Pet owners are putting greater emphasis on product freshness, ethical sourcing and responsible farming when deciding which food to buy for their animals. That’s the view of Karen Rodger, a director of leading supplier Bern Pet Foods.

In an article for Pet Trade Xtra entitled ‘From Farm to Palm: why pet parents are prioritising responsibly sourced food’, Karen outlined the great opportunities available the pet food industry.

Karen said: “Pet owners across the UK, both new and old, have become more aware of the contents of their pet’s food in recent years. The importance of product freshness, ethical sourcing and responsible farming are increasingly key considerations at the point of purchase and long-term diet planning.”

According to the Co-op’s Ethical Consumer Report, the size of ethical spending in the UK topped £41bn in 2019 – nearly four times the size it was just 20 years ago. The report showed that while consumers would always look for competitive pricing, they were willing to spend extra in support of ethical considerations.

“This trend has not bypassed the pet food industry,” argued Karen. “On the contrary, from our latest study in support of ACANA’s High Protein Dog Treats, we found 65% of UK pet owners care greatly about responsible farming and the quality of meat in the food or treat they give their pet.

“Unsurprisingly, our research found that 56% of consumers considered animal welfare as important when deciding which pet food brand to purchase, while 59% of consumers would not buy products from a brand that did not responsibly source their products. Meanwhile, 69% said they view the traceability of their pet’s food in the same way as their own.

“With the increased amount of time spent together during the pandemic, the bonds between pet and owner have strengthened, resulting in more owners placing an increased onus on the quality of their pet’s food.

“Those sentiments are at the heart of everything we do at Bern Pet Foods. We are a family-owned business with a passion to provide the best possible food for dogs and cats, taking great pride in providing ethically sources products, such as ORIJEN and ACANA, so our furry family members are getting the very best.

“Considering the consumer desire to purchase more responsibly, coupled with the increased interest in our pets’ health and nutrition, it’s crucial for pet food brands to have clarity in their marketing and product packaging. Nearly three quarters (73%) of pet owners in the UK, have become increasingly cautious of the health and nutrition of their pets, yet a huge portion (63%) of pet parents admit they are left ‘confused by pet food messaging’.

“It’s crucial for pet food brands to display the necessary information on their packaging to help customers make an informed decision. ORIJEN and ACANA both clearly include key

information and messaging on their packaging – detailing how the products are crafted with care, thoughtfully sourced and produced in state-of-the-art kitchens.

“Another consideration is the record numbers of new pet owners, many who can be forgiven for not having the full understanding of their pet’s diet. It’s easy to assume, as many commonly do, that an average sized dog should just be fed a certain amount of food and that they will be happy and healthy, but brands need to take owners, both new and old, on a journey of education around pet health and responsible sourcing.

“This is where pet food companies can excel in ensuring that ethical considerations continue to be at the forefront of the industry. As demand continues to grow, education of consumers positively affects purchasing habits and helps customers justify paying extra for responsible products. This journey is ultimately beneficial to pet food brands, the consumer and most importantly, the health of the nation’s pets.”

For more information about Bern Pet Foods visit www.bernpetfoods.co.uk

Milton Keynes-based pet accessory company Barking Bags managed to sell out of six month’s worth of stock in one night following its successful appearance on BBC One Dragons' Den.

The company managed to secure a £35,000 investment offer from Dragon, Sara Davies, with the prospect of selling its range of dog walking bags across the shopping TV channel networks globally.

Long before Barking Bags appeared on Dragons' Den, however, the company made a promise to work locally and support local charities. Through local networks the company found Milton Keynes businesses to support them with marketing, website design, branding, IT and strategic planning. 

Debbie Greaves, co founder of Barking Bags alongside her husband Rob Angell, said: “Milton Keynes is simply a wonderful place to start a business as there are so many people out there ready to help you. We even had support and encouragement from our local pet shop in Wolverton.”

From the outset they also worked with MK SNAP, a local charity that provides learning opportunities and work-based training for adults with learning difficulties. And of course, what other mascot could MK SNAP have? A big blue dragon.

So, in addition to bagging the support of Sara Davies and her team, Barking Bags has enlisted the help of yet another dragon in the form of MK SNAP’s mascot.

Debbie added: “We are so proud of the team at MK SNAP, who have been packing our bags for the last couple of years. They learn valuable skills and they enjoy supporting a local business too. It is a win -win for everyo

ne.”

The pet accessory business recently won the Best New Business at the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) Awards. 

‘When we got our little dog, Maisie, we realised that we needed some way to carry all the doggie paraphernalia when training her and out and about on our walks. We set about designing a bag that would make walking the dog easier for all responsible dog owners, while not compromising on style.”

Debbie and Rob enlisted the help of fashion design students who came up with creative ideas and the bag was born. The bags were first sold at a Parks Trust event and when they sold out they knew they were onto something. They took them to CRUFTS and were met with genuine enthusiasm. They now produce high quality dog walking bags, in a range of water resistant, unisex fabrics and also high-end luxury leather bags but in response to customer demand, they also produce a vegan friendly range as well. 

