Vital Pet Group is continuing to grow and develop its wholesale business and open up opportunities for retailers. The month of May sees the new trade website go live, delivering a new and improved experience for retailers.

Vital customers can also look forward to exciting new product lines from a range of new suppliers. Following investment in technology and two senior appointments in customer service and supply chain management, two new business development partnerships have been finalised which benefit from Vital’s strong distribution network.

The new website has been in development for some months as the company wanted to offer its customers full functionality which meets all their needs.

There’s the full spectrum of features you would expect from online shopping with offers, comparisons and product information all clearly displayed. There are live stock updates so retailers know exactly how much they can order right now and how much remains in stock if they need to follow up with a prompt top up.

Each retailer will have their own dashboard where they can set up multiple shopping baskets, see favourites and past orders, review back orders and pay invoices. A personal messaging facility will provide a direct contact route to customer services with the user’s details automatically populated.

Vital Marketing Manager, Paul Walker, says his team has worked hard to ensure that the needs of users were at the heart of the website development.

“It’s easy to have a good-looking website these days but much harder to think about the user journey and specific requirements. We’re very happy with the end result and look forward to our customers enjoying a great online shopping experience that will help them identify the best deals and place their order faster and more efficiently.”

Vital has also brought on board new suppliers. They including Natures Grub treats for small animals, poultry and aquatics; supplement maker Missing Link; poultry company Guan; and Vodafone GPS tracking for dogs.

Also new is Loving Pets treats and bowls, Sneyd’s best-selling Wonderdog recipes and Purely Fish treats.

Theresa Knowles joined Vital in April to head up contact and service centre operations. With her background in distribution she appreciates the challenges that come with on time, every time delivery. In another senior appointment, Lucy Cook has joined from Wilkinson to head up the supply chain.

As a result of continued investment in technology throughout warehouse operations and transport, service levels are consistently hitting target. Almo Nature has now confirmed that it will partner with Vital Pet Group as the distribution partner for all their UK clients.

Vital divisions, which focus on the development of opportunities in the retail environment, continue to grow. Farm & Pet Place has recently chosen Vital Retail Solutions team to form a dedicated supply partnership to service all their stores with Vital’s new delivery infrastructure.

Director Sunny Sharma says he could not be happier with the progress this year after what was a very tough 2018.

“I’m so proud of our teams who have continued to drive improvement, no matter how significant the obstacles. This is a transformed business and the improvements are still pulling through. We have some fantastic relationships with great suppliers whose commitment to the independent pet trade matches our own.”

He continued: “The old Vital had strong foundations supporting a crumbling edifice. With new Vital we’ve taken the best of that – the history and the relationships – and restored the walls with better infrastructure, technology and new thinking. We’re looking forward to ensuring that the pet trade receives the support it needs with a strong wholesaler adding strength at the core of the supply chain.”

Retailers can visit the new website as it rolls out in May at www.vitalpets.co.uk.

A simple registration process for existing or prospective customers will trigger an alert sent to the Vital team who will issue log in details for full access to the new site. 

The Real Petfood Company has commenced the construction of a chimney along with the installation of odour abatement equipment at its Kinmel Park site in Bodelwyddan.  The 35-metre chimney will ensure the rapid dispersal of any odours associated with the manufacture of its range of pet food products.

Although planning approval for the chimney was granted last November, agreement had still to be reached with Denbighshire County Council over landscaping and visual aspects such as the positioning of the odour abatement equipment and associated duct work.  Managing director James Lawson confirmed the pre-conditions had now all been agreed and the equipment was being located within the factory while the duct work would be behind the chimney to minimise any visual impact.

“Some time ago we took the decision to press ahead with manufacturing the actual chimney which will speed things up and I’m delighted that we can now commence construction work,” he said.  “Once operational, the dilution process will mix 65,000m³ of air with 10,000m³ of bakery oven air every hour and propel them at speed up the chimney to ensure full dispersal.”

In addition, the firm is fitting the latest plasma injection technology to further reduce any baking odours.  Claimed to be the most sustainable and economical solution available, the system is carbon neutral and does not required any chemicals, water or produce any waste. 

“Our team has persevered and found the quietest and most environmentally friendly solution for handling emissions from the bakery,” he added.  “We’ve worked really closely with our consultants  and also officers from  Denbighshire CC to ensure the best possible outcome for all.  We only got the final go-ahead at the end of April and groundworks are already underway.

He also confirmed that investment would continue at the Kinmel Park bakery as the business looked to grow annual sales from their current level of some £11 million to more than £25 million over the next two years.  This expansion could also see employee numbers increasing from 65 to around 100 over the same period.

Pictured, from left to right: Graham Wheeler and James Lawson of The Real Petfood Company on-site as ground works start on the chimney installation.

Pets At Home saw profits plunge 37.7% as it set aside more than £40m for a huge restructure programme but the set of results still beat low market expectations to send shares climbing.

