chairman of Ensus UK, said: “These major investments are a significant sign of CropEnergies’ commitment to Ensus and the bioethanol business within the UK and Europe.”

“The further development of our protein product range is particularly important. By taking feed grains primarily used to feed cattle and turning them into higher protein feeds with wider feedstuff applications, we are not only diversifying our product range and overall sustainability but also helping to address the UK’s protein shortage.”

“The investments are also a recognition by our parent company of the hard work, loyalty and dedication of the team at Wilton over the last 15 years.”

Dr Stephan Meeder, CEO and CFO of CropEnergies AG, said: “EnPro is a product which fits perfectly into CropEnergies’ dedication to a circular economy. We utilize all of our raw materials and refine them into products which benefit the markets in which we operate.”

“We look forward to Ensus adding another high-quality protein feed to our portfolio. The investments will also enhance Ensus’ overall competitiveness, profitability and strengthen its position on the European ethanol and protein markets.” 

Ensus will partner with U.S. based technology provider Fluid Quip Technologies (FQT), Cedar Rapids, USA, for the design and process engineering of the patented and proven MSC™ protein separation technology, which will be used to produce EnPro. Northallerton-based engineering and professional services company WSP will carry out the balance of engineering design as well as manage the construction of the new facility.

Neal Jakel, President of Fluid Quip Technologies, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for FQT and Ensus to work together in producing high-value protein products, that have shown significant value in growth markets. The MSC protein technology is currently operating at nine facilities in the U.S. and we are excited to partner with Ensus on FQT’s first UK installation.”

A South coast pet shop firm has been forced to close one of its three stores following the impact of a blaze a year ago.

The Pet Shop Guys, based in Bournemouth, announced on its Facebook page that it had taken the ‘heartbreaking’ decision to close its shop in Westbourne.

In a spocial media statement, the company said: “It is with deep sadness that after just 10 months of opening our doors, we have been forced to make the heartbreaking decision to permanently close our Westbourne store.

“As you may or may not know, on Wednesday, July 13, 2022, there was a fire at our Winton store just one day after signing the Westbourne lease. At the time we were very naive to how massively this would affect us, but the impact has sadly been catastrophic to all 3 stores and we had to make a choice.

“We hope that you will continue to shop with us at our Winton & Southbourne stores. Thank you for your custom. We hope to see you all soon.” 

Photograph courtesy of The Pet Shop Guys' Facebook page.

Dobbies Garden Centres has announced the appointment of David Robinson as Chief Executive Officer. David joins the business from Pets at Home where he was Chief Operating Officer, playing a key role in the business’ success story over the last four years.

David has previously worked at Home Retail Group as Chief Operating Officer, at Argos leading its digital transformation, and as part of the Homebase Executive team, responsible for its commercial operations.

David replaces Graeme Jenkins who has decided to pursue other opportunities having been with the business for seven years, both as CFO and CEO. David officially starts today and will be in hand-over with Graeme over the course of this week.

The former Chief Executive of Dobbies, Graeme Jenkins said: “After seven transformative years, I am delighted that David has taken over the reins as CEO.  I am confident he will take the business through its next stage of growth and I wish him and the team the very best for the future."

The Board of Dobbies said: “We are pleased to welcome David to Dobbies. With his retail experience and focus on customers and colleagues, he will be a fantastic asset to the business as we continue our growth.

We would like to thank Graeme for his invaluable work, leading the business through its transformation into the UK’s number 1 garden centre operator more than doubling its size, its replatforming and navigating the challenges of the Covid period.

Chief Executive Officer of Dobbies, David Robinson said: “I am thrilled to be joining Dobbies. The UK is passionate about its green spaces and there has been a boom in how we appreciate and enjoy our gardens in the past few years. I have certainly become a keen gardener myself so I am looking forward to being closely involved with the sector.

Dobbies is a special business that enjoys the fact that customers choose to visit garden centres, generating footfall that many retailers can only dream of in these challenging economic times. I am really excited to work with the team through the next stage of growth for the business.”

