The winners of the PIF Awards 2022 were revealed last night with Little Big Paw (Export Business of the Year), Su-Bridge Pet Supplies (Wholesaler of the Year) and Burns Pet Nutrition (Manufacturer of the Year – pictured above) among those successful companies celebrating.

Other winners included Scoff Paper (New Business of the Year), Dorwest Herbs (Online Business of the Year) and Christies Direct (Supplier of the Year).

Independent Retailer of the Year went to Brown’s Natural Pet Store, Goring-by-Sea, and Pet Retail Chain of the Year to Just for Pets.

Product Innovation Award winners included Huskaloo Coconut Cat Litter from Tailor-Grace and Furr Boost (pictured above).

Here’s a full list of the winners:

Cattery of the Year
Alloa Cattery

Dog Daycare Business of the Year
Tom and Toto Pet Care

Dog Walking Business of the Year
Ambleside Dog Walker

Export Business of the Year
Little BigPaw

Grooming Business of the Year
Vanity Fur Dog Grooming, Barry

Home Boarding Business of the Year
Barkmoral

Independent Retailer of the Year
Brown’s Natural Pet Store, Goring-by-Sea

Kennel of the Year
Millin Brook Luxury Dog Boarding

Manufacturer of the Year
Burns Pet Nutrition

New Business of the Year
Scoff Paper

Online Business of the Year
Dorwest Herbs

Pet Retail Chain of the Year
Just for Pets

Pet Services Business of the Year
Pup Talk

Product Innovation Award – Cat
Huskaloo Coconut Cat Litter

Product Innovation Award – Dog
Furr Boost

Product Innovation Award – Small Mammal/Bird

SIGNS – Secure Bunny

Special Achievement – Pet Professional Award
Kerry Chapman

Special Achievement - Student Award
Siobhan Smith

Supplier of the Year
Christies Direct

Sustainability Award
Doglyness

Wholesaler of the Year
Su-Bridge Pet Supplies

Lifetime Achievement Award
Phil Gibbs (Essex Breeding Centre)

The much anticipated PIF Awards were a huge success last night, with over 20 categories of winners revealed at the gala black tie ceremony held at Whittlebury Hall in Northamptonshire.

Generously supported by headline sponsors Cliverton, Collar, Naturo Pet Foods and Tuft, plus Strategic Partner DHL Supply Chain, Drinks Sponsor Pedigree Wholesale and 20 category sponsors, the 2022 PIF Awards are the most coveted awards in the pet industry, celebrating the inspirational success stories of the past 12 months. 

Winners received sustainable, wooden trophies and ranged from the nationwide Just For Pets retail chain to independent businesses such as Millin Brook Luxury Dog Boarding and the inspirationally innovative Scoff Paper.

Nigel Baker, CEO of the Pet Industry Federation, commented: “The PIF Awards just get bigger and better each year; the standard and volume of entries was phenomenal this year and we sold out of tickets to the Awards dinner over a month before the event so we can see how much winning a PIF Award means to businesses in the pet industry. It is truly inspirational to see the diversity and sheer hard work within our industry and at PIF we are honoured to be able to reward this with the PIF Awards. Look out for next year’s event for which we’re planning something extra special!”

The 2023 PIF Awards will celebrate PIF’s 75^th anniversary and will take place on Thursday 16^th November 2023, with entries opening after Easter. All updates will be posted on the PIF website www.petfederation.co.uk

Below is a list of all the finalists:

Product Innovation Award – Dog (sponsored by Spottydog Communications)

Finalists: Furr Boost, Pawdaw of London, Kompact9, Karnlea, No Fuss Fill, ParkLiFE    

Product Innovation Award – Cat (sponsored by Pedigree Wholesale)

Finalists: Wrapsio, Huskaloo, Weenect, Closer Pet, Moodify Pet, Bio PetActive

Product Innovation Award – Small Mammal/Bird (sponsored by Pedigree Wholesale)

Finalists: Secure Bunny, Marriages

Manufacturer of the Year (sponsored by Jollyes)

Finalists: Burns Pet Nutrition, Herbal Dog, Harvest Pet Products, Life of Riley Bakery, GHS Direct, Gold Line Feeds

Wholesaler of the Year (sponsored by Teddys Treats)

Finalists: Pedigree Wholesale, Bestpets, Su-Bridge, Trust Pet Products, Vital, We.pet

Supplier of the Year (sponsored by PIF Telecom)

Finalists: Dorwest Herbs, Mutneys, Adios Plastic, The Dog Doctors, Christies Direct, Barking Bags

New Business of the Year (sponsored by The Pet Accountant)

Finalists: Furr Boost, Pet Database.com, Scoff Paper, Park LiFE, Paw Daw of London, Moodify Pet

Grooming Business of the Year (sponsored by Tuft)

Finalists: The Dog House Leicester Ltd, Vanity Fur Barry, Spruce Cricklade Dog Grooming, Palmers Dog Grooming, Ayrshire Grooming Salon, Happy Hounds Grooming Academy

Kennel of the Year (sponsored by Naturo Pet Food)

Finalists: Rose Cottage Doggy Hotel, Milin Brook Luxury Dog Boarding, Royvon Dog Training & Hotels, Glyntawel Luxury Dog Boarding & Pets Hotel, Greendale Farm Kennels, Foxbridge Animal Hotel

Cattery of the Year (sponsored by PBW News)

Finalists: Alloa Cattery, Hawthorn Boarding Kennels & Cattery, Furr Cottage Kennels & Cattery

Home Boarding Business of the Year (sponsored by Rose Cottage)

Finalists: Jessie’s Dog B&B Ltd, Barkmoral, Walking Woofs, Country Dog Hotel, Poochee Care, Extremus Dog Training

Dog Daycare Business of the Year (sponsored by Collar App)

Finalists: Tom and Toto Pet Care, Doggy Daycare Cornwall, The K9 Club, Rose Cottage Daycare, Ipswich Dog Daycare Creche, Canine Countryside Escape

Dog Walking Business of the Year (sponsored by Barking Bags)

Finalists: Percy In The Park, DD’s Dogcare, Ambleside Dog Walker, PadPaws, Good Dog Walking Ltd, Shropshire Canine

Pet Service Business of the Year (sponsored by Cliverton)

Finalists: Canine Dip and Dive, Pup Talk, Pippin Pets Dog Training, Fit4Dogs UK Rehabilitation Centre, Pets & Friends Dog Training Centre Litchfield, Animal Talent Ltd

Online Business of the Year (sponsored by Viaduct Generation)

Finalists: Pup Talk, Dorwest Herbs, Christies Direct, Butternut Box, Weenect, Herbal Dog

Export Business Award (sponsored by DHL Supply Chain)                

Finalists: Little BigPaw, Christies Global, Huskaloo, 3P Enterprise Ltd, Burns Pet Nutrition

Sustainability Award (sponsored by PetFace)                  

Finalists: Doglyness, Green Poop Bag, Wildwash, Huskaloo, Bag and Boops, Life of Riley Bakery 

Pet Retail Chain of the Year (sponsored by Christies Global)

Finalists: Jollyes, Just For Pets, Pets & Friends, Pets At Home, Pets Corner, Petzone (Kuwait)

Independent Retailer of the Year (sponsored by Natures Menu)

Finalists: Natural Cornish Pet, Primal Raw Ltd, Hoofs & Paws, Browns Natural Pet Store, Trusty Pet Supplies Superstore, The Dog’s Deli

Special Achievement – Pet Professional Award (sponsored by Aspin)

Finalists: Daniel Allen, Colin Christie, John Burns, Sam Marriage, Kerry Chapman, Max Randall

Special Achievement – Student Award (sponsored by The National Pet College)

Finalists: Ali Chogbanbaz, Billie Jo Harwicke, Georgia Harle, Claire Loizos, Siobhan Smith, Marianne Dickens

A revolutionary, environmentally friendly new product for cats, created in lockdown, has clinched a trio of honours in just two months after scooping a top UK pet industry award.

The prestigious 2022 Pet Industry Federation Awards named Huskaloo Coconut Cat Litter as the winner of its ‘Product Innovation Award - Cat’ at a glittering gala.

The prize was collected at the Northamptonshire event by Huskaloo Founder, the pet entrepreneur Tracey Voss.

It comes just weeks after Huskaloo picked up two other honours at the high-profile British pet industry awards, PetQuip 2022, this autumn.

At those awards, staged at the trade show PATS Telford, in Shropshire, Tracey also won the coveted Gold Award for the Theresa Swann Exporter of the Year 2022. Andwww.huskaloo.com was given a Silver PetQuip Award in the ‘Celebrating Green and Organic’ category.

‘Pet owners care about the environment’

“All these awards and honours amount to a strong endorsement for Huskaloo which is increasingly being recognised as an important, pioneering product,” Tracey Voss said.