The pet retail giant recorded pre-tax profits of £49.6m in the 12 months to the end of March. However, underlying profit rose 6.1% to £89.7m and revenues rose 6.9% to £961m.

Pets at Home chief executive Peter Pritchard said the business was “trading strongly and taking share across the pet market.”

He added: “Customers are loving our lower prices, the convenience of subscription packages, high quality veterinary care and pet healthplans.

 “We launched our pet care strategy last year and we’re already making good progress, bringing our retail and vet businesses closer together. Our commitment is to make sure pets and their owners get the very best advice, care and products, and we’re able to join this up for customers in a way that competitors just can’t.

“I’m pleased with our progress and the results we have delivered, but there remains plenty to do. I’m confident we will successfully reposition our vet group so that, with the strong performance in Retail, we will be well placed to deliver our strategy.”

A growing number of new exhibitors will be joining a long list of regular attendees on Sunday 22^nd September and Monday 23^rd September as PATS Telford shapes up to be another epic event. More than 150 manufacturers and suppliers have so far booked their place at the show.

PATS Telford has established itself as the number one showpiece for UK and international companies to launch pet products and secure new business and will be THE pet trade exhibition to attend this Autumn.

New to PATS Telford, Finer By Nature summed up how the exhibition can help a new company to grow. Gary Pitchford, managing partner of the natural dog food company, said: “Having visited PATS Telford over a number of years, it was our first and only choice when deciding to showcase our products to the trade. We have often found great new products ourselves so had no hesitation in selecting PATS to showcase our new range of raw food and dried treats. 

“For us PATS has always had a vibrant atmosphere and we always attend with a positive expectation that Telford always meets. This year the exhibition provides us with the opportunity to meet retailers looking for an exciting new product.”

Pets&Pods is a UK-based studio dedicated to designing and making modern furniture for pets, and Victor Margevich said: “We are really excited to participate in this year’s PATS Telford. This is going to be our first show of this scale where we will introduce our range of functional, well-designed products made from innovative recycled materials.

“Having previously visited Sandown we knew we had to be part of this and booked a space at Telford without hesitation. We believe this is the best place in the UK to showcase new products, talk business and meet like-minded people from around the globe.”

It’s a similar story for COCO JOJO & DOOG. Ian Green said: “We are delighted to be exhibiting at PATS Telford. Our pet business has grown rapidly over the past two years and we are now in a very strong position to offer great prices and products to the trade. We have several amazing brands to exclusively offer the UK pet trade from our Cheshire head office.”

And Elisha Evison, of Memorials for Your Pet, commented: “We can’t wait to exhibit at PATS Telford. We understand the importance to individuals and families of a companionable animal and the inevitable passing of a loved pet. Memorials are part of the ritual of death and often therapeutic. The exhibition will provide an ideal opportunity to showcase our unique products.” 

Another PATS newcomer is World of Pets, who will be showcasing their ever-increasing range of Smart Choice premium brand pet toys and accessories. Stephen Epstein said: “There couldn’t be a better place to feature the company’s licensed RSPCA range, newly launched in 2019. New products will be showcased at the exhibition and special promotions will be available so come early.”

PATS Telford is set to have a strong international presence with a growing number of pet buyers and exhibitors from around the world expected to attend. The PATS team had a stand at the recent Zoomark show and huge interest was shown in the UK’s national pet trade exhibition.

PATS has been exhibiting in the PetQuip-organised British Pavilion at both Zoomark and Interzoo since the exhibition launched in 2009 and interest in the show has grown significantly with every visit.

“We were primarily at Zoomark to raise the awareness of PATS internationally and to encourage large European retailers and distributors to visit and, of course, do business with our exhibitors who are interested in exporting,” said Gordon Thomas, of organisers Impact Exhibitions.

PATS Telford will feature popular visitor attractions like the New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, demonstrations and workshops from top dog groomers, and free-to-attend seminars from leading industry figures.

The September exhibition also plays host to the prestigious PetQuip Awards, which will be presented at a gala dinner on the evening of the first day of the show. These awards have consistently delivered a professional, enjoyable and successful networking evening event for the whole industry where suppliers and retailers can mix, have fun and celebrate the industry’s many successes.

Parking is free at the Telford International Centre, and everyone will receive free tea and coffee, and a free show catalogue.

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.

British pet product suppliers that exhibited as part of the PetQuip-organised group at Zoomark in Bologna early in May have reported that the show was a huge success for them.

Seasoned exhibitors such as Chickenguard received over 40 quality international sales leads and other firms that were exhibiting for the first time in Italy, including Meatiful, Frozzy’s, Mr Johnson’s, Pet Remedy and Tribal Pet Foods, were overwhelmed by the interest shown by overseas buyers.

First-time exhibitor, JR Pet Products, experienced significant success at the show.  Joint founder of the company, Rebecca Davies, contacted PetQuip after the show and said:”We have received and delivered orders to several independent Italian, German, Spanish and Hong Kong shops.  A distributor in Belgium ordered Top Dog fresh food for dogs at the show and we are in serious talks with distributors in Italy, Canada, China, Spain, Germany, Canary Islands and several more. It was a hugely successful show for us. Thank you for your support”.

