Podium Pet Products is celebrating after becoming one of the first companies to be honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise 2023.

The Berkshire-based company, whose popular brands include Dog Rocks and Be:Loved, has been recognised for its excellence in international trade.

Podium Pet Products is one of 148 organisations to receive a first-ever King’s Award for Enterprise. However, it is the second time a prestigious award of this kind has been bestowed on the company after Dog Rocks won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2016.

The King’s Awards for Enterprise was previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, and the new name reflects His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II’s by recognising outstanding UK businesses. 

The Award programme, now in its 57th year, is the most prestigious business award in the country, with successful businesses able to use the esteemed King’s Awards Emblem for the next five years.

Carina Evans, CEO of Podium Pet Products, said: “This is a tremendous honour for the company and recognition of the hard work, innovation and inspiration of a talented team.

“Having achieved the Queen’s Award for Enterprise seven years ago was marvellous for the company, and now to become one of the first UK companies to be honoured with a King’s Award is extra special.

“The company has grown significantly over the past few years, moving into international markets with a growing range of pet products, so it is particularly pleasing to be recognised for our international trade.”

Carina started the company in 2006 when a family friend mentioned a fantastic product called Dog Rocks that was selling well in Australia. She was working as an operations manager for a company that owned racecourses at the time but decided to start importing Dock Rocks. The product took off immediately in the UK and Carina managed to combine her two jobs for a couple of years before deciding to concentrate solely on the Dog Rocks business.

Taking the product into Europe and then the US were huge decisions that paid off, especially in the large American market, before Carina looked for new ranges of products to grow the business.

“Making natural products for animals was something I had been interested in for a long time, but it wasn’t until I found an old animal husbandry book that the idea of Be:Loved really took shape,” said Carina. “Using nothing but what could be found in the hedgerows and nature’s harvest, this book was a treasure trove of recipes to create treatments and balms to calm and soothe human and animal alike. We have reimagined these recipes for the Be:Loved brand.”

The full integration of Be:Loved into the portfolio prompted Carina to change the company name from Dog Rocks UK to Podium Pet Products, thereby encompassing all products under one trade roof.

Carina and the team have worked hard at the exporting side of the business, which now makes up more than half of the company’s sales.

“Export is now a joy but to begin with it was a minefield, especially in America,” admitted Carina. “Europe is becoming less traditional and regional with younger English-speaking buyers and savvy marketeers so therefore a more attractive market to us as well.

“Being honoured with a King’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade 2023 will help us grow the business in all our markets, and it is an accolade to be treasured.”

For more information about Podium Pet Products visit www.podiumpetproducts.com

His Majesty King Charles has awarded The First Class Pet Company Limited, the team behind the LITTLE BIGPAW brand, with the Kings Award for Enterprise for International Trade.  

Little BigPaw is one of only 148 organisations nationally to be recognised with the prestigious King’s Award. The First Class Pet Company was awarded The Queens Award in 2018 and now has the huge honour of receiving the King’s Award in the first year of King Charles’s reign. 

Little BigPaw is a range of 100% natural foods and treats, all made in the United Kingdom. Launched in 2015, Little BigPaw has expanded globally taking advantage of the growing trend for high quality, natural foods that give your cat and dog the very best in tasty nutrition. 

Little BigPaw is distributed through specialist pet and veterinary channels and is available in over 45 countries worldwide from England to Ecuador, from Canada to Korea, from Sweden to Singapore and from Taiwan to Trinidad. 

As well as winning the Kings Award for Enterprise the company won the Pet Industry Federation Export Business of the Year 2022.  

Little BigPaw co-founders David Alton and Jim Weston have over 60 years' experience between them in the Pet Trade. 

“It is a huge honour to receive this award and we are absolutely delighted for the whole team and for all our dedicated distributors globally. This is royal recognition not just for Little BigPaw products but also for all the hard work of staff, suppliers and our distribution partners over the last few years,” said Jim Weston. 

“It is a great privilege for Little BigPaw to receive royal recognition once again. A big thank you to our team and distributors for making this possible. This award motivates us to continue to strive ahead to provide the very best of British pet foods around the world,” added David Alton. 

For more information, please visit www.littlebigpaw.co.uk

Leading natural pet supplement manufacturer Lintbells has been honoured with the first ever King’s Award for Enterprise for its work in international trade.    

It is the third time the company has received such a prestigious royal accolade, having previously earned The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Innovation in 2016 and The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Innovation: International Trade in 2018. 

The new King’s Award for Enterprise reflects the continued growth of Lintbells and expansion in international markets and significant launch into the US. 

Following the risks from Brexit, Lintbells made a strategic choice to expand internationally, most notably increasing its presence in the US Market. Part of this expansion included launching new products, sales channels, and acquiring a new local HQ, as well as recruiting talent to the company. Lintbells also continued its expansion across other international markets with the introduction of skin, digestive and calming ranges, alongside its core joint supplement, YuMOVE.

Established in the UK and based in Weston, Hertfordshire, in 2006, Lintbells has seen rapid continued growth as part of their international expansion; quintupling their business outside of the UK over the past 5 years (2018-2022). 

Lintbells now exports high-quality products for pets in more than 20 countries worldwide.  

Fiona Hope, Lintbells CEO, said: “The whole team at Lintbells is delighted that our international growth has been recognised by such a prestigious award.  

“We are very proud of the difference that our scientific supplements make to the quality of life of companion animals and have worked hard to extend our global reach.   

“To receive the first Enterprise Award from His Majesty King Charles III, makes this is a very special moment in Lintbells’ history.”  

Lintbells has always had one driving mission; to help pets across the world live their most active life, for life. The ethos of this mission is prevalent in all aspects of how the company approaches the business – from working with sustainable farms off the coast of New Zealand to source the very best ingredients - to its charitable work and partnerships that support pets across the UK and the US.    

  For more information about Lintbells visit www.lintbells.com or call 01462 790886.

Pets at Home has relaunched the brand with a new identity and advertising campaign that brings together all elements of its business and celebrates the nation’s love of pets.

The refreshed brand is the next move in the business’ ambition to cement itself as the one-stop destination for all pet care needs, from grooming to veterinary services.

