AlphaPet Ventures, a technology-driven brand platform for premium pet food in Europe, has announced the acquisition of Arden Grange. The takeover strengthens the German company’s ambition to establish itself as a leading Pan-European player serving over 200 million healthy meals for pets in 2022.

The acquisition of the UK company Arden Grange strengthens the AlphaPet portfolio with another premium brand and is a big step towards further internationalising the AlphaPet platform.

Arden Grange is one of the leading UK brands in the premium dog food segment and pioneered the category as a species-appropriate dog food brand in the UK more than 25 years ago. 

Wendy Stephens, founder of Arden Grange, said: “Together with my late husband, Graham, we founded the Arden Grange brand 25 years ago to counter the dog food offerings of the big manufacturers with a high-quality nutritional dog food. 

“The claim of Arden Grange shows this clearly, ‘nutrition without compromise’, and we have always remained faithful to this. This has enabled us to build up a large and loyal group of customers in the UK and win them over to our brand.” 

Emma Stephens, daughter of Wendy Stephens and director of Arden Grange, added: “The high quality and innovative recipes have enabled us to successfully establish the brand in the premium market and make it one of the most popular dog food brands in the UK. 

“Through the team at AlphaPet, I see great potential in further building the brand, not only nationally but also internationally. I am convinced that together we can fully realise the potential of Arden Grange.”

Marco Hierling, founder and managing Director of AlphaPet Ventures, commented: “Arden Grange is a strong and well-positioned premium brand for which we see great potential not only in the UK but also in DACH. Above all, we can make a good contribution to the further growth of the brand through our digital know-how, direct end-customer access as well as through our sales team in DACH with access to over 13,000 points of sale. 

“With the acquisition of Arden Grange, we strengthen our position as the leading digital brand platform for premium pet food in Europe. We are building on the existing and long-standing supplier and customer relationships in the UK and look forward to expanding these further in the coming years.”

The acquisition is still subject to regulatory approval.

AlphaPet's brands include Wolfsblut, Wildes Land, Müllers Naturhof and PRIMUM.

Award-winning retail group Just for Pets is set to open its 20th store at Leamington Shopping Park on Saturday (February 19). 

Local pet owners have expressed their delight at the news. One Facebook user stated how excited they were at not having to travel to Coventry, while others were thrilled at the range of premium dog foods and natural treats available from the pet retailer.

The new store will stock a range of brands, including Orijen, Acana, Carnilove, Canagan and Cooper & Co.

Store manager Adam Sullivan said: “We’re really excited to open and see the reaction from Leamington’s pet owners.

“The new store will have a huge range of natural treats and raw foods, as well as a range of new and exciting products and brands, including Le Chameau, George Barclay, and Barbour.

“The training and support the team has been offered is amazing, and we’re confident that we can offer customers the very best advice and products for their pets in store.”

The Just for Pets group was voted UK Pet Retailer of the Year at the PetQuip Awards in 2021.

A pet shop owner has recounted the horror of finding distressed animals sprayed with blue paint during an overnight burglary at the store.

Two thieves wearing balaclavas smashed their way into Caves Pet Shop in Crowland, near Peterborough, and stole stock valued at around £2,000. 

And during the raid they cruelly took a can of blue paint from a shelf and sprayed a parrot and a chinchilla. 

Shop owner Rebecca couldn’t believe the sight that confronted her and immediately thought: “Who would do such a thing, and why?”

Rebecca, who has run the shop for more than 15 years, told Pet Trade Xtra: “It was distressing to see that the shop had been broken into, but my first thought was for the poor animals. The sight of them upset everyone.”

The parrot, an Orange-Winged Amazon called Buddy, was covered in blue paint. His mate Charlie was missing and at first it was thought he had been stolen but he has since been spotted in the area.

“We’ve been trying to clean up Buddy but it’s a slow and stressful process,” added Rebecca. “As he tries to clean himself there is a danger that he absorbs the paint. It would poison him so we are doing our best for him. He is also missing his mate.”

Rebecca thinks the burglars, who were caught on CCTV, tried to steal the parrots but were bitten in the process, and in retaliation spray-painted the animals.

“If I ever get my hands on these vandals they’ll wish they’d never seen a can of blue paint,” said Rebecca. “I believe they are local so someone must know them.

“But I have to say the local community has been fantastic. Everyone has been shocked by what’s happened and can’t understand why people would do such a thing.”

The burglary took place in the early hours of Thursday, February 10. Among the stock stolen were jackets, leads and tools.  

