With still three months to go before PATS Sandown opens its doors, organiser Annie Dyke has announced that all exhibitor stand space has been sold.

Having attracted a record number of 141 exhibitors, more space has been allocated at Sandown Park, making it the biggest PATS show ever.

Visitors can expect a warm welcome from companies like Hills Pet Nutrition, Beaphar, Sharples & Grant, Burgess Pet Care, Nestle Purina, Mars Petcare and Pedigree Wholesale.

And as well as meeting up with a long list of PATS regulars, visitors will be greeted by a host of new faces and new products when the show takes place on Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 21.

A growing number of companies are choosing to exhibit for the first time as they see PATS as the perfect opportunity to showcase their products to retailers and overseas distributors.

In the past few years The Hutch Company have not exhibited at trade shows but 2013 will be different.

“Sandown will be our first PATS, and March will be the perfect time to show our ranges of rabbit hutches, chicken coops, kennels and bird tables,” said retail marketing manager John Brimm. “There will be some great money-saving promotions on offer over the two-day event and we are looking forward to meeting existing and new customers, as well as overseas visitors.”

Another newcomer to PATS will be Safedog, who produce crash-tested car crates. The company will be using the exhibition to meet potential distributors and retailers to sell their crates in the UK.

Safedog’s Gill Arney said the timing of the exhibition was perfect in helping to fulfill their needs. “During the past year we have introduced hatchback crates to the range – before then we only had crates suitable for estate cars, 4x4s and people carriers. PATS will be our first chance to exhibit the entire range.”

As a relatively new company in the pet sector, Simpsons Premium are looking for exposure and feel that PATS is the best option for achieving their goals.

"All of our 13 products will be new to most of the pet trade,” said Terry Barber, from Simpsons Premium. “At PATS we will be concentrating on the launch of our 80/20 dog food. We are focusing on the UK market but we’ll be hoping to meet international distributors and retailers too.”

Teddy & Lu are another pet food newcomer to PATS and the company’s Dominique Baptiste is hoping to raise the profile of the brand.

“We want to show how gourmet pet food can be exciting for both the pet and its owner,” said Dominique. “We’ll be unveiling what we believe is the most exciting and nutritional meals for dogs. We have combined our knowledge and passion to create a product that is healthy and nutritious. PATS will be the perfect opportunity to tell people about our brand.”

Gaining brand awareness and new business are also the prime objectives of PATS first-timers Su-Bridge Pet Supplies.

Su-Bridge director Ian Manning said: “We’ll be launching our new dog food brand ‘Lovejoys’ at PATS so we want to see as many people as possible, including international visitors.”

Envirosmart have been exhibiting their Smartbedz range at PATS for the past two years and have re-booked for Sandown. 

“It is such a good chance to speak to a lot of retailers in a short space of time,” said Envirosmart’s Nigel Bateson. “This is ideal for a company like ours because we’re growing fast and we always have new products to show people.”

For more information visit www.patshow.co.uk or call 01892 862848.