“Right now, world leaders at COP27 are focused on threats to our environment – as Huskaloo aims to put a stop to damaging strip-mining and the dumping into landfill of millions of tons of used clay litters.

“We know pet owners care about the environment too so, especially with COP27 going on, we urge the owners of Britain’s 12 million cats to consider our more environmentally-friendly alternative. It’s also cheaper and kinder to cats.”

At the pandemic’s peak, many owners were reluctant to visit High Street stores and carry home heavy sacks of litter – prompting Tracey to invent a smaller, lighter, more ecologically sustainable alternative.

Her product, made from dehydrated coconut husks, also won PetQuip 2021’s Gold for ‘Innovations in Lockdown’, with judges forecasting it “has the chance to change the landscape of cat litter for good”. The eco litter is 100% biodegradable, can be put onto garden compost heaps, and is also odour-free.

Added Tracey: “The Pet Industry Federation team is always very supportive to British pet sector companies and receiving their award is both an honour and a boost to our business.”

Two friends, who have worked together in the pet trade for 10 years, have opened their own pet store in Warwickshire.

Charlotte Stowe and Georgia Orr welcomed customers at the grand opening of Bridge Street Pets in the village of Wellesbourne on the weekend of November 5-6, and already the new store is proving to be a big hit.

Charlotte took time out from a busy trading period to speak to Pet Trade Xtra about the new venture. 

How long have you worked in the pet trade?

Both myself and Georgia have worked together in the pet trade for 10 years. I have worked in pet stores for 13 years and Georgia for 11. Prior to our shop opening, we were the manager and assistant manager at Charlecote Pet Store. Having worked together for the last 10 years, we are really close friends. We met through work and have been friends ever since. 

How long have you been planning the new store?

The idea of our own store has been in the pipeline for a couple of years. After leaving our previous roles in March 2022, the planning and organisation of the store has been in full effect.

Was it easy to find premises?

The location was very important to us as we wanted to stay close to Charlecote. We wanted to be in a prime position with access and parking. The premises has been in my family for nearly 100 years. The property was previously a car and motorbike garage run by the family since June 1925. My parents retired earlier this year. We have carried out many alternations, including adding a disabled access ramp, new shop front, painting, new flooring and knocking through walls and chimneys to create a spacious retail store. 

Was it hard to finance this new venture?

Financially, it took the majority of our personal savings to start the venture, but we are pleased with the results. 

When did you open to the public?

We opened on November 5. Our opening weekend involved a charity ‘pup cake’ bake sale on the Saturday. The proceeds of the cake sales were donated to Rushton Dog Rescue. On the Sunday we were joined by local photographer Martin Fox, who offered free sitting for pet photographs. He offered 20% discount to our customers who wished to purchase prints or downloads. Our African Grey parrot Harry was also a popular attraction over the weekend.

What has been the response been like from local pet owners?

The response has been absolutely brilliant. The community has been very welcoming and supportive, commenting on how much a pet store is needed locally. Customers are very pleased with our service, prices and convenience, saying that they are so pleased to not to have to travel further into towns and use larger chain stores. Local people are keen to support small businesses. 

What will give your store a competitive edge?

We want to put all attention and focus on providing the best advice and customer service. We are more than happy to help and advise to the best of our abilities, and will always give an honest answer. We are focusing on natural dog treats and products, however, we do understand that different customers do have different needs, so we want to be accommodating to everyone. We offer a large range of caged bird products (seed, treats, toys and bedding etc), as we know this is something that is not readily available in chain pet stores. Similarly, we offer a generous range of wild bird seeds, feeders and treats. We are aware that the local community are very keen to feed and look after wildlife. 

Are you taking a stance on the products you sell?

We support local suppliers, and want to continue to expand our products this way. Hay and straw is locally grown and hand bagged. Similarly, our bird tables and nest boxes are hand made locally. We want to promote sustainability – our wild bird seed packaging is bio-degradable and there more things we are looking into, to become eco-friendly. We promote British dog food companies, who source their dried food ingredients from the UK.

Who works in the store?

Currently, there are just the two of us. However, when such a time comes for when we are in a position to employ more staff, we have a couple of experienced staff in mind. 

What are your hopes for the future?

We would like to expand and offer more services like delivery, online shopping, and dog grooming. These are all things which customers have enquired about and expressed interest in.

Take a look inside Bridge Street Pets with our gallery of pictures below...

UK Pet Food, the new name and identity of the PFMA, has launched a new initiative to support the safe production of commercial raw pet food.

The Raw Pet Food Certification Scheme has been developed by independent experts KIWA.

Whilst the initiative for the scheme came from UK Pet Food’s 17 commercial raw pet food members, it has won the full support of the wider membership.

The scheme is a clear example of the work the association does championing best practice and raising the bar within the industry.  

The scope of the scheme includes plant design and maintenance, supplier assurance, safe product formulation, full traceability systems, safe handling, quality checks, microbiological testing, a programme of internal auditing, HACCP, staff training and labelling compliance.  

Michael Bellingham, UK Pet Food’s CEO, said: “The certification scheme is based on a comprehensive standard, encompassing all aspects of hygiene and feed safety. It applies to the entire process from the selection of raw materials to the finished goods. It’s developed with the objective of ensuring safe products for our pets.  

“Our partnership with KIWA was critical to the credibility and success of this scheme. They are well known in the agri-food sector and have developed other highly regarded schemes such as the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme.”  

PARK LiFE Pet Limited has added even more flavours to its healthy dog treat range, as it prepares for a busy 2023 season. The Irish manufacturer of healthy dog biscuits has had a fantastic 2022 which has seen interest in the brand soar, and the company is not holding back, with new products and new flavours available now.

Fris-Bix just got even tastier!

Fris-Bix, are the World’s First “Frisbee” shaped dog biscuits, ideal for throwing, catching, and playful snacking. They have been designed with aerodynamic grooves to ensure they fly well, up to 40 ft in fact! The uniqueness of Fris-Bix has led to industry awards, with PARK LiFE winning best new pet product at the 2022 Glee show earlier this year.

The unique grain-free recipe is ideal for all aged dogs and especially hand for pups with sensitive tummies thanks to the natural recipe. The product is now available in a range of delicious flavours, including Original Super Seeds, and the NEW! Chicken & Veg, and Peanut Butter. These new flavours have passed the PARK LiFE doggy taste test and are available to stock today! Fris-Bix is available in 300g recyclable packs, retailing at £5.99 each.

Yappy Christmas with Jolly-Bix

PARK LiFE Jolly-Bix is a Christmas tree shaped biscuit in a Turkey and Cranberry flavour. With Jolly-Bix, dog lovers can treat their pups this festive season, with this fantastic stocking filler treat. 

Dog owners can say “Yappy Christmas” with a novel gift tag area on the back of the packaging to personalise the box of treats prior to wrapping. Like the rest of the PARK LiFE range, it has great nutritional value, with a ‘Happy Belly Promise.’ This is because Jolly-Bix is grain-free, 100% Natural, and high in protein. Retailing at £5.99, these delicious treats also come supplied in 300g recyclable packs.

Get them while their hot

As a family run business, Park Life ensure all ingredients are 100% natural and delicious. The quality of the ingredients mean they are ‘Gut Friendly’ and are in fact human quality. In their words, just naturally guilt free dog treats. Orders are now being taken for 2023, so be quick to guarantee delivery when you need them.

To discuss the range, new flavours and your requirements please get in touch today @ info@parklife.dog. Visit https://parklife.dog/ to view the PARK LiFE range.

The UK pet trade will continue to be regarded as the ‘recession-proof Industry’ despite the cost-of-living crisis, predicts a leading recruitment expert.

Lynda Ward, owner and founder of Pet Trade Solutions, utilises her decades of experience in the trade for dedicated recruitment and marketing solutions

She says: “It’s noticeable that the trend in pet dog ownership towards smaller breeds is ever increasing and likewise towards small animal and bird ownership – with their associated living costs being obviously less than owning say a Labrador.

“Nevertheless, until now many owners have been happy – or should I say ‘able’ – to pay for high price food and to pamper their pets with the abundance of treats and accessories available.  

“But with the general rise in the cost of living it doesn’t take a crystal ball to predict that people will start to wonder if Fido really needs that new coat or that particular brand of food.

“However, after predicting gloom and doom in one sense, I know that the pet trade is composed of many highly resilient companies and people – from manufacturers and suppliers to retailers – who, with a good honest look at their business, careful planning and the best staff, should definitely be able to ride out a potential storm.

“Added to which the ability to look at what the customers and their animals really need and making sure to be able to put excellent products to the market at sensible, affordable prices, will enable growth.”

Lynda ended by saying: “Helping and advising worried owners to be able to continue to really look after their pets will also be key to the survival of many businesses.