Its veterinary business will become Vets for Pets, formerly Vets4Pets, while its grooming service will now be known as Pets Grooming, bringing all of its services under one unified brand identity, Pets. 

The rebrand is live across all digital channels from today and there are long-term plans for this to be rolled out across all of its pet care centres, including more than 450 Pets at Home stores, over 350 grooming salons, and almost 500 veterinary surgeries and practices.

The new-look brand will also have fresh advertising under the creative, ‘We’re all for pets’, that brings to life the insight that we’re a nation that will do anything and everything for our pets, and positions Pets at Home as the pet care provider that makes life better for pets and the people who love them.

It will launch with a fully integrated campaign activated across cinema, TV, Broadcaster Video on Demand (BVOD), press, radio, social, digital and outdoor.

At the heart of the campaign is a new study, The ‘We’re All for Pets’ 2023 Report, that reveals the unconditional love we have for our pets based on an in-depth analysis of pet ownership, with insights used to inspire and inform the creative.

Soundtracked by the iconic I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) by Meatloaf, the campaign film celebrates the lengths we go to for our pets. From showing an owner getting a tattoo of his ferret, to waiting for a dog to do its business in a storm, it is full of funny moments that every pet owner can relate to. The advert will air for the first-time on Thursday 20^th April.

Kathryn Imrie, Chief Consumer Officer at Pets at Home, said: “Our purpose as a business is to make the world better for pets and the people who love them, and our new brand expression helps us to demonstrate the breadth of services we offer to do just this.

“We’re trusted by more Brits than anyone else when it comes to taking care of their pets and that’s because we share that love and passion that owners have. Our launch campaign is based on real insight and celebrates all of the amazing things we do for our beloved companions, and we’re extremely excited to see it come to life.”

View the new brand identity and campaign here: http://petsathome.com/allforpets. 

Click on the image below to view the campaign film...

The UK's most accredited raw dog food producer has extended their popular Classic range to include three flavours of bone broth – beef, chicken and lamb.

Classic Bone Broth products are single protein, made exclusively with natural ingredients, continuing Paleo Ridge’s aim to promote healthy dogs through a natural diet.

The recommended retail price for the product, which will be available online and through independent stockists is £8 for 400ml, with an introductory price of £7 until the end of May. 

Will Green, Director of Sales and Marketing at Paleo Ridge, said: “This has been a long time in development, perfecting this range of products, and we are thrilled to be adding Classic Bone Broth to the Paleo Ridge range.” 

Esther Logue, Content and Communications Manager st Paleo Ridge commented; "Our range of bone broth is naturally mineral rich with essential vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids to keep your pets at their optimum. Bone broth is pressure cooked using the finest cuts of bones to produce a product high in protein, gelatin and collagen.”

 "Bone broth has proven results in reducing inflammation, strengthening bones whilst improving gut and skin health. It is great for pets with sensitive stomachs as the amino acids and gelatin support healthy bowel movements. Our customers can also feed their cats too, meaning even more furry family members are enjoying the benefits of Paleo Ridge." 

TV and radio personality Anna Webb is a qualified canine nutritionist and dog expert. Anna is a raw feeding advocate and feeds her dogs Prudence and Mr Binks bone both on a regular basis. 

Anna explained: "I like to think of Bone Broth as a ‘cellular energy drink”. Dogs need to stay hydrated. A lot of their water intake should be through their food, which is not easy if feeding a dry kibble diet! Broth offers an ‘Isotonic’ delicious, healthy and species appropriate drink.”

"It is packed with electrolytes: minerals like sodium and potassium that make it more effective at hydration than water alone. Broth’s palatability encourages dogs to drink on hot summer days, helps dogs in recovery, or post-surgery to replenish body fluids. Performance and working dogs benefit too, as do ’seniors’ needing extra support, as bone broth contains calcium and glucosamine sulphates for joint health.”

"It’s an ideal first food following an illness, or tummy upset as its simply concentrated bio-available liquid nutrition. It promotes a healthy gut, and immune system as it contains key amino acids / proteins like Glycine, which decrease inflammation and build tissues in the gut lining. Packed with minerals including silicon, sulphur, magnesium and phosphorus, It can tempt the fussiest eaters to tuck into their food, or it’s just a healthy refreshing drink to boost optimum wellness." 

To find out more about Paleo Ridge go to www.paleoridge.co.uk

Purina has announced the winners of its BetterwithPets prize. Two UK charities are among the three overall winners, whittled down from a shortlist of more than 110 organisations across Europe. Pets As Therapy and StreetVet, along with Spanish organisationCenter de Teràpies Assistides amb Cans, all scooped the top spots, being recognised for setting standards and best practice in fostering people’s health and well-being through the power of the pet-human bond.

The three winning organisations will each share a proportion the total £175,000 (€200,000) prize pot, which will be paid out over a two-year period. This will provide crucial funding and resources to help each make an even greater positive impact on the lives of individuals, pets and their communities through the vital work they are already doing.

The winners have the potential to strengthen their impact further and contribute to combat some of the most pressing social issues including providing free veterinary care to those facing homelessness, animal-assisted interventions, and pet visits to people of all conditions and vulnerabilities. These impactful organisations have developed innovative solutions for pets and people who love them.

The three organisations awarded this year’s BetterWithPets Prize are:

• Pets As Therapy (PAT): a national charity that enhances the health and wellbeing of thousands of people in communities across the UK by providing therapeutic pet visits to establishments such as care homes, hospitals, hospices, schools and prisons. More than 400,000 individuals benefit from PAT visits each year.
• StreetVet: a multi-award-winning UK charity that delivers free essential veterinary care and services to the pets that belong to those experiencing homelessness. The bond between many homeless people and their pets is profound and the health and wellbeing of their animal companions is often a major priority for their owners. However, life on the streets makes it difficult to access the care these pets deserve. StreetVet’s team of professional vets and veterinary nurses have provided essential care to more than 2000 people and their pets across the UK, delivering care and support required to ensure their combined wellbeing.
• Spanish organisation Center de Teràpies Assistides amb Cans: an organisation that provide animal-assisted interventions to help people.

