Dog treats made of sweet potato, papaya and coconut are helping a small Irish company to establish itself as a big player in the competitive world of pet food manufacture. Barbara Hanly, the brains behind Soopa Pet Treats, reveals why these unusual ingredients are helping to get her products noticed.

How did Soopa begin?
I previously had a dog grooming business and I was shocked to meet so many dogs suffering from commercial food related illness such as obesity, diabetes, chronic itching, skin allergies and other worrying illnesses. I purchased a dehydrator and sourced fresh fruit and vegetables from a local supplier. I produced some samples for a local pet store to trial – the feedback was so positive they put in an order the next day. I continued to supply a small number of local pet shops while writing a business plan and searching a manufacturer to produce the product on a much larger scale. Many months were also spent on designing new packaging and in May 2012 I officially launched Soopa and have never looked back.

What's your background?
I worked in recruitment for six years but always had a passion to combine my love for animals with a desire to start my own business. I left the corporate world to start my own dog grooming business in 2009 and soon realised there was a huge gap in the market need for a super healthy dog treat. I’m passionate about healthy eating for both humans and pets. Eating fresh vibrant food not only nourishes the body but also the mind.

What gave you the idea for the products?
It’s a fact people love their pets and unfortunately without knowing it some are killing their animals with kindness. Too many unhealthy dog treats can lead to excess pounds and many serious health conditions. I wanted to offer dog owners a super healthy treat they could give to their dog guilt free that was low calorie, hypo allergenic, nutritious and also delicious. I wanted to combine the chewiness of rawhide and juiciness of fruit and vegetables so I got to work and after much trial and error in my kitchen the Soopa chew was born!

How many products do you have in the range?
We currently have three products – sweet potato, papaya and coconut. Soopa chews are carefully handmade using 100% fresh picked fruit and vegetables which are then gently dehydrated to remove moisture and ensure important enzymes, vitamins and minerals remain intact. Our products are made in a human food facility and we only use human grade ingredients.  

Will you be adding to the range?
We’re launching some new exciting training treats for dogs later this year and several new meat treat products planned for the next 24 months too.

Do you sell online or through other retail outlets like pet shops or garden centres?
I’m focused on working with independent pet shops, boutiques and veterinary clinics. Due to limited budgets Soopa has relied to a large degree on grassroots marketing rather than lots of advertising to get the word out. Retailers such as Scampers Pet Shop, Natural Pet Products Ltd and Myitchydog.co.uk have been tremendous and key to Soopa’s growth because they share and promote Soopa’s culture and values.      

Is this your full-time job now?
Yes, since launching Soopa in May 2012 I work full time in the business and for the first six months I ran the business from my tiny apartment. Due to the fast paced growth of the business and because I wanted my living room back I moved into a small industrial unit in December 2012. I started Soopa not as a money making venture but purely out of a need to solve a problem. I’m motivated and passionate about working to provoke change in the way pet nutrition is regarded in the industry and among pet parents.

How many people are employed in the business?
It’s just me at the moment and this has been a challenge because I oversee everything from product development, dealing with manufacturers, packing boxes, customer service, distribution and marketing. As business expands I will need to be able to delegate certain tasks and that’s what I’m working on at the moment. I believe a team of people who share the same values and passions as I do, is vital for growth of the Soopa brand.

Do you attend pet shows to get the message across to the pet world?
We attended Discover Dogs and Crufts earlier this year, both of which were a great success. A lot of people are intrigued because it is such a different product and it’s always fun to watch people’s surprise when their dogs gobble up samples of sweet potato, papaya and coconut. I will also be attending PATS trade show at Harrogate in September as I feel it’s a huge opportunity to meet with like-minded people in the industry and a great platform to further promote my products.   

For more information visit www.soopapets.com

With 30 successful years of experience making foods for ‘people’ Anthony and Paul extensively researched and reviewed the global pet food market along with its existing production processes and subsequently decided that they should launch Thrive. This was done with the promise of using absolutely the best quality of ingredients, 0% nonsense so pet owners could buy products in complete confidence.

The first product was Thrive ProReward which is simply freeze dried 100% beef liver and is still the company's consistent best seller.

The categories of the awards will be:

1. UK Pet Retailer of the Year
2. International Pet Retailer of the Year
3. Groomer of the Year
4. Supplier of the Year
5. Wholesaler of the Year
6. Pet Product Innovation of the Year
7. Pet Product Exporter of the Year

Entry into the awards is free of charge and entrants can submit nominations in as many of the categories as they wish. Nominations can come direct from the entrant or be submitted by another party. The application needs to provide full contact details of the entrant and stipulate which category is being entered. Applications need to include brief information on the reason for the entry and why the particular company or person qualifies for an award.  Nominations need to be emailed to Pat Flynn, PetQuip’s trade association manager at pat@petquip.com by July 29.

The entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges during August, and the winners will be announced on September 15 at the awards and party night in the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate. Tickets will include dinner, wine, and a short professional awards ceremony followed by dancing to a live band. Email pat@petquip.com for a ticket booking form.