PATS Telford, taking place on Sunday, 1 October, and Monday, 2 October 2023, will be packed solid with more than 250 leading companies and brands eager to exhibit their products and services to visiting UK and international buyers.

The UK’s National Pet Industry Exhibition acts as a springboard for all the latest launches into the market and brings together pet product suppliers and retailers under one roof at the Telford International Centre.

As excitement starts to build for PATS Telford, a regular visitor reveals why the show has become a must-visit event for pet retailers and buyers.

Georgia Bullimore is head of buying at Bertie’s Pet Store, Portishead, Bristol.

What inspires you to visit a major pet industry exhibition like PATS?

For us as a business, visiting an exhibition like PATS is a great opportunity to find out more information on certain brands and get a feel for new products before ordering them into the store for the first time. 

How important is it to see all the new launches under one roof?

Seeing all the new launches under one roof helps us save time when it comes to researching and finding new products to keep in stock in our store. It’s a great way of finding product launches that we otherwise may have missed. 

Is it better to touch and feel new products rather than seeing a picture of them online?

Absolutely, when it comes to ordering in new products, we like to know exactly what we are getting. So, visiting somewhere like PATS where items are out on display for you to see and feel is a huge bonus, as well as being able to talk to suppliers about their products. We like to know exactly what we sell in our store and be able to pass on the best advice and information to our customers when they are buying from us. 

Are your buying decisions for the year ahead based on a visit to PATS?

We come to the shows mainly to find out about new start-ups and new products available. Being able to get promotional deals at the show is always a bonus!

Is it an easy show to find your way around?

Yes, even though it is a large show we have always been able to find what we are looking for.

Do you enjoy meeting your suppliers face-to-face and do you welcome the other networking opportunities?

Yes, we do, it's great way to catch up with suppliers, especially those we don't always see regularly. It is also great to be able to talk to other businesses, similar to ours, and share ideas. 

Would you recommend visiting the show to other retailers and buyers?

Yes, we would. 

Registering for PATS Telford

For all the latest information on PATS Telford visit www.patshow.co.uk, where you can also register for free entry to the show.

Opening times

Sunday 1^st October 2023: 9.30am-5.00pm

Monday 2^nd October 2023: 9.30am-4.00pm

A dog daycare business in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, is looking for a new owner to take over from its founder, who plans to retire and relocate.

Mark McMullan has engaged Blacks Business Brokers to find a new owner for K9-Club, with a guide price of £139,995 to take over the business and leasehold premises in which it is based.

Mr McMullan, who was previously a director at a legal expenses insurance provider, established K9-Club in 2014. It now has a strong base of regular customers, caters for all breeds of dog, and has a five-star rating in animal welfare from DEFRA, the government department which regulates businesses of this kind.

K9 Club operates from a fully soundproofed single-storey unit on the Old Mill Industrial Estate in Bamber Bridge. The premises include an outdoor garden and on-site parking.

Indoor facilities include a large agility room, open plan playroom and two chill-out rooms with dog beds and televisions. The property incurs annual rent of £16,796 + VAT.

The business, which will continue to operate as normal until a new owner is in place, is currently run by Mr McMullan himself plus one part-time and two full-time members of staff, who would stay on following any change of ownership. K9 Club is projected to turn over £162,000 in 2023.

The business is open from 7.30am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, for 51 weeks of the year, and has a strong base of regular customers, with additional trade generated through word-of-mouth recommendations and social media advertising. It has a comprehensive, modern website: www.k9-club.co.uk.

Megan Sutherst, deal executive at Blacks Business Brokers, said, “This is a great opportunity for an entrepreneurial dog-lover to take their first step into business ownership. Equally, it could be a great additional project for a local businessperson or investor who wants to diversify.

“Mark has established a superb business over the last nine years but there is still plenty of scope to increase revenues by, for example, introducing a collection and drop-off service, extending the opening hours to provide overnight care or branching out into dog-walking services. I am expecting strong interest now the word is out that K9 Club is on the market.”