If you live or work in Milton Keynes you might be interested to know that Debbie and Rob have also written a Dog Walking Guide to Milton Keynes, with 14 walks covering 52 miles. It sells in many local pet shops and vets.

“We are committed to working with our partners at MK SNAP so with two Dragons on board who knows where things will take us?” added Debbie.

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

Ashridge Capital has completed a £2m investment in Paleo Ridge, a leading supplier of premium raw dog food.

The new investment will fund the opening of a new despatch and manufacturing facility, supporting the expansion of Paleo Ridge’s capabilities and the creation of over 20 new jobs spanning supply chain, marketing, customer service, technical and operations at its home base in Waterlooville, Hampshire.

Paleo Ridge has grown by over 100% over the past two years, reflecting its brand strength and reputation and the provenance of its ingredients – ethically sourced, organic, free range, human grade, high nutritional content, grain free and no artificial additives.  

Over the past seven years, Paleo Ridge has helped switch over 20,000 customers to its raw dog food, creating over four million meals to keep the UK's dogs happy and healthy.  

Tyler Daly, CEO of Paleo Ridge, commented: “I am delighted to be working with Ashridge Capital, which shares our vision to be the UK’s most trusted brand for premium, high quality and high welfare, species appropriate pet food. The investment will enable us to expand our manufacturing capacity, provide additional local employment opportunities and meet the strongly rising consumer demand for raw pet food.”

David Sherratt, founder and CEO of Ashridge Capital, said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Paleo Ridge and invest in a business that has demonstrated strong growth since inception. The brand is highly regarded and has developed a distinctive market position in a high growth market and we look forward to supporting its ongoing expansion.”

Ton Christiaanse has joined as chairman. Ton has an impressive track record in the FMCG industry and food supply chain as former CEO of Vion and Brakes UK.  He has held international roles with Unilever and Sara Lee and is chairman of Candle Shack and the Country Range Group.  

He said: “I am looking forward to work alongside Tyler and Ashridge Capital to successfully grow Paleo Ridge further into various channels and geographies relevant to this fantastic contemporary brand. Raw dog food is an exciting category and Paleo Ridge is well positioned to capture a significant share of the growing pet food market.”

Pictured, from left to right: David Sherratt, Tyler Daly and Ton Christiaanse, accompanied by Rudi the dog. 

Su-Bridge Pet Supplies Ltd has announced it is expanding its facilities with a new warehouse being built onsite.

The new facilities will be equipped with an advanced production unit, create 5,600 new pallet spaces, increase office space, and allow more product lines onsite, while boosting the production capacity of Extra Select bird food. 

“Manufacturing and holding space can prove challenging with an ever-expanding range and then demand for both Pet and wild Bird Foods. This investment will allow Su-Bridge Pet Supplies Ltd to grow effectively for many years to come," said managing director Ian Manning.

Su-Bridge Pet Supplies Ltd’s brand vision is to provide leading pet trade solutions and offer differentiated products and services to all specialist traders across the nation.

For more information on Su-Bridge Pet Supplies Ltd, visit www.su-bridge.co.uk.

More than 4,000 live invasive Prussian carp were seized by the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI), during a successful enforcement operation at the Port of Dover.

Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) present a significant risk to aquatic animal health in the UK, because of the unknown disease status of both viruses and novel parasites. Their presence can cause drastic population changes in fisheries and waterways, leading to catastrophic environmental and economic damage, which is the case in other countries where they have become established.

This operation was a result of multi-agency working that provided sufficient evidence on the source and trade routes of these live Prussian carp. 

The FHI were able to target, stop and search the transport vehicle at the Port of Dover alongside Border force and APHA colleagues. The lorry contained around 1400kg (over 4000) of Prussian carp. Other invasive species including wels catfish (Silurus glanis) and brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus melas) were found live alongside the consignment of Prussian carp. All fish were humanely euthanised, removing the risk to the aquatic animal health status of the UK and its native aquatic animal populations.

The FHI’s operational lead on enforcement Jon Hulland said: “This seizure is an excellent example of what multi-agency intelligence-led working can achieve. Not only have we stopped a huge quantity of illegal non-native species entering the UK, we have also put a significant dent in the finances of the company that is undertaking this trade. Further operations are planned in the very near future.”

This action forms part of Operation Frederick, which is an ongoing three-month enforcement campaign to target illegally imported live fish.

If you have any information illegal imports of fish to the UK please contact the Fish Health Inspectorate in confidence at fhi@cefas.co.uk

UK pet companies are busy preparing for the much-anticipated PATS Sandown exhibition, which takes place on Sunday, 27 March, and Monday, 28 March 2022.

Following a successful return of in-person events at PATS Telford in September 2021, excitement is building for another busy and profitable show at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey.

Both suppliers and buyers agree that nothing compares to a trade industry exhibition where they can speak face to face about all the new products that will be on show.

More than 130 companies and brands will be showcasing their latest launches, including a growing number of first-time exhibitors.