Commenting on the awards, Pat Flynn said: “Awards are a marvellous way of raising the awareness of a product or service and creating creditability for their future success. The pet sector is a vibrant industry with many successful operators, so recognition of these in the awards ceremony promises to be one of the highlights of the year for anyone involved”. 

Gordon Thomas, of Impact Exhibitions, the organisers of PATS, said: "It's great that PetQuip has decided to stage these new awards alongside our Harrogate exhibition. PATS Harrogate promises to be a brilliant show for the industry, a fact that can only help to enhance these awards."

PATS Harrogate have secured a strong line-up of speakers for two days of seminars designed to give pet retailers ahead-of-the-game ideas on new lines, new approaches and new profit potential.

The talks, produced in association with Pedigree Wholesale, will take place in Hall B of Harrogate International Centre on both days of the show – Sunday and Monday, September 15-16.

The free-to-attend series of seminars will cover topics including strategies for creating customer loyalty, understanding your shoppers, how pet stores can thrive in the internet age, and getting more online visitors.

There will also be another chance to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for those people attending a special seminar by animal healthcare specialists Merial. The CPD points will go towards the ongoing development of Suitably Qualified People (SQP) working in the pet industry. Places for this seminar, delivered by Tanya Leslie, technical manager for Merial’s Frontline Spot On product, need to be booked in advance at www.patshow.co.uk/merial and are on a first-come-first-served basis, while visitors can simply turn up for all the other talks.

On the first day of the show, renowned dog behaviour expert Roger Mugford, from the Company of Animals, will give a talk on the pay offs and penalties in the dog-human relationship, while avian training professional Mike Simmons, of A World of Wings, will tackle the topic of managing parrots (budgies to macaws) in pet shops.

On the second day Claire Hamblion, of Supreme Pet Foods, will look at strategies for creating customer loyalty, and Diana Truman, from PPRA, will explain how her organization can help independent retailers.

Understanding your shoppers is becoming increasingly important in today’s complex marketplace, and it’s a subject that will be tackled during the seminar programme on both days by Claire Rowles, of Mars Petcare UK.

For those retailers interested in specifically developing their store’s opportunities in reptiles and associated products, there will be an enlightening presentation by Chris Newman of REPTA, who has himself kept more than 250 species of reptiles and amphibians.

With 1.7million rabbits now owned across the UK, the small animal category represents a great opportunity to drive incremental sales across a range of products. Justin Heaton, from Burgess Petcare, will reveal how retailers can lead the market with their small animal offering.

And for those retailers interested in developing their online presence there will be two talks of interest. Pooch & Mutt’s Guy Blaskey (pictured above) will be debating how pet stores can thrive in the internet age, while David Mackley, of Intelligent Retail, will be discussing ways to get more online visitors by using the latest Google changes to your advantage.

As well as this free programme of seminars there will be so much more to see and talk about at PATS Harrogate with exhibitors packing Halls B, C and M. Visitors are now being urged to register for free show entry by going online at www.patshow.co.uk. Other benefits include a free park-and-ride system, free catalogue, dog grooming demonstrations and many special offers. The PATS hotline is +44 (0)1892 862848.

Last year pet insurers paid out £452 million in vet’s bills for treating sick or injured cats and dogs.

Between 2007 and 2012 the average claim paid rose by 52%, up £207, much more than the £57 rise in the average pet insurance premium.

Up to one in three pets needs veterinary treatment each year and vet fees are increasing every year. The average UK vet bill is now over £300 with some more complex treatments such as hip dysplasia costing more than £4,000. Ongoing conditions could cost as much as £10,000.

Examples of medical treatment needed by pets include:

• a vet's bill for £1,500 to treat a dog who swallowed a marker pen
• treating a four-year-old cat for a damaged eye and fractured jaw after being hit by a car, resulting in a vet's bill of  £1,800
• an operation on a Mastiff dog to remove a snooker ball he had swallowed cost over £1,000

 And more unusual pets that had their medical treatment paid for by pet insurance include:

• £1,064 to treat Jasper, a parrot for respiratory problems
• £951 to treat a corn snake with digestive problems
• £293 to treat a tortoise suffering from pneumonia

“Owning a pet can be rewarding, but also expensive – especially if they need medical treatment," said ABI spokeswomen Linsey White.

"There is no NHS for our pets and even minor medical treatment can cost hundreds of pounds. Pet insurance protects you against the unexpected vet’s bills when your pet needs treatment and can help your pet live a longer, healthier life.”

They said Montri Boonprom-on, 41, faces charges of possessing wildlife and carcasses and could face up to four years in jail and a massive fine.

Boonsprom-on owns an exotic pet shop at Bangkok's renowned Chatuchak weekend market and has previously been convicted of wildlife trade.

Thailand is a hub of the international black market in protected animals. While the country is a member of a convention regulating international trade in endangered species, Thai law does not extend protection to many foreign species.

Police also found a hornbill and a leopard, both protected by Thai law, which were packed in a box and were scheduled to be delivered to clients on Monday.

