A ‘successful and lucrative’ pet store has been put up for sale with a guide price of £235,000 as the owners wish to pursue new business interests.

The sale of Posh Pets in Holt, Norfolk, is being handled by agents Hilton Smythe, who describe the business as a traditional pet shop offering pet supplies and essentials.

Posh Pets had a dog grooming parlour up until recently which could be reinstated if required. 

The business sells a wide range of items for household pets including dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, fish and wild birds. 

Hilton Smythe state that due to pet shop closures in the surrounding area, Posh Pets has more custom than before and still retains its Holt customer base.

The agents also say:  “Posh Pets is a profitable business, however, there is scope for development by considering the following: improving the website to become an E-commerce site; and adding to current lines being sold.”

Posh Pets generated an advised turnover of circa £174,000 as of the 2017 accounts. The assets in the business are worth in the region of £10,000.

Hilton Smythe highly advise early viewing to avoid disappointment. The full details can be found by clicking here.

An interview with the current owners Michael Adams and Lisa Lambert can be found on the Eastern Daily Press website. Click here to read.

A popular Lancashire pet store is closing down at the end of the month after failing to get its lease renewed.

Charnock Farm Pet and Gift Centre in Wigan Road, Leyland, confirmed the news in a statement on its Facebook page, leaving local pet lovers in a state of shock and sadness.

The centre’s statement on its Facebook page said:

“It is with a heavy heart that we have to inform you all that on Saturday 29 February 2020, Charnock Farm Pet and Gift Centre will close its doors for the final time! This is due to the landlord not renewing our lease. 

“We would all like to take this opportunity to thank you all from the bottom our hearts for your continued support. 

“Running a small business hasn’t been easy and unfortunately we have become another local shop to disappear! 

“We would like to say a special thank you to all of you who have trusted us to look after your pets. We have loved every minute and will miss them so much. We are all devastated and so upset. 

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart – Sue, Harrison, Janice and Paige the Charnock Farm Pet and Gift Centre team.”

The announcement was greeted with dismay and disappointment from customers with 230 comments from well-wishers being posted on the Facebook page.

With the world's greatest dog show, Crufts, on the horizon Vital Pet Group has been looking at some of the top trends for dog products and is alerting owners to the best opportunities.

It's marketing and analysis experts say that both the behaviour category and travel are currently in growth, with pet owners looking for a range of solutions in these areas.

\According to Statista, holiday trends are increasingly towards short breaks and staycations - with 74% reporting they intended to take a short break within the UK and 44% intended to take their main holiday in the UK - up 6% on the previous year.

Heather McManus, Sales and Marketing Director at Vital Pet Group says sales will always mirror customer needs and a lot of category growth is also being driven by the humanisation trend.

"Where I go my dog goes, seems to be the motto and that means using guards, harnesses, seat covers and the like for safe travel - as well as stake outs and foldable dog bowls to use once the destination is reached. And of course, if you want to bring the dog along with you to pubs, shops or beaches they need to be well behaved; so we're seeing an increase in headcollars that help prevent pulling, clickers and training discs and even sophisticated retrieval toys for pet owners who have got the bug and want to take training to the next level."

Vital is now stocking the Mikki Training range which includes training aids endorsed by Claire Arrowsmith, Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) Registered Clinical Animal Behaviourist and Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB). The range includes WalkRite headcollars, TravelRite crates and harnesses and BehavRite training aids. The Vital team is delighted to have recently onboarded this exciting range.

The travel category also includes the RAC range - a high quality brand that is synonymous with safe travel, ensuring that retailers have a great choice of products for the upcoming Easter break.

Vital also reports that both natural and eco trends have a strong influence on purchasing. The wholesaler started the year with a number of eco pledges which include alerting retailers to the best selling eco products and a commitment to onboarding at least 100 new eco and green products. It reports that good progress towards that goal has already been made with 17 new eco products being listed in 2020.

Retailers can see the latest new products at www.vitalpets.co.uk or can call on the expertise of their account manager on 01837 883 000 to find out what is selling through.

Natures Menu has been named in the top 100 companies in The Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200.

The 11th annual Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200 league table ranks Britain’s mid-market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales.

Placed 86 out of 200, Natures Menu is just one of three pet food manufacturers listed in the whole of the UK and has climbed the league table from last year’s ranking of 95.

Craig Taylor, Natures Menu Chairman, said: “We are thrilled to receive this news and it’s great to see that we are moving further up the ranks each year.

“Since starting out almost 40 years ago, our reputation for providing satisfied customers with quality, nutritious, real food to dogs and cats is growing throughout the UK and internationally. Our continued new product development has seen the launch of some truly innovative products and our brand expansion into Germany for True Instinct was a real highlight. 

“Our success is testament to our phenomenal team who work hard to ensure our customers receive an unrivalled and expanding range of raw and natural human-grade food. Nutritious food made from real ingredients is at the heart of everything we do.”

Amanda Murphy, Head of Commercial Banking, HSBC UK, commented: “The Sunday Times International Track 200 shows the strength, ambition and resilience of companies across the UK and we are delighted to be sponsoring again this year. At HSBC UK, we take great pride in recognising the contribution these businesses are making to driving growth across the UK.”

Natures Menu specialises in natural dog and cat food made with fully traceable quality meats and fish, blended vegetables, fruits and healthy carbohydrates - and uses British suppliers and ethical product sources wherever possible. 

Retailers wanting to find out more information about Natures Menu and their range can email trade@naturesmenu.co.uk, phone 0800 0183770 or visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk/trade-landing. By registering for a trade account, retailers can gain access to hassle-free online ordering, great value freezer deals and point of sale, plus free training and the option to become a qualified Raw Advisor.

Wild bird and pet food producer, Henry Bell & Co has opened a product showroom close to the company’s headquarters in Grantham, Lincs, where visitors can view the company's range of products and POS solutions in a retail environment.