Rebecca is keen to find the missing Charlie and urges anyone who spots him to contact her on 01733 810888.

A ‘haunted’ pet shop, which made national newspaper headlines with reports of an ‘annoyed ghost’ throwing toys around and frightening dogs, is inviting customers to share an eerie experience at future séances at the store.

Purdy's Pet Shop in Coventry made headlines in the Daily Star and Daily Mirror after owner Rebecca Harrington called in ghost hunters to investigate a series of unexplained incidents.

The local ghost hunter performed a séance at the store and claimed the place was haunted by the spirit of a man who used to live in the building and was annoyed at the presence of staff.

Now, Purdy’s is promising its customers two nights of mystery, spiritualism and séance, with the séance being conducted by Jo from Hideous History Walk Tours of Coventry. The events will be held on March 20 and May 22.

Customers will be charged £15 and with only 10 spaces available per event, tickets will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. Half of the proceeds will be donated to Coventry Myton Hospice.

The Pet Industry Federation has announced its intention to establish a number of working parties to enable its members to contribute to the post-implementation review of the Animal Activities Licensing Regulations, scheduled to take place in 2023. 

The working parties will cover each separately licensed activity within PIF’s membership, and will allow members to discuss the views and suggestions about what changes should be made to the regulations themselves, the star-rating system and the higher standards as well as the guidance documentation.

Outcomes from these working parties will then be used to inform the Pet Industry Federation’s contribution to the Canine & Feline Sector Group, which is co-ordinating the review on behalf of DEFRA. 

There will also be an opportunity to put forward views on currently unlicensed areas of the pet industry, such as dog walking and pet grooming about whether these sectors should be incorporated into the regulatory framework. 

Nigel Baker, PIF CEO, said: “The post-implementation review will be a wholesale review of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 and will be the first real opportunity for our members to influence the shape of the legislation which has such an impact on their businesses. 

“We would strongly encourage each of our members to respond to the survey when they receive it, and for those who would like to be involved on the working parties to express their interest.”

Opportunities to participate in the licensing working parties will only be available to active members of the Pet Industry Federation. 

For more information about becoming a member, visit www.petfederation.co.uk for more details; telephone 01234 273933 or email info@petfederation.co.uk

Fast-growing Assisi Pet Care has extended its operation in Europe with the acquisition of Polish company Maced, a manufacturer of natural dog treats.

Assisi was established in September 2020 as a joint venture between founder Peter Mangion and Harwood Capital with the objective of creating a significant player in the European pet care market.

This latest acquisition represents Assisi's third deal, following the October 2020 acquisition of Hollings Ltd and the March 2021 acquisition of Town and Country Petfoods Ltd.

Peter Mangion (pictured) said: “We are delighted to have brought Maced into Assisi, a transaction which significantly grows our European market share, and which also gives us greater control of our supply chain whilst adding significant new product development expertise to our group.

He added: “We are particularly pleased that Tomasz Macionga, the long-standing CEO of Maced, will remain with the business, along with his excellent management team. I am grateful to Harwood Capital which, as partners in the Assisi business, is providing support as we continue to deliver on our buy-and-build strategy in the exciting European pet care market.”

Through its European Specialty Lending strategy, Crescent Capital Group provided financing to support Harwood Private Equity in the acquisition strategy of Assisi Pet Care.

As well as supporting Maced deal, the financing package also included a sizeable acquisition facility to enable Assisi to continue its growth strategy. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

Pets Choice has signed a five-year lease and shipping agreement with ABP at the port of Cardiff, securing the location of its cat litter manufacturing site. 

The company has been managing the cat litter manufacturing facility since the acquisition of long-standing pet healthcare brand, Bob Martin UK in 2019. It has successfully grown its cat litter manufacturing for private label as well as its own brand, Felight.

Previously, short-term leasing of the facility has meant that jobs at the Cardiff factory have been on a contract basis. However, the longer-term lease agreement has allowed for permanent positions to be secured. 

Phil Knowles, CFO and COO of Pets Choice, said: “This is an exciting new agreement with ABP that secures the future of our cat litter manufacturing base in Cardiff. 

“The long-term nature of this agreement has allowed us to secure 18 permanent staff contracts and we hope that this number will increase with the growth of the business.

 “A port-side location is vital for the delivery of a key component of our products, and we’re delighted to strengthen our commitment to Cardiff as the home of our cat litter operation and the Felight brand.”

