The number of visitors attending the two-day PATS Telford show has broken the 2,000 mark for a fifth successive year.

A total of 2,103 visitors went through the doors at the impressive Telford International Centre, an increase of 2.7% on last year and one of the highest PATS attendance figures on record.

The successful show closed with visitors and exhibitors agreeing it had been a great success, with the event delivering an unrivalled platform for the launch of hundreds of exciting new pet product innovations. 

Organiser Gordon Thomas said many of the companies exhibiting at PATS Telford were eager to point out the quality of people visiting their stands had been of the highest standard.

“Exhibitors told us they met with the key decision makers and buyers, and that was good to hear because we put in place measures that ensured the right people attended.

“Overall the response to PATS Telford 2019 has been excellent and positive, and proves that the pet industry is firmly behind this show.”

Anne Wood, of Broadreach Nature+ summed up the mood of the exhibitors, saying: “PATS Telford has a special place in our hearts because we launched there in 2015, and it’s great to report that the show keeps getting better. The main highlights for me this year were being able to meet some of my lovely customers face to face, and being able to make new connections in business. The show is firmly on my calendar to attend every year.”

Trespaws was one of 66 new exhibitors at this year’s show and the company’s Morag Muir said it had been a great success. “We were absolutely delighted with the amount of interest shown in Trespaws and as a result we opened some fantastic new accounts and met some lovely people within the industry.”

The number of visitors attending the show is clear evidence that PATS is the only pet trade exhibition where retailers and buyers can view all the latest launches under one roof.

Paul Lewis is General Manager of Just for Pets, which was voted UK Pet Retailer of the Year at the PetQuip Awards and has 16 stores in the Midlands. He said: PATS is a great showcase for everything that is available under one roof. It gives you the opportunity to build relationships not only with suppliers but also other retailers so you can continue to build your business, ask for advice and help each other out. The Just for Pets team see this show

as a key date in the calendar.”

And Nikki Harris, owner of TFM Countrystore, Lincoln, commented: “PATS, as always, impressed me. I wouldn’t miss it and I send as many staff as possible so we get the full benefit of this fantastic show and all it offers.”

Meanwhile, Bev Nicholson, owner of Mutts Nutts Pet Shop, Peterborough, said: “Visiting PATS is essential for a pet shop owner. The New Product Showcase is so useful – to have all the items in one place makes keeping up with new trends and innovative ideas so much easier.”

Nikki Eggington, of Tara’s K9 Hydro & Dog Grooming, Shrewsbury, said: “I absolutely loved PATS. It’s a fantastic event where great relationships can be forged with independent suppliers. PATS is my ‘go to’ event of the year.”

The focus now turns to PATS Sandown in Surrey, on Sunday 9th and Monday 10th February 2020, and PATS Telford on 27^th-28^th September 2020. For all the latest information about the show visit www.patshow.co.uk.

Holland Animal Care won a New Product Award at PATS Telford this week with their Spotted! Smart Pet Tag and already there's talk of this innovative item becoming the next bestseller in pet stores.

The judges said: “Easy to use, not bulky on the collar with a good-sized counter display. This could be an impulse purchase as it is a good price with no monthly charge.”

The was then judged by Sean Kelly, Het of Pet at Dobbies Garden Centres as Best in Show and he said: “This product has a great price point. It’s very simple but does the job perfectly. I see this being an easy sell for the retailer. It’s a well deserved winner of this new award.”

To find out more about this amazing product click here and watch the video

There was so much to see and do over the two days of PATS Telford. If you weren't lucky enough to make it, here's a picture round-up from Telford...

Marriages injected a bit of fun to the show with their Christmas-themed stand. Sam Marriage said: “Christmas is coming – and it’s massive for retailers. I think the pet industry underestimates how big it is, which is why we’ve focussed on it for our PATS stand.”

The winners of the PATS Telford 2019 New Product Awards, including two new categories, were presented at the PetQuip Awards after the first day of a hugely successful show.

The awards were chosen from a record entry of 259 by a team of expert pet retailers on the first morning of the show. All the entries were displayed on the eye-catching New Produce Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews.

The judges’ decisions took into account a number of guideline criteria, such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging and value for money.

The experts agreed that the New Product Showcase had produced a high calibre of entries, providing both variety and choice across the categories. They were pleased to see such a wide range of products and innovations, including many based on sustainable principles.

Two new awards – the Best In Show Award and the Green New Product Award – were judged and presented by Sean Kelly, Head of Pet at the UK’s largest garden centre retailer, Dobbies.

Here is a full list of the winners together with the judges’ comments:

CAT FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Winner: James and Steel

Catnip Space Ball Blaster

Judges’ comments:
“It can be hard to find entertaining and enriching toys for cats, but this fits the bill perfectly. It was innovative and will catch the cat’s attention.”

DOG ACCESSORY AND TOYS

Winner: Holland Animal Care
Spotted! Smart Pet Tag

Judges’ comments:

“Easy to use, not bulky on the collar with a good-sized counter display. This could be an impulse purchase as it is a good price with no monthly charge.”

DOG FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Winner: The Innocent Pet
British Lamb Casserole Air Dried Complete Food for Dogs

Judges’ comments:
“This looked and smelled attractive enough for humans to eat – in fact one of the judges tasted it and pronounced it delicious! Attractive to both owners and pets.”