“Knowing this trade so well for so long, I am confident that we can continue to be known the recession-proof Industry.”

Lynda is always happy to personally advise on any aspects of recruitment and marketing strategy and can be contacted on 07946 743784 or at lyndaward@pettradesolutions.com

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes is handing its colleagues a payment of £600 to help support them through the cost of living crisis – with payments timed to help around Christmas.

The cost of living support, together with enhanced staff discounts, is being made as a thank-you to colleagues for their hard work during a year which has seen the business deliver a strong performance across its 82 UK stores and online platform.

Jollyes will pay the £600, pro-rated for part-time staff, in four monthly instalments between November and February, to provide support before and after Christmas.

Additional support will come through increases to the staff discount scheme between 1 November and 28 February, including extra discounts – up from 20 per cent to 30 per cent – on all items including pet food, toys and treats, and up to 60 per cent on own brand dog food.

The payments and enhanced discount scheme details were announced last week to over 900 Jollyes colleagues.

Jollyes chief executive, Joe Wykes, said: “I’m very aware of the current economic climate, with inflation impacting every part of our lives, from weekly shopping bills, heating our homes and mortgage payments.

“The leadership team has been discussing ways in which we can support our colleagues and show our appreciation of their hard work and effort by doing something that will make a difference around Christmas.

“It’s not just about the cash. The majority of our colleagues are pet owners themselves and the discounts mean they can bring a little seasonal cheer to furry family members too.”

Jollyes announced the payments and discounts in a letter to colleagues in which it said it had delivered a strong performance. Over the past year it has been expanding across the UK through new store openings and acquisitions.

As a national retailer offering a local pet store feel, Jollyes has a unique proposition, priding itself on the friendliness and expertise of its colleagues.

Earlier this year it also introduced a ‘Jollyes Treats’ programme for its colleagues giving its own people discounts off big high street and online retail, travel and financial services brands.

The £600 cost of living support will be paid subject to PAYE and NI deductions to full-time employees, based on average number of hours worked in October or minimum contract hours, and pro-rated for part-time workers. The payment does not apply to store managers.

Under the staff discount scheme, the discount on Lifestage and K9 own brand dry dog food increases from 50 per cent to 60 per cent and on own brand wet dog food from 35 per cent to 45 per cent. Discount on all other items rises from 20 per cent to 30 per cent, except where items are already discounted.

Mars Petcare has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Champion Petfoods, whose brands include ORIJEN and ACANA, from an investor group led by Bedford Capital and Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.

For more than 35 years, Champion Petfoods has been a pioneer in biologically appropriate pet foods, to nourish dogs and cats the way nature intended them to eat naturally in the wild. 

Champion Petfoods’ two premier brands, ORIJEN and ACANA, have built a strong and trusted reputation in more than 90 countries, growing rapidly as pet owners increasingly seek out nutrient-rich pet food.

Ikdeep Singh, Global President, Mars Pet Nutrition, stated: “We are thrilled to welcome Champion Petfoods and its more than 800 talented people to the Mars Petcare family. The Champion Petfoods team has been a pioneer in developing high-quality and premium pet food in the natural category that pet lovers around the world trust. Together, we will be even better positioned to support pet lovers and fulfill our Purpose to create A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS™.”

Mars Petcare is a Purpose-driven global business serving pets and pet owners through products and services within veterinary health, nutrition, innovation, and technology. Supported by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Mars Petcare has been advancing research into the health of pets for over 50 years, sharing breakthrough science in areas including preventive health.

Together, Champion Petfoods and Mars Petcare will provide a broader range of options for pet owners. Champion Petfoods’ brands complement Mars Petcare’s existing pet food portfolio by adding well-respected brands in the premium pet food category, broadening further its offering within pet specialty and independent retail, as well as digital commerce channels.

Champion Petfoods’ dry food products are manufactured in company-owned, world-class kitchens in both Canada and the United States. Mars Petcare’s significant capabilities and experienced Associates will support Champion Petfoods’ talented team in driving further growth, innovation, and success. Combined with Mars Petcare, Champion Petfoods will also be able to fully capitalize on opportunities to expand its portfolio to meet evolving pet owner needs.

Blaine McPeak, Chief Executive Officer, Champion Petfoods, stated: “We are excited to join Mars Petcare and become part of a world leader in pet nutrition and services. This announcement is a wonderful way to recognize all the employees over our history who helped build Champion into a pre-eminent global pet food company with our incredible brands ORIJEN and ACANA. We look forward to working with Mars Petcare on taking Champion to an entirely new level.”

The UK pet food industry’s trade association has unveiled its new identity, UK Pet Food. Previously known as the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, UK Pet Food now better reflects the remit of this dynamic organisation. 

UK Pet Food, which has over 100 members and represents 90% of UK manufacturers, will continue to lead the industry agenda whilst representing the growing interests of a broad range of members.  

Michael Bellingham, Chief Executive, UK Pet Food explains: “Creating a new brand identity has been an important journey for us. We value our 50 years of history, but equally we pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking organisation, embracing change and driving it forward. We were keen for our brand to capture this feeling and better reflect who we are and what we are about. Our modern name and bright new look demonstrates our evolution, embracing new members and planning for the next 50 years.”  

The UK Pet Food branding focuses on a strong yellow core logo, which reflects a desire to push the industry front and centre. A suite of pet-specific sub logos exists to represent different species with their own contemporary colours. This reflects equality of representation across the different sectors within UK Pet Food, where all voices are heard. 

Michael adds: “It has been a busy year coordinating our new look alongside a new website, which you can find at ukpetfood.org.  Our focus with the website has been to simplify navigation to make it easier for users to find our expert-written material on pet food and nutrition. The design incorporates our new colours and ensures we are projected as the forward-thinking organisation that we are. Along with our website we have a new communications platform for engaging with our members – this will significantly enhance the service we provide and the member experience.”

UK Pet Food has expanded its membership to include affiliate organisations in the pet world opening up opportunities for more networking, collaboration and training.  UK Pet Food focuses on providing pet owners and professionals with information on wet, dry, and raw prepared pet food and good nutrition. 

OATA has launched a revamped package of customer care information and business guidance for the ornamental aquatics industry at a special event at the Houses of Parliament.

OATA took the opportunity to showcase its updated and expanded range of free customer care sheets and ‘how to’ guides during an event focused on animal welfare, organised by the Companion Animal Sector Council (CASC).

OATA now has just shy of 70 free customer focused leaflets, the largest selection produced by a pet trade association. The trade association has expanded the number of species-specific caresheets and broadened its number of ‘how to’ guides to include more on testing water quality, a key component for success when keeping pet fish.

Alongside expanding and improving its customer facing literature, OATA has also reviewed its guidance for aquatic businesses, including its biosecurity document, transport code and water quality criteria.

“We were very pleased to show off our expanded range of customer facing literature during an event to launch the new Pet Know How initiative which is all about educating prospective owners about their new pets.

“OATA now has the widest range of species-specific care literature in the pet trade and these will all be available for free for businesses and pet owners to download both from our website and via the new Pet Know How’s associated Pet Portal.

“We firmly believe educating people to pick the right pet for their lifestyle and care for it properly is the key to happy and healthy pets. So the more quality information out there, particularly for pet fish which have such a wide range of species, the better it is for both keepers and animals.”

Previously OATA produced about 40 care sheets and it has been supported by a range of industry experts and specialist fish vets to ensure the expanded range includes more species and the most up-to-date advice on how to successfully keep pet fish.

The updated range can be found free to download on OATA’s website, along with QR code labels for shop tanks to enable customers to have the ability to download them straight to their smart phone.

Pet suppliers have been recognised for their outstanding performance by Pedigree Wholesale at its conference. Among the winners were Brambles (above) and Pet Trade Innovations (below).

The full list of winners were: 

• Supplier of the Year 2022 (Small) – Brambles
• Supplier of the Year 2022 (Large) – KONG
• Media Campaign of the Year 2022 – Forthglade
• Account Manager of the Year 2022 – Gill Mckenna and Amy Sheer IPN
• New Product of the Year 2022 – Bamboozles from Pet Trade Innovations

The winners received their award from Gerard O’Mahoney, MD of Pedigree Wholesale.

Brambles director David Tracey said: “We are thrilled to have received this award. We have grown massively since our launch in 2017 and have plans to continue this trend in the specialist pet sector. It is fantastic to have this recognition of our growing family business from Pedigree Wholesale.”

And Steve Driver, MD of Pet Trade Innovations, commented: “We are truly humbled to have received this award from Pedigree Wholesale, and would like to take the opportunity to thank them for all their support in listing and promoting the Bamboodles product range.

“2023 is going to be a very exciting year for Pet Trade Innovations Ltd and the Bamboodles range. We are planning on launching three exciting new ranges in the first quarter of next year, using the same material but in some new unique and innovative shapes and flavours.”