Clare Davis, CEO of Pets As Therapy, stated: “We know PAT visits can’t fix the world, but each and every day our volunteers and their pets are making a difference to people’s lives. From enabling someone lost in the fog of dementia to speak or being a catalyst for someone to speak when they’ve not been able to say what’s wrong. Our impact is immediate it’s in the here and now. If “Pets As Therapy” were an unpolished diamond, winning the BetterwithPets award will help it to shine by widening our reach and helping us refine our training and support, enabling us to address our growing waiting list and provide more PAT teams into the places which need us.”

Jade Statt, Co-Founder and Clinical Director for StreetVet, commented on how the award will help StreetVet grow: “StreetVet understands the importance of the pet-human bond. For our clients, pets provide companionship, non-judgemental love, mental health support, a conduit to social connection and, in many cases, a reason to live. Our work with Purina since 2020 has been game changing and being successful in 2023 reinforces how far StreetVet has come. The funding will help us pursue sustainable growth and create more opportunities to collaborate and maximise our impact.”

Through the prize, Purina aspires to create a network of organisations to collaborate, share best practices, foster initiatives, network, and fundraise - all to build knowledge, scale impact and demonstrate how health and wellbeing can be improved by harnessing the power of the pet-human bond.

Calum Macrae, Regional Director of Purina UK & Ireland, said: “I'm thrilled that two brilliant UK charities are both winners of this year’s Purina BetterWithPets Prize. StreetVet does incredible work in helping to protect the pet-human bond, often when it’s needed most. The mental and physical wellbeing benefits that StreetVet brings to both pets and people experiencing homelessness, is huge.

"Pets As Therapy equally has a huge impact through their work to support vulnerable people. The impressive scale they achieve through their unique model, using volunteer pets and owners, makes a massive difference in local communities. I'm looking forward to working with both charities in the future.”

Purina acknowledges the responsibility of multi-national companies to support high impact non-governmental organisations, not only financially but also by upscaling their work and raising awareness of their activities. Purina aims to publish a flagship report which provides a snapshot of the current ecosystem and identifies any gaps in impact by consolidating the data of more than 110 organisations across 23 countries who applied to the Prize. Demonstrating how, in 2022, pets could contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal number 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

The BetterwithPets Prize initiative builds onPurina’s new commitment to help 1,000,000 people in vulnerable situations improve their health and wellbeing by 2030.

To find out more about Purina’s BetterWithPets Prize winners, click here.

Visitors to PATS Telford in October are in for a real treat as organisers of the UK’s number one pet industry exhibition promise to stage the biggest-ever PATS event.

More stand space has been provided in three halls of Telford International Centre as demand from companies to showcase their products and services increases.  

With still over five months to go before the show – Sunday, 1 October and Monday, 2 October 2023 – more than 140 companies and brands have already booked to exhibit, which represents 86% of the stand space.

As well as the industry’s big-name brands, a growing number of new companies have chosen to exhibit at PATS Telford, and as a result a New Starter Zone, supported by PetQuip, will be given a prominent position in Hall 3.

“The demand for stand space at PATS Telford has been phenomenal, so we took the decision to extend even further into Hall 3,” said organiser Gordon Thomas, of Impact Exhibitions and Events.

“It’s great to be able to offer pet start-ups the chance to showcase their new products and services in the New Starter Zone, and the take-up has been really good so far.”

Newcomers to PATS Telford include Poorly Paws, which produces first aid kits for pets. The company’s Alex Surace said: “We are excited to be exhibiting at PATS as it’s the perfect platform to show pet industry professionals our innovative and interactive range. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate our product.”

It’s a similar story for Fetched, whose Kayleigh Bowles commented: “It’s extremely important for us to create long lasting relationships with likeminded retailers and professionals, ensuring our brand grows in the way it deserves. PATS is the ideal exhibition to showcase our growing collection to respected buyers within the industry.”

The timing of PATS Telford is also perfect for another first-time exhibitor, Snoots & Sploots, which markets pet businesses. “This summer we’re launching our mutts nuts, cats pyjamas of pet business directories. We couldn’t think of a better place for our first official Snoots & Sploots event, and are really excited to meet other businesses that share our passion for furry friends,” said Samantha Lambert.

Peterals is making its debut at PATS Telford and is excited to offer its products to the retail sector for the first time. “PATS Telford will allow us to meet buyers in one location, making the buying/selling experience seamless,” commented Matthew Hollands.

In a move to create more interest with international buyers, the PATS team will be travelling to Zoomark International, Italy, in May to exhibit in the British Pavilion.

“Our primary aim for exhibiting at international shows is to meet, talk to and encourage international retailers and distributors to come to PATS,” added Gordon Thomas.

Leading trade association PetQuip will also be working with PATS to tempt international pet retail chains and distributors to the Autumn showpiece.

The association’s involvement doesn’t end there because it will be staging its prestigious PetQuip Awards after the first day of the exhibition. 

The New Product Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, will again be a popular feature of the show as it gives visitors the chance to see and touch the new products they will be stocking for the coming season. 

Entries to the Showcase will judged by a panel of retailers for the New Product Awards on the first morning of the show, so the results will be known and highlighted throughout the three halls for the rest of the exhibition. 

To help make the visitor experience even more enjoyable and rewarding, PATS Telford offers free show entry, free parking, a free catalogue and many special deals.

There will also be a wide range of food available, and visitors will receive a complimentary lunch voucher in addition to the regular complimentary tea or coffee voucher.

Pet product retailers and buyers can now register for free entry to PATS Telford at the new look website www.patshow.co.uk where a full list of exhibitors can also be found.

UK-based firm Butternut Box has acquired PsiBufet, Poland’s number one fresh dog food business. The acquisition allows the company to expand its European presence.

Aligned in their shared commitment to providing fresh meals that are complete, balanced and high-quality, this marks an exciting milestone for Butternut Box as it expands further into Europe and continues its mission to deliver tasty, healthy meals to dogs around the world.

Since its inception in 2016, Butternut Box has grown rapidly, raising over £100m in capital to date including investment from L Catterton, White Star Capital, Five Seasons Ventures, Passion Capital, Literacy Capital, Claret Capital and HSBC. It also recently became certified as a B Corporation, in part driven by the opening of Rudie’s Kitchen in March 2021, a fully integrated manufacturing and fulfilment facility; giving full visibility and control over emissions.