Henry Bell Wild Bird Care launched in July 2019 with 120 quality products catering for every type of garden bird, all designed with health and wellbeing of birds in mind. The family-owned wild bird and pet food producer has over 20 years’ experience in the bird food industry and has been pivotal in the growth of many private label wild bird food brands. Henry Bell has also made sustainable packaging a priority with all their Wild Bird Food packaging being 100% recyclable whilst protecting the integrity of the elements inside each bag.

The Grantham showroom will also allow retailers to review Constant Garden Collection, a new premium range of faux plants for the home and garden. Following a trade launch last year, Constant Garden has over 60 products in the range including a variety of plants and flowers with realistic designs, colours and textures that look as good as real botanicals. From faux roses and orchids to bamboos, grasses and hanging flower baskets, the stunning range features indoor and outdoor options that are designed to stand the test of time.

Thomas Lee, Managing Director of Henry Bell, said: “At Henry Bell we are focused on excellence. Our new product showroom has been designed with the retailer and consumer at heart. We wanted to provide retailers with the unique opportunity to review our extensive range of products, innovative displays and POS solutions in an unsurpassed retail execution. Henry Bell brands offer comprehensive core ranges and numerous opportunities to drive sales through volume and promotional activity across various key categories. Our showroom doors are now open, so we hope to host many existing and prospect retailers in the coming months.”

The Henry Bell showroom can be found within minutes of Grantham train station with on-site parking available. Visitors to the showroom will be able to meet with the Henry Bell sales team to discuss any requirements in more detail.

Henry Bell Wild Bird Care is available at Dobbies and selected independent garden centres, pet shops and retail outlets nationwide. Constant Garden Collection is available from garden centres and mainstream retail outlets.

The PetQuip Awards, one of the most successful events to have been introduced into the pet trade sector in recent years, is set to take centre stage again in 2020.

This year’s event will see awards presented to deserving winners from the pet industry on the first evening of PATS Telford at a new-look gala event on Sunday, 27th September 2020.

Entry into the awards is free of charge and is now open.

The categories for the 2020 PetQuip Awards are:

• Marketing Project of the Year
• Exporter of the Year
• Product of the Year (three categories):
  Accessories/Technical
  Food/Treats
  Healthcare/Animal Grooming
• Supplier of the Year
• International Pet Retailer/Distributor of the Year
• UK Pet Retailer of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement

Entries will be put through an initial screening test and the finalists will be announced before the independent judging panel sits down to choose the winners at the end of August.

PetQuip is happy to receive nominations for retailers and suppliers who, in the opinion of the nominee, deserve to be winners.

Commenting on the launch of this year’s awards and the continued success of the event, PetQuip trade association manager Pat Flynn said: “Such has been the success of the PetQuip Awards that suppliers, retailers and our friends in the industry eagerly await the launch each year so they can submit their entries. 

“We plan to make this year’s event even more successful and there will be a new look to the award presentation evening, which will take place after the first day of PATS Telford. I can promise it will be a fun evening for everyone and a fitting occasion to reward and celebrate the pet industry’s outstanding achievements.”

To enter this year’s PetQuip Awards visit www.petquip.com/awards to download an entry form or email pat@petquip.com

A lickable frozen yogurt for dogs, created by Frozzys, has secured business in the lucrative South Korean pet market. 

This is the innovative brand’s first venture into the rapidly expanding pet care category in Asia, securing listings with leading specialist pet retailers.

Dog owners will be able to feed the unique yogurt to their pets as a result of a significant agreement between Frozzys and Ahns Group, a leading distributor in Seoul, the South Korean capital, which has lined up listings with specialist pet stores, including online retailer Market Kurly, the equivalent of Amazon Fresh there, as well as Molly’s Pet Shop, across the country.

Frozzys has been working on growing their export business after exhibiting at global pet trade show Zoomark, in Bologna last year.  With the growing global humanisation trend and a demand for more natural dog products, Frozzys is ideally placed to take their brand to dogs all over the world.

Frozzys Director, Michael Hunt, said: ‘‘We are very excited about our partnership and bringing our frozen yogurt for dogs to the South Korean market.  Our first shipment has been for over £40,000 and we are confident that this will be the start of a successful long-term partnership.  There is a demand for premium, natural and healthy products for dogs across the world and Frozzys perfectly fits this demand.’’

Frozzys was developed in 2013 after extensive research in collaboration with Northern Ireland’s College for Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).   The brand launched into the Specialist Pet Sector after spotting a gap in the market for a healthy, nutritious and low-fat dog treat that would be nutritionally beneficial and support the health and wellbeing of dogs.  Since then the brand has grown year on year and built up a loyal following of dogs and customers within the pet specialist and dog friendly hospitality sectors across the UK and Ireland.  

Frozzys is a nutritious and delicious treat which is low in fat, calories and sugar, naturally rich in calcium and lactose-free.  Made with 100% natural ingredients and packed with vitamins, minerals and prebiotic fibre, Frozzys is the dog treat of choice which contributes to both canine nutrition and enjoyment. 

Unlike most traditional ambient treats which are very quick to consume, Frozzys frozen treats last longer.  On average, it takes a dog 10-15 minutes to consume a single pot. This means that it is limiting the dog’s calories and fat, without limiting the mental stimulation and enjoyment that treats can provide. Perfect for enjoying after a session of exercise or as a reward anytime of the year.

It is available in five tasty flavours – strawberry, original, blueberry, cranberry and peach and comes in perfectly portioned 85g tubs and 4 packs.  To find out more visit www.frozzys.com.

Scrumbles has expanded its cat food range to include a selection of 85g wet food pots.

In keeping with its digestive health focus, the brand created three recipes each containing the gut friendly botanical slippery elm, a first in cat food. The pots are made in the UK with natural ingredients and 70% meat content.

Co-founder Aneisha Soobroyen said: “Our cat customers have been crying out for us to expand into wet cat food for some time, so we’re thrilled to present our new range.

“There are some fantastic cat foods in the market, but many are hand packed in the far-east and shipped halfway around the world. We’re delighted to be able to offer a product that is manufactured here in the UK, offers great taste and leading nutrition.

“We know cats are obligate carnivores and it’s long been an open secret that many cat foods fall short on meat content.”