DOG TREATS AND PRODUCTS

Winner: Woolf UK
Natural Bone with vegetables, glucosamine and chondroitin

Judges’ comments:
“A great price point, striking and eye-catching display. This was a unanimous winner with the judges.”

DOG HARNESSES, LEADS AND DOG WEAR

Winner: James and Steele
Sotnos Sport Active Wear

Judges’ comments:
“Great, wipe-clean collars that are easy to clean and don’t need to dry out. They are a bit different to others on the market and come in attractive bright colours.”

GROOMING PRODUCTS

Winner: Kong Company

Kitty Comber

Judges’ comments:
“All the judges wanted one of these! This was an outright winner. It was such a good quality product, durable and cats will use it.”

PET CARE PRODUCTS

Winner: TropiClean Pet Products

Fresh Breath 2-week Trial Kit

Judges’ comments:

“A good little kit at a good price. Two-week trial means customers will be encouraged to give it a go.”

SMALL ANIMAL AND BIRD PRODUCTS

Winner: Mealberry GNBH

Little One Tasty Bowl from assorted meadow grasses

Judges’ comments:

“This was a great product at pocket-money prices – kids would come in and buy them for their pets. Comes in a good selection box and looks good quality.”

BEST IN SHOW AWARD

Winner: Holland Animal Care
Spotted! Smart Pet Tag

Judge’s comments:

“This product has a great price point. It’s very simple but does the job perfectly. I see this being an easy sell for the retailer. It’s a well deserved winner of this new award.”

GREEN NEW PRODUCT AWARD

Winner: Project Blu

Judge’s comments:

“Here’s a brand that is really making a difference, taking waste out of the system and re-cycling it into quality products.”

PetQuip Awards 2019

WINNERS

Merchandising Expertise

Gold – Natures Menu

Silver – Fold Hill Foods

Exporter of the Year

Gold - Fish4Dogs

Silver – ChickenGuard

Highly Commended – Little Big Paw

Marketing Project of the Year

Gold – Burgess for RAW (Rabbit Awareness Week)

Silver – Forthglade for The Great Dog Walk Challenge

Pet Product of the Year

Food/Treats/Health  - Dogs

Gold – Pawfect Foods – YAK Cheese Straws

Silver – Pedigree Wholesale – Natures Deli

HC – Innocent Pet Care – Birthday Cake Mix

Food/Treats/Health – Cats

Gold – Burgess – Neutered Cat

Silver – PetCo –Cat Love

Accessories /Technical

Gold – Henry Wag Noodle Glove Towel and the complete range of drying products

Silver – Henry & Co – organic ear cleaner for dogs

HC – Tropiclean – dental health

Small Animals

Gold – ChickenGuard

Silver – Haypigs

International Pet Retailer/Distributor/Wholesaler of the Year

Gold – Valgaia doo/Pasji.net, Slovenia

Silver – Saint Vincent Group, Dubai

UK Pet Retailer of the Year

Gold – Just for Pets, pet store chain

Silver – Henry & Co Dog Boutique, Arbroath

Lifetime Achievement

Dean Richmond, Pets Corner

Dean Richmond, managing director of Pets Corner, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the PetQuip Awards.

"I am genuinely shocked to receive this award," said Dean. "I had no idea I would be honoured in this way.

"We've come a long way with Pets Corner and this achievement is recognition for all the hard work and dedication from a talented team of people. I'm only 46 so I hope to be around this amazing industry for a long time to come."

In the citation announcing Dean Richmond’s Lifetime Achievement, Amanda Sizer Barrett said:

“The winner of this year’s PetQuip Lifetime Achievement Award has lived less than half of what we hope will be a long and happy working lifespan, but he has already packed a lifetime of achievement into his career to date!

The winner works in a company that can trace its roots back to 1968 and today it employs a workforce of around 950 and operates as far North as Newcastle and as far South as Weymouth.

The privately-owned, family business achieves sales of over £50m annually and is investing £9m currently in new stores.

The chief executive believes that in a world where online shopping is increasingly important, there is still a place for businesses on the high street and via retail outlets where service still matters.

His career may not have appeared initially to be auspicious. He attended a business course at his local College, but left after six months, then worked as sales adviser then manager in his parents’ shops for 10 years before buying the business at age 25.

In a recent interview, he said: “I look at where I am now and sometimes cannot believe it. I was always very ambitious. I have never had any strategy, except to make each shop work, and go on to open the next one.”

When asked whether, when he had made his first million, did he want to slow down?, his response was:

“That figure did not make me feel any different. I could not slow down because I love working and we only had 61 shops at the time.“

He says the secret of his success early on was just sheer determination and hard graft. A typical day would start at 6.30am loading the van with stock then working in the shop until 6 or 7pm. “I would carry on working at home until late on projects to move the business forward. I used to get paranoid that my competition would be working when I wasn’t and forge ahead. I still do. I’m proud that our company leads our industry on promoting animal welfare, and improving how pets are sold and cared for.

“I hated school and as far as I could remember I just wanted to work for myself. I used to make bird-feeders in my bedroom and sell them at school, pet shops and garden centres, delivering them on my bike. I think my lack of academic ability early on was made up for by the sheer number of hours I worked.”