PsiBufet, founded in 2012, is a leading fresh dog food company in Poland known for its individually tailored fresh food for dogs. With this acquisition, PsiBufet’s customers will enjoy better quality fresh food, a wider range of products, and a more advanced online customer experience. In turn, Butternut Box is able to expand its activities to Central and Eastern Europe, with Poland serving as a regional hub for the group's operations and enabling wider growth into Europe, so the group may help even more dogs live healthier and happier lives through a fresh diet.

"We are thrilled to welcome PsiBufet to the Butternut Box team," said Kevin Glynn, co-founder of Butternut Box. "PsiBufet shares our commitment to providing dogs with fresh, wholesome, nutritious meals, and we are excited to bring their expertise and product offerings into our portfolio. This acquisition allows us to scale our operations in Europe and bring the Butternut Box experience to even more dog owners and their beloved dogs."

"We are delighted that PsiBufet and Butternut Box have become one team. We have been actively supporting PsiBufet's journey for several years and are extremely impressed with the progress they have made. We are pleased that together we will be able to take care of dogs' health and happiness in Poland, and all over Europe. We’re really excited about continuing to serve customers the best quality fresh dog food in the Polish market," says David Nolan, co-founder of Butternut Box.

"Butternut Box has been supporting us for over three years. It is not only a capital investor but above all a strategic one, sharing their knowledge and experience. Our companies share a common organisational culture and, above all, a mission: to provide health and happiness to dogs and their humans all over the world. I am pleased that, thanks to the relationship, we will be able to offer customers in Poland the highest quality products," says Piotr Wawrysiuk, founder, and CEO of PsiBufet.

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes plans to open a new Christchurch store – its second in Dorset - at 10am on Saturday 29 April.

The store, at the new Christchurch Trade Park on Somerford Road comes just months after Jollyes’ highly successful opening in Poole which was opened by local legend Harry Redknapp, his wife Sandra and dog Barney.

Jollyes is rapidly opening shops across the country and its Christchurch manager Louise Borg will be the company’s 1,000th colleague.

Joining Jollyes after a 20-year retail career, Louise is mum to a chorkie called Smudgi.

For its launch, Jollyes is also teaming up with Dorset Dogs to help raise for the social enterprise’s vital work in the region.

The charitable arm of Dog Friendly Dorset Facebook, Dorset Dogs CIC is raising funds to support its work in the community including the opening of pet food banks across Dorset and beyond, and campaigning to raise awareness of the importance of pets and dogs to the wellbeing of humans.

To help spread that message, Dorset Dogs will have a Kissing Booth (for pets only!) at the store on launch day with founder Nicky Crowe, an animal behaviourist, on hand to showcase the benefits of scent work, first aid and training to help dogs and humans.

Jollyes will match-fund money raised by Dorset Dogs over the opening weekend and also help support Dorset Dogs pet food banks across the county.

On its Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/dogfriendlydorset), Dorset Dogs will launch a search for the most deserving dog in Dorset to launch the store on 29 April by biting through a string of sausages.

Other activity planned for the opening launch include an outside broadcast by community station Hot Radio, kids face-painting and animal stilt walkers and a tour for the chair of BCP Council.

Jollyes in Christchurch will also see the first-ever launch of Jollyes’ “Jumbo Pet” – a giant airship featuring a dog and cat that will be raised on Saturday morning to 150ft to tell Christchurch that the store has opened.

Jollyes Christchurch store will have a community pet clinic each Monday, part of a plan between now and the summer of 2024, to double the number of stores that offer vet-run clinics.

Vet-supervised dog and cat vaccinations in the clinic will start at just £14 and £13 for rabbits with primary course jabs for dogs and cats at £33. 

Microchipping, already compulsory for dogs and compulsory for cats from 2024, for cats, start at just £13, offering significant savings against average prices charged by formal vet practices.

“We’re starting work today getting the store ready for opening next week.” said regional manager Sam Wells.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Dorset Dogs and can’t wait to show off our store to them and pet parents in and around Christchurch.”

Nicky Crowe from Dorset Dogs said: “Just like Jollyes we know the physical and mental health benefits of owning a pet – the emotional support they provide is nothing short of a lifeline for their owners.

“That’s why we’re committed to rolling out pet food banks across the region.  People are feeding their pets before themselves and we aim to ease this harsh reality."

According to the Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH) survey of more than 60 animal shelters across England, 92 per cent of shelters have seen an increase in people wanting to surrender a dog compared to pre-pandemic levels, and 88 per cent saw an increase in people wanting to surrender cats.

“Pets are family, and we want to help keep families together,” added Nicky..

The opening of the new Christchurch store is part of Jollyes’ ambitious expansion plans which will see it hit £100 million turnover in FY2023, employ 1,000 colleagues this year and have 100 stores within 18 months.

Its Christchurch store will be the first location it has ever opened in a brand new unit.

Nationwide pet retailer Jollyes today is to cordon off in-store small animal pens and station colleagues without a mobile phone close to those barriers on Sunday afternoon (April 23).

The in-store action is being taken because the government plans to test its new mobile phone emergency alert system this weekend.

Jollyes is concerned that hundreds of phones issuing a siren at the same time during trading hours, could startle its small animals.

Jollyes will also warn customers in-store ahead of the 3pm broadcast that the alert is coming, so they can quickly acknowledge the message on their phones and stop the siren.

Jollyes’ retail director Craig Smith said:  “We understand why the government needs to test its new warning system, but we’re concerned that doing so in trading hours may startle any small animals – especially rabbits in store.  We’ve asked our store colleagues to do what they can to minimise any noise.”

Rabbits are able to hear different sounds far more clearly than humans -  and loud noises can unsettle them.  The sound of fireworks, a loud bang from a gun, or even a vacuum can be terrifying for a rabbit.

Rabbits are highly tuned to their surroundings, especially sounds and are conditioned to sense danger in a variety of ways. They have powerful hearing skills and have the ability to move quickly and avoid being attacked. Doing so makes them jittery and easily afraid, but it also helps them to survive.

A rabbit’s sense of fear is a survival tactic. Therefore, it’s easy for a rabbit to get nervous and frightened, especially during noisy conditions.

A public relations agency which specialises in pet industry PR has been named as a finalist in two leading industry awards for the second year running. 