Dorwest Herbs has been a regular exhibitor at PATS and the award-winning company is excited to be showcasing its products again at Sandown. Managing director Jo Boughton-White said: “We consider PATS to be the most important trade show in our calendar. It is the perfect platform for us to launch new products to the right people, the decision makers in the pet industry.”

It's a similar story for GWF Nutrition, whose marketing manager Helen Hounsell, commented: “PATS is now a must in our show calendar. It’s a well organised and sizeable show, providing some great opportunities to meet a wide range of retailers face to face. We’re looking forward to meeting retailers we haven’t worked with before, as well as reconnecting with current stockists, and introducing some exciting new supplements in our range.”

Podium Pet Products also acknowledges the vital role that PATS plays in bringing the pet industry together in one place. CEO Carina Evans (pictuyred above) said: “We are excited to be returning to PATS Sandown, where we’ll be meeting our customers, buyers and even the competition. It will be great to be face to face again – we have hugely missed the human and pet interaction. There is nothing better than getting in front of our customers.”

And Rachael Bancroft, business development manager at Sniffers Pet Care, added: “I’m really looking forward to PATS Sandown this year. If PATS Telford was anything to go by, then it’s going to be another great exhibition. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see old and new customers and to introduce new products. We’ve added some new 100% natural dog treat lines to our offering and can’t wait to gain feedback.”

Irish company Park Life, which makes natural pet treats, is exhibiting at PATS for the first time and can’t wait for the show to arrive. Founder Richard Marles said: “Park Life has a product offering and bold branding that is unlike anything else on the market, so it’s important for us to get the physical product in front of potential customers. PATS comes highly recommended as the best place in the UK for any innovative pet start-up which wants to get noticed.”

One of the most popular features of PATS is the New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, and this year it will host a high number of launches. All the entries will be entered into the New Product Awards, which will be judged by a panel of independent retailers on the first morning of the show.

The showcase is often the first port of call for visiting buyers, who can see which new products catch their eye before visiting the appropriate suppliers. 

Retailer Sue Underhill, of Mutt & Moggy in Leicestershire, said: “PATS is the show to visit. Everything you need as a buyer is under one roof and you can’t beat seeing products ‘in the flesh’ before purchasing.”

This year’s Sandown show takes on extra meaning as it will be the 25^th PATS exhibition to be staged. To celebrate the milestone, a special drinks reception sponsored by pbwnews will be held after the first day of the event. Exhibitors and visitors will be invited to stay behind for the reception, which will also be marking the 50^thanniversary of Pedigree Wholesale, a regular exhibitor at PATS.

Pet product retailers and buyers wishing to register for free entry to PATS Sandown should visit www.patshow.co.uk where a full list of exhibitors can also be found.

Swedish pet insurance company, Agria Djurförsäkring, continues its international growth strategy by acquiring the Irish company, Capstone Financial Services Limited. Capstone currently trades under the brands Petinsure in Ireland and Zoopo in the Netherlands. 

Only three months after launching Agria Tierversicherung in Germany, Agria is now acquiring the Irish-based company which offers insurance for dogs and cats in Ireland and the Netherlands.

“I see huge potential to increase the level of insured pets in Europe and I am pleased to accelerate our international growth strategy by adding Ireland and the Netherlands to our operations. We have an ambitious growth plan and Capstone is a profitable and well-functioning company that fits perfectly into our business portfolio,” said Agnes Fabricius, CEO at Agria Djurförsäkring.

For Agria, the acquisition of Capstone facilitates an immediate commercial footprint in the Irish pet insurance market. Agria will strive to develop Capstone, already a very successful company, further, with a view to ultimately increase the number of insured pets in Ireland. There are about 455,000 dogs and 325,000 cats in Ireland, with a market penetration for insurance of approximately 10 percent. This can be compared with Sweden, where 90 percent of the dogs and 50 percent of the cats are insured. 

“Our overall mission is to create security for pets and peace of mind for their owners by making it possible to access qualified veterinary care treatment when needed,” added Agnes Fabricius. 

Michael Harty, managing director of Capstone, said: “This is great news for the Irish pet insurance market and particularly for Petinsure customers. Agria has an unrivalled pedigree and history in caring for pets, and we are really excited to see the positive impact that Agria is going to bring to pet owners and pet insurance customers both here in Ireland and the Netherlands.”

The Pet Industry Federation has announced an updated and evolved version of its logo, which has been developed to signal the beginning of change to the association’s membership offering over the course of the year.

Nigel Baker, PIF CEO explained: "We’re delighted with the refreshed PIF logo. The previous version had been in place since 2013, and we felt that given the work we plan to do during 2022 on membership, a slightly revised look would help set us off on the right track."

The logo makes its first appearance on a new-style membership sticker, which has been mailed to PIF members and which now includes their expiry month for the first time. Upon renewal, members will receive a new version with the 2023 expiry date. 

Nigel explained: "The PIF ‘brand’ is something that we are keen to protect and our new dated membership stickers will help ensure that pet owners have confidence in a business’s PIF membership status.