He intends to carry on working “until I drop” because he gets bored when not busy and would miss the stimulus of work.

He believes In giving something back to the community. Many of the company’s staff started with the firm very young and almost all of the senior management team has come from the shop floor and some of them had difficult starts in their lives. They give 2 per cent of the firm’s profit to charity, in particular Canine Partners, which trains assistance dogs. In addition, they give more than £100,000 worth of food and products to local charities each year.

In addition our winner is planning to support young people from underprivileged backgrounds to start their own businesses.”   

Pet Remedy, manufacturers of the unique and clinically proven natural de-stress and calming range, have won a major contract to launch with Fressnapf in Q4 this year.

With over 1500 stores, Fressnapf is Europe’s largest pet retailer and the decision to launch Pet Remedy in their home territory of Germany is a major step forward for the UK based calming brand.

The launch is timed around the build up to “Party Season” and, in particular, St. Sylvester’s Day celebrations which take place on December 31^st in Germany.

Speaking about the launch, Rob Tyler, Sales Director of Pet Remedy said: “We are delighted to be launching with Fressnapf and have thoroughly enjoyed working with their team and preparing  this launch to coincide with the key selling period  for calming products.

"We started talks with Fressnapf just over 12 months ago and this launch is the latest step in Pet Remedy’s rapid growth across all of our sales channels.

"Consumers, retailers, vets and other pet professionals are all recognising the benefits that our range can provide. Being natural, easy to use, fast acting and suitable for all pets means that Pet Remedy can provide retailers with a complete and comprehensive calming offer backed up with strong marketing support and training.”

The product launch Germany will be on a “Party Season” floor standing unit delivered to stores pre-loaded for ease of merchandising. Pet Remedy have produced a full marketing package for the launch which includes Posters, customer samples and training videos for store staff, all fully translated and bespoke manufactured in German language.

www.petremedy.co.uk

By popular demand, and in time for PATS Telford, Naturediet has launched a brand new Feel Good Selection Pack.

This new shelf ready multipack is a tasty variety of Naturediet’s most popular wet food meals for adult dogs and includes 4 x Feel Good Chicken 390g, 4 x Feel Good Lamb 390g, 4 x Feel Good Chicken & Lamb 390g and 4 x Feel Good Turkey & Chicken 390g packs. The Selection Pack offers a perfect solution to customers wanting to give their dog dietary variety. All 4 varieties offer 100% natural complete and freshly prepared balanced meals which are wheat gluten free and gently steam cooked. 

Naturediet believe in honest labelling and its simple, healthy recipes are perfect for dogs of all shapes, sizes, breeds and age. With limited ingredients, Naturediet has perfected its nutritionally balanced meals so that they are delicious, wholesome and ideal for dogs that may suffer from sensitivities or allergies.

The food is free from additives, preservatives, colourings, flavourings and processed meat meals, instead it is packed full of optimal natural ingredients procured as locally as possible to Naturediet’s Norfolk factory. 

In addition to creating top quality dog food, Naturediet are on a mission to ditch single use plastics and reduce their carbon footprint. They won the Pet Industry Federation’s Sustainability Award in 2018 in recognition for their efforts.

The independent, family run business chose to use an innovative recyclable carton in place of the plastic trays with non-recyclable film tops and is the first dog food manufacturer in the UK to take such a bold step. 

The Tetra Pak cartons, made primarily of FSC certified carboard, are recycled by over 92% of councils in the UK, with the packaging company investing in its own recycling plant in this country.

The Feel Good Selection Pack will be available direct from Naturediet, or exclusively in the UK through Bestpets and in Ireland through Glenkrag. 

For more information, or to register your interest in stocking these packs, please contact trade@naturediet.co.uk.

Small but mighty - Fish4Dogs, the premium pet food company that employs just 51 people has won the PetQuip Exporter of the Year Award 2019.

The Worcestershire-based company, which exports to 34 companies around the globe, was announced as the award winner at a gala dinner during PATS Telford,

ish4Dogs CEO Graham Smith said: “We are delighted to have been announced winner of this prestigious award which recognises our work with international partners who in turn convey the values of our brand and the nutritional benefits our food brings to pets.

“In an industry dominated by major corporate entities promoting dozens of brands, this is a victory for all those independent companies who demonstrate that they can hit above their weight in a very competitive market place.”

Fish4Dogs’ international success has led to significant company growth with overseas sales boosted by 267% in just six years. The company was awarded Queen’s award for Enterprise: International Trade in 2017.

Since then, the it has continued to gain a foothold in new markets, grounded in the partnerships it creates with its customers on the emotive journey of dog ownership.

In the past year alone, it established sales distribution in five countries within the Middle East, and a new wholesale partnership in Greece.

Fish4Dogs export success stems from its approach in including new partners as part of the ‘Fish4Dogs family’.  Substantial time, effort and energy goes into selecting the right long-term partners allowing it to work on an exclusivity basis within each country, allowing a relationship of trust to develop.

Its focus on customer relationships was acknowledged earlier this year won Fish4Dogs won the GlobalPets Award.

The company plans to continue its growth by developing its existing international accounts and exploring others. It has recently employed bi-lingual customer service advisors to assist operational activity.