Andrew Harston, director of Wales & Short Sea Ports, said: “We are delighted to have signed these new agreements with Pets Choice, and that they have chosen to retain the cat litter operation at Cardiff. 

“Cardiff is already able to support a diverse range of cargoes, including dry bulks, but it is great we have been able to secure such a strong port-centric manufacturing customer here at the port.”

Wild bird care specialist WHM Pet Group, whose brands include Marriage’s Feed and Honeyfield’s Wild Bird, will be flying the flag for sustainability at PATS Sandown next month.

The UK’s Spring pet industry exhibition takes place on Sunday, March 27, and Monday, March 28, and the company will be unveiling it products and services in the WHM Pet Group Lounge.

The Lounge, located in a special position inside the Surrey Hall of Sandown Park, will allow WHM Pet Group to showcase its sustainable initiatives to their full potential.

“We’re delighted to be showcasing at PATS Sandown this year in the new WHM Pet Group Lounge,” said brand manager Emily Scruton.

“We’re excited to be bringing our new 100% recycled, recyclable, and biodegradable wild bird care packaging to the show. 

“We’ve got plenty of new and innovative products, and the WHM Pet Group team can’t wait to bring them to the UK wild bird care market. 

“PATS Sandown will also be the perfect opportunity for customers to come and see our fantastic wooden POS offering, transforming the way the wild bird care areas in stores are displayed.” 

The WHM Pet Group will join more than 130 other companies and brands at the exhibition, where all available stand space has been sold out.

With five weeks to go before the show, pre-registration of visitors is higher than it was at the same point in 2020, the last time PATS Sandown was held.

Organiser Gordon Thomas said: “All the signs point towards PATS Sandown being a highly successful show.

“Sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives will feature prominently at the exhibition, so we’re pleased to host the WHM Pet Group Lounge at PATS Sandown for the first time.”

Visitors to the show will be able to see an unrivalled array of products in the New Products Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, and watch demonstrations from the country’s leading dog groomers.

For all the latest news, a full list of PATS Sandown exhibitors and how to register for free entry to the show, visit www.patshow.co.uk

A pet store based in Totton near Southampton has been recognised for its ‘friendly and knowledgeable customer service’ in a national retail award competition.

Healthy Pet Store, which delivers to customers in Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight as well as opening for shoppers six days per week, picked up the Bricks ‘N’ Clicks accolade at the Good Retail Awards.

The store’s managing director Deborah Burrows said: “I was absolutely delighted that Healthy Pet Store won a national award which recognises our hard work and dedication to excellent customer service. Our customers and the wellbeing of their pets are at the heart of everything we do.

“We are excited to see where we will take Healthy Pet Store within the next year. Thank you to our teams and suppliers for their hard work in making Healthy Pet Store such a success.” 

Deborah received the award during the recent Spring Fair at the NEC, Birmingham.

The Good Retail Awards are staged by Modern Retail, whose content editor Holly Worthington said: “Healthy Pet Store is the perfect example of a retailer that has set ambitious goals and made a plan to achieve exactly what they set out to do. Their work to share their knowledge while informing and engaging customers and suppliers means they can provide an incredible experience both online and instore.”

Derby-based independent pet superstore, Trusty Pet Supplies, has been named as Natures Menu ‘Retailer of the Month’.

During the covid-19 pandemic, Trusty Pet Supplies retained its well-earned customer base through its loyalty card schemes and ensuring the warehouse store was open as much as possible. 

With the floorspace being so huge, Trusty Pet Supplies could implement strict safe-shopping distancing guidelines without hindering footfall numbers, meaning that keen shoppers of Derbyshire and beyond could still get their pet essentials, and gain expertise from the knowledgeable staff.

The pet supplies business has been trading since 1999, with its first store opening Mickleover in 2006. From the outset, the store proved to be extremely popular, with a great location and friendly staff – many pet owners flocked from the local area to shop with owner Hannah Edmondson and her family team.

In 2017, Trusty Pets launched its online shop, which went from strength to strength, gaining traction with a fantastic trajectory, which was then accelerated further by the pandemic. 

Currently, Trusty Pets operates out of three large warehouses, with one warehouse being converted in 2021 into Trusty Superstore, a huge 7,500 square foot of floorspace, creating the biggest raw food shop in the Midlands, with over 35 freezers in total.

Hannah said: “We are a three-generation family run business, and our customer service is well recognised in our shops and online. We have also been nominated for Pet Retailer of the Year numerous times in the last few years and have also won fantastic awards such as ‘Best Pet Shop in Derbyshire’.