Tillymint Communications has been shortlisted in the CIPR Excellence Awards and the Express & Star Business Awards (ESBA) for 2023 across four different categories.

These include Independent PR Practitioner of the year, Best Publication and Best Low Budget Campaign in the CIPR Excellence Awards - the industry's leading PR awards scheme which recognises “the phenomenal work of public relations practitioners around the globe”.

Tillymint has also been shortlisted in the Best Marketing Campaign category for ESBA regional business awards. The entries relate to work undertaken with the Pet Industry Federation and the launch of Karnlea Bone Broth.

Agency founder Alison Gallagher-Hughes said she was delighted that Tillymint’s work had been recognised and was indicative at how far the company had come in such a short time.

“Tillymint was founded during the Covid crisis and it was quite a challenge to start a company against such a dramatically changing landscape. Long term, this has meant organisations having to re-establish their credentials and convey their value to customers and we have helped them do that with results-driven activity to raise their profile and visibility,” she said.

She said that it was particularly special to be acknowledged by CIPR during its 75th celebratory year and by a media title for whom she once worked.

Tillymint now faces presentations and interviews with judging panels before the winners are decided and announced at gala nights in June.

In addition to being shortlisted in the same events last year, Tillymint also took a gold and two silver awards in the regional CIPR PRide Awards, in October 2022.

Former director of Mars Petcare’s Natusan, Rachel Andre, has launched cat care brand Tippaws – an independent direct-to-consumer, pet lifestyle company offering healthy and nutritious cat food and long-lasting clumping litter made from plant fibres.

Developed with feline nutritionists and made in the UK, Tippaws’ dry cat food range is naturally hypoallergenic and is made from 70% real meat and fish, with added prebiotics to support a cat’s gut health. The launch range includes four dry food recipes to cater for kittens, adult and neutered cats, as well as a Tippaws Taster Pack comprising of sample bags of the three adult meals. Trialled against other leading dry food in multiple taste tests, Tippaws emerged as the winning formula to please feline tastebuds.

For sustainably conscious cat owners, there’s also Tippaws Long-lasting Clumping Litter - a patented antibacterial formula made from plant fibres that are by-products, compostable, biodegradable and FSC certified. Designed for convenience, with one 6L bag lasting one cat 45 days, flushable Tippaws Litter has superior odour control, tight clumping, and low-tracking properties to offer practical solutions for one of the less desirable aspects of living with cats. A Tippaws litter scoop, made from recycled ocean plastic, is also available either as a standalone purchase or with the Tippaws Purrfect Essential Kit. 

Recognising that not all cats have regular access to food and or care, Tippaws also launches with a purpose-led mission to help make all cats purrs in the UK. For every order of 5kg of dry food or two bags of Litter or more, Tippaws will donate 50p to their first of many small charity partners Stray Cat Rescue. This is the first step in Tippaws long-term ambition to create a foundation that will fund multiple charities.

Tippaws Founder Rachel Andre says: “I set up Tippaws with the aim of making the nation’s cats purr, whether that’s from healthy and nutritious food that tastes so good a cat will stand on their tippy paws to get it or offering their owner insights on how to help their cat can live their best life from kitten to seniors.

"Working closely with experts in feline nutrition and behaviourists, Tippaws has launched a range in line with research on what Tippaws believe cats and their owners really want.

"Being a small, independently owned company, I also felt it was important that cats and kittens, who don't yet have a loving home to call their own, get to purr too, which is why a focus on partnering with cat rescue charities has been incorporated into our business model from the get-go.”

Tippaws Dry Cat Food is priced from £5 for a 300g sample pack, with Tippaws’ Long-lasting Clumping Litter priced £13.99 for a 6L bag. Cat parents can also opt for the Purrfect Essentials Kit for a new cat or kitten, which includes a 1.5kg bag of any recipe food, a bag of litter and the litter scooper for £29.99. Tippaws products are available exclusively at tippaws.com as a one-off purchase or on a subscription basis, with the option of cancelling a subscription at any time.

For more information, visit Tippaws.com and follow @weareTippaws on social.

Natural Cornish Pet, voted UK Pet Retailer of the Year in 2021 at the PetQuip Awards, has introduced a boredom-busting new Coffee Wood Chew to its range of treats.

With zero calories and a tough texture the new Coffee Wood Chew is great for cleaning teeth and gums. Coffee wood is the perfect wood for the production of chews, as it breaks down into manageable and digestible fibres, so a dog will have no problem gnawing all day long if they wish to. Coffee wood is also a particularly strong and durable variety of hardwood, meaning it can be enjoyed by a dog for a long amount of time, no matter how hard they bite, nibble or gnaw.

Coffee Wood Dog Chews are made from nothing but the coffee wood itself and contain no additives of any kind, no sugars or caffeine either, making them a perfect chew for those dogs who may be in need a bit of dieting after putting on some excess winter weight! The chews are carefully curated, dried, lightly sanded and sent straight out to Natural Cornish Pet. The Coffee Wood Chews are also hypoallergenic making them a superbly suitable alternative chew for dogs with allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients.

Not only can these chews be used as a distraction from calorific food, but they are also a great way to keep a dog’s dental health in tip-top condition too. They are a brilliant way to strengthen a dog’s dental muscles as they masticate and ruminate. As well as this, the fine fibres of the coffee wood, once the chew has been chewed for a while, act as a natural toothbrush, removing tartar and plaque on any furry friend's teeth and gums, helping to avoid any potentially costly and painful dental health problems in the future. These chews are perfect for those dogs who really don't like having their teeth brushed as it is a fun, tasty and all-natural way to keep their mouth as healthy as it can be. 

These chews can also be a great stress reliever for those dogs who suffer from anxiety and separation problems, allowing them to have a delicious distraction that will easily last when they are left to their own devices.  

Coffee Wood Chews are sustainably sourced, meaning their production makes no lasting impact on the environment from which they were procured. They are sent to you in completely recyclable packaging, reducing the need for unnecessary plastic and non-recyclable packing methods. The chews are, of course, vegan too, potentially reducing the amount of meat and fish-based chews that are consumed by our canine companions each and every year. Lastly, Coffee Wood Chews are completely natural and therefore require no energy-hungry industrial processes to produce them either.