For trade enquiries visit: www.fish4dogstrade.co.uk

Photo: Fish4Dogs Sales Director Sarah Fowler (centre left) and Head of Marketing Jo Little (centre right) with award presenters.

Downloads of the new Bestpets app have increase 140% since June, as more and more pet businesses benefit from the quick and easy ordering provided by Bestway Wholesale’s specialist pet division’s new ordering platform.

The e-commerce app launched earlier this summer and has contributed to the 41% increase in sales performance for Bestpets versus the same period last year.

The app makes ordering easier for pet customers including pet shops, grooming parlours and online retailers and allows them to:

• Browse and order the full Bestpets range of over 10,000 pet products, on a mobile phone
• Use the barcode scanner on the app to scan products and make ordering quicker
• Make lists of their favourite products and store the lists for easy re-ordering each time.

The app has also been optimised with a third-party search company to improve search functionality, making it easier for customers to find products.

Mike Bailey, Head of Bestpets said: “We’re really pleased with the performance of the Bestpets app, which launched after a culmination of 18 months of research and development. We know that pet businesses want to spend less time ordering and more time focused on selling products and spending time with their customers rather than placing orders.

"That’s why this new app has been designed to enable pet businesses to place their order at the touch of a button on their mobile phones, to save lists based on favourite products for easy re-ordering and to browse our full product range of over 10,000 lines.

“We worked with customers to understand what they do (and don’t) want when it comes to ordering on an app and we wanted to provide a solution which works fast and makes ordering quick and easy.

“All a customer has to do now is download the app and sign in with their existing customer number and they will be ready to order – hundreds of customers are already enjoying the benefits. It’s just what the industry ordered!”

Noel Robinson, who was recently appointed to the role of Director of Bestpets in addition to his role as Director of Bestway Vans Direct, added: “Pet is an area of our business which continues to grow year on year and launching the first app within the Pet Wholesale industry is just one of the ways we are making life easier for our customers.”

As well as easy access to newly launched products and seasonal offers, additional features include the latest barcode scanning technology for ease of search and the ability for customers to manage payments and calculate margins, all in one place.

The app officially launched in June and since then the number of orders placed on the app has steadily increased by 17% month on month. Users have expressed their delight with the speed of the app, the functionality of the barcode scanner and the ability to calculate gross profit on the app itself and this has resulted in a 5% increase on average order value verses customers using the website.

The app can be downloaded on Apple devices at: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/bestpets/id1449149239?mt=8

And Android devices at:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rnfdigital.bestpets

New customers should call the Bestway Wholesale contact centre on 01738 646666 to find out more about Bestpets and the new ordering app.

The opening day of PATS Telford was buzzing with excitement as visitors flocked to see the record number of trade stands and pet industry innovations on show.

Exhibitors were particularly pleased with the quality of enquiries and orders generated on the Sunday, with many rushed off their feet for the entire day.

Will Baggaley, Head of Group Marketing for Pedigree Wholesale, said: “It’s been exceptionally busy for us. It’s always a great show and this year is no different. This is just the first morning and we’ve already had a lot of interest. It helps that we’re in a key spot right near the entrance, and we always appreciate the great support we get from the PATS team.”

It was a similar story for Garry Johnson, Area Sales Manager of Versele Laga, who said: “There’s been good footfall and we’ve had some very interesting inquiries. PATS is always the highlight of the pet industry year for us – it allows us to show our extensive range and to network with clients.

Helen Ellwood, Head of Commercial Sales and Marketing, Billy + Margot, said: “This is our first time at PATS in five years, and it’s been a fantastic platform from which to showcase our new wet and dry range. We’ve already had a lot of good conversations, reconnecting with old retailers, and introducing the Billy + Margot range of products to new retailers too. Being at PATS over the two days will really enable us to build on important relationships with the pet trade.”

First time exhibitor Sarah Meredith, of Life of Riley, admitted the show had exceeded her expectations, adding: “We were a bit overwhelmed at first, but everyone has been so friendly and it’s all been fine. We will definitely be back.”

Another newcomer to PATS, The Rockster, have been surprised by the positive response they’ve had from visitors on day one. Managing director Sven Lay said: “Exhibiting for the first time can be a little daunting but we’ve had an extremely good time.”

Marriages injected a bit of fun to the show with their Christmas-themed stand Sam Marriage said: “Christmas is coming – and it’s massive for retailers. I think the pet industry underestimates how big it is, which is why we’ve focussed on it for our PATS stand today.”

The first day of the show also got the thumbs-up from visitors.

Laura Hennessy, owner of Connie’s Pet Shop, South Staffs, said: “We’ve been coming here for four years, it’s out third time to Telford and we absolutely love it. It really enthuses us for the business and what we can bring to our customers. There seems to be an even better selection of exhibitors and even more new products. We’re really pleased with the move towards sustainability and all the eco-friendly products on show because that’s something we’re asked about a lot.”

And Elliot Meads, director of wholesalers Natures Forage, said: “We’ve been coming to the show for a number of years and we also go to shows across Europe. In the UK there is no other show to compete with PATS. We went to one recently that was a bit of a let-down to be honest – but PATS is always worth the time and we invariably source some really interesting products.”