“It is incredibly humbling to now be awarded Retailer of the Month by such a well-renowned company like Natures Menu. We stock their full range in our store and online, and we frequently sell their products in great quantities, so we have built a really great relationship with the trade team. We can’t wait to see what further heights our partnership can bring this year.”

James Langan, managing director of Natures Menu, said: “We are pleased to recognise Trusty Pet Supplies with our Retailer of the Month award. Hannah and the team have taken their business from a small local retailer to a nationwide leader in their 23 years of trading, showing incredible adaptability and perseverance. 

“As one of the biggest retailers flying the flag for raw feeding, our trade team have built a special relationship with Trusty Pet Supplies, and long may that continue as they expand further. We look forward to working with independent retailers throughout 2022 and celebrating their efforts on the journey back to ‘normal’.”

British global dog services company Bark & Birch has expanded with a fourth revenue stream, to include grooming services across all of its territories.

The news comes hot on the heels of an announcement that the global company will expand into several new territories in 2022, including Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The company will also move into further European territories, including France and Germany this year after officially launching in Brazil.

CEO Nick Rijniers said: “This year was always going to be a huge one for Bark & Birch. We really do want to be a global one-stop shop for all dog services and we can't wait to include grooming to our already expansive list of services.

“I wanted to provide an all-encompassing dog services company to include doggy daycare, training, boarding and grooming as a one-stop shop so that owners don’t have to drop their precious pups at various different places.

"We want to be with dogs from them being a puppy to the very end and provide every single service they may need, holding their paws throughout for their every need. We want to be that full trusted provider."

Twenty-eight-year-old Nick has managed to lead the company to global success in two short years, turning over $8 million dollars in the second year of business. The company is predicted to be valued at $100 million in 2022 after a further investment round.

Bark & Birch currently train almost 1,000 dogs a month. The team of highly experienced dog behaviourists and ex-police/army dog handlers rehabilitate and teach basic and advanced obedience, either as part of a residential ‘Board and Train’ programme or through a series of private one-to-one sessions.

Leading UK fresh dog food brand Butternut Box has launched its first meat-free meal, Ready Steady Veggie. 

Ready Steady Veggie comes after high demand from pet owners who want an alternative to meat for their pets. The new sustainable meal is part of a recommended and healthy diet for dogs and incorporates up to 60% freshly prepared vegetables alongside plant-based protein.

The new meal from Butternut Box joins their already tried and tasted well-balanced favourites such as Beef It Up, You’ve Got Game and Swish Fish Dish.

Ready Steady Veggie comes packed with vegetables including butternut squash, sweet potatoes, carrots and green beans as well as plenty of protein from eggs, pea protein and potato protein. With a sprinkle of spinach, thyme and parsley, it doesn’t compromise on the delicious taste whilst keeping mealtimes interesting for our beloved pets.

This alternative new meal option has also been taste-tested by a whole host of dogs, to ensure it meets both their dietary needs and provides the great taste they love. The dish is grain-free, low in fat (4.5%) and bursting with vitamins, antioxidants and protein to ensure dogs enjoy a healthy meal without compromise.

Charlotte McCormack, head of product development at Butternut Box, said: “Our dogs aren’t just pets, but important members of our families too. If we as owners are choosing vegetarian, flexitarian or plant-based lifestyles, then it’s only right that our pets can enjoy that option too! If we enjoy a night away from meat with days like a Meat Free Monday or a Fishy Friday, we can now extend that to our pets so they are part of family dinner times too.

“Ready Steady Veggie is the latest addition to our range of healthy and sustainable fresh meals for dogs, and it’s one that we know they will love just as much as the rest of our range.”

Dr Ciara Clarke, in-house vet and research specialist at Butternut Box, said: “Whilst some pet parents might worry that they can’t give their pet enough protein without meat, there are alternatives that will ensure our dogs are getting enough vitamins, nutrients and protein within their diet. Dogs are omnivores so a varied and well-balanced diet keeps them happy and healthy for longer.

“The launch of Ready Steady Veggie is one that includes amino acids to ensure healthy muscle mass as well as Vitamin C and B6 that can help with everything from our dog’s eyesight to supporting their nervous system.

“If a pet owner is worried about building a new meal into their dog’s diet, they can seek advice from their vet before making any dietary changes.”

For more information about Ready Steady Veggie visit https://butternutbox.com/

Dogs (and their owners) queued up outside Jollyes pet store in Runcorn for a blind date at ‘C’est Jollyes’ – Britain’s first doggy dates diner. 