The purr-fect portions are available in three flavours; chicken, salmon and tuna, each containing 70% meat content. 

Of the pet trade launch co-founder Jack Walker said: “We love working with the pet trade to bring new and innovative products to the market. We’ll be launching the new cat foods with our network of independent pet shops and invite others who are engaged in high quality, natural pet foods to join us.

“Wet cat food has long been dominated by mass brands like Felix and Whiskas, with our new pots we have a great tasting, healthy alternative and at just 89p is much more accessible than other options.”

Scrumbles are presenting the new range to celebrity cats and press alike at a Catnip and Cocktails party at East London cat café Landy Dinah’s next week.

Launch date:

February 24th 2020, retailers should contact hello@scrumbles.co.uk or 07570098245 for orders or stockist enquiries.

Dog owners were left smiling after taking their pets to the Doggy Dentist experience, an interactive pop-up event created by Lily’s Kitchen in London’s Notting Hill.

Despite Storm Dennis around 100 dogs attended the event designed to drive awareness of canine dental health and the company’s Woofbrush dental chew.

The dental experience included:

• A canine-friendly check-in – pets and their parents were greeted by a friendly receptionist who guided them through a series of short and snappy questions (including some fun ones!) to ensure the expert vet had all the important dental details. 
• The petting room – this is where the real fun began. No more nervous panting in the waiting room, it was playtime! ‘Play buddies’ kept dogs entertained hunting for Woofbrush rewards in the ball pool while their owners learnt all about the science behind Lily’s Kitchen’s innovative, natural dental chew and how best to care for their dog’s teeth via an interactive quiz and fun fact-trail.
• An expert check-up – time to show those pearly whites, but there was no intimidating examination table in this room. Woofers were able to relax and watch squirrels on the TV screen as the vet took a peep at their chompers.
• Snap the Hollywoof smile – pooches’ and their pet parents were encouraged to stop by a photobooth before they left to pose for a snap in the Hollywoof Hall of Fame. Photos were then sent directly to smartphones to share with all their pup’s adoring fans on social media using the hashtag #HollywoofSmile and they could also be printed on site for owners to pop on their fridge back home.

Due to demand, Lily’s Kitchen extended the event and released additional bookings which sold out again within hours. Walk-ins were also welcome and many keen pet owners showed up to join the fun, nearly doubling the number of dogs who attended.

Henrietta Morrison, founder of Lily’s Kitchen, said: “Keeping dogs’ teeth in good condition is really important and very much part of being a responsible pet owner. However many don’t feel confident about how to properly brush their dog’s teeth or know where to get advice on good canine dental practice. It can be a bit embarrassing when the vet looks at your dog’s teeth and says we should be doing a much better job.

“That’s why we created our unique Doggy Dentist pop up. We wanted to give dog owners lots of tips and tricks to ensure their dog’s teeth are in tip top condition and we’ve been blown away by all of the interest and positive feedback from both the event and for our Woofbrush. The event was a wonderful way for us to connect with pet parents and it truly brought Woofbrush and the seriousness of canine dental care to life in a unique and fun way.”

Every Doggy Dentist visitor was sent home with a goody bag including Lily’s Kitchen Woofbrush dental chews to help them keep up the good work on dental care.

With a rise in demand for grain free recipes for dogs, FourFriends Pet Foods has listened to its customers and developed a new range of premium snacks for dogs.

FourFriends has been delivering its high quality yet affordable dog and cat food to the UK for over seven years. The company offers complete dry and wet food as well as a range of gourmet and training treats for dogs and cats, available in a variety of flavours to suit every pet.

The new range of snacks uses single protein sources and is totally free from cereals so they will suit even the most sensitive of tummies.

Packed with natural antioxidants that protect cells and with a neutral pH and added vitamin C to help strengthen the immune system. Rosemary extract stimulates digestion and the snacks are rich in beneficial omega fatty acids that contribute to healthy skin and a shiny coat.

Available in 200g bags and in the following flavours:

• LAMB: with added spinach for a real vitamin boost
• SALMON: with cranberries for a healthy urinary tract
• TURKEY: with carrots for a natural source of Vitamin A
• WILD BOAR: with cranberries and salmon oil
• VENISON & TURKEY: with cranberries and dried apples

For more information head to www.fourfriendspetfoods.co.uk

Puppy power was put on display when Fish4Dogs challenged its independent retailers to ‘get creative’ in order to help promote its promotional puppy packs.

The premium pet food company tested the talents of retailers by asking them to produce a shop or window display featuring the packs.

The Puppy Essentials Starter Pack included money off vouchers for customers which could be redeemed from the store where they made their initial purchase.

A first, second and two third prizes were put up for grabs – Love to Shop vouchers in £10 denominations which could be shared amongst the winning retail teams.

Johnsons Garden and Leisure, in Whistable, Kent, scooped the £250 first prize with a rotunda display set around a wicker basket which was placed against existing Fish4Dogs shelf displays to provide a spectacle with maximum impact.

Second place, winning £100 of vouchers, was Stan Rawlinson’s team at The Dog Store, in East Sheen, London. Its Victorian shop window was tastefully decorated with a stacked pyramid of boxes displayed alongside a promotional banner and poster.

Two third prizes of £50 each were won by Pets Korner in Stamford, Lincolnshire and the Pet Experience, of Weymouth, in Dorset. Pets Korner created a graduated window display featuring the puppy promotional boxes which fanned out to treats and complete food, while Pet Experience used floor stands to create brand blocked displays in two areas of its shop.

Images of the displays were sent in to Fish4Dogs by store owners and managers, and were judged by Fish4Dogs CEO Graham Smith and Sales Director Sarah Fowler.

Carly Baker, Fish4Dogs Marketing Manager, said that she was overwhelmed by the response and the creativity of the displays.

“It was truly humbling to see the effort that our retailers had gone to in order to take part in our challenge, which from October, naturally began competing for space in the run-up to Christmas. We were delighted by the results. Everyone here had their favourites and there was a healthy competition between the regional sales representatives who were keen to support their shops.