All enquiries should be directed to Blacks Business Brokers on 0333 370 0000, quoting reference 8186.

Premium pet food brand Edgard and Cooper, a leading provider of ethical, natural and fresh kibble, food and treats for UK pets, has launched in Whole Food markets across London. 

With Whole Foods committed to setting the standard for excellence in food retail, and Edgard & Cooper’s ambition to challenge the dominance of low-quality ingredients in the pet food industry by promoting their real, healthy, and junk free alternatives; the coming together of the brands will provide conscious shoppers across the capital with more choice for nutritious pet food that gives back. 

Founded in 2004 by Louis and Koen and named after their beloved dogs, Edgard & Cooper embarked on a mission to create a dog food recipe that contained fresh meat, vegetables, and herbs - at a time when they were told it couldn’t be done. After 2.5 years of development, the recipe was completed, and today the brand is available in 13 countries, feeding millions of dogs and cats.  

Louis Chalabi, Founder of Edgard & Cooper, said: " Real pets deserve real food, so we are very excited to be launching in Whole Foods this month. There is such a great synergy between our two brands and what we stand for in our respective industries, and we're excited to be bringing junk free, ethically sourced pet food to even more of London with this partnership.” 

Edgard & Cooper’s wet food and kibble for both cats and dogs, as well as dog treats are now available at Whole Foods across London.  

All products come in fully recyclable packaging, and 1% of each sale donated to its charity foundation which undertakes pioneering work including the eradication of rabies in Kabul. The team are so confident in the quality of their product that they also test every kibble before it hits the market. 

Research reveals only 17% of pet owners believe that their pet is overweight, yet 77% of vets have said that pet obesity is increasing with 50% of dogs, 43% of cats and 31% of small animals they treat being obese.

Only 47% of owners check their pet’s weight at the vets and almost a third (30%) of pet owners admit to either never checking their pet’s weight at all or guessing, revealed the research by UK Pet Food, in partnership with Agria Pet Insurance.

38% of pet owners admit to giving their pets treats just because they look cute, and 22% to keep them quiet or occupied.

41% of owners agreed that table scraps were a possible cause of obesity, especially likely because human scraps can be higher in fat, salt, sugar and calories than pet foods. For example, one chunk of cheese for a cat is equivalent to nine chunks of cheese for a human.

The findings present a concerning picture because obesity in animals brings serious welfare issues, such as:

• Reduced quality and length of life
• Increased joint problems and arthritis
• Increased respiratory problems and heart disease
• Increased diabetes and some cancers

Alongside these life-changing risks, obesity risk again increases with neutering, due to a larger appetite and less activity, and on your furry friend reaching middle-age.

Agria’s partner, UK Pet Food, is a dedicated industry body for pet food, promoting best practice and providing free information on pet food and feeding. Best practice is to feed a ‘complete’ commercial pet food. The term complete on the pet food label means that the diet has been carefully formulated to provide all the nutrients a pet needs in the right proportions. This takes the guesswork out of feeding. All pet food packets include a feeding guideline to guide on how much to feed. Pet owners should start with the recommended amount based on your pet’s ideal weight. If in doubt, speak to your vet for advice.

Robin Hargreaves, Senior Veterinary Consultant for Agria Pet Insurance, comments: “As well as being a health risk in its own right, pet obesity also makes every single other health condition worse, from skin conditions to heart disease and arthritis. Furthermore, there are the increased risks with any surgery that might be required on an animal that is obese. So many later-life problems can be either eliminated or mitigated by avoiding obesity, so vets always urge owners to have their pets weighed regularly to keep on top of their weight before it becomes an issue.”

Vicki Wentworth, Managing Director at Agria Pet Insurance, added: “Animal welfare is a top priority for Agria and we are committed to highlighting what owners can do to give their pets the best possible lives. We must address the uncomfortable topic of obesity, a major animal welfare issue and a big problem with the UK’s pets.”