Dog lovers tucked into finest recipes and were serenaded with Parisian love songs by a street accordionist. 

The canine connoisseurs got to enjoy a three-course dinner featuring a menu from Jollyes Artisan Lifestage range, including Angus beef with sweet potato, venison and salmon, and duck with sweet potato. 

The launch of ‘C’est Jollyes’ came ahead of Valentine’s Day when customers were able to take their dogs into their local Jollyes for a free sample of the Artisan Lifestage range. 

First to the four-legged table of puppy love was Maisie, a beagle from Liverpool owned by Alix Johnson, who already is prolific on Instagram at @Maisie_thepooch.  She shared her first date with Odie, a Jack Russel owned by Jollyes’ store manager of the year Lynsey Fearns. 

“While music may be the food of love, for a Jollyes dog, there’s nothing quite like a bowl of Lifestage treats and good rendition of a Bach melody,” said Phil Turner-Naylor, Jollyes head of marketing.  

The launch of C’est Jollyes came in the wake of a survey for Jollyes that showed men need to be on their best behaviour on Valentine’s Day or face a visit to the doghouse. 

Women were more likely to ditch their partner than their pet, the research found.

Asked about their relationship with their partner and their pet and which one they would ditch first, 53% said they would ditch their partner against 47% who would ditch their pet. 

Men were more loyal to their partners, with 63% saying they would ditch their pet and 37% saying they would ditch their partner.

A revolutionary dog walking app has launched its first funding round to advance its use of blockchain technology and help drive ambitious growth plans. It hopes to raise £500,000.

Launched in June 2021, GoWalkies has been developed with an intuitive interface that connects dog walkers with pet owners. It provides an opportunity for walkers to grow their business, whilst giving owners complete peace of mind over the care of their four-legged friends. 

GoWalkies prides itself on providing owners with carefully vetted and insured ‘on-demand’ walkers, who can share their walk location and imagery via a unique real-time in-app tracking feature. 

Having already received thousands of downloads from walkers and owners alike, GoWalkies now plans to raise £500,000 to invest in both back-end and customer facing innovations that will improve user experience and solidify GoWalkies’ advancing position in the pet-technology sector both UK and worldwide. This includes the development and implementation of advanced blockchain technology for the provision of smart contracts. 

Sonny D’Avola, founder of GoWalkies, explained: “In developing the concept for GoWalkies, I wanted to become the first and only dog walking app that not only enables dog walkers to easily build their own business, but also assures pet safety through unique features like real-time tracking. To take this one step further, I am now in the process of developing and implementing blockchain technology that will take the GoWalkies app to the next level through the provision of smart contracts – which will enable us to quickly drive both national and international growth.

“I am, therefore, incredibly excited to be launching our first funding round and am looking forward to developing new relationships with investors united with our vision to completely dominate the global dog walking market.  I believe this is an incredible opportunity for potential investors to get in early in the next tech unicorn, potentially yielding massive returns.”

Free to download via Google Play and the Apple App Store, GoWalkies has a growing database of dog walking businesses and owners and is quickly establishing itself as a key player in the pet-tech market. 

Now live via Seed Legals, the first GoWalkies funding round will close on April 5 and will provide the opportunity for one or multiple investors to obtain their share of a 20% equity stake in the innovative tech start-up. 

For more information visit: 

https://gowalkies.app

https://app.seedlegals.com/en/pitch/c_inzPNcDNvZ/Go-Walkies-Labs

A team of pet theft reform campaigners has been nominated for the Petition Campaign of the Year Award at the Your UK Parliament Awards. 

The Petition Campaign of the Year Award celebrates the inspiring people who have used petitions started on Parliament’s petitions website to build support for their campaigns for change. 

This nomination follows a campaign on pet theft reform.

Dr Daniel Allen, from Keele, started the petition ‘Make pet theft crime a specific offence with custodial sentences’ in 2020, and it received more than 143,000 signatures. This followed two earlier petitions, the first from 2018, which was signed by more than 107,000 people, and a second in 2019, which received over 117,000 signatures.

Dr Allen’s campaign was set up in collaboration with Debbie Matthews, CEO of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance, and supported by a number of other animal rights campaigners, including: Dr Marc Abraham, founder of the Lucy’s Law campaign to end puppy farming; Freya Woodhall, whose dog Willow was stolen in 2018; Beverley Cuddy, Editor of Dogs Today Magazine; and John Cooper QC. The campaign has also secured support from celebrities including Ricky Gervais and Clare Balding.