“The relationship between Fish4Dogs and its independent retailers is a special one, they are the brand’s ‘fishionaries’ and understand and advise customers on the benefits of our food. They are very much part of our family and the puppy promotional boxes were in turn created to support them by encouraging customers to return to the shop where they made their initial purchase in order to redeem coupons for further discounts.”

The Puppy Essentials Starter Pack contained a bag of Fish4Dogs Finest Ocean White Fish small bite 1.5kg plus free samples and money-off vouchers worth up to £30.00 to the customer – a package which costed the usual price of a Finest bag of complete food on its own.

Further retail promotions are planned for later this year. For more information on becoming a Fish4Dogs ‘Fishionary’ contact 01299 252352 or visit: www.fish4dogstrade.co.uk

Broadreach Nature has launched its Duo Packs for Dogs and Cats containing the company’s new range of veterinary formulated health care products. 

These packs combine products for certain key aspects of a pet’s wellbeing:

• Calming
• Digestion
• Itchy Skin & Immunity
• Joints
• Eyes and Ears

These Duo Cartons are specially designed to display well and have all information about the products visible to the customer without the need for them to open the packs.  

To help customers get the best out of the Nature Ear Wash and Facial Cleanser range Broadreach has teamed up with PawSquad to offer a complimentary online veterinary consultation. Clients are now able to chat with an experienced, independent vet about how to manage their pet’s relative symptom. 

All products can be sold as individual products or as Duo Packs.

Broadreach Nature are currently also working on display stands for both the individual products as well as the Duo Packs themselves. 

Find out more by emailing sales@broadreachnature.com or visiting www.broadreachnature.com

A volunteer fundraising team from Belfast has won a national award for its PDSA charity efforts.

Valerie Morrison (78) has led the volunteer group for over 12 years. Together they have helped raise thousands of pounds for PDSA - which provides free and reduced cost veterinary treatment to sick pets in need through its Pet Hospital on Antrim Road and Pet Clinic on Shore Road.

PDSA Fundraising Director, Nigel Spencer, presented the Belfast team with their award for Fundraising Group of the Year at the Belfast PDSA Pet Clinic yesterday evening (18 February). 

The accolade recognises Valerie and the team’s determination to go above-and-beyond for the charity, including organising their annual Bark in the Park fundraiser. The event, now in its 7thyear, is attended by up to 5,000 people. The group has raised a staggering £17,200 for the charity since 2015.

Nigel said: “PDSA couldn’t exist without our devoted volunteers, and Belfast’s dedicated team of fundraisers of have shown incredible commitment to the charity. 

“Every year they go to great lengths to organise PDSA’s Bark in the Park, and its success is a testament to all their hard work. Last year’s event raised £4,500 and was attended by thousands of local dog-lovers, so it was a fantastic achievement. 

“Valerie and the team’s passion and dedication to the charity is inspiring. They are great ambassadors for PDSA and we would like to say a huge well done for all of their efforts and congratulations on their Fundraising Group of the Year Award!”

Commenting on the group’s award, Valerie said: “We are all absolutely delighted to receive this award. A huge thank you must go to the volunteering group – known locally as the ‘Crazy Crafters’ – who have been such a fantastic asset to PDSA Bark in the Park! We really enjoy working towards this day and there are a great many laughs along the way. Its popularity means we’re already receiving lots of enquiries in the 2020 event! 

“PDSA Bark in the Park is a day full of fun. It brings together a large community of local people and their dogs, and raises awareness of the fantastic work PDSA does. This event is like good wine - it improves every year! We are always looking for more volunteers to get involved, so anyone interested should contact 0800 508 8323.”

If you’d like to support PDSA on their mission to help sick and injured pets, visit their website to finds ways that you can get involved in fundraising opportunities too: www.pdsa.org.uk/fundraising.

Shropshire-based dog food company Different Dog, which recently appeared on the BBC Worldwide News programme 'The Inside Track', has set out plans for its stand at Crufts.

The company will be exhibiting its range of hand-cooked recipes for dogs in Hall 4, Stand 80. 

Each day visitors will be treated to cooking demonstrations from Different Dog’s chefs, who will be showing dog owners how to make nutritionally balanced meals from fresh British ingredients.

On Thursday 5^th March, Alice Lees, Events Manager from Worcestershire-based Scott Farms International, one of the country’s largest importers of sweet potatoes, will be on hand, together with Different Dog’s pet nutritionist, to talk about the nutritional values that this root vegetable has for dogs. There will also be human treats on offer, all made from sweet potatoes!

Different Dog was born out of the concern that dogs eating a processed diet weren't as healthy as they should be, as Alexandra Thurstan, co-founder with her husband, Charlie explains, 

 
“We all know that you are what you eat, yet we continue to feed our dogs the same food day in, day out. Often the shelf life is measured in years, and the food doesn’t even need to go in the fridge. What’s more, it doesn’t seem to have changed in years. 
 
“When we got our new puppy, Crumble, it didn't feel right to give her processed food. So we started making food for her ourselves, as we do for our children. She loved it and thrived on it. We started making it for her friends as well, and they all loved it too. People told us their dogs had shinier coats, better digestion and more bounce. So we decided to help as many dogs as we could by setting up Different Dog. 

“We use the same fresh ingredients and methods you would at home to cook your family meals. Once defrosted, our food requires refrigeration and will only last for 5 days, much the same as if you had made a casserole yourself. We are regularly taking our food to the lab for testing, and we use the results to improve the nutritional value of our food. We make over a hundred recipes a year and we learn from them all. No one else is doing this. We are the first to provide a truly varied diet, by cooking new recipes throughout the year. This enables us to use seasonal ingredients and strengthens your dog's internal micro biome, an important factor in overall health.” 

The team at Different Dog are as passionate about the environment as they are about dogs, which is why looking after the planet is part of every decision they make, from their eco-friendly compostable pots, to sourcing fruit & veg which isn’t pretty enough to go on supermarket shelves but perfectly good to eat. 