"We don’t feel it’s right that any non-renewing members are able to take advantage of the appearance of being a PIF member through their sticker which has previously been issued at the start of the year.

"We hope these new decals will help overcome this, maintain the integrity of membership and allow the public to better know who are our active members."

PIF membership is open to any pet business and members receive a range of business-related benefits upon joining, including insurance, HR, tax and health and safety advice; multiple business templates, policies and information in a members’ area.

The Federation also offers opportunities to shape the industry through working groups on hot topics including animal activities licensing.

Visit www.petfederation.co.uk for more details; telephone 01234 273933 or email info@petfederation.co.uk

The pet department teams at Planters Tamworth and The Old Railway Line, Brecon, have been rewarded for their outstanding Christmas displays.

The garden centres received golds in the Greatest Christmas Awards, organised by Garden Trade News and presented at Spring Fair, NEC Birmingham, on Monday.

The judges said Planters Tamworth had a well-stocked pet department for Christmas. The store’s Santa Paws was a huge success and attracted lots of customers.

They added: “The team were right behind selling product to pet owners with a good display and well stocked pet department covering everyday needs to treats. Their Santa Paws grotto was well thought out and carried through by this enthusiastic team of retailers.”

The pets team at The Old Railway Line created impressive Christmas displays including their own pet nativity scene created using Vivid Arts products. 

The judges loved the simple ‘bath time’ display, saying it was a great way to showcase and merchandise specialist pet products.

They added: “Christmas had really come to town with a very festive look including an animated nativity scene, a collection for the local animal rescue centre along with loads of gift ideas for pets from the most luxurious coats for your dog to wear right through to coat conditioner! Every corner of the department said 'Christmas – even the cold-water fish tanks were decorated with snow blanket and Vivid Arts penguins.”

A silver award was presented to Squires Badshot Lea.

Veterinary group IVC Evidensia and the University of Bristol’s Animal Aspirations team have produced a Widening Participation Video available for anyone to download and share or present to school/college pupils from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Individuals from a broad range of ethnic minority backgrounds are currently underrepresented in the veterinary professions (vets and nurses). This video is part of a raft of initiatives to drive awareness among school children of the opportunities within the veterinary professions to help teenagers who are weighing up career options.

Amanda Boag, chief medical officer and chair of the IVC Evidensia Ethnic Diversity Board, said: "Promoting diversity in our profession is an important priority both for me personally and IVC Evidensia.

"I first became aware during my time as RCVS president of the great work the Animal Aspirations groups around the country do to engage students from ethnic minority backgrounds, and we wanted to see if we could collaborate to help raise awareness.

"I spoke to the University of Bristol which is our nearest University and we’re really proud to have worked with them and their students on this video. Last year we launched our Ethnic Diversity Scholarship scheme and we are now supporting 13 first year undergraduates across the UK. Vets Now, which is part of our group, have also launched a scholarship scheme for veterinary nurses.

"We want to inspire younger schoolchildren from all backgrounds to consider careers in our profession and this was a great opportunity to spread the word.”

Tim Parkin, head of Bristol Veterinary School, added: “Bristol Vet School aspires to be a fully inclusive Veterinary School, and we are committed to increasing the diversity of our community. 

"We want to ensure that the potential to embark on a veterinary career is available to school and college pupils from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible.  As Head of School, I am passionate about equity and am determined that no one be prevented from access to our brilliant professions through lack of opportunity.

"Our students and staff have worked with the IVC Evidensia team to create this fabulous video for use in a variety of settings, and we hope it will inspire many young people to consider veterinary careers."

The video is available to download from www.ivcevidensia.co.uk/widening-participation and  http://www.bristol.ac.uk/vet-school/equality-diversity/widening-participation/

Earth Animal has added a Venison chew to its best-selling No-Hide range.

The new Venison No-Hide Wholesome Chews are made from free range, grass-fed venison, which is naturally high in protein and B vitamins. The sustainably sourced protein is preservative-free with no growth hormones, steroids, or other fillers. Venison is also naturally low in sodium (salt), and contains a good amount of zinc and phosphorus, adding to its nutritional benefits. 

As with all chews in the popular No-Hide range, the new chew contains just seven simple, natural ingredients: brown rice flour, organic eggs, olive oil, pineapple, banana, and agar-agar (vegetable gelatine) — plus, the new flavour-bursting protein.

The chews are completely free of animal hide, bleaches, and chemicals — so, pet parents can be happy knowing their much-loved pets are getting a safe, blissful chewing experience every time. What’s more, No-Hides are long-lasting, easily digestible and promote good dental hygiene. 

The chews are already a huge hit in the US, with owner of two Goldendoodles, Abby and Murphy, commenting: “Nothing beats Venison — it’s our dogs’ favourite No-Hide flavour. We love them because they’re healthy and easy to digest — plus, they allow our dogs to chew and clean their teeth at the same time.” 