A parliamentary debate was held on two of Dr Allen’s petitions in October 2020. Ahead of the debate, campaigners took part in a virtual ‘roundtable’ with Tom Hunt MP, the Petitions Committee member who would be leading the debate, to discuss their concerns. Opening the debate, Mr Hunt backed the campaign’s call for a specific offence to be created, and for the relevant sentencing guidelines to be strengthened.

In May 2021, the Government launched its Pet Theft Taskforce to look into a reported rise in thefts, and Dr Allen was invited to give evidence. The Government then announced in September 2021 that it would make ‘pet abduction’ a specific criminal offence.

The Your UK Parliament Awards judging panel will select the winners shortly, and the full list of nominees and the winner will be announced in due course. The panel includes MPs, members of the House of Lords, campaigning bodies, and past Award winners.

Vital Pet Group has announced that its Retail Academy courses have been accredited by SQP regulator Vetpol, making the classes suitable to fill the requirement for continued professional development (CPD) of SQPs (suitably qualified persons).

The Retail Academy is a digital platform that offers a range of free educational courses for Vital’s retail customers. The Vetpol accreditation means that SQPs who are customers of Vital can now maintain their careers by taking the courses. 

The Academy’s unique courses are full of engaging information on brands in the specialist pet sector, including advice on how to drive product sales and bite-sized lessons to boost retail knowledge. As well as detailed modules, the Retail Academy provides training courses, quizzes, and sales tools, allowing retailers to interact with peers in Academy forums and the chance to win products and discounts in instant-win competitions. 

As well as being Vetpol certified, the Retail Academy courses are open to all levels, which means that Vital customers can learn whatever their level of experience, from beginners to advanced. Each class will be marked from either multiple choice or open-ended questions. Upon completion, participants are rewarded with a certificate, which can be printed and displayed on their premises or saved as recorded achievements for sales staff.

Courses currently available via the Retail Academy include modules from Yarrah, Ministry of Pets, Cath Kidston and iQuties, emphasising how enrichment, toys, and affordable luxury can encourage impulse purchases.

Harvey Lees, head of commercial, buying and procurement at Vital Pet Group, said: “Through the Retail Academy, we are delighted to offer courses to our customers in the veterinary and pet world across all levels, from SQPs to shop floor managers. We are thrilled to receive accreditation by Vetpol for our courses, which ensures SQPs can not only experience some really engaging and unique educational content by taking them but, in doing so, can also further their careers as they count towards their CPD requirements.” 

Caroline Johnson, director of Vetpol, said: “We are pleased to award the Vital Retail Academy courses accreditation, allowing SQPs to expand their careers by educating themselves in the specialist field of pet retail.” 

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The Pet Industry Federation has launched a new Business News Digest, which will be emailed each week exclusively to members and which contains updates on government legislation and other news items relevant to the pet industry.

Alexandra Baker, PIF’s chief operating officer, said: "Since the launch last year of our bi-monthly magazine for members, PIF Matters, we felt that the addition of a weekly newsletter with updates from the governments across the nations and industry information from around the world, would complement the news offering really well for our members. The round-up of news items enables readers to easily absorb information and contains links to further information if they want to know more.

"The Business News Digest is a great way for PIF members to stay up to date with issues that may affect their pet business in a world with an increasingly fast paced news agenda."

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

Wilsons Pet Food has welcomed Roland Johnson to its commercial team to continue the expansion of the company’s presence in stores across the UK.

With 18 years in the pet food industry, Roland brings with him a wealth of retail and sales experience. After starting out at Jollyes, where he worked in multiple roles and won a ‘Store of the Year Award’, he continued to build his sales career at Pets Choice UK, Hills Science Plan, Forthglade Foods ,and most recently launched Japanese pet food brand Inaba into the UK.

Roland joins the team at an exciting time. With a new factory in the process and recent team expansion, he believes this, combined with amazing ingredients and sustainable packaging, has laid the foundations for Wilsons to become a market leader. 

He said: “As an exciting up-and-coming brand, Wilsons Pet Food experienced high growth in 2021 and with dedicated resources now at hand, we can really drive the business forward.”

Having produced pet food in Scotland since 1861, Wilsons provides customers across the UK with a range of nutritious and delicious premium and working dog cold pressed and raw frozen dog food, using 100% natural and quality ingredients. 

Originally based in Dundee, Wilsons now has a purpose-built factory in Perthshire, with a new, higher capacity factory currently being developed to support their recent increase in demand. 