PATS Telford had a very special visitor – Winter, the Dogs for Good puppy it sponsored a year ago.

The Labrador x Golden Retriever has obviously grown a bit now, having spent her first year of life with socialiser Katy.

Thanks to sponsorship from PATS, Winter has been fully supported in her development, including provision of a starter kit for all her canine needs - crate, bed, food, water bowls, toys, identification working jacket, lead flash, collar and lead.

Dogs for Good, which trains assistance dogs for adults and children with physical disabilities, became PATS’ chosen charity last year and were given great receptions at both the Sandown and Telford shows.

As well as collecting donations from visitors and exhibitors during the exhibitions, the charity received items from the New Product Showcase to use as competition prizes at their many events.

PATS organiser Gordon Thomas said: “Dogs for Good are a wonderful charity, helping to change many people’s lives through their outstanding work. We are proud to have them as our chosen charity and look forward to supporting their valued work in the future.”

Next year, Winter will be heading for the charity’s training centre in Banbury. By all accounts she is already showing all the characteristics required of a fully trained dog, confidence, as well as an interest in people and in playing.

A full and up-to-date list of exhibitors is available on the website www.patshow.co.uk together with information on how to reach the venue and regularly updated show news.

Turning Human Food Wastage into Pet Food Goodness

Two years ago, Purely Fish was first launched.  An international pet food brand with a range of 100% natural, British made pet food products, made from fish.

As a depleting natural resource, Purely Fish was created as a way to use the parts of the fish that are not used for human consumption.  Here in the UK, we take the fillet of the fish, leaving much of the fish left over.  We take these leftover, human grade fish products and use them to create pet food, with the primary aim of reducing food wastage.

Fish by its very nature is packed full of natural goodness and offers a whole host of health benefits whether consumed by humans or animals.  Purely Fish recognised this and now offers a full range of pet food products including treats, complementary wet food, toppers and raw food for both cats and dogs.  

The endless benefits of these products include:

-          Packed with naturally occurring Omega 3 oils

-          Hypoallergenic

-          Gluten Free

-          Low in fat (Whitefish products)

-          Good for coat and skin condition

-          Good for joint mobility and dental care

-          Good for digestion and gut health

-          Good for brain and eye development

-           

And most importantly, they taste really good and pets love them!

Since its inception in 2017, Purely Fish has grown quickly, both across the UK and Internationally.  Purely Fish products are now sold by more than 60 stockists across the UK in a combination of independent shops, larger retailers, including TK Maxx and Pets Corner.  Purely fish also supply the UK’s leading wholesalers, which in turn is helping the brand to reach thousands of new potential stockists.   

Purely Fish also exports to many countries around the world including Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Germany, Malaysia, Poland and our latest International customer resides in Malta.

Karen Scott, Head of Business Development at Purely Fish comments: “We are delighted that Purely Fish has gained not just home grown recognition in its first two years but also a considerable amount of international growth. The market continues to be highly competitive, but with our experience of exporting with the history of our parent company, Ideal Foods Ltd (voted Exporter of the Year at Cornwall’s Business Awards 2019), this has made our International growth easier to process and allowed us to achieve the success that we have.

“Over the next 12 months, we will continue to grow our international presence supported by new products in development that we plan to launch next year.”

Purely Fish will be exhibiting at PATS Telford.

Karen Scott continues: “PATS Telford enables us to meet up with our existing stockists and Wholesalers under the one roof, whilst offering us the opportunity to introduce our products to new customers both here in the UK and overseas. Please stop by our stand for a chat with either myself or my colleague, Teresa Page.  We very much look forward to seeing you there.”

Danish Design has switched to a 100% recycled fibre filling for its pet bedding.

Billions of plastic bottles are thrown away every year with only a small percentage (around 9%) of this being recycled causing huge concern across the world as to the environmental harm.

This huge amount of plastic waste is filling up landfill sites at an alarming rate and bottles can take 450 years to decompose. There are concerns that by mid-century, the oceans could contain more plastic waste than fish!

Danish Design moved to using a 100% recycled PET bottle flake to produce pet bedding fibre fill from this month.

"PET flake is produced by shredding plastic bottles, they are then cleansed and heated to produce a liquid that is forced through a sieve to produce a thread that forms a fibre once coole," said Rob Newsome, Director of Sales & Operations.

"We can process the fibre through our carding machine in the Danish Design factory in Leeds to produce a luxurious super soft thermal filling for our pet bedding.

"By switching to PET recycled fibre we can ensure that around 8 million plastic bottles a year are stopped from reaching landfill, our natural environment and the oceans."

Poppy’s Picnic has announced enticing trade deals and new additions to the Poppy’s Picnic COMPLETE range at PATS Telford (Stand H11).

The company is seeking to expand its cohort of quality independent stockists throughout the UK and is encouraging interested parties to arrange a time to discuss trade options.

Dylan Watkins launched Poppy’s Picnic in 2016 to make it easy for people to feed their dogs a raw food diet, the way nature intended. The company’s tasty wholesome recipes have been lovingly crafted with the help of canine nutritionists and fourth generation butchers who supply the fresh meat from their own abattoir, which means 100% traceability and makes the supply chain minimal. With no hidden nasties, the balanced meals contain all the goodness a dog needs for optimal health and wellbeing.