The new product has an RRP of just £4.29 for a small chew (average weight 34g), £8.49 for a medium chew (average weight 60g), and £12.79 for a large chew (average weight 99g).

For more information about Earth Animal and its products, visit www.earthanimal.com/uk or follow the brand on Instagram and Facebook. 

No-Hide Wholesome Chews are exclusively distributed in the UK by Pedigree Wholesale.

They may look like regular pets - but there are some animals who have found themselves rolling in riches - with one dog worth over £366m.

All about Cats has created an ultimate list of the world’s wealthiest pets, along with using social data and instagram earnings to reveal a list of the highest earning and most influential pets.

You can view the full research here: https://allaboutcats.com/the-ultimate-pet-rich-list/

The world’s top 10 wealthiest pets:

The research has revealed:

• The world’s richest pet is a German shepherd known as Gunther VI, he’s owned by the Gunther Corporation who also manage the dog’s estate and fortune and through real estate investments his inherited fortune has increased from $80 million in 1992 to the $500 million reported today.
• The world’s second richest pet (and the world’s richest cat) is the cat Nala, who has a net worth of $100 million. 
• The world’s most influential pet is the fluffy Pomeranian known as Jiffpom. With a follower count of almost 10 million. Jiff has two Guinness World Records, has featured in Katy Perry’s music video for Dark Horse and has published his own book titled I am Jiffpom. Jiff rakes in $32,906 per instagram post.

The weekend of January 29-30 saw the 38th annual Aviemore Sled Dog Rally organised by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain.

CSJ Specialist Canine Feeds were again delighted to sponsor the event and to see again the many owners of these wonderful canine athletes who feed their specialist feed, herbs and treats.

Covid had forced the cancellation of the 2021 event and Race Organiser Pete Jones said about 2022: “The event was again a great success. It was good to see so many people come and watch the event, many travelling a long distance to do so."

Dogs and owners had to cope with gale force winds on the first day, then frost on the second but everyone enjoyed the demanding 4.2 mile forest trail around Loch Morlich and through Glenmore Forest.

Colin Spalding and Suzanne Moore Spalding of Suco Sled Dogs were running their dogs Diamond and Granite in Bikejor and Scooter. Colin commented: “So proud of the girls who at 10 years old are still competitive at the highest level. A huge thank you to CSJ for their amazing support of our teams.”

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

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Butcher’s Pet Care has secured a £43m funding package with Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance and Blazehill Capital in a deal led by Martin Gray at Kroll.

The Northamptonshire-based company was established in 1983 and its CEO Tim Watsham said: “The deal marks a significant and exciting step for the business. The executive team were clear that the company must continue to invest in our brand and manufacturing capabilities as well as our new product offerings, including our fast growing cat food brand, Blink!.”

“We have thoroughly enjoyed working with the team at Kroll who have played a key role in sourcing both the appropriate funding package and partners. We are looking forward to working with Secure Trust Bank and Blazehill Capital as we enter our next stage of growth.”

Martin Gray, managing director at Kroll, added: “It has been a pleasure to support the team at Butcher’s. This is a huge opportunity for the brand to cement their market position and capitalise on new opportunities, supported by a flexible funding structure.”

Tom Weedall, managing director, Blazehill Capital, added: “We are delighted to have been able to provide a funding solution to support the Butcher’s management team in the delivery of their plan. Our creative structure generates significant liquidity, which now allows the company to accelerate its growth trajectory and cement its market leading position.”

Matt Broomfield, regional sales director at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, commented: “We worked closely with the Butcher’s management team and Blazehill to understand the firm’s growth plans. Using this insight, we created a flexible facility that can adapt as the business grows. We look forward to seeing the business prosper with this facility in place, and building on our strong relationship with Butchers moving forward.”

Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association has welcomed multi-award-winning PR agency spottydog communications as its latest Associate Member, unleashing a host of new benefits for its members.

spottydog communications, which was recently named one of the ‘Best Dog-Friendly Companies of 2021’ by Rover, provides services across PR, social media and digital and has a wealth of experience in the pet sector, working with pet food brands such as Arden Grange, HiLife, Autarky, Fish4Dogs and more.   

PFMA is looking forward to working with spottydog communications to provide informative and relevant content for members.

Commenting on the new partnership, Nicole Paley, PFMA deputy CEO, said: “We are delighted that spottydog communications has become an Associate Member. Having them onboard enables us to bring some new and exciting training events to the wider membership. We look forward to working with the spottydog team this year.” 

spottydog communications now joins PFMA’s other Associate Members — Anthesis Ltd, Pollen Consulting Group and Pets At Home. 

For further information on becoming a PFMA Associate Member, contact Laura Waters at laura@pfma.org.uk

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has made a statement about recently released Levelling Up White Paper which is set to regenerate town centres.

In the report, one of the missions they aim to form the heart of the government's agenda for the 2020s includes plans for, among others: 'The most run down town centres and communities across the country rejuvenated.'

In response to this report, Bira's CEO Andrew Goodacre said: "The government has announced its vision for levelling up and identified 12 ‘missions’ as areas of focus for this ambitious plan. It is hard to disagree with the intentions of this plan but we do need to see more detail to better understand how it will work in practice.