Overall the event attracted a further increase in both the numbers and the quality profile of foreign visitors, with buyers coming from as far afield as China and South Korea.  A large number of Italian importers/distributors also visited the 29 British stands after receiving a special UK exhibitor show preview, which was printed and mailed by PetQuip prior to the show.  Promotion of the British exhibits was further bolstered by an in-depth preview of the UK products, published in the leading Italian pet trade magazine ‘Zampotta’.

Fatima Maktari of Tribal Pet Foods was thrilled with the positive response from buyers during the company’s first attendance at Zoomark.

Rob Tyler of Pet Remedy said that the company had made contact with over 20 different countries as a result of its first presence at Zoomark.

Zoomark 2019 was the seventh occasion that the PetQuip export association had organised a British group at this expanding international pet trade event, and this year’s UK exhibitors displayed new product innovations across most areas of the pet sector.

In addition to product displays, the British pavilion included a UK pet product industry information stand that provided support for the UK exhibitors, as well as a free product sourcing service for overseas buyers.  During the course of the four-day show, buyers from 23 different countries held meetings on the British information stand, and on the second evening of the show over 100 guests representing exhibitors, overseas buyers and show organisers attended a reception at the invitation of PetQuip.

Alan Gittins of Mr Johnson’s, pictured talking to buyers, said that while the company was new to the Italian market, the company’s stand had been very busy.

Jim Weston of Little Big Paw, pictured with his colleague David, said that the company had an excellent show, meeting existing customers and establishing positive new contacts.  He added that they had received positive responses to the company’s packaging upgrade and the new dry cat food range which includes British chicken and Atlantic salmon flavours.

Companies wishing to learn more about the comprehensive range of services offered by PetQuip to British manufacturers and exporters of petcare products should contact the association on:

telephone:  +44 (0) 44 1959 565995   or   fax:  +44 (0) 1959 565885

e-mail: info@petquip.com  or visit the PetQuip website on www.petquip.com

Displaying the benefits of frozen yoghurt for dogs, Michael Hunt of Frozzys said that exhibiting at Zoomark was the company’s first international experience and PetQuip had provided significant support to enhance the company’s presence, which had resulted in commercial success for his company.

Bethany Corbett of Simply2 Pet Products said that the company’s new colours and new paw patterns for the European market had attracted considerable response from visiting buyers.

The next event in the highly successful ‘Meet the International Buyers’ programme organised by the Gardenex and PetQuip associations will take place at the Federation’s head office in Brasted, Kent on Wednesday 12 June 2019.  Buyers who have been invited to take part in business discussions with British suppliers will be seeking to source a range of garden, leisure and pet products.

The popular one-to-one meeting format organised by the two associations has been an important part of the associations’ export-generating business programme for nearly 20 years.  Every event held during that time has resulted in repeat overseas orders for British suppliers taking part.

In June, a buyer from Canada’s leading gardening mail order company will be meeting UK suppliers at the event.  The Canadian company also sells online and through its retail store.  The buyer is looking for practical gardening accessories to add to the company’s existing ranges of seeds, bulbs, plant trays/starting pots, greenhouse products, testing/measuring kits, fertilisers, biological controls, tools, bird feeders, baskets, watering products, containers, raised beds and clothing.  The Canadian company already sources products from some Gardenex member companies.

The pet product buyer at the meeting is from a leading Spanish importer/distributor of food and supplements for all pets, from dogs, cats, horses to reptiles.  The buyer is looking for new items to complement the company’s existing range, particularly treats and accessories for dogs and cats as well as cat food and other products.  The company currently represents suppliers from the UK, Netherlands, Germany, the USA, Poland and the Czech Republic in both Spain and Portugal.  The company supplies independent pet shops and vets, as well as selling products in its showroom and pet shop in Madrid. .

To ensure that you don’t miss out on the opportunity to apply for 25 minute one-to-one meetings with any of the buyers on 12 June call Gardenex and PetQuip (Charlie, Eleanor, Theresa, Katie or Tom) on +44 (0) 1959 565 995 or email tom@gardenex.com if you have questions.

PDSA vets are warning pet owners about the dangers of slug pellets after crossbreed Milo mistook the toxic pellets found in the family garden for a dog-friendly meal. On realising this, his owner Zoe Earle (40) of Southampton, rushed the poor pup for emergency treatment.

It was touch-and-go, but after days of intensive care from the PDSA team, alongside out-of-hours care from Vets Now, Milo miraculously survived his awful ordeal. 

Alexandra Banu, a Vet at PDSA Southampton, said: “Slug pellets can be fatal in a matter of hours, as they are highly toxic. On Milo’s arrival we were unsure if he would survive, but everyone involved in his care was determined to do everything they could to give him the best chance.”