Specialist grooming and care brand Mikki has launched Doodle Scissors, an addition to its grooming range that is designed specifically to assist Poodle crossbreed owners with effective home grooming.  

With many dog owners now siting finance as a reason for swopping to home grooming or extending the time between salon grooms, the new Doodle Scissors range comprises six different styles to tackle the most common areas that require thinning or trimming.

Made from 9cr grade stainless steel that offers excellent edge retention and corrosion resistance, the range features; semi-convex blades, blunted tips for added safety, a tensioner to ensure efficiency of the blades, finger holds to help maintain the correct hand position, and finger rests for comfort and control.

The six scissor/thinner types available include: 

• Face & Paw Scissor (5.5”) – perfect for trimming smaller areas whilst creating straight lines and a clean finish.
• Face & Paw Thinner (5”) – featuring V-shaped teeth for a better hair grip, these can be used to blend for a more forgiving cut and finish.
• Straight Scissor (7”) – can be used to remove bulk as well as straight clean lines.
• Curved Scissor (7.5”) – easy to use for following body contours and creating shape.
• Single Thinning Scissor (6.5”) – use for thinning the coat and blending. 
• Chunker Scissor (7”) – featuring a flat blade to help add texture to the trim. Use to finish the groom and erase scissor marks.

The Doodle Scissors are supplied with blade protectors, a lint free cleaning cloth, and removable finger rings. Each pair is boxed individually with multi-lingual packaging, top tips, and a scannable QR code that provides further info.

The Doodles Scissors range is available to order now via Interpet’s trade website here https://trade.interpet.co.uk/

According to new research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), while general crossbreeds (mixed breeds) remain the most common type of dog living in the UK (24% of all dogs), when considering dogs under the age of one, the French Bulldog (7%) and Cockapoo (6.2%) have now become the most popular specific breeds in the UK. This demonstrates the evolution of public demand for dogs in two divergent directions, with some owners desiring more exaggerated body shapes in their dogs while other owners are moving away from the traditional breeds that have been offered for over a hundred years.

Dogs are hugely popular companion animals, with the UK canine population rising from 8.3 million in 2011 to 11 million in 2023 (PDSA study). However, there has been limited information until now on what breeds make up the overall dog population in the UK. Understanding the demography of the dog population and the implications of choices on which breed to acquire can help owners when deciding which type of dog to purchase. National data on dog breeds can also help policymakers and the government put the best reforms in place to protect the health and welfare of dogs and their owners in response to changing trends in the UK dog population.

The study, led by the RVC’s VetCompass programme, investigated which dog breeds, body shapes, body weights and sexes were most popular in the UK. The study included the biggest epidemiological research sample of UK dogs ever assembled, consisting of 2,237,105 dogs under first-opinion veterinary care in 2019.

The study identified that there are now 800 distinct breeds of dogs in the UK. Of these, general crossbreeds were the most common type recorded across all ages. The most common specific dog breeds across all ages were the Labrador Retriever (6.9%), Jack Russell Terrier (4.5%), English Cocker Spaniel (4.3%), Staffordshire Bull Terrier (4.2%) and Chihuahua (3.6%).

However, it is the information on puppies that shows what the new favourite breeds in the UK are and helps to predict the future for the UK dog population. Among UK puppies under one year of age, after general crossbreeds (20%), the most common breeds were startlingly different compared to the overall dog population, with the most popular being the French Bulldog (7.0%), Cockapoo (6.2%), Labrador Retriever (5.8%), English Cocker Spaniel (4.7%) and Chihuahua (4.2%).