Animal Planet, a member of the Warner Bros. Discovery family of brands, has partnered with multi-channel home shopping retailer Ideal World to launch an exclusive pet grooming range across its platforms.

In a TV shopping first for Animal Planet, its specially formulated, ready to use pet grooming products will air for sale on Ideal World and also be available to purchase on Ideal’s website. Perfect for cats and dogs, the Animal Planet range has been designed to help keep pets clean, free of tangles, have brighter coats and smelling fresher. The following items are now available to customers, with prices starting from £6.99:

• Animal Planet Dry Shampoo Dogs & Cats, 250ml
• Animal Planet Stain & Odour Spray, 500ml
• Animal Planet Detangling Spray, 250ml
• Animal Planet Deep Cleaning Shampoo, 250ml
• Animal Planet Soothing Shampoo, 250ml
• Animal Planet Puppy Shampoo, 250ml
• Animal Planet Pet Cologne, 250ml 

Lesley Williams, buyer at Ideal World, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Animal Planet to share their fantastic range of products with our customers. We really hope it’s the start of an ongoing relationship with the brand.”

Hamish Morjaria, CEO at Ideal World, added: “The UK’s dog and cat population has soared in the past couple of years and a significant number of our customers are now pet owners. They like to spend money on treating and pampering their pets so we’re broadening our pet product portfolio to help engage them. This is a great partnership with a growing brand and we’re sure the products will go down well with our customers.”

Award-winning experts in herbal pet care at Dorwest has launched a new natural ingredient joint care supplement, to keep all dogs moving well.

Expertly formulated with vets, MoveWellia has been specifically developed for advanced joint care to support dogs experiencing joint health challenges, including stiffness and ‘slowing-up’. 

The unique blend of natural active compounds with supportive properties include joint health super-star herbal extract Boswellia - the latest joint health herbal ingredient to burst onto the scene; derived from the resin of the Boswellia serrata tree with a long history of use for inflammatory joint conditions.

MoveWellia contains Bowellia extract that is 90% boswellic acids, the primary active compounds which work to support natural anti-inflammatory pathways in the body, as well as ethical and sustainable ingredients: celery seed, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin, vitamin C, zinc and hyaluronic acid. 

Naturally easing stiff joints, MoveWellia helps to maintain comfort and mobility with:

• Advanced formulation
• Natural, herbal support
• Ethical and sustainable ingredients
• Expert formulation with vets
• Easy administration, with tablets that can be crushed

Recent Dorwest trial results confirmed tablets were: easy to give and extremely palatable with no side effects, even in sensitive individuals. One case study stated: “Mimi the Frenchie is now running more and taking longer walks. An absolute godsend and we will definitely keep her on them!”

Managing Director at Dorwest Jo Boughton-White explains: “All dogs, regardless of age or breed, will experience wear and tear on their joints throughout their lives. Dogs further down that journey, or those more prone to joint problems, need different and additional support. This is why MoveWellia has been especially developed. It’s never too early (or late!) to start looking after your dog’s joints."

With over 70 years of knowledge and experience quality is at the centre of Dorwest’s ethos, with MoveWellia only using the finest, sustainably sourced ingredients and manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) standards.

As a special launch offer use promo code MOVE22 at checkout for 25% off RRP, available until 30th November 2022.

Kennelpak has announced the extension of Collards’ popular Grain Free range of food. Collards Grain Free with Chicken & Potato, as a dry food, is now available for all life stages – Puppy, Adult, Older & Overweight in both 2kg & 10kg packs.

This takes the total Collards Grain Free range to 11 products across both dry and wet food. Every recipe is expertly crafted to provide dogs with a nutritionally balanced diet.

Collards products are already made using hypoallergenic principles, excluding ingredients that may be associated with food allergies and intolerances. Grain free takes this to another level by further limiting the chance of dietary reactions.

What’s in the bag?

• Single meat source, with up to 48% chicken* 
• Potato & whole peas to provide highly digestible carbohydrates
• Natural antioxidants to boost the immune system
• Daily vitality supported by superfoods such as blueberries, spinach & seaweed
• Omega fatty acids for healthy skin, coat, and immune system
• A balance of fermentable and non-fermentable fibres for healthy digestion and firm stools
• Functional & special ingredients, including g prebiotics, yucca extract, herbs & botanicals, glucosamine & chondroitin

Robert Constance, Head of Own Brand at Kennelpak said “In line with key market trends, an increasing number of pet owners are choosing to provide their pets with human-like foods or are being advised to introduce specialised diets for the wellbeing of their pets. By extending the Collards Grain Free range to include dry food, consumers can now provide their pets with exceptional quality nutrition for their dogs that also offers great value, which we all know is important in the current economic climate. We fully expect the new Collards dry recipe to become the top selling SKU within our key stockists before the end of the year.

Our confidence in the full Collards range is backed up by our ‘100% Satisfaction Guarantee or your money back’ for consumers. If a customer, or their dog, are not completely satisfied with the purchase, they can contact us for a full refund.”

Kennelpak is also focused on making the planet a better place and will be launching the all the new Collards Grain Free dry foods in fully recyclable packaging.

​

The rest of the Collards range will soon move into the new recyclable solution to drive towards the aim of having all Kennelpak Own Brand packaging sustainable by 2025.

Give dogs that healthy lifestyle. Give them Collards! 

Kennelpak are committed to supporting the specialist, independent pet food trade. The full Collards Grain Free range is available either direct from Kennelpak or via selected wholesalers. 

The range offers an opportunity to make a great margin whilst offering customers a quality product. There is support available for stockist in the form of product training and Point of Sale assets. 

Royal Canin held the second edition of its PRO Experts Forum, in partnership with Fédération Cynologique Internationale, the largest international federation of national kennel clubs..

The live 100% digital event gathered over 4,500 participants from more than 70 countries. 

The event was presented in English, and was translated into six languages (French, German, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, and Chinese).

The unique virtual forum brought together leading experts in pet development, such as Prof. Sylvie Chastant, Dr. Amélie Mugnier, Dr. Virginie Gaillard, Prof. Alexander J. German, Javier Cedillo-Espin, Founder of Pet Talk, Dr. Jon Bowen, and Emmanuelle Louvet, Royal Canin Global PRO Sales and Marketing Director, to discuss the latest know-hows about responsible breeding and ownership, on topics such as weight monitoring, healthy growth, pet owner profiles vs. dog behaviour, and how breeders can effectively convey relevant information to new pet owners.

“Breeders lay the foundations of a dog’s future. They play a crucial role in the pet care ecosystem as they are in direct contact with newborns and their future owners. Therefore, it’s our mission to support them to keep nurturing a sustainable practice, founded on responsible breeding and ownership,” said Cécile Coutens, Global Royal Canin President.

Available on www.proexpertsforum.com until the end of the year

Mars Pet Nutrition continues to redesign its product packaging in Europe with leading brands SHEBA, WHISKAS, PERFECT FIT and CATSAN saving 480 tons of plastic per year. 

To further minimize single-use plastic-packaging and drive systems change for circular models, the company joins Carrefour’s concept test-and-learn bulk initiative in Montesson hypermarket, France, offering its PERFECT FIT dry cat food, CATISFACTIONS and WHISKAS care & treats in bulk. 

These initiatives are part of Mars’ global ambition to have 100% of its packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable. 

Providing more sustainable choices to pet parents is a key priority for Mars Petcare, where approximately 45% of pet owners indicate their preference for sustainable packaging, while 60% are looking for ways to reduce their plastic usage.  

Throughout 2022, Mars Pet Nutrition Europe has transformed its SHEBA and PERFECT FIT Mini Pouches, replacing plastic flow-wraps with high performing and widely recyclable paper sleeves. 

Across select markets in Europe, WHISKAS dry food plastic bags have been replaced with carton boxes and in France, CATSAN cat litter brand has removed unnecessary layers of plastic in its secondary packaging. These initiatives contributed to saving a total of 480 tons of plastic per year, equal to the weight of 1.6 million dog food bags. This is in addition to the 170 tons of plastic removed from Mars Pet Nutrition packaging in Europe in 2021.

Partnering with Carrefour in France to test bulk sales, on the other hand, is part of a broader industry collaboration strategy within the scope of France’s National Pact on Plastic Packaging, where stakeholders are jointly working on innovative solutions to drive a circular economy. Accordingly, Mars Pet Nutrition is offering its PERFECT FIT dry cat food, CATISFACTIONS and WHISKAS care & treats in bulk at Carrefour’s Montesson hypermarket in France. 

Consumers are provided with reusable or single-use containers for consecutive pet food re-fills, with easy access to product information via the help of QR codes available on re-fill dispensers. In addition to enabling reduced packaging waste, bulk sales provide additional benefits to shoppers, including the opportunity to purchase the exact quantity needed. 