Roland is excited to take Wilsons to the next level. “I am thrilled to join the talented and enthusiastic team. This historic brand not only tells a great story of a well-respected Scottish business, but the product looks great on the shelf and is made with top quality ingredients at the cutting edge of pet food nutrition with sustainable packaging.

“It has also been great getting to know our customers, who have all had to overcome so many obstacles through both covid-19 and Brexit while still putting pets first in a difficult climate.

“I believe my experience in the pet industry combined with my enthusiasm for the pet trade has given me the opportunity to put together a winning formula for success and I look forward to expanding our stockists and building the Wilsons brand.”

Fish4Dogs has launched another healthy range to its Finest complementary wet food – Finest Fish Flakes

Finest Fish Flakes come in three tasty flavours to complement a dog’s diet – Mackerel Flakes with Squid, Tuna Flakes with Anchovy or White Fish and Salmon.

The range comes in convenient 100g pouches (6 x 100g pouches in one shelf-ready box), and acknowledges that dog owners in the main do like the convenience of a complete dry food, but worry their dog’s diet lacks interest and moisture, often leading them to add unhealthy extras. So, instead of adding table scraps that can often contain unexpected calories or ingredients not suitable for a dog’s diet, by slightly reducing the amount of kibble and adding a topper of Fish4Dogs® Finest Fish Flakes, dog owners can be assured their animal is maintaining a healthy lifestyle with no hidden extras

Dogs will also benefit from added omega 3 in their diet, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, helping with coat and skin condition, mobility and cardiac health.

Finest Fish Flakes are formulated without any chicken, beef, pork, or lamb, making them perfect for dogs with intolerances to certain proteins. They are made from grain free recipes with natural ingredients and contain no added artificial colours or flavours.

Finest Fish Flakes are the third addition to the brand’s complementary wet food range during the past six months, as it responds to consumer research identifying dog owners are looking for a more visual, healthy solution at mealtimes.

For more details contact your representative or call Fish4Pets on 01299 252352.

A Valentine's Day initiative by Battersea staff to raise awareness of a mongrel in their care sadly ended without anyone coming forward to offer the dog a new home.

The staff threw five-year-old Luke a special Valentine’s Day date in the hope that someone would come forward to find out more about the loveable rescue dog. 

However, Luke, who found himself at Battersea as a stray, was left to celebrate the most romantic day of the year alone after nobody came to meet him.

Luke has now been at the charity’s Kent branch at Brands Hatch for 206 days, which is over five times as long as the average Battersea dog (35 days).

Michelle Bevan, centre manager at Battersea Brands Hatch said: “Valentine’s Day is a time to show your appreciation for those you care about, so it’s heart-breaking knowing that Luke spent the day without anybody to love after nobody came to meet him for a date. Thankfully, Battersea staff were on hand to show Luke plenty of love and affection instead.

“Despite being a large dog, Luke is really just a big softie and enjoys nothing more than to cuddle up by a radiator with his favourite people and a cuddly toy. We’re really hoping that someone will love him for the big lapdog that he truly is and give him the chance to be loved as he deserves.”

As Luke arrived at Battersea as a stray, staff at the charity don’t know much about his past relationship history. However, while Luke loves to be around people, his worries around other dogs means that he is looking to be the only dog in his new home.

Leading aquatics company Eheim has decided to miss this year’s Interzoo taking place in Nuremburg, Germany, on May 24-27.

Over the years the company has been an ever-present at the show but is foregoing participation in May because of what it describes as the global travel, health, and business uncertainty that still surround the covid-19 pandemic.

“The decision was not easy for us, because Interzoo is the most important international trade fair for us," said Eheim general manager Ibrahim Mefire Kouotou. 

“But the protection and responsibility for our employees and customers comes first. Health must be prioritised over economic interests.”

Eheim said it had been pursuing an extended strategy in recent years, meaning that new product launches were no longer dependent on trade fair appearances. Contact with customers, specialist dealers and multipliers had been intensified worldwide and was constantly maintained. 

But it didn’t discount a return to the show in the future, stating: “Interzoo is and remains a very important occasion and marketing opportunity for Eheim. It’s just that this year, as has been said before: the company is prioritising health for its employees and customers over purely economic interests. We feel that this is a good example of responsible management, and the best decision for the company at this time.”

The Royal Veterinary College is calling on puppy owners to take part in a national online survey to understand the pre-purchase motivations and behaviours of owners of puppies purchased during 2021.