Dogs as a species were designed by nature over millions of years with a body shape that offers optimal survival and health. However, over the past few hundred years, humankind has re-shaped dogs to split a single species into 800 distinct breeds with widely differing body shapes and characteristics that often do not exist in nature. Creating all these breeds has been described as man’s greatest genetic experiment but big questions are now being asked about whether all breeds have benefitted from this experiment. Whilst the moderate body shape of many breeds poses little risk to their health, sadly there is now evidence of substantial harm to the health and welfare of several breeds with extreme body shapes. For example, although popular in the UK, many French Bulldogs carry high risk of lifelong and serious health issues such as breathing difficulties, eye, skin and spinal problems - all linked to their extreme body shape with a flat face, and short spine with a deficient or absent tail. Unfortunately, many of these extreme features are often the very characteristics considered ‘cute’ by the public which paradoxically make the breeds so popular. Owners should carefully consider these serious health risks and the hugely increased average costs of medical care for dogs with extreme body shapes when deciding what type of dog to acquire.

The emergence of the Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel X Poodle) as the UK’s second most popular UK breed reflects a growing trend away from traditional breeds and towards designer crosses that deliberately mix traditional breeds to create new breeds. Other popular designer crosses in the study included the Cavapoo (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel X Poodle) and Labradoodle (Labrador Retriever X Poodle). Booming demand for designer breeds means that owners often pay far more for their designer crossbreds than they would have for the parent purebreds. Widely held beliefs that designer crossbreed dogs make better pets, trigger fewer allergic reactions in owners or are easier to look after may be driving this popularity. From a dog welfare perspective, there also seems to be a perception that their hybrid genetics should make designer crosses healthier than their more inbred purebred parent breeds. However, as yet, there is limited evidence to support any of these beliefs.

Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the RVC, and lead author of the paper, said: “With 800 dog breeds available in the UK, this VetCompass study shows there are still plenty of healthy breeds to choose from that do not suffer from extreme body shapes such as flat faces, skin folds or absent tails. Despite this, many UK owners are still persuaded by social influences and trends into acquiring dogs with extreme body shapes that are likely to result in serious health issues during much of their dogs’ lives. The advice is to stop and think before buying a dog with an extreme body shape.”

Dr Kirsten McMillan, DataSEA (Science, Engineering & Analytics) Manager at Dogs Trust and co-author of the paper, said: “This paper highlights that the popularity of dog breeds is not immune to fads or trends. Of particular concern, is the shift in consumer preference towards specific aesthetics and characteristics that have been linked to serious health issues – e.g., the flat-faced and exaggerated body shape of the French Bulldog. This emerging trend, along with the emotional strain and financial cost of owning a pet with serious health problems, may be why Dogs Trust has recorded a three-fold increase in French Bulldog handovers over the past five years. We hope this paper encourages prospective dog owners to be thorough in their research and to prioritise the welfare of their new pet - above all else. Helping to ensure a long and happy life for their new family member.”

Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeding Services Executive at The Kennel Club, added: “We urge the public to ‘stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog,’ find a responsible breeder, learn about the breed-specific health tests and screening schemes they’ve used, meet the parents of the puppy and avoid those with extreme physical features, such as very flat faces or excessive wrinkles.

“This research, funded in part by The Kennel Club Charitable Trust, underlines the importance of getting the message out that ‘buying or rescuing a dog is a lifetime commitment’, and highlights the need for The Kennel Club and other canine welfare organisations to continue to help dogs and owners with the issues that arise when a breed explodes in popularity.”

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An Isle of Wight pet shop has closed its doors because of financial problems.

The closure of Fin and Fur, based in East Cowes, has been reported by the Isle of Wight County Press.

It stated that a note taped to the front door of the shop read: “Due to financial difficulties, we will no longer be trading and have to close doors.

“We thank you all for your support and we are very sorry to be unable to serve the community any longer.”

Brambles Pet and Wildlife held one of its popular giveaways on social media and was blown away with the response with unsponsored engagement levels of 23,000 and a reach of 114,500.

Sales director David Tracey commented: “Wildlife rescues are currently inundated with hoglets at the moment and need all the support they can get to help finance the great work they do. 