Poppy’s Picnic dog food has the highest rated meals in the UK by All About Dog Food with a 95% rating. The company has also achieved over 1000 glowing reviews on Google, Facebook and Reviews.io. Just recently the brand beat thousands of start-ups to reach number seven nationally in NatWest’s Power Up Index. The company prides itself on its customer service and the VIP (Very Important Paws) Team has been nominated for the ‘Team of the Year Award’ for Wales and South West region at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2019.

Commenting on the company’s growth Dylan said, “Since exhibiting at PATS last year we’ve significantly grown our fantastic range of stockists. We’ve enjoyed working closely with them and supporting them with a brand new range of POS materials and via our campaigns including our Stockists in the Spotlight series. We’re passionate about getting the brand out there and changing dogs’ lives. This year alone we’ve fed dog food on Come Dine With Me, showcased our food live on This Morning with Eamonn and Ruth, and just recently spoke to over 13 radio stations with canine nutritionist Anna Webb following the launch of our RAWgust campaign.”

Get set for a dog bed revolution thanks to the new merchandising and in-store ordering system from luxury dog bed supplier, George Barclay. This new ‘order in-store, deliver to door’ concept will make it easy for retailers to offer over 300 stunning designs, all within a 1m2 footprint.
 
Order in-store, deliver direct to the consumer’s door
This new fully integrated retail display unit is perfect for retailers where space is at a premium but the demand for luxury pet products is on the rise. Priced at just £399+VAT the display unit comes complete with an integrated iPad terminal for direct ordering and access to the full George Barclay offering via www.georgebarclay.com.

To provide customers with the ability to touch and feel the quality of the product on offer, each unit also comes fully stocked with six premium dog beds of varying sizes and designs – which can be tailored to your customer demographic – worth RRP £475. A special ‘retailer code’ is allocated to each store/retailer, which when entered at the online checkout via the iPad provides complimentary delivery on orders over £49. All of this can be done at the point of purchase within a matter of minutes – making for one of the easiest ways to purchase dog beds in-store.
 
Retailers benefit too
What’s more, retailers also benefit from the special commission scheme, where they can earn commission on each order placed via the system. And the benefits for the retailer don’t stop there – the new George Barclay integrated in-store ordering unit means there are no stock commitments, no carriage charges, no restocking, and no soiled stock - freeing up space and staff hours to sell other lines. Instead, retailers can offer their customers access to one of the most luxurious dog bed collections, as well as George Barclay’s accessories lines including the ClimaCOOL dog cooling range, MuttMOP dog drying products, as well as leather leads and collars, leather dog carriers and luxurious throws and blankets.
 
George Barclay’s Adrian Bartlett said: “Our new integrated in-store ordering system – a true silent salesperson - has been created in response to extensive retailer feedback. Dog beds are notoriously difficult to merchandise, with one overly enthusiastic customer so often causing a complete catastrophe where the display is concerned. Also, with so many different designs, sizes, material and colour ways on offer, the traditional merchandising method requires a huge commitment in terms of space and man hours. But those days are gone – in just 1m2 retailers can offer their customers over 300 different designs, all safely delivered to their door within 2-4 working days. This is the new generation of retailing, and one that competes head to head with the juggernaut that is online.”
 
Luxury at its best – from George Barclay
George Barclay’s dog beds are created by a dedicated team of dog lovers and are made to last but without compromising on style or design. Each bed is UK designed and made, using only the best fabrics and manufacturing techniques. Enjoying traditional designs, each bed benefits from George Barclay’s unique technology including water resistant inner liners, SofTough™ fabrics, WoofWax™ water repellent coating, and the choice of three mattress and filling options to suit dogs of all shapes and sizes. Replacement covers are also available, with all covers completely machine washable.
 
Find out more
If you want to find out more about George Barclay’s new integrated in-store ordering system, or its stunning luxury dog bed collections and accessory ranges, please visit www.georgebarclay.com. Alternatively email sales@georgebarclay.com or call the team direct on 01722 437477.
 

At a glance: George Barclay’s Integrated In-Store Ordering System & Display Unit

• Integrated in-store ordering system for just £399+VAT
• Each unit comes complete with iPad terminal and six beds worth RRP £475
• Consumers order direct via the iPad, with delivery direct to an address of their choosing
• Delivery is free for all orders over £49, a saving of £9.99.
• Retailers earn commission on each order placed, tracked via their George Barclay affiliate account
• Each unit provides access to George Barclay’s full dog bed collection – featuring over 300 designs

Wilsons Pet Food, a Perthshire-based pet food company that can trace its heritage back well over a 150 years, has launched a brand new Raw Frozen Range at PATS Telford (stand A31).

Wilsons Raw Frozen Range will be available in choice of standard varieties, Beef Hotpot, Salmon Medley, Pork Casserole, Lamb Tagine, Chicken and Vegetables and Turkey Dinner.

Each recipe contains a balanced and nutritious range of human grade meat or fish and vegetables all sourced locally where possible.

Additional recipes will also be added throughout the year to reflect the quality and depth of Scottish seasonal produce and will include key ingredients such as venison and pheasant.