Owner Zoe had been clearing out her garage and left the slug pellets in a garden pot, but didn’t notice Milo had eaten them. Later Milo began to vomit and Zoe realised he had swallowed the poisonous pellets. At this point he began to shake uncontrollably, as the poison entered his blood stream. 

Acting fast, Zoe took Milo into Vets Now out-of-hours practice to seek urgent veterinary care. “They did everything they possibly could. He started twitching really badly so they first sedated him to try and stop him going into a full seizure. This wasn’t enough, and he also needed a special drip into his vein to stop the seizures and keep him safe throughout the night,” said Zoe. Incredibly, Milo survived the night, and the next morning he was transferred to Southampton PDSA Pet Hospital for continued care. 

“An intensive level of care was given to Milo from both veterinary teams at PDSA and Vets Now” continued Alexandra “but after more than 24 hours with no signs of improvement, things weren’t looking good. If there was no improvement by the next morning, the family would have to make the terrible decision to put him to sleep,” Zoe, with her son Dillon (14) and daughter Briony (20) were heartbroken, but knew that if he didn’t start responding soon, it would be kindest for Milo to let him go.  

The next morning, the family visited Milo at PDSA expecting to say their goodbyes. But instead they were greeted by a smiling vet who reported that Milo had made some great improvements overnight. The plucky pooch was finally showing signs of pulling through an was on track to make a miracle recovery. 

Zoe said: “We went in to see him and I don’t know who was more pleased — him to see us, or us to see him! He was still pretty drowsy but we were able to take him home later in the afternoon and I just felt a huge sense of relief. By the next morning, he was pretty much back to normal.”

Slug pellets are incredibly dangerous for dogs. Even very small amounts can be fatal. Zoe says she feels extremely guilty about Milo’s near-death experience. “I went off to the rubbish tip and forgot about the pellets. I didn’t think Milo would touch them, but at some point that afternoon Milo found the pot and ate every single one.”

Two weeks later, a recovered Milo and Zoe visited PDSA again for his booster vaccinations and the vets and staff were delighted to see him on his feet again. “The PDSA were truly amazing we can’t thank them enough!” says Zoe. The family have recently celebrated five years with Milo, and Zoe added: “It’s due to the care and fantastic work of PDSA, and all the vets and nurses who helped treat him that he’s here today. Milo was lucky to survive something as serious as this.”

PDSA Vets are warning any green-fingered pet owners to try and use pet-safe products in their gardens. If slug pellets must be used they should be kept well out of paws reach, and block access to any treated areas. For more expert vet advice, including signs and symptoms that your pet might have eaten something they shouldn’t, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/poisons.

Pet stores, veterinary practices and rescue centres are being reminded that the deadline to apply for their free Rabbit Awareness Week promotional packs is close of play on Friday (May 24).

These packs contain free rabbit food samples and marketing materials to help you promote any activity you're planning during Rabbit Awareness Week (June 1-9). To apply visit  https://www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/request-a-raw-pack/

Anyone unable to make the submission deadline will still be able to download printable materials from the Rabbit Awareness Week website after the Friday deadline. These include posters, health and welfare guides, vaccination certificates and colouring sheets.

Rabbit Awareness Week is organised by Burgess Pet Care and supported by the UK's largest animal welfare organisations and charities.

This year's Protect and Prevent campaign is urging rabbit owners to get their rabbits vaccinated and protected against RVHD2. Sales figures for the vaccine show only 14% of pet rabbits in the UK are vaccinated – a very low number that needs improving.

In advance of Rabbit Awareness Week, vets are being encouraged to ensure they're stocking the necessary vaccines to provide the best levels of preventative healthcare to rabbits. Vets are also reminded that the Nobivac vaccine only protects rabbits against RVHD and myxomatosis. Rabbits need a separate vaccination (Filivac or Eravac) to protect them against RVHD2.

Anyone interested in learning more about this year's RAW campaign and the importance of preventative healthcare can visit the Rabbit Awareness Week website www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk

The Bring Your Dog To Work Day T-shirts come in six different sizes (S to 3XL), cost £12.50 and all profits go to our 2019 chosen animal welfare charities, All Dogs Matter and Animal Asia.

"This is the 6th annual Bring Your Dog To Work Day and every year people have been asking for branded t-shirts to wear to work on the big day when their pawsome pals come to the office.  We're excited to now be able to offer these T-shirts and hope that it will help boost our fundraising efforts,” says Jo Amit of Bring Your Dog To Work Day.

The Bring Your Dog To Work Day T-shirts are made by a carbon-neutral company using a 100% non-toxic organic print process that produces no harmful waste.

Taking a dog to the office can be very enriching for dogs as well as the staff in the office and since its launch in 2014 Bring Your Dog To Work Day has grown in pupularity with lots of celebrities and large organisations getting involved as everyone benefits from having their four legged best friends with them during the working day.

Bring Your Dog To Work Day always trends at number 1 on Twitter - it's a great day out and our Hall of Fame on our website is packed with some pawsome pictures of dogs having a lovely time at work with their owners. Make sure you sign up now by simply clicking on the donate button, get your company to sponsor your workplace for £100 that will be split between the charities All Dogs Matter and Animals Asia. 