Deri Watkins, Regional President at Mars Pet Nutrition Europe, said: “Packaging waste is a global problem and does not align with Mars’ vision for a world where the planet is healthy. That’s why we continue to take action to support a circular economy, for a world where packaging materials do not become waste, but ultimately are reused, recycled, or composted. Moving forward, we will continue to transform our business in ways that help protect our environment and care for people and pets by engaging with our trade partners and using our influence to drive change at scale.” 

Helen Warren-Piper, Chief Growth Officer at Mars Pet Nutrition Europe, said: “Our packaging transformation journey focuses on doing what’s right for the pet parents we serve, the pets we love and the planet we all share. We’re excited to bring innovative and sustainable options to pet parents who are not only looking for high-quality and delicious pet food, but also seeking ways to reduce their impact on the environment. Through the initiatives we’re rolling out across Europe, we’re glad to be part of this equation.” 

Graeme Smith, Sustainable Packaging Director for Mars Petcare, said: “As part of our Sustainable in a Generation Plan, we have set a data-driven, science-based strategy to reimagine and redesign our packaging, in line with circular economy principles. As we work to evolve our product packaging, we’re also driving several progressive waste management partnerships through investments and industry collaboration. We are proud to join forces with Carrefour in France, as bulk purchasing enables the use of less packaging while also supporting consumers in making sustainable choices.”

Mars Pet Nutrition Europe’s packaging transformation journey is part of Mars, Incorporated’s mission to help create a healthy planet where all can thrive – a belief that’s at the heart of its Sustainable In a Generation Plan. For further information on Mars’ approach to sustainable packaging, visit https://www.mars.com/sustainability-plan/healthy-planet/sustainable-packaging.

Radio Systems PetSafe Europe Limited has just celebrated its 10-year anniversary in the Republic of Ireland, after making County Louth the home of its European headquarters back in 2012. The company is a subsidiary of US-based Radio Systems Corporation, which owns the PetSafe brand. 

It’s a milestone that’s being marked with truly international celebrations – and in the multiple different languages spoken there, including English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Romanian.

And it’s clearly an effective approach to take, proven by Radio Systems twice taking top spots in the prestigious list of Best Workplace in Ireland over the last five years, as well as ranking within Europe’s top three best employers in 2018. 

From a somewhat modest beginning back in 2012, the Dundalk team has grown exponentially. It’s increased from just five colleagues and two dogs to a cohort of 65. Of these, 22 employees are Irish, and the rest are from across the globe – from Argentina to India, South Africa to Iran, and many other countries in between - working in the company’s multilingual customer services centre, finance, order management, supply chain, marketing and human resources departments - accompanied by their ten or so canine companions. 

Their four-legged friends and the wellbeing benefits they bring have been welcomed to the workplace from the very start, long before it became the trend that it is today. 

The team rapidly grew to 17 during its first year of operation and ten of the first employees to join PetSafe brand Dundalk during its very early days have remained with the company ever since – testament to its culture and welcoming environment. 

These include Customer Care and Product Specialist Hans Peeters, who has worked for Radio Systems in Ireland for ten years. He moved to Ireland, from the Netherlands, in 2012 for a role with another company but saw opportunity with Radio Systems and has never looked back. A decade later, and he celebrates the company’s anniversary as well as his own 100% attendance during that time. 

Another team member who’s marking the occasion on both a professional and personal level is Call Centre Manager Kurt Godfrey. Kurt helped enhance Radio Systems’ Customer Service facility in Dundalk on secondment from Radio Systems Corporations’ global headquarters in Knoxville, Tennessee. He arrived in the country on a 60-day temporary visa almost ten years ago to the day. 

Talking numbers - and in terms of commercial performance, during the last decade - Radio Systems in County Louth has shipped $500 million USD worth of orders. That’s nearly 515million Euros or £452million in sales of innovative pet care products, including toys, travel accessories, training systems, water fountains and feeders and pet doors under the Radio Systems’ brands. 

These include its PetSafe brand, its SportDOG brand of professional sport and hunting training gear and its Kurgo brand portfolio of high-quality outdoor gear for active dogs and owners.

Dave Verdon, International Vice President at Radio Systems’ European headquarters in Ireland, said: “We’re obviously delighted to mark such a marvellous milestone, and we’ve certainly got a lot to celebrate from the last ten years. But we continue to look forward at what the future has in store for us.

“Our global mission for Radio Systems is to build the most trusted pet brands. In Europe - and through our operations in Ireland – we’ll build on the foundations we’ve laid over the last 10 years, by continuing to grow our portfolio of brands and categories. In doing so, we’ll provide our customers with even more innovative pet product solutions, wherever they shop - in pet store chains, smaller independents, online or direct from our websites across Europe. 

“We will also continue to invest in our colleagues and communities, for the benefit of pets and their owners across Europe and the rest of the world. To do so most effectively, employee wellbeing is always a priority. Having colleagues who are healthy, happy and engaged has direct benefits on the customer service levels we provide, which underpin everything we do here at Radio Systems. 

Our company ethos is to Love Thy Customer, and the best way we can stay true to this value is by creating the strongest company culture, founded on team autonomy, trust, respect, innovation and open and honest communication across all levels of the business. As a company of pet lovers, offering pet bereavement leave and employee wellbeing days, for example, are seemingly small touches but mean so very much to everyone.”

Looking forward to the next ten years, and they’re looking bright for Radio Systems. The appointment of a new CEO earlier this year signals a step change for Radio Systems and its brands. 

Rob Candelino joined the company following a 25-year tenure at international consumer goods company Unilever and will lead a new style of business, post-pandemic, which brings with it numerous opportunities and challenges. 

Enhancements that have already been made to company software and websites, as well as technology advancements from a customer care perspective, as the company looks to improve its e-commerce offering using AI enabled chatbots to help boost customer satisfaction and sales. All of which will help build the strongest foundations for European growth during the next decade.

For further information visit www.radiosystemscorporation.com.

Paleo Ridge has announced the launch of a new range – Paleo Ridge Essentials – specially formulated to provide dogs with all the benefits of raw feeding while offering the best possible value to owners.

The new Essentials range, available at £2.19 per 500g pack, joins the existing Paleo Ridge ranges – Paleo Plus and Classic. The product composition and packaging for the Essentials range have been adapted to make the products easier to manufacture, enabling a more accessible price point. Sourced predominantly in the UK, the Essentials range is hypoallergenic and high in protein, delivered to Paleo Ridge’s exacting welfare and ethical sourcing standards.

Paleo Ridge is celebrating the launch of the new range with a special introductory Black Friday offer for trade customers. The offer, which provides a 20% discount to end-customers, is available throughout November and will accelerate the distribution of the new range, as well as encouraging customers to shop at their local pet store. The range is well-positioned to drive trial amongst consumers who recognise the benefits of switching to raw, providing the reassurance of a high quality, ethical brand.

Will Green, Director of Sales and Marketing, Paleo Ridge, says, “Raw feeding is growing in popularity as the health benefits become more widely known. At Paleo Ridge, we are committed to making raw feeding more accessible to a wider range of people, while providing reassurance as a trusted, market-leading brand. Our Essentials range is a key part of our strategy to achieve this, delivering nutritious products with the highest welfare and environmental standards at an affordable price.”

Each Essentials meal contains 20% seasonal vegetables and 80% high-welfare meat, bone and offal. In keeping with all Paleo Ridge ranges, Essentials products are minced to a chunky consistency and suitable for all life stages including puppies and seniors.

The Paleo Ridge Essentials range stays true to the values of ethical sourcing and sustainability at the heart of the Paleo Ridge offering. In August, Paleo Ridge was RawSAFE certified, becoming a founding accreditee of the new audit designed to ensure the highest standards in the raw feeding industry.

Yorkshire-based pet brand Harringtons has launched the latest edition to the Just 6 range, featuring a variety of wet food options, as well as an upgraded dry dog food range.

Part of the Inspired Pet Nutrition family, Harringtons prides itself on great nutrition, with the new and improved Just 6 dry recipes containing over 50% meat and fish. The enhanced range can be purchased in both 2kg, 6kg and 12kg packs to suit varying customer needs, with the 2kg packs using resealable bags to ensure long-lasting freshness while maintaining all the delicious flavours.

Harringtons Just 6 also adds wet dog food to its delicious product range – with each individual pack containing 70% freshly prepared meat or fish. The range is available in three exciting flavours; chicken, salmon, and lamb, with customers having the options of both 380g trays, and a multipack of 16.

The full range is available online, as well as on Amazon, with selected products also available in Pets at Home stores across the UK.

Staying true to the product name, there are ‘Just 6’ familiar ingredients in each carefully developed recipe - leaving owners more relaxed and reassured that these tasty recipes give all the natural goodness your dog needs and more. Nothing that it doesn’t.