In short, Natural Cornish Pet’s Coffee Wood Chews for dogs are not only good for the dental and mental health of dogs, but for the planet at large too! 

They are available in three sizes:

• Small: 13-14cm long, 2-3cm wide RRP £9.45
• Medium: 16-18cm long, 3- 4cm wide RRP £12.45
• Large: 19- 20cm long, 4-5cm wide RRP £15.45

For further information visit www.naturalcornishpet.co.uk. For trade enquiries visit:  Natural Pet Wholesale — Natural Cornish Pet Wholesale

Forthglade Natural Pet Food has appointed popular TV vet Dr James Greenwood as pet care expert and brand ambassador. 

James has become a popular and respected voice on animal health with over ten years as a practicing vet and regular TV appearances on shows such as Morning Live, Blue Peter and The Pets Factor.

The partnership will see James champion Forthglade’s natural meals and treats with engaging content for marketing campaigns, highlighting the brand’s quality ingredients, natural goodness and health benefits; whilst also providing advice on caring for canine companions. With a large online following, James will also support Forthglade with digital content for social media activity throughout the year. 

The first campaign featuring James kicks off this week with a focus on senior dog care   sharing advice on age-appropriate diet, exercise and mental stimulation. The educational campaign supports the launch of Forthglade’s new senior recipes for dogs, which like the range of puppy and adult meals, are specifically tailored for a dog’s varying needs.  

James said: “I’m so pleased to have joined forces with Forthglade as a nutritious diet is at the heart of a dog’s health - you are what you eat and it’s no different for our dogs.  As a dog owner myself I know the importance of feeling confident in knowing you’re doing the very best for your pet, and a wholesome diet needs to be top of the list."

David Cox, CEO, Forthglade comments” We’re delighted to welcome James to the team and look forward to working together as we launch our exciting new ranges of dry foods and treats in the second half of 2023 to our trade partners.  James’s expert tips and advice on keeping dogs happy and healthy will really support our ongoing mission of nourishing the relationship between pet owners and their four-legged friends.”

Forthglade’s new senior recipes sit within the award-winning range of complete wet meals for dogs, with ingredients specifically tailored for a dog’s varying life stage.  Made in Devon, the new grain free and wholegrain meals for seniors contain carefully selected ingredients to help dogs aged 7yrs+ stay fitter for longer. 

With 15% less fat than Forthglade’s adult dog recipes, the lower calorie meals contain 60% protein.  Grain free recipes, ideal for sensitive tummies include lamb or turkey with butternut squash (for low energy density and high antioxidants for digestion), plus tasty vegetables. Wholegrain recipes include white fish or lamb, each mixed with brown rice and vegetables. The senior meals include higher levels of chondroitin and glucosamine for healthy joints and bones, omega 3 to maintain good cognitive function, plus chicory root; a prebiotic that helps older dogs maintain a healthy digestion.  Available in 395g trays RRP £1.90, and cases of singles 18x395g or variety packs of 12’s. Visit Forthglade to learn more or contact the team trade@forthglade.com.

The Pet Industry Federation has announced the programme for its two-day Business of Pets conference. 

Sponsored by MHA MacIntyre Hudson, the Business of Pets conference is a brand new event designed to help pet businesses take that vital step to the next level. It will take place from Wednesday 7 – Thursday 8 June at the Cranfield Management Development Centre near Milton Keynes.

The programme will cover important topics for those businesses considering investment to grow their business, but who are looking for advice and guidance to do it successfully. Topics include:

• Getting your business ready for investment
• Avoiding compliance pitfalls
• Discovering the right investment options for your business
• Safeguarding your brand
• Hearing from those who have invested and what worked for them and what did not
• What the UK pet market is looking for in terms of investment
• Latest market research 

Participating companies include Kantar, Serjeants, Innovate UK Edge, Natwest Accelerator, British Business Bank, SFC Capital, Piper, Cliverton, Sprintlaw and Watersheds. 

Nigel Baker, CEO of PIF commented: "This exciting agenda covers a whole raft of considerations for pet companies who are thinking about how to get investment for growth into their company. It can be time-consuming and challenging to research all the various options, and costly if it goes wrong, so we have designed this conference to cover all bases for pet service and product companies at every level of the investment journey."

The two days of learning and networking are aimed at business owners, directors and decision makers and the programme allows for networking opportunities, including an evening social BBQ after the first day.

Tickets are strictly limited to ensure that delegates can make the most of their attendance. To purchase tickets, and for more information, visit www.petfederation.co.uk

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A survey by DIY retail chain B&Q reveals that 38% of people have restyled their home for their pet.

B&Q has published its second annual ‘Slice of Home Life’ Report, exploring the mindset of UK households, how they’re living in and adapting their homes to cost-of-living and other challenges.

The report identified four emerging trends: Pets taking priority, the rise of the utility room, the death of the open plan and accidental sustainability.

B&Q revealed that 1 in 3 pet owners admit their furry friends dominate their home - almost 2 in 5 have considered moving home to make more space for their pet.

A miniature dachshund, who was severely injured after being runover by a bike, has made an incredible recovery after being treated by specialists at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

The dachshund, Frida, obtained injuries so extensive that euthanasia was discussed as an option when her owners took her to their local vets. However, the family decided they wanted to give her a “fighting chance” and so she was sent to RVC Small Animal Referrals at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals.

Injuries sustained by two-year-old Frida during the accident included pelvic fractures, significant intraabdominal bruising and a urethral rupture (a tear in the tube through which a dog urinates) – but thankfully she made a full recovery.

Frida was an inpatient at the RVC’s Hertfordshire-based small animal referral hospital for just over one week. During that time, she received treatment and care initially from the Emergency & Critical Care team, followed by both the Soft Tissue Surgery Service and Orthopaedic Service.

On the day of her admission, further investigations revealed a rupture of her upper urethra. During surgery, two more urethral tears were identified and repaired. The following day, as Frida had recovered well, she had a right ilial body fracture repaired by members of the Orthopaedic Service and returned to the ICU before moving to the dog ward.

Frida’s owners were given a graded exercise programme to support her recovery when she was discharged. This started with five-minute walks on a short lead for three or four times a day for the first two weeks, before then slowly increasing to 20-minute walks at five to eight weeks after discharge.