The charities and the social pages of Bring Your Dog To Work Day will give your business a thank you shout out on social media. Anyone can donate £10 via the website to post your dog's picture and description of its work duties on our ‘dog with a job' Hall of Fame. One lucky winner every year wins £1000s worth of goodies from the sponsors.

www.bringyourdogtoworkday.co.uk

Award-winning pet accessory company Dogrobes has won a contract to supply one of Scotland’s leading luxury hotels, The Fife Arms, with their range of dog drying coats for dogs.

Described by the Financial Times as "Scotland's Hottest Hotel", The Fife Arms is a Victorian coaching inn that has been imaginatively restored. The hotel is located in the historic Scottish village of Braemar amidst the majestic landscape of the Cairngorms National Park and provides luxury hotel accommodation for visitors and their dogs.

As a high end luxury pet accessory, Dogrobes fit in perfectly with the grandeur of The Fife Arms. Built in the 19th century, the hotel is a Braemar landmark and is a category B listed building. Its size is evidence of the popularity of Braemar in the wake of Queen Victoria’s visits and her purchase of Balmoral. The building displays many of the traditional architectural characteristics of the area and was remodelled by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie, an architect of national repute whose fame grew after royal patronage during the Victorian period.

Braemar and its surrounding areas is the perfect destination for families and their dogs. With the Cairngorms National Park on the doorstep, the hotel is ideally situated if you are looking for a challenging hike or a gentle stroll with your dog. Naturally all this walking results in muddy or wet dogs, particularly if they have dived into the river for a quick swim.

Before they can return to their hotel rooms for a gentle nap, dogs need to be nice and dry. Dogrobes provide the perfect answer as Margaret Reynolds explains.

“Dogrobes dry the dogs quickly in around 30 minutes, depending on the breed of dog. They are made from an exclusive fabric, which has longer loops on the inside.

"The longer loops create a greater area for absorbing the moisture from the dog’s coat. Plus it traps the dog’s body heat, which also helps to dry the dog. There is NO Velcro, which spooks some dogs and gets clogged up with dog hair and debris during everyday use and it’s a nightmare to launder too!

"The ties mean a perfect fit every time. Dogrobes are so easy to fit. Straight over the dog’s head, cross over the ties underneath and tie in a single loop to the side of the spine. Dogs love them because they are so lightweight – even dogs who don’t like wearing jackets.

“We are VERY proud that we’re MADE in Britain.  We have 1 large manufacturer and 2 other smaller manufacturers who are all based in Scotland. We also use a team of talented and up and coming designers to design our Exclusive Collection.”

The company also offer a range of complementary dog accessories to go with the Dogrobes including snoods to dry the dog’s head, neck and ears.

Dogrobes are hung up on pegs in the magnificent Boot Room at the Fife Arms for guests to use and are also on sale in the hotel’s shop. For pet friendly hotels and other types of pet friendly accommodation they help to protect furniture, carpets, bed linen and other soft furnishings from wet muddy dogs creating less work for hotel cleaning staff.

Pet Remedy is celebrating a prestigious win as their products were voted as best Beneficial Supplement in the Pets at Home my VIP reader awards.

Pets at Home invited their my VIP members to vote for their favorite products in a number of categories with many the UK’s biggest brands competing for recognition.

Commenting on the award, Martyn Barklett-Judge, Managing Director of Pet Remedy explained: “Winning any award is always a great honour as it recognises all hard work and effort that goes into creating our products. But when the award is voted by members of the public the satisfaction is so much greater because they are our end customers, and we know that we are helping their pets.”

Pet Remedy is a unique and clinically proven range of natural de-stress and calming products. Helps all pets in stressful situations such as new home, travel, training, separation, bonding, party season, and grooming. Based on valerian absolute oil with small inclusions of vetiver, basil and clary sage essential oils, the patented formula works with the pet’s own natural calming mechanisms and starts to help instantl.

Pet Remedy Sales Director, Rob Tyler told us: “Pet Remedy sales in the UK and across the worlds are growing at an extraordinary rate as pet owners are discovering how our products can help them tackle all kind of stress related symptoms quickly and effectively. This award from customers of the UK’s biggest pet store chain re-enforces the fact that Pet Remedy has become the calming product of choice for many pet owners”

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Birmingham Halal Abattoir is recalling sheep and lamb meat and pet food products because they may contain meat, which is unfit for human and pet consumption.

Meat and pet food from four product lines which should have been removed from production have been packaged with meat and pet food which passed inspection.

As it is not possible to identify which batches contained the unfit product, Birmingham Halal Abattoir has taken the precautionary step of recalling all batches of the products listed below as it might contain meat that is unsafe.

Product details

For further details visit the Food Standards Agency website by clicking here

Bestpets has announced that David Warren has joined the company in the role as Category Manager – Pet Accessories.