"We welcome the commitment to improving transport infrastructure because access to town and cities, and High Streets in general is very important. There is a further commitment to creating ‘pride in place’, and in this respect we urge the government to recognise that independent retail plays an increasingly important role. Indie retailers support communities, invest in the local economy and are integral to creating a vibrant ‘place’ and something to be proud of.
 
"The ambition for this Government is to level up the UK. From a business perspective there is one easy thing to do, and that is to level the playing field between high streets and the internet by reducing busing business rates. Research from last year showed that business rates have a disproportionate impact on businesses in the North of the UK, reducing investment and job opportunities. Incentivise business, especially independent businesses, and there is no doubt that local economies and communities will see the difference."

The full White Paper Levelling Up report can be viewed by clicking here.

Award-winning pet transport service Pets 2 Places Limited has welcomed its first franchisee in Solihull.

Nic Hughes, 50, launched in January 2022 and has already made a big splash, helping pet owners in the town who would otherwise be struggling to get their pets to essential appointments such as the vets and training. 

But it not just about getting to those appointments – Pets 2 Places is there for the fun stuff too, taking pets and their owners on visits to friends and family and even on holiday.

The pet taxi business was set up in 2014 by Claire Harris who realised many elderly and vulnerable pet owners struggled to get around with their pets.

Demand for the service grew across the UK and in 2021 Claire opened up franchise opportunities for animals lovers to join her team following the impact that the Covid pandemic had.

Claire, 43, said: "It's fantastic to be able to be able to provide this service in another area and I'm really excited to be working with Nic.

"Being able to work with pets, making sure they are healthy and happy and keeping pets and their owners together is so rewarding.

"It’s been my mission to be able to build a community of Pets 2 Places pet taxi services across the UK with people loving their work with animals.

"The pandemic has helped us see how much our pets mean to us, and it's a pleasure to be able to help people and give them peace of mind that wherever they need to go with their pet, we can make it happen."

As well as trips to the vets, taxis are used to see friends, to visit dog friendly holiday locations, training classes, groomers, and to transport pets between homes when pet parents are separated.

“And the service continues to go from strength to strength and we are fielding calls from key areas such as Manchester, London and Birmingham. These are not one off calls – we have customers already in the database who want to make use of our service.”

Nic, a former childminder, said she is looking forward to supporting local pet owners.

She said: "As an animal lover I know how important it is that our pets get the care they need and that we spend as much time with them as we can.

"This is such an important service and a lifeline for many people who are vulnerable and isolated and their pet is everything to them, and I delighted that the service has been so well received already."

Anyone interested in learning more about Pets2Places can visit https://pets2places.co.uk/become-a-franchise/

One of the world’s leading animal insurers - Agria Pet Insurance – is celebrating after being recognised as a Which? Best Buy by the independent consumer body.

Agria’s Lifetime and Lifetime Plus policies for both dog and cat have been named a Which? Best Buy*. The coveted Which? Best Buy endorsement is only awarded to policies which have satisfied and exceeded in specific criteria, based on rigorous comparative reviewing process. 

Highlighting the consistent performance across both its cat and dog lifetime insurance offerings, this Which? endorsement enhances Agria’s catalogue of trust awards. These include its ‘Excellent’ rating on Trustpilot, 5-star Defaqto rating, and the UK’s Most Trusted Pet Insurance Provider**. 

Vicki Wentworth, Managing Director of Agria Pet Insurance, said: “We’re incredibly proud to have received Best Buy endorsements from Which?. As a completely independent award, the recognition is testament to the strength of product we offer to pet owners, both for dog and cat, and the wonderful pet-loving team we have here at Agria. 

“Our pets play such a huge role in our lives, and we’re passionate that they should be covered throughout their lifetime with the very best level of protection. We often hear of owners let down by other types of pet insurance at a time when it mattered most, so we only offer lifetime policies to give owners the clarity and reassurance they deserve over their pets’ health. We’re very grateful to Which? for helping owners to identify protection that will help their pet to live a long and happy life.”

An online version of this press release can be found here: https://www.agriapet.co.uk/hub-agria-blog/2022/february/agria-pet-insurance-is-a-which-best-buy/

For more information, visit: https://www.agriapet.co.uk/

It is National Apprenticeship Week, and this year the iPET Network has cause for celebration with some exciting training news. 

The awarding organisation, which creates Ofqual regulated qualifications for the animal sector, has been approved to provide end-point assessments for apprenticeships.

 iPET Network has already teamed up with Haddon Training and Keits Training Services to offer the assessments for apprentices in organisations such as Pets At Home, completing the apprentice standard in Animal Care and Welfare or Dog Grooming. 

And they hope that even more employers who offer apprenticeships will now choose iPET Network, as their End Point Assessment Organisation due to their profile in the grooming and animal sector.

Fern Gresty, co-director of iPET Network said: "This National Apprenticeship Week we are so excited to be assessing apprentices around the UK. 