“As an ethical family business we would rather spend money helping these rescues rather than advertising and find that these giveaways are a great way to do this. Facebook is the most popular channel for us and our ‘Shop Now’ link goes straight through to our stockists page and we always see an uplift in sales during and after these events.”

One of the UK's leading online retailers for dog products is sniffing out two chatty canine companions to become the new voices of a first-of-its kind podcast, or 'dogcast', aimed at entertaining dogs left at home alone.

The hunt is on to find two talkative would-be hosts for a podcast with a difference.

Each week, the chosen dogs will be the stars of The Dogcast, an hour-long podcast, filling homes with the comforting sounds of canine chat, playful barks and soothing woofs. 

The successful pooches will receive monthly doggy hampers full of treats and toys from the company behind the idea, Fetch Club Shop, while owners will be rewarded with a monetary amount per episode.

Applications are open at https://www.fetchclubshop.co.uk/blogs/news/dogcaster-search, where owners are being asked to submit a short video or audio audition clip of their dog ‘talking’, along with a short explanation of why their dog should become one of the world’s first "barkcasters". Applying pups must be friendly and get along well with other dogs.

The successful duo will be invited to record a bank of episodes in a dog-friendly studio, with access to unlimited treats, tummy rubs, scritches and snoot boops. 

Episodes will be released weekly from October, and available on all popular podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

Fetch Club Shop founder, Caroline Stronkhorst, is thrilled about the initiative: “Many owners leave the radio on for their furry friends if they’re not in the house with them. We’re huge podcast fans, and it just got me thinking - what if we could create content that our pets might appreciate!?

“Who knows, the successful pup-licants might end up entertaining a huge audience with their conversations! We're looking for two special dogs to bring this novel idea to life, to create a dogcast that will have our furry friends wagging their tails in delight each week!"

Leading vet charity PDSA saved the life of a three-year-old cat who became trapped in a rabbit snare, leaving her with serious injuries.

CupCake, fondly known as C.C, was missing from her home in Canterbury for five days, leaving her loving owner, Karen Gunn, very concerned. When she came home, it was clear by how lethargic she was, there was something severely wrong.

Karen could see something caught on C.C. and immediately took her to PDSA’s out of hours provider, Vets Now in Herne Bay.

Once there, the vets made the horrific discovery that C.C was in fact, caught in a rabbit snare. A snare is a thin wire noose used as a method of wildlife management. When an animal steps into the trap, the noose tightens around them, trapping them in place.

The snare had wrapped so tightly around her waist it was hard to see buried underneath her fur. As C.C had struggled to get herself free, the snare cut deeper into her, causing deep and painful wounds - it was a miracle C.C was able to move, let alone struggle all the way home.

Luckily, thanks to Karen’s quick thinking and the treatment, which was funded by PDSA, the vets were able to save C.C’s life. The snare was very carefully removed and the wounds were cleaned, dressed and treated with antibiotics.

Karen said: “If C.C hadn’t managed to get herself home, I don’t bear to think about what would have happened to her – it’s possible she spent five whole days trapped in that snare, trying to wiggle herself free. We can’t thank PDSA enough for ensuring C.C got the treatment she needed for a full recovery.”

C.C needed regular check-ups at Margate PDSA Pet Clinic to monitor her wounds, to ensure they were clean and free from infection.

Karen added: “C.C’s wounds are now fully healed and she’s back on her paws again – she has a big scar and her fur is yet to fully grow back, but she’s a real fighter.”

PDSA Veterinary Surgeon, Lynne James, said: "We’re extremely pleased that Wales has committed to a full ban on all snares, as this is a great step for animal welfare in Wales, due to the suffering these devices cause to wild, farmed and companion animals. PDSA supports a ban on the manufacture, sale, possession and use of all snares not just in Wales, but across the whole of the UK, and is now looking to England and Scotland to follow suit and join Wales with a complete ban on snares.

The Funk The Dog range from Long Paws is now available through Vital Pet Group.

This popular range includes functional fashion accessories for dogs, in nine different striking designs.