Data from the survey, known as 'Pandemic Puppies – The Next Generation', will be used as a comparison to previous years (2019 and 2020), to determine whether the changes in puppy buying in the UK seen during the covid-19 pandemic have returned to their pre-pandemic baseline or persisted into 2021.

Following the major success of the RVC’s first study in 2020, this follow-up study will investigate the legacy of this period and the future of UK puppy buying culture, particularly given pandemic restrictions continue to lift within the UK.

While many owners were likely making well-intentioned purchases, the demand has inevitably increased the risk to puppy health and welfare. Vets are concerned that the pandemic puppy boom is persisting, consequently adding pressure to veterinary services in the UK. Therefore, the findings of this study will be used to help support owners regarding their dogs’ future welfare as well as informing the approach that key players within the veterinary and animal welfare sectors should take when sharing educational messaging with prospective owners to better promote canine welfare.

Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC said: “The covid-19 pandemic led to changes in the way many of us bought our household goods, with online ordering and delivery a common feature of lockdown life. The pandemic also led to changes in the way the UK bought puppies during 2020, due to the many restrictions to travel and social contact during this period.

"Many of these so-called ‘Pandemic Puppies’ became much-cherished companions, helping households cope with lockdown life; however, there are concerns that some owners were duped into buying from unscrupulous breeders. We are interested in whether pandemic-related changes in puppy buying persisted into 2021, so we can best support owners of puppies bought during this period going forward. We would love to hear from anyone who purchased a puppy during 2021 to share their experiences.”

Results from the Winter 2020 survey – which involved more than 7,500 respondents – uncovered several changes in buying habits. Owners were more likely to buy a younger puppy, pay a deposit without seeing their puppy, be first-time dog owners with children in their household, and pay more than £2,000. Other factors included owners being more likely to see their puppy without their littermates and collecting their puppy from outside their breeders’ property or having it delivered.

These pandemic-related changes, such as viewing and purchasing puppies online, and having them delivered directly to owners may be perceived as ‘convenient’ by some but in fact, threaten canine welfare. Posing harms to both puppies and breeding dogs, understanding whether this online culture is preferred by consumers, and if so, how to change it to protect canine welfare will be key.

'Pandemic Puppies – The Next Generation' is now open for responses, with findings expected by the summer. Respondents to the online survey must be over 18 years of age, residents in the UK, have brought home a puppy (any breed or cross breed) aged under 16 weeks during 2021, and to have purchased their puppy from a private seller rather than rehomed or bred the puppy themselves.

For more information  visit: www.rvc.uk.com/Pandemic-Puppies-of-2021-research or to take part in the survey visit: www.rvc.uk.com/Puppy2021-survey

IVC Evidensia has announced two new appointments to its Academy leadership, underpinning its ongoing commitment to learning and development of every team member across the group.

Tunde Vajda (above left) has joined as Group Head of L&D and Professor Gayle Hallowell has joined in the newly created role of Director of Veterinary Professional Development. The two have been appointed to lead the Group’s Academy, ensuring that learning opportunities remain innovative and offer the highest standard of professional development for all vets and nurses.

Tunde Vajda will lead the delivery of the L&D offering with a particular focus on leadership development and training.

She will work closely with teams across the network of clinics to ensure best practice is shared and to support the roll-out of a learning management system giving Vets and RVNs access to an online platform and providing the most up to date digital learning opportunities. Tunde is a passionate advocate for the veterinary profession and has held both operational and L&D roles in other veterinary businesses, most recently as Deputy Director of LED and Head of Course management and delivery at CVS.

Tunde said: “I am really excited to have joined IVC Evidensia. The opportunity to create an environment where our teams, both clinical and non-clinical, have clear development routes is so important. I am looking forward to working with the team to deliver this.”

Professor Gayle Hallowell’s  role is focussed on building career development pathways for both vets and nurses, from students, seeing practice, all the way to developing the most experienced GPs and Specialists.

Professor Hallowell (above right) brings a wealth of veterinary educational experience having spent the last 10 years at Nottingham Vet School, involved with innovative undergraduate and postgraduate initiatives; she is an internationally recognised equine specialist clinician and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

She said: “Ongoing education is such an important part of delivering exceptional veterinary care and is also crucial to ensuring our vets and nurses have sustainable, fulfilling careers. I am delighted to be joining the team at this exciting time in IVC Evidensia’s growth.”  

They will both report to Chief Medical Officer, Amanda Boag.

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

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

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

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.