"Apprenticeships are a great way to get straight into working in your chosen industry, and industries benefit from having enthusiastic trainees who are working hard to gain the skills and qualifications that they need." 

Sarah Mackay, co director of the iPET Network added: "Adding End Point Assessments to our services demonstrates our continued commitment to the industries we support, and showing the world our industries high level of competency." 

National Apprenticeship Week 2022 is the 15th annual celebration of apprenticeships in the UK. 

Taking place from the 7th to the 13th of February, there will be 1,200 virtual and in-person events taking place across England to demonstrate the impact of apprenticeships. 

To find out more go to https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/influencers/naw2022-events-listing

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

Pets at Home Group has announced the appointment of Lyssa McGowan as Group Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 June 2022.  

Lyssa will succeed Peter Pritchard, who announced his intention last November to step down from his role in Summer 2022 and will remain with the business until 31 May 2022 to ensure a seamless transition. Lyssa will be appointed to the Board as CEO Designate on 25 April 2022 prior to her appointment as CEO on 1 June 2022.

She will receive a basic salary of £580,000 per year which reflects the outgoing CEO’s salary for FY21 of £550,000 with an increase of 5.5%, applied. This is broadly in line with the average salary increase awarded to the wider workforce in October 2021. An annual bonus maximum award of 170% of base salary has also been offered.

Lyssa is the outgoing Chief Consumer Officer at Sky UK Limited, with responsibility for the Consumer business serving more than 10 million customers and achieving over $10bn of revenue. Over the last 11 years, Lyssa has led numerous business units to growth within Sky, both organically and through M&A. She has broad experience of managing product, service and subscription-led businesses, leveraging deep capabilities in new product and service innovation, omnichannel development, marketing and customer experience excellence, and data and digital transformation.

Lyssa was a non-executive director of the Board of Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc until its recent sale to CD&R.  

Ian Burke, Chairman of Pets at Home, commented: “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Lyssa as CEO of Pets at Home Group Plc. Lyssa brings strong corporate, strategic and operational expertise across a range of consumer-facing businesses, and a proven track record of growth at Sky, with significant experience in customer and digital-first initiatives across multiple channels and sites.”

“Following an extensive search process across internal and external candidates, the Board believes that Lyssa has the requisite skills and capabilities to lead Pets at Home as it executes its future growth strategy. Lyssa’s commercial and strategic experience will undoubtedly be of great benefit to Pets at Home and I very much look forward to working with her.”

Lyssa McGowan said: “I am thrilled to be joining Pets at Home as CEO. It is a fantastic business with a unique, integrated business model, and a strong purpose-led culture fuelled by the shared passion of over 15,000 colleagues and Partners to care for pets, and the people who love them. I am excited to work with the Board and Executive Management Team to lead Pets at Home on its journey to being the best pet care business in the world.”

Ethical pet firm HOWND has pledged to keep developing its range of plant-based products despite a leading veterinary association claiming that the ‘jury is still out’ on vegan diets.

“We will continue creating complete plant-based products which offer real health benefits for dogs,” said Jo Amit, co-founder of award-winning HOWND.

“We want to educate pet parents on the benefits of plant-base nutrition and hope to reduce the number of dogs who suffer from allergies."

Jo, pictured above with co-founder Mark Hirschel, added: “Ultimately, we want to be a leading brand that focuses on health and well-being while playing an important role in reducing animal cruelty and damage to our already fragile planet.”

Tremendous interest has been shown in HOWND’s Plant Powered Superfood following the success of the company’s plant-based Hemp Wellness treats.

But this week Justine Shotton, president of the British Veterinary Association, posted concerns about plant-based diets for dogs on the organisation’s website.

“From the veterinary profession’s perspective, there just isn’t enough scientific evidence currently to safely promote a vegan diet for dogs and cats,” she said.

“For now, the bottom line is that the jury is still very much out as to whether we should be feeding our pets a vegan diet. 

“What we know is that your pet needs a balanced diet that is tailored for their age, health, weight and lifestyle. My advice is to always talk to your vet before changing any aspect of your pet’s diet – problems can result from all sorts of non-traditional diets, including vegan diets but also raw meat diets, feeding bones, and home-made diets. 

“Current advice may change as new research takes place – the veterinary profession will continue to review all new evidence so that our advice is based on robust science.”

There has been a lot of media interest around the suitability of vegan diets for dogs, with some newspaper headlines warning dog owners could face hefty fines for putting their pets on a veggie diet.

But Jo Amit believes the recent media coverage has helped raise awareness of vegan diets for pets.

“This was an attempt at fake news by meat lobbyists,” she said.  “There was a warning of fines if people did not feed their pets ‘suitable diets’ – in other words, vegan or vegetarian food that was not complete. The ‘Jail-Fine’ headline actually backfired, leading to a 90% surge in online searches for vegan/vegetarian dog food in both the UK and US, resulting in increased exposure for all plant powered food brands. So thanks to the lobbyists for the PR.”