By focusing on a combination of simple ingredients, carbohydrates, minerals and absolutely no grain, Harringtons Just 6 not only tastes great, but naturally promotes better gut-health and helps sensitive digestion, allowing you to feel confident knowing your dogs’ needs are being met.

The Just 6 recipes are packed with the finest freshly prepared meat and fish, blended with farm grown vegetables, and vitamin-rich oils to create a healthy, delicious food your dog is guaranteed to love.

Speaking on the improvements and expansion of the Just 6 range, Will Bushell, Head of Dog Marketing at Inspired Pet Nutrition, commented: “Since launching in 2018, our Harringtons Just 6 range has been a great success amongst shoppers looking for specialist nutrition at affordable prices. With these enhancements we will be able to give dogs and their owners access to even more delicious, nutritious & healthy food and at a price that represents incredible value for money in the specialist market.”

To find out more about Harringtons’ Just 6 range visit: Harringtons Just 6 Complete Dry & Wet food for Dogs with Sensitive Digestion (harringtonspetfood.com)

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Podium Pet Products CEO Carina Evans has been recognised as one of the best in the business after being named as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Podium Pet Products supply natural and innovative to the pet market.  With operations in the UK, Europe and North America, they work with a handful of knowledgeable & reliable distributors in country to ensure robust and effective partnerships are in place for successful and sustainable launches and growth.  

Carina is one of the shortlisted business leaders from across the nation to have been selected out of over 5,300 entrants – the most the awards has ever had.

The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, in partnership with Starling Bank, acknowledges and champions the hard work and uplifting stories of business owners across the UK, with an emphasis on their journey and resilience over financial achievements.

Twelve awards will be given out per region for categories including Disruptor of the Year, Entrepreneur for Good Award, and the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year. Notable winners from previous years include Social Chain founder Steven Bartlett, who went on to become the youngest ever investor on BBC’s Dragon’s Den.

Carina said: “Of course we are over the moon, this is a huge team effort and my sincere thanks go GBEA. We have ace products and most importantly the team at home totally punch above their weight.  I am in awe of them and we are blessed to be able to operate as we do, stay sane(ish) and have fun along the way. This nomination is a testament to their skill, ingenuity, and vision.”

This year’s event will also feature a new award highlighting the organisations investing in the training and development of young people. The John Caudwell Blaze Your Own Trail Award looks to recognise outstanding examples of businesses offering apprenticeships, vocational training, and diversity and inclusion initiatives, all in the name of improving young people’s access to work.

The winners will be announced at a Grand Final, held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on 21st November.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. The alumni has collectively generated over £30 billion in revenue and employed more than 450,000 people.

To mark the milestone year for the programme, entrants will have the chance to win over £30,000 worth of marketing support and a tree will be planted for every application submitted with the support of Ecologi.

Founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca James, said the quality of this year’s entrants exemplified the strength of entrepreneurship across the UK: “The quality of applications is consistently excellent year on year, but we have been especially blown away by the innovation, drive and determination demonstrated this year. Shortlisting from so many inspiring contenders has been more challenging than ever, with many deserving cases put forward and an ever-growing business community thriving across the country.

“From the pandemic to the ongoing cost of living crisis, business owners haven’t had it easy over the past few years, but it’s a testament to the tenacity and perseverance of these entrepreneurs that they have continued on their path and refused to give in.

“This year’s finalists should be so proud of what they’ve already achieved both in business and in being shortlisted for an award - we’re looking forward to seeing everyone at the Finals and unveiling the winners!”

For the full list of finalists, visit greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com

Ornamental Fish International has disputed the negative impressions made of the global aquarium fish industry by Associated Press’s article on ‘Sparkling Fish, Murky Methods’. 

The worldwide organisation said the publication painted an inaccurate status of the current global marine aquarium fish trade, damaging the reputation of the industry with a far-reaching impact across the international aquarium trade. 

OFI president Shane Willis said that “The use of cyanide in aquarium fishery is largely a thing of the past and illegal in most source countries. We are against this illegal practice, from both a sustainability and ethical viewpoint, it has no place in the modern aquarium industry”. 

In addition to that, OFI members are required to abide to the OFI Charter which condemns the use of cyanide or other poisons for capturing. OFI together with its members, continues to support the education and training of breeders, farmers, and collectors to further improve appropriate handling, animal health and welfare protocols. 

Considerable research efforts have also been driven by the industry to develop an accurate and sensitive test protocol for detecting cyanide caught fish of which Dr Rhyne is a leader which was not mentioned in the Associated Press article. 

The technology behind captive breeding of marine ornamentals has gained significant advancement over recent years with aquacultured fish becoming increasingly available and popular in the hobby. However, there are still a significant proportion of marine species that cannot be captively bred and sustainable collection of marine aquarium fish is still an important part of the trade and provides sustainable livelihoods to many thousands of people in some of the poorest communities across the Asia-Pacific region. 

OFI supports the notion behind captive breeding and sustainable collection of marine ornamentals as sources of fish for the industry with respect for natural populations, the environment and the contribution made to socio-economic benefits for all communities around the world. 

Herbal pet care experts at Dorwest has announced the appointment of Chloe Allaway as its new trade account manager.

With Trade revenue up for Dorwest +24% year on year for October 2022 in line with the seasonal calming campaign for fireworks, Chloe is joining the team at the perfect time to ensure continued management and support of trade and wholesale customers.

Chloe joins Dorwest from an established four years working on national and international accounts in the tool industry. Her passion and interest for herbal products, including emerging trends in the pet care industry, will ensure Dorwest stays the leader in its field and continues to expand trade activity and support. 

Chloe joins Dorwest the same week new joints supplement MoveWellia has launched; specifically developed for advanced joint care to support dogs experiencing joint health challenges, including stiffness and ‘slowing-up’. Chloe will continue with launch support of MoveWellia to stockists and start working on 2023 planning.

The role continues to expand the award-winning team to ensure first class customer service, product training and campaign support, to meet the high quality standards that Dorwest is known for.

Managing Director Jo Boughton-White comments: “The Trade department at Dorwest is crucial in ensuring our stockists receive the best service possible. From product training to campaign assets, Chloe will continue to support accounts to ensure they are as enthusiastic about Dorwest products as we are!”

To find out more about Dorwest visit call 01308 897272, email info@dorwest.com or visit www.dorwest.com

Are you a professor of parrots, an expert in equine or a doyenne of dog grooming? Well a leading qualification creator would love to hear from you.

An influx in people looking to change their lives and work with animals has led to a search for experts who would like to teach qualifications, share their knowledge and skills in their specialist field.

The awarding organisation iPET Network, which provides tailored qualifications for the Animal care and Veterinary sector, are looking for training providers in a number of key regions in the coming months to keep up with demand.

UK areas that the iPET Network is focussing on are:  

• South Wales 
• Lancashire 
• Yorkshire 
• Country Durham 
• Cumbria
• Northumberland
• Aberdeenshire
• Lincolnshire
• Cornwall
• Ireland

The Awarding Organisation is looking for people with specialisms in the Canine and Feline, Equine, Avian, Exotic, Small and Large Animal, Veterinary and Zoology to become training providers.

Sarah Mackay (above left), who founded iPET Network with fellow animal-expert Fern Gresty (above right), said: "The pandemic has really given people time to think about what they want to do with their lives, and we have seen a giant increase in interest for our qualifications.

"Such is the demand that we are actually looking to expand our list of training providers and we are calling on existing businesses and professionals to get in touch about offering these Ofqual regulated qualifications."

iPET Network qualifications are designed by people who work within the industries they serve, and range from dog grooming, cat grooming, pet first aid, puppy socialisation, canine care, health and behaviour, responsible dog ownership, equine first aid and canine nutrition to name a few.

Sarah added: "These courses and qualifications are created by people who work within the industry, who believe how important it is to be qualified and offer the best and safest service for animals.

"We hope that more training providers will come on board soon, so that we can expand our reach and contribute even more to excellence within the industries we love so much."

To find out more about the iPET Network go to www.ipetnetwork.co.uk

Britain’s cash-strapped pet lovers are giving up treats such as holidays, eating out and trips to the pub to ensure their dogs are still being well cared for, a study shows.

According to research by Burns Pet Nutrition in light of the cost-of-living crisis, almost three-quarters (73%) of dog owners have, or are willing, to make sacrifices to make sure their dogs don’t suffer.

They are sacrificing holidays (36%), cutting back on the cinema/theatre trips (40%), holding off eating out (58%), limiting going to the pub (43%) and being frugal when buying new clothes (36%).

However, the research by Burns Pet Nutrition has also found that a third of pet owners are having to spend less on buying presents and gifts for their canine companions, with 29% limiting visits to the dog groomer.

Meanwhile, one in 10 owners say that they plan to cut back on pet insurance and vet appointments.