With a wealth of experience spanning 40 years within the wholesale sector, and having previously worked for Batleys, David will help Bestpets continue driving sales for the independent pet trade

Peter Brame, Director of Trading – Pet, said, “We’re pleased to welcome David to the team, in what is an exciting time for Bestpets. He brings with him a lot of knowledge, great enthusiasm and a desire to help our retailers develop sales.

"We have some great projects underway, and having listened to feedback from our Retailers, Accessories is an area we are particularly focused on developing in the coming months. David will be looking to bring in new fresh ranges, new ideas, work closer with existing and new suppliers whilst reviewing the current offering.

"We will be aiming to offer a point of different for our retailers so they can really stand out on the high street. Watch this space!”

Bestpets commitment to growing accessory sales for customers will be shown in June with a special Category Focus dedicated to Dog & Cat Accessories.

Bestpets Category Focus is packed full of tips & tricks for trading the category along with 50 additional products on promotion. Further Category Focus specials will follow throughout the year.

Fish4Dogs has taken on a new Product Portfolio Manager – a new role for the business with the ‘pawtential’ to help unlock opportunities, attract new market segments and grow its market share through new product development.
 
Karen Hubbard recently joined the Global Product and Supply team at the company’s head office in Rushock, Worcestershire.
 
She is responsible for reviewing market trends, analysing customer behaviour, identifying gaps in the product portfolio and undertaking competitor analysis to assist the positioning of the Fish4Dogs and Fish4Cats as premium brands.

In addition to new product development, Karen’s duties include the management of the company’s well-established product range, identifying any opportunities to expand the portfolio and keep it fresh and exciting. No mean feat, but one in which she has significant experience, having previously worked for architectural hardware manufacturer Assa Abloy in a similar role for 12 years.
 
Said Karen: “As product manager for the Union brand of mortice locks I had responsibility for many new product introductions and a wide range of legacy products. In comparison, Fish4Dogs has a very well- structured portfolio of products that meet defined purposes and type or age of pet, my role is to enhance this even further and provide solutions for our distributors, customers and most importantly our four legged end users.”

After 32 years in the architectural hardware sector, having joined Ingosol Rand (formerly Newman Tonks) for a marketing role, straight from school, she is delighted to be able to use her extensive range of transferable skills within the pet sector.
 
“My passion for pets was one of the reasons why I chose to join Fish4Dogs. Customers are more actively engaged in purchasing products for their pets and want to buy what’s best for them,” added Karen.
 
Having shared her life with many cats over the years – including current companion T’challa named after the Marvel black panther character – she is now keen to become a dog owner.
 
During her first month with the company, Karen, from Stourbridge, has enjoyed a “great induction period”, spending time with colleagues with whom she will work alongside – from purchasing and production operations to the sales and marketing team – “walking through the process from conception to launch”.

In her spare time, she is a lover of outdoor pursuits including cycling, kayaking and travelling the countryside in her camper van with partner Rob. She also uses her planning skills to good effect and has been known to use spreadsheets to plan family projects with her four ‘step’ children who are aged 13 to 31.

Said Fish4Dogs CEO Graham Smith: “We are really pleased to have Karen join the team. She has significant experience of product management and appreciates how that dovetails into the strategic development of the business. She is sure to be a significant asset in our continued success and planned growth for the future.”

For trade account information visit: www.fish4dogstrade.co.uk

In Vogue Pets have become the sole UK distributors of Tre Ponti, Italian manufacturers of harnesses.

Having seen Tre Ponti harnesses at various exhibitions abroad and being so impressed with their quality, designs and features, they decided that this brand would fit in very well into their growing offering to the trade.

Tre Ponti is a worldwide leading pet product manufacturing company. This has been achieved due to the quality of their products by utilising high- performing materials combined with strict quality control and that all their manufacturing is based in Italy. This has led to the creation of a successful and wide range of products, making about 5000 harnesses per day - Tre Ponti sell to over 55 countries in the world including Japan, China and the U.S.A.

Tre Ponti’s wide range includes harnesses for small and large dogs with adjustable girth straps to achieve the perfect fit. Their ergonomic shape is lightweight, hypoallergenic & waterproof with reflective trim plus the use of materials that prevent matting. Most importantly Tre Ponti harnesses takes the pressure off the dog’s trachea and spine and eliminates rubbing under the dogs arms. They aim for the most comfortable fit possible and for the safest and enjoyable interaction between the dog and the owner.

In Vogue Pets was established in 2014 and has a strong following of pet stores, boutiques, groomers and Vets. They are the sole UK distributors for successful brands such as FuzzYard of Australia, Croci of Italy & Pet P.L.A.Y. of the USA.

In Vogue Pets have a warehouse in the Midlands providing a first class logistics service to trade customers throughout the UK.  Trade customers can create an online account to place orders, check stock availability and check order histories.

It goes without saying that welcoming a new puppy into the family is an extremely exciting time. However, introducing a new pet into the home requires training, setting boundaries and starting new habits for your customers and their furry friend. With this in mind, it’s important that customers understand their pup’s grooming needs from the get-go, not only ensure their pet is happy and healthy but also save their home and clothes from excess loose fur!