All Different Dog recipes are cooked by hand using high quality fresh ingredients. They adhere to the FEDIAF nutritional guidelines for optimum nutrition for dogs and the company bases their food standards on the Safer Food Better Business guidelines, which are restaurant standard. They also have one of the highest ratings on All About Dog Food and their Trustpilot reviews are phenomenal (see https://www.trustpilot.com/review/differentdog.com?languages=en&stars=5) 

For further information on Different Dog visit: www.differentdog.com 

Jason Allison, pictured centre collecting his award from Jill Roe from Digitalab (sponsor of category) and Steven Thirsk, Director of the Guild. Photo credit: Rachael Foster.

North East photographer, Jason Allison has once again been crowned ‘Pet Photographer of the Year’ following his pet category win last year at the annual Guild of (Professional) Photographers awards evening.

Jason 48, from Crook in County Durham won the title by entering selected images throughout the year, which are then scored by independent judges. The scores are totalled at the end of the year to determine who becomes the Guild's Photographer of the Year.

He achieved this after accumulating a year’s worth of consistent high scoring portraits of his clients’ pets, including numerous gold, silver and bronze awarded images. He was also awarded ‘Pet Image of the Year’ for his portrait of ‘Seven Staffies’ - one of two images selected by judges for the final. In addition, he also achieved runner-up for the overall Judge’s Choice Image of the Year for a stunning classic black and white male portrait and the photographers bar in the pet category.

Pet Image of the Year 2019 as selected by the Guild of Professional Photographers – Seven Staffies.

It’s a lifelong hobby for Jason and since opening his studio in 2017, his passion for photography and pets has catapulted him onto the International stage. The majority of his work is dog photography, which he shoots from his studio in Willington, County Durham but he also photographs cats, horses and other pets.

The Guild is a highly respected UK-based association for photographers, which also includes members from overseas. Each year, it runs an on-line monthly photographic competition, judged by internationally respected judges with awards given to the best entries. During 2019, the competition attracted around 15,000 entries from the most talented of photographers.

In December, judges from the Guild selected ten images in each of the 15 genre categories and qualifying images needed to achieve a Silver award status or above in their popular image of the month category.

Shortlisted Image of the Year - Poppy and Pippa, the two Papillons.

Jason was presented with his awards at the final, which was held at Crewe Hall in Cheshire. Commenting on his success, he said: “To be crowned Pet Photographer of the Year following my overall category win in consecutive years is a huge achievement and I am really humbled to be presented this by the highly respected Guild.

“Photography and pets are my life and to be recognised by internationally renowned judges is a dream come true. I still need to pinch myself.

“It is very difficult to win a Guild award as the standards and expectations are getting higher every year. You can’t rest on your laurels in this competition, it’s tough. After winning the award last year, my business really took off and while it could have been quite easy to become complacent, I am always determined to capture the true character of the animal and make sure they enjoy their experience with me and it shows in their portraits.

“Pet photography is becoming more and more popular and being crowned overall national winner is something that I am very proud of.”

The winning image of the year features seven Staffies sat in a row in Jason's unique fine art style.

Bethany the owner of the Staffies said: “I always wanted a unique portrait of my dogs done by Jason and last year, my wish came true and wow what an amazing photographer. Such amazing work and this is fabulous news on the win - well done.”

Jason’s photo of “Jason the bearded man” also won Image of the Year in the Classical Portraiture category.

Guild Director Lesley Thirsk, said: “I am both proud and delighted that Jason has achieved this recognition. The Guild has very demanding standards when judging photographic competitions. The judging is undertaken by a panel of internationally recognised experts from a variety of photographic backgrounds, so Jason quite rightly should be delighted with their extraordinary achievement.”

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Simon Dunne has been appointed as Market Director for the Irish division of Royal Canin UK & Ireland.

Simon will sit on the UK and Ireland leadership team and take over responsibility for the Irish market from Olga Gibbs who has moved to an exciting new role within the Royal Canin business.

Jimmy Park, General Manager of Royal Canin UK and Ireland, said, “Simon will be a great asset to our business. He joins a passionate, dedicated team that leads the way in delivering health through nutrition to help pets live better, healthier and happier lives.”

Simon said, “I’m excited to be working with such an authentic business where the passion and commitment to purpose of making a better world for pets through science-based health nutrition is immediately evident. I look forward to learning from my new colleagues and continuing the incredible success they have achieved.”

Having taken a year out to gain an MBA in 2017, Simon has most recently been working with Unilever in the UK to accelerate their on-demand offering for market-leading ice cream brands such as Ben & Jerry’s and Magnum.  With a background in marketing, commercial and strategy roles, Simon brings broad international experience and perspective to his new role.

ZIWI Peak and Su-Bridge Pet Supplies collaborated to donate highly sort-after premium dog chews to Norfolk Greyhound Rescue, a dog charity located in Norwich.

Norfolk Greyhound Rescue is a small local non-profit organisation whose main aim is finding caring people to rehome Irish Greyhounds.

There are literally thousands of dogs that either don’t make the grade, or are discarded once they are no longer able to race.

The charity prides itself on the fact they are all volunteers and every penny goes to the benefit of the hounds. 

ZIWI Peak approached Su-Bridge Pet Supplies ltd with the intention of a combined effort to find a charity in the East Anglian area to support. Norfolk Greyhound Rescue are well known for their dedication to each individual hound, the foster carers who take care of the dogs, and the after care they provide to ensure each new owner is supplied with the best possible support to give their new dog the best start on their new life.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to support an amazing cause, an amazing charity with an amazing product,” said Ian Manning, Director of Su-Bridge Pet Supplies.

All ZIWI Peak chews are naturally air-dried to retain the goodness in shelf-stable form. They’re tasty and nutritious protein chews, while being ideal for dogs of all breeds and life stages. 

Sussex-based pet food company Arden Grange are pleased to announce the launch of their newly designed website at www.ardengrange.com.

The new comprehensive website brings together all the content from the previous site but in a more customer friendly manner which allows users the opportunity to navigate through Arden Grange’s extensive product offering with greater ease. 

As well as giving a smoother more intuitive user experience, the revamped site will now be able to deliver a fully responsive solution, allowing users a seamless transition from desktop to mobile or tablet browsing.