Frida returned to the RVC for re-examination two months later and with her owner’s following the exercise plan, she was making a good recovery. Follow-up radiographs showed healing of her ilial fracture with no implant concerns. Frida’s exercise was then allowed to be gradually increased back to normal and she was signed off by the RVC teams.

Today, Frida is back to her usual self and enjoying all that life has to offer!

Commenting on Frida’s treatment, care and recovery, owner, Nancy McCartney, said: “The teams at the RVC were completely fantastic from day-one. They were kind, understanding, and explained everything to us in as much detail as we needed. The communication from the veterinary surgeons was brilliant. We had daily phone updates from Dr Matthew Simpson, who was just fantastic and kept us in the loop about Frida’s progress.

“Frida spent the first few weeks at home getting back to eating and sleeping. She had lost a lot of weight post-accident – from 4.4kg to 3.5kg. She slowly gained confidence in walking small distances and her personality definitely came back. Over the months, she has improved beyond our wildest dreams. She is pretty much as she was pre-accident. She loves nothing more than chasing her ball on the beach down in Devon and snuggling up under the blanket on the sofa. Considering the position we found ourselves in June 2022, we cannot thank the amazing team at RVC enough.”

Matthew Simpson, a veterinary specialist-in-training at the RVC, said: “We have really enjoyed hearing about Frida’s progress from her owners – she’s such a resilient little dog! The case was a multidisciplinary collaboration between different specialist teams, including Soft Tissue and Orthopaedic Surgery and Critical Care, with veterinary specialists, residents, registered veterinary nurses and veterinary patient care assistants from across different teams all working together to help Frida.”

Professor Richard Meeson, Head of the Orthopaedics Service, added: “It is great to hear how Frida has been doing. We have an incredibly varied caseload and encounter many amazing patients, but Frida made a real impact on us. The team tackles a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions in dogs and cats, including joint diseases – such as elbow and hip dysplasia and arthritis – angular limb deformities, cruciate disease, joint replacements and repair of broken bones and joints. We also work closely with other specialist teams across the hospital, including Neurology and Neurosurgery, Soft Tissue Surgery and Critical Care.”

The British Independent Retailers Association has said it is fully behind the ShopKind campaign which launched this week.

The #ShopKind campaign, which is backed by the Home Office and supported by major high street retailers, as well as the nation's independent shopkeepers, and the shopworkers union Usdaw.

The aid of the campaign is to to encourage positive behaviours in shops, acknowledge the important role of shopworkers and raise awareness about the scale and impact of violence and abuse against shopworkers. 

Figures show that 400 shopworkers are abused every day, which has prompted the campaign to ask shoppers to be kind and to encourage people to always report violence and abuse.

BIRA, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, said abuse towards shopworkers was a real problem, and so were fully supporting the campaign.

Jeff Moody, Commercial Director of BIRA said: "Shopworkers should be able to go about their day-to-day business with respect and thanks from people using their invaluable service.

"This is a great campaign which we are encouraging all of our members to get behind and we want to be able to help encourage the positive behaviours in shops, and also acknowledge the important role of shopworkers in our villages, towns and cities.

"With 400 shopworkers being abused each day is a shocking figure and even one case isn't acceptable. We would therefore urge each and every shopworker who is abused to ensure they report the crime as soon as possible," he said.

The award-winning and fast-growing treat brand PARK LiFE has extended its team with the appointment of Emma Tinsley as Assistant Sales & Operations Manager.

Founder Richard Marles said: “The role is new, and will help PARK LiFE to service our growing customer base across the UK and overseas as we continue to expand our natural, grain free dog treats range. New flavours, formats, and products coming soon.”

PARK LiFE won the pet products category at the Glee New Product Awards in 2022.

A spritely young two-year-old Domestic Short Hair cat narrowly avoided losing her leg, thanks to PDSA, after an accident left her badly injured and unable to walk.

Nathalie Kassoul, from East Ham, arrived home one evening to find her beloved cat, Carrot Cake, injured and unable to walk on her back leg. She took Carrot Cake to her local vet, who examined her and found that she had serious injuries to her back leg, likely caused by a car accident or a fall. Carrot Cake was stabilised and given pain relief, but x-rays showed that she would need surgery in order to save her leg. 

Devastatingly, the ongoing cost of living crisis meant the family would have struggled to afford the surgery required, which could have reached thousands of pounds. Nathalie and her daughter sought help from PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, who confirmed that they were eligible for support.

Carrot Cake was transferred for treatment at PDSA Bow Pet Hospital on Barker's Butts Lane, where further x-rays luckily confirmed there was no other damage. A few days later, once she was stable, she was taken to surgery where the team worked tirelessly to repair Carrot Cake’s leg.

Thanks to the dedication of the Bow vet team, the operation was a success and Carrot Cake was subsequently allowed to go home with strict instructions to rest. Carrot Cake is now happily on the road to recovery – and her family is completely overjoyed.

Nathalie said: “I have absolutely no idea what happened to Carrot Cake, and finding her like that was so horrible. When we got to the private veterinary practice, they explained that her leg was broken and it could cost as much as £5,000 to treat. I’d put my pet’s health before anything else, but we just couldn’t afford this. Due to the sheer impact the cost of living has had, we’re already trying to make cutbacks – we try not to use the heating, and we’ve even bought a microwave as it’s cheaper to run than using the gas oven to cook our meals.

“We faced a heart-breaking decision, as it we couldn’t afford the full cost of repair at the private practice. We’re so grateful PDSA were there in our hour of need to step in and treat Carrot Cake’s leg.”

PDSA Vet Claire Wood said: “When Carrot Cake arrived at the hospital, she had wounds and bruising around her pelvis and back legs. We took further x-rays to check there were no other injuries before she had surgery, and thankfully, these showed there was no more damage so we were able to operate using a pin and plate with screws to hold the bone together while it heals.  

“The surgery went well and Carrot Cake was able to go home later that day with pain relief and antibiotics to prevent any infection developing from her wounds.

“To make sure Carrot Cake had the best chance of healing and fully recovering, she needed strict rest – luckily after six weeks the fracture had healed, and we were able to remove the pin.”

Nathalie added: “Carrot Cake has recovered really well and is back to her loving and energetic self – up and about, jumping, and running to her hearts content.