The range includes padded leads and collars, snug fitting neoprene and air mesh harnesses, with matching poo bag dispensers.

The products are secure, fun and durable and come with the Long Paws lifetime quality guarantee.

A new pet store, which puts sustainability at the forefront of its business, is using an environmentally-friendly cargo bike to deliver products to local customers.

Chester & Ralphie’s opened in Norwich earlier this month and is already proving to be a big hit with the city’s pet lovers.

Owners Amy Beevers and Jonny Bingham worked in the hospitality sector before opening the new store in the Golden Triangle of Norwich.

“We have been planning the store for the last couple of years,” said Jonny. “We just wanted to wait for the right location to come available. Unthank Road is the perfect area for the business – the local community really seem to share our ethos around all things pet related.”

Amy and Jonny, who named the store after their two Cocker Spaniels, have been pleased with the response from customers so far. “It has been great, really positive,” added Jonny. “We are hugely looking forward to building the store into the hub for the local pet owning community.

“We want to build the business around shared knowledge of pet ownership, so our product knowledge and first-hand experience of pet ownership will be one of our fundamentals.

“Our delivery service will be starting in a couple of months and will be available to all those in the NR2 area. It’s a free delivery service for those ordering £40-plus of food and treats and we will offer a same day delivery service using our environmentally-friendly cargo bike.”

Amy and Jonny are marketing their new business as an 'exciting new independent pet pantry, boutique and grooming spa'.

See our picture gallery of the store below, including the impressive-looking grooming facilities...

Johnson’s Veterinary Products has appointed Matthew Gwynn to the role of Assistant Sales and Digital Marketing Manager and Jack Franks to the role of Assistant Purchasing & Procurement Manager.

The names will be familiar to those who know the family-owned business, as 32-year-old Matthew is the son of current Managing Director Paul Gwynn and 26-year-old Jack is the son of current Sales Director, Nick Franks.

Both Matthew and Jack forged successful careers before being invited to join the business personally by former Chairman David Johnson, who sadly passed away in July 2022. Recognising the importance of maintaining the firm’s independence, he was keen the next generation should join and bring fresh ideas and skills from outside the pet trade. 

Johnson’s Managing Director Paul Gwynn commented: “The arrival of Matthew and Jack has immediately given the business a lift and David would have been immensely happy and proud had he lived to witness their first day here at Johnson’s. 

“Our identity as a family business has been central to the success of Johnson’s for more than 100 years. This decision to recruit from our families is about ensuring we have the ambition, commitment and enthusiasm to continue the firm’s independent future.

“Both Matthew and Jack spent a lot of school and university holidays working here at Johnson’s, in the office and the warehouse, when their passion for the business was ignited. For everyone within the business, it’s like welcoming colleagues back to work.

“Matthew brings with him a successful track-record in sales and digital marketing and is already freshening the way we talk about our products and our brand, listening closely to what our customers want from us. I may be biased, but already the signs are incredibly positive.

“Similarly, Jack had established his career in aerospace procurement and will bring new ideas to help us better meet the changing needs of our customers. As his grandfather, there was a unique sense of pride for David Johnson when Jack agreed to join the business and secure the family connection.

“We recognise the need for youthful insight and learning, to take Johnson’s forward to face the growing challenges of the modern global commercial environment.

“Recruiting the next generation of family members into the business provides stability and continuity for us and importantly, for our customers, while ensuring Johnson’s builds on its heritage and success of the past 100 years.”

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes plans to open new stores in Swindon and Belfast on Friday 28 July, taking its number of outlets to 92.

The Swindon store, at Mannington Retail Park will be officially opened by Peggy, who’ll be accompanied by her mum, local star Melinda Messenger (pictured above).

Peggy, who’ll bite through a string of sausages to officially open the store, will be at home in Jollyes new flagship – it’s 91st location in the UK.

The store will be one of the first in the UK to get both a new-look Community Pet Clinic and ‘Jolly Groomer’ - part of a £1million investment over the next 18 months to supercharge Jollyes’ provision of vet clinics, grooming parlours and other pet services in its UK stores.