Wendy Stephens, Arden Grange Director, said: “We love the new look and feel of the site, especially the updated blog section where all of our thought-provoking content is available in one place. The new website aligns our digital platform much more closely to our brand and future offerings.”

A new state-of-the-art veterinary hospital opened by VetPartners only seven months ago is beginning a huge clean-up operation after being devastated by Storm Dennis.

Two vets and three veterinary nurses, along with 16 in-patients, had to be evacuated from Valley Veterinary Hospital in Gwaelod y Garth after the building was left under five-feet of flood water when the River Taff burst its banks shortly just after 3am on Sunday.

The veterinary hospital is the most high-tech facility of its kind in Wales and opened its doors only seven months ago at a cost of £2million.

No one was hurt and all pets were brought safely out of the building as the hospital’s out-of-hours team quickly moved all in-patients upstairs as the river started rising.

However, equipment valued at several hundred thousand pounds, including a CT scanner, digital x-ray machines, ultrasounds, oxygen generator, lab equipment, dental machines and endoscopes were all destroyed in the carnage, caused by a month’s worth of rain falling in less than 48 hours.

Valley Veterinary Hospital was officially opened by The Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Councillor Daniel De’Ath, in July after an empty warehouse was transformed into a two-storey veterinary hospital, providing 24-hour care, seven days a week.

Damage is currently being assessed by loss adjusters, but the hospital does not expect to be fully functional again for six months, although the first floor facilities could be open in a matter of weeks.

Patients are now being cared for at its four branch surgeries in Cardiff, Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly and Pentyrch.

Valley Vets is part of UK veterinary group, VetPartners, which provided investment for the new hospital.

Mark Evans, VetPartners Business Development Director for South Wales, praised the quick action of his team to help their patients, as well as South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Evans said: “This was a disaster but it will have a happy outcome for all concerned because we will bounce back strongly from this.

“Our out-of-hours team reacted very quickly to move patients upstairs as soon as they were aware the river was rising. We are very proud of how they responded.

“They also moved equipment onto work surfaces, but such was the speed of the flooding that the counter tops were eventually submerged as the whole hospital was under five-feet of water in less than an hour.

“The crew from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service that attended were incredible. They had to smash their way through glass panels at the front of the building to gain access. The team was evacuated on boats and dogs were floated out of the building on cushions.

“It has been harrowing for everyone involved, but the morale of the team has been incredible. We’ve had so many messages of support from our clients, other VetPartners practices, the wider profession and nationally from our suppliers.

“Having seen this devastation to our workplace, our heart goes out to those whose homes have been effected and members of the community who have been hit by these floods.”

A local council has launched a dedicated web page to encourage community-minded residents to “dish the dirt” on dog owners who fail to clean up after their pet.

The web page – www.burnley.gov.uk/whodunit – is part of a wider campaign by the council to tackle and reduce dog fouling across the borough.

It follows the launch of a dedicated phone hotline number 01282 475932 for people to provide information so that council enforcement officers can catch the culprits and issue £100 fines to those who don’t clean up after their dog.

The council is encouraging people to “dish the dirt” and help identify those owners who don’t clean up after their dogs, and highlight the “hot spots” where dog fouling is a particular problem so that enforcement work can be more targeted and effective.

The information needed to catch those owners who don’t pick up the poop includes:

• Their name and/or address
• Any other ways of identifying them
• The kind of dog(s) they own
• When and where the event takes place

Councillor Cosima Towneley, the council’s executive member for community and environmental services, said: “Most dog owners are responsible, carry bags and clean up after their pets. But there is a small, but determined, minority who don’t.

“As well as using the hotline number, people can go online and report those dog owners who are prepared to leave their dog’s business wherever they please, and let us know where the problems are so we can better target our enforcement work.

“We can only properly tackle the issue of dog fouling with the help of residents who often know who’s responsible, and where and when it is happening.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for people to provide us with the information we can use to catch those responsible for messing up our streets and parks. That way we’ll all be able to enjoy cleaner and greener communities.

“We would ask responsible residents to either call the hotline or go on the web page and leave information that our officers can act on and target enforcement patrols to make sure we catch and fine those owners who are responsible for spoiling our borough.”

Brambles Pet and Wildlife has issued a warning to people thinking about tidying up their gardens that it’s important for them to check for hedgehogs to avoid accidents.

So many hedgehogs have been maimed or killed by humans using strimmers, mowers, shears, spades & forks.

Hedgehogs make their beds in just the type of areas that you want to tidy up, long grass, leaf piles and compost heaps. These nests can be difficult to see (as can be seen in the photo from @Spikey Critters HH Care) so it is vitally important to check very carefully for hedgehogs, and other wildlife.

Even if a hedgehog is aware of the danger it will not run away but will curl into a protective ball that is of course no protection and, if not killed instantly, they can suffer horrendous injuries and are often put to sleep.

Hedgehog numbers are declining at an alarming rate & they need all the help they can get so PLEASE check your garden carefully before doing any work.

Brambles Pet & Wildlife Website

Brambles Pet & Wildlife Facebook

Brambles Pet & Wildlife Twitter

Brambles Pet & Wildlife Instagram

Personalised gift retailer GiftPup has extended its pet beds range with the addition of several stylish new designs in velvet and canvas.

The expanded offering means pet owners can now choose from 13 stylish and comfortable beds, several of which are expertly handcrafted in the UK.

Emily Ford, GiftPup product manager said, “Pets and pet parents have loved our beds since we launched our rustic pet bed last summer. We have seen a 202% increase in the sale of pet products and pet beds now account for 15% of all of our pet sales. We’re delighted to be able to offer even more choice with the addition of different materials and new designs, many of which are suitable for both cats and dogs. All can be personalised with the pets name, to create an extra special space for your furry family member.”

Lined with plush faux fur, the blue polka dot personalised pet bed features high cushioned sides for extra comfort, a removable inner cushion and rubber gripped bottom to prevent sliding. The cosy bed can be personalised with the pets name and is available in a range of sizes.