"We have been monitoring the location for a few days after the neighbours complained about the noise from the animals," said the police.

Boonprom-on said the lions were shipped legally to Bangkok from Africa and were waiting to be moved to a zoo in North-East Thailand. He did not explain why only 14 lions remained at his warehouse, while the documents showed he had imported 16.

The animals were confiscated and are now under the care of the Department of Natural Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

Rosewood Pet Products has launched more than 250 products, a mixture of new products and extensions to existing brands...

For dogs Rosewood has refreshed its Chubleez and Mr Twister ranges introducing new characters in a mix of fabrics, textures and colours. Alternatively, there are a variety of original, squeaky latex and vinyl toys as well as some new additions to the popular Sweet Shop range. A new Wallace and Gromit licensed collection, which includes six dog toys and a novelty dog scarf, is also now available. 

As well as toys there are new plastic carriers for dogs and a range of plastic bowls and dispensers which are available in four colours.

To complement the MP Bergamo Sonny plastic beds Rosewood has launched some quilted mattresses and pillows, in a range of sizes, fabrics and colour combinations.

There are also some unique and exciting products which have been introduced to the Naturals and Boredom Breakers small animal ranges, including a series of carrot cottages and a new corn leaf toy. 

Rosewood is now also distributing products from brands like TastyBone, Starmark and Yeowww.

Retailers can contact Rosewood Pet Products on 01952 883408 for more details, go online at www.rosewoodpet.com 

Following a successful pilot weekend in May the Eden Project will open its doors to dogs every day, "due to popular demand".

Previously only registered assistance dogs have been allowed in but the Project has decided to relax the rules.

Dogs and their owners will be able to enjoy the outdoor paths at Eden but won’t be allowed in the Biomes or other undercover areas, apart from the Visitor Centre, including the ticketing hall and shop.

While staff are confident dogs "will behave" there are a few ground rules for owners.

Dogs should be: kept on a lead at all times, only be walked on paths, kept away from play areas, and not taken into buildings other than the Visitor Centre.

Owners should stick to the number one rule of ensuring all dog mess is promptly and properly disposed of in the special bins provided.

Aggressive dogs are not permitted into the Eden Project, who reserve the right to refuse entry to, or remove, any dog thought to be dangerous to visitors or other dogs.

There will be extra facilities to deal with the arrival of the pets, including dedicated dog waste bins, water bowls, shaded parking shelters and water in four car parks and even an undercover dining area for dogs on the terrace outside the Eden Bakery.

Pedigree Wholesale, the UK distributor of JW pet products, has launched a new catalogue for the brand's dog toy range, including the latest EverTuff toys. 

JW EverTuff toys are made from durable rugged materials such as rubber and nylon to create the ultimate long-lasting toys for boredom-busting fun.

EverTuff helps prevent destructive behaviour by providing safe, non-toxic toys that entertain and hold up to tough chewers and teethers. The toys provide optimum dental health for dogs of any age and are a great way to engage a dog’s natural instinct to chew.



The range includes bones, barbells, roller chews, boney squeaky balls, wobbling balls and funnel ropes. 

Packed in striking, informative packaging JW EverTuff toys retail between £2.99 and £9.99.

If you would like a copy of the new JW Dog Toy Brochure or more information about JW dog toys contact Customer Services on 0115 982 3900 or e-mail info@petproducts.co.uk

By day, Zereen works in Sheffield council’s finance department while in her spare time she has developed a range of dog-friendly cakes and biscuits. They include personalised bones, do-mutts and Barkwell tarts.

 “I could never find special treats made of ingredients I’d be happy to feed my dogs, so I started to make my own,” she says. “My passions are cooking and dogs – this means I get to indulge in both.”

The cakes are gluten free, with no artificial preservatives, sugar or salt.

They are all tried out on her husband and daughter, as well as dogs Fraser and Hugo. And they went down a treat with her friends’ pets, so she took a market stall – and had to bake extra to meet demand.

The products are now available regularly from the Artisan Barkery Facebook page or Bradway Pet Shop.

Interpet has selected AQUA 2013 as the first dedicated aquatics trade show for it to support since 2008. 

As experts in both indoor and outdoor aquatics with its Interpet and Blagdon ranges, the company is keen to demonstrate the on-going innovation taking place in the industry.

Jason Booker, Commercial Manager at Interpet, explains: “Interpet is delighted to announce its inclusion at AQUA 2013 in Telford.

"We recognise that AQUA has become the prestige trade show for the aquatics industry and we’re looking forward to being part of such a respected event. Interpet prides itself on market-leading aquatic innovation within its brands and AQUA is the perfect event to showcase this.

“We’ll be launching several new products and ranges across all our key aquatic and pond brands and we’ll have some special show offers for our customers. We encourage everyone in the trade to attend to show how strong our industry remains in these tough times. We look forward to seeing everybody there.”

AQUA 2013 is taking place at Telford International Centre on the October 9-10 and is free for trade visitors to attend.