Some pet owners already have, or plan to switch to a cheaper brand of dog food (28%), however 17% will eat cheaper food themselves to ensure their dog is still fed.

Founder of Burns Pet Nutrition, John Burns MBE (above) said: “A lot of dog owners are having to make huge sacrifices for their dogs given the cost-of-living crisis and we salute them. These decisions cannot be easy to make, but some cutbacks such as grooming, switching to lower quality pet food or vet visits could have an impact on a dog’s health and wellbeing and could result in higher costs for pet owners in the future. I urge pet owners as much as you can, please continue to support your dogs even if you must cut back on some of your luxuries – your dog will be forever grateful.”

CSJ says many owners have been taken by surprise by the strange and swift changes in the weather and the repercussions on their animals.

Ticks and other creepies are still a nightmare so their advice is to continue with herbal supplements such as Billy No Mates! their totally safe and natural easy-to-use herb mix form with no nasty chemicals and which is also available as a tincture.

Now the weather is becoming cold and wet CSJ’s recommendation is Get Over! their dry herbal blend or tincture which can really benefit those dogs feeling their age and showing signs of stiffness.

However, there are times when their Get Over! is just 'not enough' for dogs experiencing acute stiffness of the joints or are perhaps getting over an injury and this is when 'No Ake' should be used. It is a highly potent herb extract that is aimed at the nutritional maintenance of the dog's musculo-skeletal system and in particular the inflammatory response.  The tiny daily dose can be added to the dog's dinner on a continuous or ad-hoc basis and won’t upset the dog’s tummy.

Owner and founder Ceri Rundle says: “There is no ‘one size fits all’ hence we have a wide range for specific needs as well as products for general care - such as Come On! the wonderful conditioning mix of herbs which is great for coat, skin and body and especially beneficial to underweight dogs.

“Our nutritional advisor is happy to help and there’s a wealth of information on our feeds, herb supplements, treats and skin care on www.csjk9.com or call us on 01745710470.”

Made with a smooth polyester-silk lining to help protect curls whilst reducing matts and tangles, Mikki’s new Doodles Coat range is designed to keep dogs warm, dry, and tangle-free during the winter months. 

Available in several sizes the new coats are water and windproof, with fully adjustable fittings at the neck, body, and legs.  Their silky lining works by reducing friction between the dog’s hair and the coat, and unlike other materials absorbs very little moisture from the fur thus keeping it frizz-free. 

Designed to be roomy enough to accommodate the curly coats of Poodle crossbreeds, the range is suitable for any coat type, and features full neck and leg covers, reflective safety strips, and a lead attachment point. 

The range is available to order now with an optional FSDU from https://trade.interpet.co.uk/

OATA has joined fellow global pet trade representatives to make its views heard at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of the Parties, taking place in Panama.

On the agenda for the meeting, which looks at ways to ensure the sustainable trade in wildlife, are several items which would affect the global ornamental fish trade, including plans to move Zebra pleco (Hypancistrus zebra) from Appendix III to Appendix I – the highest level of restriction – and to put a number of freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon) onto Appendix II.

A proposal by CITES to examine the trade in marine ornamental fish has still not been fleshed out, although there is still an expectation that a workshop to discuss the conservation of and trade in marine ornamental fishes will be held, but no concrete plans for this have yet been published.

OATA has joined with the European Pet Organization (EPO) and Ornamental Fish International (OFI) to put forward its position on matters relating to ornamental fish:

The proposal by Brazil to move zebra pleco from Appendix III to Appendix I: OATA does not support this because there is a lack of evidence that it is needed, a position supported by the international UN Fisheries and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) following considerations by an expert panel of fisheries experts. Wild caught plecos are already banned by Brazil with legal trade currently only in captive-reared fish. Captive breeding adequately meets demand for plecos in the trade and also funds conservation of wild populations in Brazil.  The evidence does not show there have been population declines in wild caught plecos.

The proposal by Brazil to put a number of freshwater stingrays onto Appendix II: OATA does not support this, as trade is mostly in captive reared fish rather than wild caught. Given the lack of clear evidence of population declines, OATA would support more research into gathering better population data before any decision is made for listing.

“CITES is about managing the sustainable trade in wildlife and its decisions should be based on robust data. It is clear these proposals do not have enough evidence behind them and that is also the position taken by the expert panel of the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), a well-respected independent Intergovernmental Organisation,” said OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee.

“We also remain concerned about the progress of the marine ornamental fish proposal. Our aim is always to ensure decisions are made on the best data and science for the benefit of people and the planet and we will continue to press for clarity and transparency about how this project will progress. We, along with OFI, will continue to offer our support to all that is planned for this proposal because it could have very far-reaching consequences for our industry.”

https://cites.org/eng/cop/19/agenda-documents

Pedigree Wholesale teamed up with a local primary school for Feed the Birds Day 2022 and sent them Walter Harrison’s Wild Bird Seeds and Feeders to use in their Forest School. 

The children loved being outside and filling up the feeders with the Walter Harrison’s feed and hanging them in the trees. The children got the chance to look for wild birds in their school garden and learn about Feed the Birds Day.

The children’s teacher told Pedigree Wholesale: “It was nice to take a break from our normal classroom activities to go outside with the children to feed the birds, the children really enjoyed getting stuck in with the feed and feeders and choosing where they wanted to hang them in the trees."

Make sure you set yourselves up for the next wild bird calendar event in 2023 - the Big Garden Birdwatch starting at the end of January 2023! Walter Harrison’s can provide all your wild bird equipment and food, distributed by Pedigree Wholesale.

Lancashire-based pet accessory start-up company Accidents Happen launched a new carpet protector at PATS Telford, which caught the interest of visitors to their stand including one of the major pet wholesalers.

The product was the inspiration of John Blezard, who is a project manager in the banking industry and painting contractor, Chris Clayton, his business partner and brother-in-law. 

John had just bought his first home and had spent a fortune on new furniture and carpets for it.  At the same time he had bought an energetic cocker spaniel puppy called Johnson which despite all efforts to try and train him with puppy pads, he often ignored them or left his rear end hanging over the edge of the pad leaving lots of wet patches and little presents hidden for John to find. Johnson is immortalised as the cartoon dog in the company logo.

With Johnson consistently weeing on the new carpet, John decided to use a carpet protection film from a major DIY brand but he was not happy with how it made his home look. Chris and John then realised that there was a niche in the market for a puppy carpet protector film that was more pet focussed. The pair found a manufacturer and with the help of a local designer, came up with a paw print film that was easy to lay and would protect a carpet from little accidents. The company started trading in December 2021 and within a short space of time received rave reviews.

Chris said: “Dog breeders seem to like us from both a usage and resale perspective. Our Amazon page outsells our website 4:1 and since we paid to have our page professionally optimised we have seen an increase in sales. We are now embarking on a PR campaign to increase awareness and we want to focus more on the trade. We are the only pet focussed carpet protector film on the market and the beauty of it is that you can protect your whole carpet and not just a small patch. We are also more environmentally friendly than having to throw away and replace a whole carpet which is both expensive and disruptive.

Chris and John have ambitious plans for the product aiming at the major pet retailers and wholesalers.

“We would like people to think ‘Accidents Happen’ when accidents happen.” says Chris. “Pets at Home and chains such as Jolleyes are obviously the golden geese as far as we can think because our product only targets consumers with a particular need at a particular time. If we were available at a base where people became familiar with our availability they would know to go there to buy the film, or they would go there not knowing what to get and after advice from the store would be directed to our product. We would love it if the use of our product just became part of the puppy training experience like buying nappies for a baby.”

Both Chris and John hope to develop the range in the future and to expand the use of the product into other areas and industries. In time they are also hoping to look at the export market for the product.

If you are interested in becoming at stockist or to find out more visit:  www.accidents-happen.co.uk

The Herbal Dog Co, based in the North East of England, has added two new products to its joint care range.

Mobility Tonic  is a fast acting blend of Sage, Milk Thistle, Apium Seed (Wild Celery),  Devils  Claw, Skullcap and Organic Cider Vinegar combined in a preparation. This natural tonic supports the health of a dog’s joints, ligaments and tendons.

Mobility Tonic is easy to use, shake well and drop directly into the mouth or add to a dog’s food. Small dogs under 10kg 1ml, in the morning. Medium and large dogs over 11kg 1ml, morning and evening. For quick relief, 1ml every hour up to a maximum of 4 times a day.

Best Joint Care Natural Herbal Powder is particularly good for older dogs that need a little extra help with keeping up or are feeling a bit stiff in the mornings. It is also good for protecting the joints of working dogs.

Active ingredients include Apium Seed, Green Lipped Mussel, Cayenne, Wild Sage, Flax Seed, Turmeric, Ginger Root, Pre and Probiotics, plus Enzymes. 