To help, FURminator’s Professional Grooming Expert Stuart Simons offers his top tips for your customers on introducing their new pup to a grooming routine. 

Start grooming early

It’s important to introduce puppies to a professional grooming routine as early as possible, that way they will learn it’s simply a part of life, just like eating, drinking and walkies. 

The quicker they start to understand the noises and smells of a working salon, the sooner they will learn to be comfortable in that environment. Remember, they will see a groomer far more regularly than any other professional, so a good experience early on in life makes for a much happier pup. A handy tip to remember is to take dogs to the groomer before food and after they’ve been to the toilet. We all know how playful puppies can be, so a nice walk is always advisable too so that they have used up their excess energy!

On top of this, introducing a gentle grooming routine in the comfort of the home with FURminator’s My FURst Groomer or the Dual Grooming Brush will help puppies get used to being brushed. However, it’s really important that you ensure dogs are comfortable and happy throughout the experience. Keep an eye on their body language and start with small sessions to begin with. Once the puppy is a year old we recommend introducing the FURminator deShedding Tool to your grooming routine, which helps to remove loose hair by up to 99% if used for 10 to 20 minutes every week.

Positive reinforcement is key

Puppies love to know that they’ve been good, so lots of happy sounds and gentle handling will reassure them during their grooming session. Try to make the whole thing a positive experience. Lots of love and cuddles after a groom go a long way, as will some of their furry friend’s favourite treats. Afterall, we all need paying for a job well done and it’ll be a positive memory for next time.

Don’t forget to be in charge

Gentle assured handling will always reinforce the puppy that they’re safe. Like a child, puppies will probably not want to be there for as long as needed but persevering is key. If puppies wriggle away when home grooming, try to take him off the floor and on to a table. Keep them safe and don’t be afraid to ask someone to help hold them. Remember, patience is key.

Keep things consistent

It’s a good idea to decide on a place in the house where the grooming will happen and stick to it. That way, the puppy will know that when they’re in that place, it’s grooming time. Also, pick a regular time within the pet’s daily routine such as in the evening when the home is quieter. You wouldn’t believe how well this works!

Remember, groomers can help with additional maintenance

Although it often depends on the breed, puppies should come in once a month for a feet, face and bottom trim together with a nice wash and brush until they are 6 months old. Once they reach this milestone, they should be ready for their first big dog haircut! It’s important to note, in most hair-bearing breeds, the coat goes through a change at around 6-12 months and this can make it difficult for home maintenance - if in doubt, professional groomers will be able to help.

The sole importers for Josera and Green PetFood from Germany, spent two days at the inaugural Dogstival festival in the New Forest on May 18-19.

Simon Freear, director of PAPF (aka Pet Footprint), said: “The first Dogstival was a perfect place to talk to consumers who are genuinely interested in the best food choices for their dogs.  We had strong interest in sustainability, as consumers become more aware of their pets’ environmental footprint.  That was great for us as our low daily feed rations and healthy digestion formulas tick all the sustainability boxes."

Green Petfood and Josera, both leading brands of German dog, cat and horse foods are well known across mainland Europe for superior quality foods with market-leading environmental credentials that use sustainable human-grade quality ingredients. 

Green Petfood’s InsectDog recipes have been available for almost five years and use sustainable insect protein. 

Not only does insect protein provide a rich source of valuable fatty acids and have hypoallergenic properties for dogs due to their lack of exposure to it, but importantly also due to its significantly lower carbon footprint per kg of production. 1kg beef results in 175 kg greenhouse gases. The production of 1 kg insect protein results in the relatively small amount of 14 kg.

For information on Josera pet foods and how to become a stockist visit www.petfootprint.co.uk or email hello@petfootprint.co.uk

Last week we revealed that Pets at Home had launched its ‘store of the future’ concept in the retail chain’s Stockport and Chesterfield centres. This week we take you inside the new store with our photo tour.

The new concept includes revamped veterinary practices and groom rooms, while the retail sectors have been transformed into what Pets at Home describes as pet villages with dog washing stations, selfie spots and pet care classes.

The stores also have special event areas where customers can learn about dog grooming through live demonstrations, participate in monthly breed socials, or see how fast their dog is on an agility course. Customers will also be able to book free food consultations with a nutrition adviser and conduct weight checks for their pets.

Pets at Home group chief executive Peter Pritchard said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of our new store of the future format in Stockport and Chesterfield. We’ve always known that our stores are much more than just a convenience shop for pets and now we’re providing them with the million-pound makeover they deserve.” 

He added: “The store of the future is a destination for all pet lovers to shop, learn and pamper. The retail industry is constantly evolving, and many retailers are only targeting resources towards online platforms. We believe that this competitive landscape requires a combined online/offline offer to ensure the ultimate in convenience and personal service for our customers.