Jollyes’ service expansion at Swindon will reflect its commitment to extraordinary value. Vet-supervised dog and cat vaccinations in the clinic will start at just £14 and £13 for rabbits with primary course jabs for dogs and cats at £33.

Microchipping, already compulsory for dogs and compulsory for cats in England from 2024, start at just £13, offering significant savings against average prices charged by formal vet practices.

The Jolly Groomer at Swindon will offer straightforward pricing for a quality groom that doesn’t cost a paw and a leg.

Customers can choose precisely what grooming service they need, so they don’t pay for ones they don’t. Prices for a bath and brush will start at just £15.

What’s more Jollyes in Swindon will also be the first store to have its own ‘bedroom’ where dogs. cats and other for-legged friends can try out the wide selection of pet beds before their parents buy.

The appearance of Peggy and Melinda isn’t the only fun planned for the store’s opening weekend.

The first 100 customers on Friday will receive a free goody-bag and every customer will have the chance to spin Jollyes’ iconic ‘Wheel of Fur-tune’ to win prizes. There’ll be animal-themed stilt walkers for selfies on Friday and on Saturday, there’ll be a special appearance by three meerkats – Oreo, Wallace and Otto - from the Swineford Brook animal feeding experience.

Jollyes’ new Swindon store and its team of 12 will be led by Tanya Paterson who’s joined from McColls with a mission to bring the ranges, service and pet care Jollyes is famous for, to town.

Its new store will provide pet parents in Swindon access to Jollyes’ raw food frozen ‘shop-in-shop’ alongside 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.

“We’re starting work today to get the store ready to welcome Peggy, Melinda and the pet parents of Swindon at the end of the month.” said regional manager Sam Wells. “We’re looking forward to bringing the kind of value and service that’s already available at all our other Jollyes stores to the heart of Swindon.”

Jollyes recently outlined an innovative package of benefits for all its colleagues – including those recently recruited to Swindon.

The package includes, birthday leave, a ‘pet-eternity’ day for colleagues getting a new pet in the family, a week off on full pay for all colleagues on when they get married, enhanced maternity and paternity leave and an enhanced 20 per cent discount off all Jollyes services.

The opening of the new Swindon store – its 91st in the UK – is part of Jollyes’ ambitious expansion plans which has seen it exceed £100 million turnover in FY2023, employ over 1,000 colleagues and put it well on the way to having 100 stores within the next 12 months.

Jollyes will also open its 92nd store on Boucher Road, Belfast on the same day.

Town & Country has launched a new range designed especially for dog walkers.

The trendy collection consists of two styles of hats with a built-in light, torch which dispenses doggy bags, sturdy thermal and water-resistant gloves in four sizes, and an olive-green walking pocket flask with a handle. 

Not only that, but Town & Country has also created an enticing display solution for the ‘Go Walk’ range, which will encourage shoppers to pick up some dog-walking goodies on their way around the garden centre.

Both the men’s and women’s hats have a rechargeable, built-in L.E.D light with three brightness settings, ideal for darker summer evening walks and keeping hands free for other tasks. Cosy, comfortable and warm, the thermal insulation traps in heat for longer, keeping walkers snug in all conditions.

The ingenious combined torch and doggy bag holder allows users to light up paths, while also storing a roll of 20 bags. It also comes with two additional rolls.

The thermal-lined and water repellent all-weather gloves help to keep hands warm in unpredictable weather conditions and feature additional padding on the palms and fingers to ensure extra comfort and protection. Available in four sizes, from small to extra-large, there’s sure to be a glove to fit everyone.

Lastly, the modern design of the olive-green walking flask with a handle makes this product a sure-fire winner. Designed to fit into your pocket or bag, this slim and stylish stainless steel water bottle is ideal for dog walks, hiking and everyday life.

For more information on products by Town & Country, visit https://www.townandco.com/