Each product from Herbal Dog Co has been lovingly created in the UK using natural ingredients and contains no harsh chemicals or Palm Oil.   All the packaging is sustainable, compostable, reusable and recyclable. There is great variety of dry shampoos, shampoos  (available in salon size) fragrance sprays as well herbal tonics and powders to cater for various wellbeing issues in dogs.

Herbal Dog is a recent finalist in the PetQuip 2022 Awards being nominated across four categories including Best Grooming Product, Green and Organic, Sustainability and Supplier of the Year. They have also made the finals of the PIF Awards for Manufacturer of the Year and Online Business of the Year.

For further information on Herbal Dog Co’s products visit: www.herbaldogco.com  Email:  trade@herbaldogco.com

Oh So Precious, a new range of pet keepsakes and memorials commemorating and celebrating the lives of pets, is launching at the London Vet Show, which opens at Excel today (Thursday).

The trade-only brand has created a free-standing display stand and counter top display featuring its new range which includes memory boxes, paw print kits, paw moulds, fur/hair bottles, plant markers and forget-me-not seeds, and hanging/seasonal decorations.

Oh So Precious will be exhibiting on stand F14, located behind PLH Medical and diagonal to the Elanco sponsored seating area.

It meets a growing requirement among pet owners to celebrate the lives of their pets and treasure key milestones and cherished memories as they do with other family members.

The brand is the brainchild of Helen Davies, founder of The Lovely Gift Group, which has included other celebratory and memorial lines amongst her ranges over the past seven years.

It was a pet loss that prompted her to create the Oh So Precious range.

“Having lost pets myself and sold many keepsakes, I know how much emotion and passion we put into our relationships with them,” said Helen. “When my daughter asked for a keepsake for her best friend that I realised their was a gap in the market. The youngster had lost her cat, Tinkerbell, so we created a star with her cat’s name on it and the whole family was delighted.  Pets are part of our family, with us through good times and bad, so their loss is deeply felt by everyone.”

“We also identified a need for good quality, pet related items through our existing gift customers. We learn a lot from them and they continually highlight requirements for themselves and as thoughtful gifts for friends who have lost pets. The unity among pet owners – that need to convey an understanding and appreciation for those suffering the pain of pet loss - is very real.”

Helen is keen to introduce the range through veterinary practices by offering Oh So Precious as a non-competitive, complimentary brand to existing lines. Displayed in receptions the range will provide vets with another potential income stream while meeting client needs and give staff new ways to be empathetic to clients in times of distress.

“This range is not just for end of life but to mark all stages of a pet’s life. We shouldn’t wait to get those paw print or impressions in our pets’ final days. Instead we should be marking those ‘gotcha days’, birthdays and achievements as we do with any other member of the family, in particular new babies,” she added.

Oh So Precious display stands and packaging are made using sustainable and recyclable materials. The free standing display units measure  H150cm x W60cm x D35cm. They are lightweight and can be moved easily. They include shelving and euro hooks for effective display of merchandise and are stocked with 11 items from the range accompanied by scan codes for easy reordering.  They also feature plastic mop trays providing waterproof protection when reception floors are cleaned.  

The smaller counter top display option measure H35.5cm x W28cm x D20cm.  They too are lightweight and are stocked with the fur bottles and pawprint kits.

Each FSDU unit, with display stock, has a trade price of £904.76 and each CTDU, with display stock has a trade price of £110.21.  Each trade account is given access to trade only website for placing orders to replenish stock. Discount is available for bulk orders and a show offer will be available for orders taken at The London Vet Show.  In 2023 the team is planning to launch personalised pet keepsakes via links from vet practice websites offering more personal keepsake products.

For more information visit: www.ohsoprecious.co.uk

Obedience competitor Sarah Jane Campbell’s latest ‘Sarkam’ litter are another lovely testament to good breeding and CSJ’s CP27 puppy food.

The 11Border Collie puppies (10 visible in the photo taken at four-and-a-half weeks old) are thriving thanks to their mother, ‘Sarkam A Star Is Born’, (Lyntie) and CSJ puppy food.

The puppies – four merle bitches, three black/white bitches, two merle dogs, two black/white bitches – are the latest from Sarah Jane’s line and looking set to following the footsteps of their illustrious relatives … Sarkam has bred eight Obedience Champions and others with CC’s to their name.

Added to that, Lyntie’s aunt is sister to seven Obedience Champions from Sarah Jane’s Sarkam affix and there are many, many, more working in open classes and tickets, plus over a hundred working in obedience, fly ball and heel work to music!

There’s much more to see on www.csjk9.com about Sarah Jane and other influential breeders and competitors in all dog sports …

Nutriwolds raw pet food company has been acquired by Akela Pet Foods, with the new owner immediately forming a new limited company called Nutriwolds Raw Ltd.

Nutriwolds was launched three years ago by Lizz Adair, who saw a gap in the market for raw pet food suitable for both cats and dogs.

In a statement posted in social media following the acquisition, the new owner said: “Akela Pet Foods Ltd are proud to announce their acquisition of all of the assets of Nutriwolds Ltd and the relaunch of this much-loved brand with the help of Nutriwolds pioneer, Lizz. 

“Akela's owner James (Wigby) has formed a new limited company (Nutriwolds Raw Ltd) along with co-director Lizz. 

“The Nutriwolds raw range will continue to be made by Lizz and her team at Pocklington near York. York is close to James' heart, having studied at the University of York just down the road and he could not sit by and see Nutriwolds disappear. 

“We are all very excited that with Akela's backing. Nutriwolds can go from strength to strength.

“We are currently in the mist of restart, making your favourite flavours, please bear with us whilst we fully transition, orders may be taken from website as normal from the 1st of November and pre orders from trade are welcome now.”

Pictured: Lizz Adair, centre, joined the Akela Pet Foods team at the recent Discover Dogs show.

FatFace is expanding its pet range this autumn/winter as part of its commitment to clothing the whole family.

The full range will be available online and in selected stores. Focusing on fun treats, stocking fillers and outfits, the latest expansion will allow pets to be kitted out in the FatFace range alongside the rest of the family. 

FatFace revenue for pet accessories has grown 51% this year compared to 2021.

Kate Brown, Product Director of FatFace, said: “We have seen demand increase for pet accessories since the pandemic and with 59% of households in the UK now owning a pet,1 more consumers are looking for ways to treat their four-legged friends. We’re delighted to be launching our expanded pet range, so that our customers can kit out the furry members of their family too!”

See a gallery of the new range below...

An acclaimed pet retailer has invested more than £250,000 in powering ahead with its net-zero vision.

PetPlace has installed up to 450 solar panels at its stores in Abergele and Llangefni, with Ruthin, Mold and Gledrid, Oswestry, set to follow.

The business has also introduced electric charging points at Gledrid, Llangefni and its Kinmel Bay headquarters – with Mold and Abergele next to have them - and they now have electric rather than gas forklift vehicles, electric company cars and digital display screens, which they hope will help towards the reduction of printed material.

Owners Sion Pritchard and Paul Penketh enlisted Tremeirchion and St Asaph-based Hafod Renewable Energy to supply and fit the panels and worked closely with other local firms to support the North Wales economy and push ahead with its ‘green vision’ as a sustainable, responsible employer, one of the leading names in the pet retail arena.

“The investment in solar panels alone will result in a carbon saving of around 40 tons of C02 per year, so long-term we will see the benefits,” said Sion.

“Initially we have focused on Abergele and Llangefni, but we will look to roll out as we rebrand and refurbish our other stores.

“All of our vehicles are now electric – including forklift trucks in the warehouses – and we are more sustainable than ever before, with more energy efficiency improvements to follow.”

He added: “As well as Hafod Renewable Energy we have worked closely with Gwynedd Forklifts and Rawson EV Power, two North Wales companies that helped us with these projects and others over the years.

“We are focused on supporting local businesses in all sectors, not just our own, which also lowers our carbon footprint and further strengthens the economy in this region at a challenging time for all industries.”

David Jones founded Hafod Renewable Energy in 2010 with his late father Richard.

He was delighted to work with PetPlace and said: “It was a big project which equated to around a quarter of an acre of solar panels.

“The installation took a couple of weeks from start to finish and also included more than 1km of mounting rail and a battery system that will store energy to run their freezers overnight, producing more than 160,000kwh per year – enough to power 50 homes.”

David added: “It was fantastic to work in partnership with such a respected, growing business which has embraced sustainability and renewable energy.

“Due to the energy crisis – which has resulted in a surge in enquiries - we are also expanding, opened a new head office and taken on two more staff so it’s a very busy time for us.”

For more on Hafod Renewable Energy, visit www.hafodrenewables.co.uk.

For more information on PetPlace, including the PetPlace Plus+ loyalty app, follow @petplaceUK on Facebook and Instagram or email hello@farmandpetplace.co.uk.