For smaller pups and discerning felines, GiftPup has also added a personalised travel bed to its range. The canvas bed comes in a contemporary and easy to clean grey, and has safety straps to attach to the pet’s harness or car seat belt to make journeys more comfortable and less stressful.

There are also two designs in a decadent silver velvet, for pets who love to snooze in luxury. The silver velvet personalised pet bed has high sides and removable inner cushion, each covered in soft, comfortable silver velvet and available in small, medium, large and extra large. The crushed velvet bed is also available in a cushion style for canines who like to fully stretch out when they sleep. The cushion bed is available in small, medium and large.

Prices start from £21.99 including personalisation.

To find out more about GiftPup and to shop the range of pet beds visit: www.GiftPup.com

A part of the Print & Packaging People organisation, GiftPup is a leading provider of a wide range of personalised gifts for all the family. Passionate about both design and quality, GiftPup works with a small selection of handpicked suppliers across the UK and US to ensure that each gift is manufactured, printed, and delivered using efficient, effective processes.

Despite being the youngest competitor seven-year-old Madison Card finished first at every British canicross race this season to become British Champion (School Age).

Her mother Danielle told sponsors CSJ: “Madison has been running since she was 3 to 4 and once she was older she started canicross with one of us but we soon realised we couldn’t keep up with her.

“Madison had amazing mentors in fellow canicrossers Chris Reade and Lucy Mathews who between them have helped her endlessly with training plans, encouragement and above all been there to race with her, as without them she wouldn’t be able to compete.”

This 2019/2020 season Madison is legally old enough to compete and has had an amazing first season…

Being the youngest competitor at the Trophee des Montagnes, Canix events, the BSSF and European Championship her results were 1st place at BSSF Thetford, BSSF Pembrey, Canix Box End, Canix Pembrey Summer, Canix Forest Dean, Canix Shipley, Canix Xmas, Canix Sence Valley, Canix Pembrey plus 10th in the European Championship and 6th in the Trophee Des Montagnes.

Bella the 2 year old Working Cocker Spaniel is Madison’s training dog as she can handle her by herself and Bronte the 4 year old English Pointer is her race dog … when attached with a speedy adult!

What more can Madison achieve?  Well her family and CSJ have high hopes as waiting in the side-lines is Lilly the 8 months old German Pointer x Greyhound who is hopefully Madison’s future race dog!

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

Pet shop owner Tracey Robertson says she can now concentrate on running her business again as the business recovers from a fraudulent ‘slip and trip’ insurance claim.

Halifax man Asad Khan submitted a claim to insurance company Covea, saying he had slipped on a patch of water in Paw Prints pet store in Hipperholme, West Yorkshire in 2017. He made another claim against a discount store. 

But CCTV camera footage exposed his attempts to make two fraudulent ‘slip and trip’ claims at the two Yorkshire shops.

Khan pleaded guilty to one count of fraud by false representation at Bradford Crown Court and a further count was taken into consideration. He was sentenced at Bradford Crown Court to 10 month’s imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He must also complete 60 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay £940 in compensation costs.

“It's hard enough running any business, particularly retail, in this day and age but this incident took so much of our time and effort to ensure justice prevailed,” said Tracey, who owns the Paw Prints pet store business with Darren Bailey .

“There were certainly days when we wondered if it was all worth it because of the added additional stress to the day to day running of the business.  

“When it came to renew our insurance because of the pending claim our premium increased and we were unable to shop around for insurance as no other company would cover us with a £20k claim in process.”

Co-owner Darren Bailey outside the Paw Prints pet store in Hipperholme.

Tracey can vividly remember the time when Khan entered her shop.

“It was fortunate that I was in the store at the time as I felt that the whole incident was wrong,” she said. “I remember feeling angry at the time and I stayed behind after closing the store to download the CCTV, and I said to one of the staff I am going to put this away safe and wait for the claim and I was right. I felt concerned every time the post came in.

“My gut feeling was it was a con and I was expecting the claim to come in. I think he thought we were a large chain with lots of money that would just settle the claim. We are a family business with four Paw Prints pet stores in West Yorkshire and have put everything back into the business to keep improving it and moving forward.”

Has Tracey learned any lessons following this whole matter?

“I wish I could say that the outcome has helped but it's hard to say that when we are simply a target for all sorts of criminal activity – shoplifting, credit card fraud, store vandalism, fake money etc.  But we still do it because we love what we do.  But you do find it hard to trust people.” 

A total of 1,677 visitors attended this year’s PATS Sandown as the pet trade experienced two highly successful days of business activity. Retailers and buyers braved the worst of Storm Ciara to discover hundreds of new products being launched at the show.

“We were pleased with the high quality of visitors, which included independent pet retailers, the major pet chains, garden centres, high street stores and international buyers,” said organiser Gordon Thomas. “It was great to see that the pet industry wasn’t put off by the awful weather and travelling conditions, ensuring that PATS Sandown experienced another highly successful show.”

The New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, attracted a record entry for PATS Sandown of more than 200 products and was a busy area throughout the event, with retailers admitting they were spoiled for choice as they decided on which items to stock in their stores for the year ahead.

“PATS is a must visit twice a year for me. It's the best way to see and try new exciting products,” said award-winning retailer Sammie Hunt, of Redpaw Pet Supplies. “As well as being able to meet the faces behind the companies, learning more about their ethos, the show gives great opportunities to build working relationships, along with taking advantage of exclusive show deals. Without shows like PATS we would struggle to keep up with the pet retail industry developments and trends.” 

The positive mood was echoed by exhibitors with Beco Pets co-founder George Bramble admitting: “The number and quality of visitors to the Beco Lounge exceeded our expectations. Sustainability initiatives was a big topic of conversation with retailers on our stand.”

Pet Munchies founder Suzanne Rothman agreed that PATS continues to deliver a high quality of visitor to the Sandown Park show, adding: “You can always be sure that it’s the decision makers who come to your stand. We also saw a lot of potential new customers.”