One leading figure who believes in the benefits of plant-based diets for pets is Andrew Knight, a veterinary professor of animal welfare.

He said: “The environmental and animal welfare impacts of animal-based pet foods are substantial, and increasingly of concern to consumers. However, there is no scientific or practical reason why diets cannot be formulated entirely from plant, mineral and nutritional additives to meet all the nutrient requirements for dogs, and indeed, other species. 

“Pet food companies are to be commended for creating such nutritionally sound alternatives, which safeguard the health not only of companion dogs, but also ‘food’ animals and the environment.”

Forthglade, the Devon-based natural pet food maker, has appointed David Cox as new CEO.  Initial investors Chris Brooking and Gerard Lovell, who helped shape the business over the past 11 years, have stepped down as joint managing directors while remaining investors in the business alongside the company’s senior management team. 

David joins from food manufacturer Symington’s, where he was CEO for three years. During his time there he led the business through a successful turnaround, reshaped strategy, and delivered a successful sale transaction from Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) to Newlat Foods.

“I’m delighted to be joining the Forthglade team at such an exciting time for the business,” said David. “With an increasing demand for quality natural pet food and following strategic investments across production processes, operations and marketing, the business is in fantastic shape for an exciting year ahead.  

“Forthglade has doubled turnover in the past four years and we plan to build on that momentum, doubling again over the next three years. With an extensive range of NPD launching this year, we’re looking forward to continuing to partner with our trade customers to help bring our natural recipes to life for pet owners”. 

Since 1971 Forthglade has produced award-winning recipes valued by customers for their natural ingredients, high meat content, gentle cooking methods, and grain free recipes. 

The natural products for dogs include wet food, dry cold pressed recipes and a wide selection of treats, which are distributed across supermarkets, online retailers, independent specialist pet retailers and Forthglade’s own website. 

The company employs over 170 people in the UK, the majority of which are based at the manufacturer’s state-of-the-art factory situated on the edge of Dartmoor.  

Gerard Lovell commented: “Being Joint MD of Forthglade for the past 11 years has been a privilege. We’ve been innovators and leaders in the growth of natural pet food in a category that has expanded beyond recognition.  

“Our passion to produce natural and wholesome food for dogs has never faltered.  But none of this would have been possible without the support of an amazing team. 

“During the period we have also secured two rounds of private equity investment which has given us the confidence to be bold and invest in the Forthglade brand and our manufacturing resources.  

“We have no doubt that David will continue to successfully drive the business forward, ensuring that happy healthy dogs are at the heart of what we do.”

David Cox joined Symington’s after spending almost two years as MD at Fox’s Biscuits and four years at General Mills, latterly as European MD.  He previously worked at Tesco as a category director and spent 12 years at Unilever.

Cranswick has acquired the Lincolnshire-based dry dog food producer Grove Pet Foods Ltd, with the deal being announced on Monday (January 31).

Grove Pet Foods Ltd is the home of the Alpha Feeds and Vitalin brands.

Cranswick, based in East Yorkshire, said the acquisition would allow it to expand into the UK pet food market, and open up opportunities for vertical integration, particularly with its fresh poultry and pork businesses.

Adam Couch, CEO of Cranswick, said: "I am delighted to announce the acquisition of Grove Pet Foods, a well-invested manufacturer of dry pet food supplying leading brands focussed on the specialist pet retail market. 

“This acquisition represents a platform for future growth in the attractive UK pet food market and diversification into this complementary category for Cranswick. The existing facility has capacity and a footprint for further expansion."

Grove Pet Foods managing director John Walgate will continue to lead the business.

Vital Pet Group has launched its new and improved pet product catalogue for 2022. The fresh monthly catalogue content has been constructed based on feedback from a previous Vital survey, which was completed by more than 100 readers from the retail world.

Going forward, every Vital issue will be bursting with new product roundups, editorial and educational features, as well as the previous regular offerings of exciting new product listings and the best monthly deals and promotions. 

These new articles have been included in the catalogue with the aim of assisting retail managers and their staff to further expand their product offerings and strengthen their market knowledge to better anticipate industry trends, ensuring they bring in relevant and popular brands and products to successfully grow their sales. 

The various features will also include selling tips, tools and advice to help retailers to upskill their teams and build their profits. These compelling, retail-focused articles will be written by the Vital veterinary team and expert marketeers will also feature in the catalogue, to ensure readers are kept up to date with all the latest expert knowledge and retail information.

When asked what features they would like to see in the new catalogue, the majority of retailers surveyed asked for the inclusion of articles that cover topics such as nutrition and pet care advice, as well as merchandising and general retail tips and marketing insights from pet trade industry experts.   

The catalogue also includes comprehensive brand and product information to help pet shop owners and managers upskill their teams and boost their sales – a feature requested by a whopping 75% of retailers surveyed.

Chesney Webb, editor of the Vital Pet catalogue, said: “We are really proud of our new and improved catalogue, and we are so grateful to everyone who responded to our survey helping us shape the way we communicate the most up to date products to our loyal readers.”