“Our store of the future boosts our offering for pet owners – with people, personality and most importantly – pets – at the centre of our business.”

Children are also well catered for in the new stores with interactive tunnels for them to crawl through and a range of child-friendly events including the chance to host birthday parties.

Working in partnership with the RSPCA, the stores will also see the launch of Pets at Home’s first cat adoption lounge. 

A fourth pet product – the Mookie massage brush – has become a winner on the popular BBC1 daytime TV programme 'The Customer is Always Right', following in the footsteps of the Car Seat Carpet from Pet Rebellion, the Noodle Glove Dog Drying Towel from Henry Wag, and the Rollabowl from Easypets...

In each show some of Britain’s best entrepreneurs are seen putting their precious products to the customer test. Customers unbox, test and score the products to find a winner of each show.

If you missed the episode featuring the Mookie it can be viewed on iplayer.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0004wc7/the-customer-is-always-right-series-1-episode-14

Inspired Pet Nutrition has been judged Branded Pet Food Supplier of the Year for the second consecutive year as part of the annual Grocer Gold awards organised by the Grocer magazine.

Managing Director Richard Page (pictured above) said: “This award is very important for us as it is voted for by our direct buying customers. 

"These buyers represent leading supermarkets, discounters, symbol groups, buying groups and wholesalers. They were asked to rate suppliers in terms of five key criteria. 

"After assessing 318 suppliers in 37 categories, this list was then cut back to 12 super-categories.  IPN was judged Branded Pet food Supplier for 2019.”

This latest award follows on from IPN winning both the branded and own label categories in The Grocer’s 2018 supplier survey awards – while the Harringtons brand was also shortlisted in the brand of the year category at The Grocer’s 2018 Gold Awards. 

More recently, Harringtons Wet Food and Wagg Peanut Butter Cookies won the dog food and pet treats categories respectively at the 2019 Product of the Year awards - the world’s largest consumer voted survey which each year identifies Britain’s best-loved products.

“These awards add up to a very powerful endorsement from our customers for our strong growth, healthy brands and commitment to customer service,” added Richard.  

“We have invested some £60 million at our three production sites over recent years including new facilities in Wales which has enabled us to bring quality wet food production for Harringtons and Wagg in-house.”

IPN will continue to invest in its popular and fast-growing brands.  On the back of a significantly increased media spend, Harringtons is currently the biggest value growth contributor to the pet food category driving over £6 million of growth¹. 

There are several more innovative new products under the Harringtons brand scheduled for launch during the year.

 ¹Source: Nielsen MAT March 2019

Premium raw dog food brand Benyfit Natural has announced it will be partnering with the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association (CFBA), along with its education department, The Cambridge Institute of Dog Behaviour & Training, to educate their members and trainers on the holistic benefits of raw-feeding for the behaviour and health of dogs.

The Canine and Feline Behaviour Association, who position themselves at the forefront of new developments in training and share knowledge concerning the care, training and behaviour of dogs, believe that the benefits of natural raw food are infinite. They cite not only the physical benefits of a glossy coat, less 'doggy' smell, tiny faeces, clean teeth, fresh breath, less shedding, but also the emotional and psychological benefits of eating an appropriate diet – recognising the benefits of gnawing on a bone for a couple of hours and eating a diet that is far more than just "palatable", but normal, natural, varied and enjoyable.

Ross McCarthy MA, a Fellow of the Canine & Feline Behaviour Association and Principal of The Cambridge Institute of Dog Behaviour and Training, said: “Appropriate, natural feeding for physiological and psychological health is at the core of what we do as Canine Behaviour Practitioners and Dog Trainers.

"We take a holistic approach to canine behaviour reformation and training and a clean natural diet is the foundation from which we work. We know that from a physical health and longevity point of view that natural raw food can greatly enhance and improve a dog’s quality of life.

“We are passionate about customer service, thinking outside the box and forging working relationships for the benefit of dogs and their owners and so Benyfit Natural is a perfect fit for our members, our clients and our students.” 

From first-hand experience over decades of working with dogs, members of the CFBA are fully aware  that when dogs have been subjected to food which contain additives and colourants used to make it look like ‘food’ (orange for carrots, green for peas, brown for meat etc), the effect within a week or so of switching to a natural diet is one of general calmness; dogs achieve a natural balance; their own equilibrium, which is not only essential for psychological health, but also for learning and contentment, happiness, the ability to work, to listen and to relax and their overall well-being.

Greg Van Praagh, Lead UK Operations & Frozen R&D, Benyfit Natural, added: “As a brand we are very aware of the impact food can have on the behaviour of dogs. Partnering with the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association who deal with behavioural issues daily is a great fit. We’re now able to impart knowledge in collaboration with them and their members, and promote the incredible benefits of a natural raw food diet for our dogs.”

Benyfit Natural and the Canine and Feline Behaviour Association along with The Cambridge Institute of Dog Behaviour and Training will be working in collaboration to share knowledge, experience, and support training courses and activities with its members and educating future Canine Behaviourists and Trainers.