And Fiona Mascall, sales executive at Mark and Chappell, praised the buyers who travelled to the show during the worst of the weather on Sunday, added there was a good mix of current and new customers to the company’s stand over the two days. “Overall, it was a good show for us,” she said.

PATS’ chosen charity Dogs for Good, who train assistance dogs for adults and children with physical disabilities, were given a great reception at the show. As well as collecting cash donations from visitors and exhibitors, the charity were given items from the New Product Showcase to use as competition prizes at their many events.

Volunteer Stuart Rourke said: “Everyone has been marvellous. Lots of interest was shown in the work we do, and people were generous in giving money to the charity.”

PATS is now looking forward to its September showpiece at Telford International Centre, Shropshire, and already many companies have booked their stands. All the latest news and the exhibitor list can be found on a new-look website www.patshow.co.uk

Date for the diary

PATS Telford takes place on September 27-28, 2020

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

Marriages injected a bit of fun to the show...

Gallery of pictures below...

A raw dog food firm has recalled a range of its frozen meals because they may pose a risk to health. It’s the second time within a month that Happy Hounds has taken such action.

A statement on the Food Standards Agency said:

Happy Hounds is recalling a range of its frozen raw dog food products on a precautionary basis as they may pose a risk to human and animal health. Sampling undertaken by the company has identified elevated levels of bacteria indicating a potential risk. A withdrawal and recall have been actioned by the company.

The full statement can be viewed by clicking here

https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-06-2020

The recalled products are:

• Raw Diced Chicken Dog Food (Batch code 1075)
• Raw Chicken & Tripe Dog Food (Batch code 1199/809)
• Raw Chicken & Beef Dog Food (Batch code 1223/828)
• Raw Chicken Dog Food (Batch code: 1233/1235)
• Raw Chicken Wing Tips (Batch code: 1235)
• Raw Tripe (Batch code: 838)
• Raw Liver (Batch code 838)
• Raw Minced Chicken & Tripe Dog Food (Batch code 1237/839)
• Raw Chicken Drumsticks (Batch code: 1236)

Last month Happy Hounds recalled certain types of frozen raw dog food because salmonella had been found in the products.

Pawfect Foods is a healthier living dog treat range in rude health, an innovation-based business targeting health conscious ‘pet parents’ who want for their four-legged friends the same healthful living choices that they themselves have access to.

With one in four British dogs deemed clinically obese it probably won’t surprise you to learn that recent Royal Canin research highlighted that a third of dog owners share their takeaways/fast food with their pets, a ‘killing with kindness approach,’ that not only promotes obesity, heart disease and avoidable joint conditions whilst also storing up problems around digestive health, tooth decay and skin problems.

‘Pet humanisation’ has been the hot trend of recent years, however mimicking human-led trends needn’t be detrimental to your dog’s health.  

Pawfect for example champions plant-based treats (Nature’s Munch, Doggy’s Brew…) not believing for a second that dogs are vegetarians but refusing to polarise dogs as single-track carnivores, knowing that an overt, meat-based diet can lead to all-manner of doggy ailments, from joint inflammation to debilitating gut acidity.

According to Pawfect Treats founder, Prash Partwardhan, "Occasionally substituting in the odd nutrient-rich vegetarian/herbal or calcium-rich dairy treat (Himalayan Cheese treat) will ensure your pet receives the right balance of nutrients, protein, carbs, fibre, fats and essential amino acids.  

"We see our range as not only well-placed to refresh pet food aisles in supermarkets and independent pet food stores that have historically been dominated by predictable, convenience over taste mainstream offers, but also bring new momentum to the new gamut of dog-friendly venues (coffee shops, pubs, hotels, delis...).  

"By championing best-in-class treats made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients, we enable retail outlets to charge a small premium which brings some much needed incremental value into the marketplace."

Pawfect Pet Foods is very proud of its no compromise mindset; be that the presence of an esteemed canine nutritionist in their new product development team, an unflinching commitment to human-grade ingredients OR a state-of-the-art BRC/ISO-22000 & HACCP compliant production facility, Pawfect is an ambitious business putting its best paw forwards.  With year one sales close to £1m and a presence in 7 (and counting) European markets, Pawfect Foods is a health & well-being orientated operation that pet owners can trust.

For more information visit Pawfectfoods.co.uk

The current Pawfect Foods portfolio consists of: 7 easy-to-use beneficial brews (Doggy’s Cuppa), all natural chhurpi treats for dogs of every age and life-stage (Himalayan Cheese Treats), a 7-strong portfolio of freeze-dried fruit & veg nibbles (Nature’s Munch) and a couple of veggie blend mixes to support dogs following a BARF-based diet (Doctor Veneta’s Kitchen). 

Vital Pet Group's customer support team is opening new offices this month in the North of England. It means that customers will once again be able to enjoy normal opening hours from 8.30am to 5pm each day with full-service levels.

The move will also coincide with a new team structure to allow retailers to benefit from a more specialised and improved service.

New appointment, Zoe Fleming (pictured), Head of Customer Experience, says, "This will mean retailers benefit from a better service overall, with quicker status updates and more help to improve profitability."

The new offices are fully equipped and the team will have access to software to better help them identify their customers' purchasing needs. Rather than one team of people dealing with all enquiries, there will now be two teams, with one focused on Service and an Internal Account Management team. The Internal team will be calling retailers on a regular basis to help them make stocking decisions, fill range gaps and take advantage of active promotions. It's a new service that offers a dedicated partnership approach to help improve their customers profitability. The Service team will handle questions about deliveries, order processing and payment enquiries.

Zoe comments: "Every retailer will benefit from a point of contact they know and who also knows their needs and preferences. They will be hearing from us more often with more bespoke promotions and opportunities that are appropriate for their outlet. We appreciate that it's tough in retailing across the board right now and everyone can benefit from using data to help them make good decisions to improve the profitability of their business. As a retail partner we take our responsibilities in this respect very seriously and look forward to having a positive impact on the success of the independent pet trade."

Retailers can find out the latest news and updates, including bad weather alerts, from Vital at www.vitalpets.co.uk or on the company's social media platforms.