Wilsons Raw Frozen recipes can be fed as a standalone diet but they have also been designed to complement Wilsons Cold Press Range and are suitable for dogs that like a mixture of wet and dry food. The Raw Frozen recipes break down at the same rate as the Cold Press Food meaning no upset tummies!

Wilsons Raw Frozen Range comes in 500 g resealable pouches which do not take up much space in the freezer and can be resealed for freshness once defrosted and stored in the fridge.

For further information on Wilsons Pet Food visit: www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk

Global pet product expert PetSafe Brand unveiled three new pet fountains from its popular Drinkwell range at PATS Telford.

The product launch marks the first new fountain addition since PetSafe Brand launched its ceramic range, which includes the Drinkwell Sedona and Drinkwell Pagoda Pet Fountains.

PetSafe Brand showcased the fountains plus new items and recent best sellers from other categories including Travel & Access, Waste Management and Pet Doors.

The three new fountains in the Drinkwell have been designed to encourage pets to drink more and keep them happy, healthy and hydrated. Thought has been given to pet owners too as the fountains can be simply refilled using a jug and they have no hard-to-reach crevices for easy cleaning.

To find out more visit www.petsafe.com/UK

Herbal experts Dorwest Herbs has yet again the perfect solution for keeping pets calm this firework season with their ‘Licensed to Chill’ campaign, which has been  launched to the trade at PATS Telford.  

Licensed medicine Scullcap & Valerian Tablets and herbal supplement Valerian Compound are the ideal way to calm and relax dogs and cats naturally, so owners won’t have to worry about them being shaken or stirred, they’ll just be perfectly chilled!

Herbs are gentle yet effective and reduce anxiety by lessening activity in the nervous system rather than relaxing muscles, so pets can be relaxed and calm without it sedating or affecting their normal behaviour, resulting in a calm firework period for owners and pets alike. For trade stockists they have a special offer ‘Calming Product Pack’ containing the most popular sizes of Scullcap & Valerian Tablets and Valerian Compound in a handy counter size display box. A free support kit is available, plus digital assets for your social pages.

They’ve gone balmy! Continuing to produce exceptional natural products to keep dogs and cats in perfect health, they have now extended their topical offering by launching two NEW beautiful balms.

Jo Boughton-White, MD, commented: “We often get asked for products for pets cracked paws & noses, and something soothing to put on sore skin. So, we’ve listened to our customers and produced a Paw & Nose Balm and reformulated our Skin Balm (previously called Comfrey & Calendula Skin Balm). We especially enjoyed trying out the recipes on ourselves and our dogs in the office, so they are definitely tried and tested!”

UK grown herbs are gently steeped in beneficial sunflower and jojoba oils in small batches and combined with beeswax and nourishing shea butter to produce these very high-quality balms. The Paw & Nose Balm features softening Calendula, calming Chickweed and protective Marshmallow. The reformulated Skin Balm contains moisturising Comfrey, softening Calendula and calming Chamomile, along with oils of lavender, rose geranium and mandarin.

These pots of natural shea goodness are lick-safe and will soothe and nurture problem areas and are perfect for sensitive skin, and the approaching winter season. Available in handy 50ml tins with an RRP of £9.95 each.

The Calming Product Pack which can normally be purchased for the very special offer price of £65 + vat, and which retails for £141.50 (inc vat), is further discounted at PATS as all orders placed at the show will receive an extra 5% off!  To order yours and find out more about their new beautiful balms pop along to Stand A40.

For further information email trade@dorwest.com, visit www.dorwest.com or call 01308 897272.

WildWash is launching two new cat products at PATS Telford – Cat Shampoo and Cat Detangle.

Jane Cooper, from WildWash, said:  “All of our professional groomers love our pets and our planet. That’s why we used our 15 years of grooming experience to develop a range of natural pH balanced pet shampoos that are brilliantly effective and kind to our pets’ skin and coat.

“Our revolutionary blend of ingredients include Neem Oil, Aloe Vera and Sea Kelp which help nourish the coat and soothe the skin.

“Our natural products are used on all breeds of dogs and cats every day and give incredible results. Trusted by groomers, vets and pet owners worldwide, your pets will love you for it!!

“All our natural WildWash products contain No Parabens, No Phthalates, No Phosphates, No Petrochemicals, No Sulphates and No PEGs. We use 100% Pure Essential Oils – No Synthetic or Semi Synthetic Fragrances. We guarantee there is No Animal Testing on any of our products, nor on any of the ingredients they contain. All our products are made In England.”

The new Beaphar CaniComfort Calming range contains a synthetic copy of the Dog Appeasing Pheromone. The Dog Appeasing Pheromone is naturally produced by the bitch during nursing to help calm her puppies, and is clinically proven to promote feelings of reassurance in dogs of all ages and breeds.

The range has been launched in time for bonfire night. According to the RSPCA, around 45% of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks, making the products the perfect item to stock in the lead up to November 5th, Christmas and New Year.

Dr Sue Huggett, UK Business Manager, said: “Following the successful launch of Beaphar CatComfort last year, we were keen to give our retailers a pheromone calming solution for dogs as well.

“The introduction of Beaphar CaniComfort means that pet retailers can provide cat and dog owners with a simple and effective solution to support their pets during stressful situations, such as the firework and New Year period, as well as throughout the year.”

To support the products in-store and encourage customers to buy, Beaphar has created a complete marketing support package, including two dual-purpose CDUs.

“While the use of effective calming products are essential over the firework and festive party season, they can also be used to support our pets through other stressful situations, such as travelling, moving house or thunderstorms,” explains Vicky Le Fanu, UK Marketing Manager.

“We’ve created two CDUs, one for each product range, which both have reversible headboards depicting fireworks on one side and general information on the other. This means we can help support our retailers sales of our pheromone calming products all year round.”

Other point of sale items this year include an eye-catching, firework themed window sticker, guaranteed to draw customers in, ‘A complete guide to Beaphar CaniComfort’ consumer leaflet, posters and shelf barkers. A full range of digital assets are also available to download from the Beaphar Trade Zone.

But it is not only through point of sale Beaphar are supporting retailers, new for 2019 are two training modules on Feline Stress and Communication, and Canine Calming, which combined are worth 9 AMTRA CPD points. They can be accessed for free via Beaphar’s online Training Zone – beaphar-training.co.uk.

“Our training is something we’re particularly proud of,” says Dr Sue Hugget. “The introduction of these two modules means that Beaphar stockist not only have greater knowledge of Beaphar CatComfort and Beaphar CaniComfort®, but also a greater understanding of how stress in cats and dogs occurs. This will allow them to help their customers more effectively, and ensure that product knowledge and advice is passed on. This in turn helps pet owners to thoroughly understand their pets’ needs.”

For more information about the new BeapharCaniComfort Range and the existing BeapharCatComfort Range, please contact your local Sales Executive or call our award-winning Customer Service Team on 0333 0066236 or email info@uk.beaphar.com

It was the breakout success of The Dog Treat Company’s 1^st vegan-friendly/gluten-free treat in 2018, (coconut, chia and turmeric) at targeting the growing number of UK dogs suffering from delicate tummies & meat/protein-based allergies, that was indirectly responsible for the launch of the Devon business’s 3-strong vegetarian Snibbles range into North America late last month, a range which trumpets its imminent arrival to the UK via PATS Telford.

Snibbles come in 3 deliciously distinct, ‘eat your veggies’ flavours (made with human-grade ingredients)

• Coconut, Apple, Devon Honey & Kale
• Coconut, Cranberries, Cheese & Parsnip
• Coconut, Carrot, Parsnip & Turmeric

Snibbles addresses the long-standing conundrum regarding when is a snack so much more than a light nibble? The answer is actually simpler than you might first imagine; namely when a treat can demonstrate an unwavering commitment to all-natural, human-grade ingredients packed with bonafide nutritional worth.

According to Dog Treat Company founder, Joe Halliwell, ‘Over the years we’ve noticed a growing crossover between human and pet food values (pet humanisation), as K9 treats move away from convenience, gimmicks, unnecessary fillers, excessive salt and sugar……towards full-bodied flavours, meaningful nutrition, the odd beneficial functional food (e.g. turmeric) and ever greater choice. 

Interestingly enough, The Dog Treat Company’s treats are baked in a DEFRA approved bakery on the edge of Dartmoor National Park using state-of-the-art human biscotti manufacturing equipment.

Such is the draw of human food values that The Dog Treat Company insisted that Snibbles met more ambitious, everyday price points & bigger family pack formats, that the packaging was  made from fully recyclable materials and with ‘look before you buy’ windows, because a truly transparent/beneficial bite needn’t just be an occasional dalliance!’

The Dog Treat Company actually began its life as a luxury home delivery service for pampered pooches, a classy Graze/Hotel Chocolat style idea offering much loved pets ‘happy letterbox moments.’ 

Word spread and The Dog Treat Company’s reach quickly extended to traditional dog food forums (Fetch, Pets Corner) forward-thinking food halls (Fortnums) and a growing number of increasingly in vogue dog-friendly cafes, pubs even family + dog friendly holiday destinations (Forest Holidays) supplied by the likes of Cotswold Fayre.

The Dog Treat Company also enjoys a flourishing export network that extends far beyond north America to other avant-garde pet foods epicentres including Hong Kong, China, Scandinavia, Holland, Italy and South Korea.

Joe concludes by saying, ‘No-one is suggesting for a moment that dogs are anything other than  meat-loving omnivores, however a one-dimensional meat –themed diet can have unwelcome implications for even the most perfectly proportioned hound (acidity in gut, weight gain poor joints, reduced immunity to illness…)because with 1 in 4 UK dogs still deemed clinically obese, a better balance between great taste and good nutrition needs to be struck.’

Thedogtreatcompany.co.uk

CSJ’s Get Over! is a successful herbal blend which is simply sprinkled on a dog's food.

It was formulated to benefit those dogs feeling their age and showing signs of stiffness when - as now - the weather has turned cold and wet.

CSJ wanted to produce something to provide that extra bit of help without the need for steroids or pricey alternatives and Get Over! has now been helping dogs through Autumn and Winter for many years.

In a 250g re-sealable foil pouch Get Over! is formulated by one of the UK’s foremost herbalists and contains Comfrey Leaf, Dandelion, Celery Seed, Nettle, Devils Claw Root, Burdock Root.

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