“She’s such an active cat who loves exploring outside so we couldn’t be more grateful to PDSA for treating her and helping to avoid amputation. Whilst my daughter and I both work, I don’t know how we would have afforded to pay the cost of the veterinary care needed to treat her leg.

In our time of need, PDSA were able to save our beloved family pet, the work they do really does change lives.”

PDSA relies on donations to deliver life-saving treatment to hundreds of thousands of pets across its 48 Pet Hospitals in the UK. To keep families together, the charity is urgently calling on the public’s support more than ever to prevent vulnerable people having to make a truly heartbreaking decision. To find out more about PDSA’s vital work during the cost-of-living crisis, or to donate, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/costoflovingcrisis.

Pet food brand Nature’s Variety has announced it will now be sold through Amazon and has offered a 25% discount to consumers switching to the online retailer.

Under the heading ‘WE ARE MOVING!’, the popular brand from the Natures Menu stable advertises: “Find your pet’s favourites on Amazon and save on your first order.”

The range of products was originally launched in January 2020 by Natures Menu under the True Instinct brand following an investment of £2.8m in freeze dried technology. The brand changed names later that year following the purchase of the Natures Menu portfolio by Spanish dry pet food experts Affinity Petcare.

New, bold orange packaging was designed to catch the eyes of retailers and customers alike and to provide clear signposting to the brand instore and online.

But now the brand’s owners feel that the Amazon channel is the best path for it to go down, tempting pet owners to switch with the money-off first order deal.

Pet Trade Xtra approached Nature’s Variety for a comment but there hasn’t been a response at present.

Work on a new veterinary hospital is well underway in Birmingham as it gets ready to open its doors later this year. 

With construction now complete, Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital in Longbridge has reached fit out stage and the site team is working toward its doors opening in Autumn 2023, when it will provide a specialist-led, multi-disciplinary referral service and 24/7 emergency care for pets in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

Blaise is the first purpose-built multi-disciplinary hospital for IVC Evidensia, one of the UK’s leading veterinary care providers. Driven by the boom in pet ownership over the last three years, it will accept patients referred from primary care vet practices across the UK and will offer a wide range of specialist treatments including orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeries, cancer treatment, specialist cardiology procedures, and a specialist-led anaesthesia service. There will also be an emergency and critical care service offering ICU and out of hours care. 

Located at the new West Longbridge regeneration site, the 36,000 sq. ft hospital is named after the patron saint of veterinarians. Known for his kindness and empathy towards animals and his ability to heal them, St Blaise was said to be able to tame the fiercest of animals and help timid creatures become braver. Animals trusted him and looked to him for help.

A series of personnel announcements has also been made for the hospital, including clinical director Andrew Kent. A European Specialist in veterinary internal medicine, Andrew has worked in referrals for over 10 years and will oversee the hospital from opening, driving it forward to become one of the UK’s top specialist veterinary hospitals.

Mr Kent said: “I am very much looking forward to joining Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital and IVC Evidensia in this exciting project and creating a hospital that is an amazing place to work as well as one that offers exceptional levels of patient care.”

Mr Kent’s appointment is accompanied by two heads of service who are also esteemed practitioners in their respective disciplines. Joining his team are European specialists in small animal surgery Lara Dempsey, as head of soft tissue surgery, and Mike Farrell, as head of orthopaedic surgery. More service leaders are to be announced ahead of opening. 

Mr Kent continued: “Being able to bring such stellar talent to Blaise early on in our journey puts us well on our way to being one of the leading hospitals in the UK and having a specialist team well placed to look after pets across the Midlands.”

With the capacity to treat up to 10,000 pets pet year, the hospital will include state-of-the-art equipment, pioneering treatments and specialist-led extended clinical services including a custom-built intensive care unit for emergency and critical care, advanced imaging suite, oncology treatment wards and a number of modern operating theatres.

 Lucie Goodwin, national medicine lead for IVC Evidensia UK, said: “Blaise is our first ever purpose-built hospital and naturally we’re all very excited to take another step in the journey towards opening its doors. I’m particularly looking forward to working with Andrew Kent in his new role as clinical director, and with the new heads of service. 

“The facilities at Blaise will allow delivery of an excellent specialist service to clients and the location in Longbridge next to the ‘rewilded’ riverbank is peaceful and perfect for both pet owners and staff to spend some time. We are committed to creating a positive workplace culture, making Blaise a great place to work, benefitting employees, patients and clients alike.”

Vets Now, the UK’s leading pet emergency service which is also part of hospital owners IVC Evidensia, will be based at the hospital providing a comprehensive OOH service to local practices to complement the specialist-led emergency and critical care referral service.

The hospital plans focus on a number of environmentally friendly building initiatives and is set in a landscaped green space with picnic tables and a river walk to help enable a relaxing environment for owners and their pets.

It will embody IVC Evidensia’s Positive Pawprint sustainability strategy which looks after pets, people and the planet. The programme aims to reduce energy consumption and waste, along with supporting team wellbeing with the introduction of mental health first aiders, environmentally friendly clinical practices and many other initiatives. 

Some of the sustainability initiatives at Blaise include solar panels which span 40% of the building’s roof, air source heat pumps to decrease the use of fossil fuels, EV charging points and a travel plan implemented for staff.

The referral hospital will eventually employ around 100 staff and is part of a wider collection of developments at Longbridge which will regenerate 75 acres of brownfield land, deliver up to 5,000 new jobs, up to 395 new homes and 27 acres of landscaping and open-space.

The new West Longbridge regeneration site is easily accessible by road from the main A38 route linking the M5 and M42 with Birmingham city centre. 

For more information visit https://ivcevidensia.co.uk/longbridge or https://regeneratinglongbridge.co.uk/westlongbridge/.   

The team from The Ark, Devon, after receiving the UK Retailer of the Year Award 2022.

The prestigious PetQuip Awards, which celebrated its 10^th anniversary last year, is set to take centre stage again in 2023.

This year’s event will again see awards presented to deserving winners from the pet industry on the first evening of PATS Telford on Sunday, 1 October 2023.

Entry into the awards is free of charge and is now open. Email info@petquip.com to receive an entry form, guidelines and T&Cs.

The categories for the 2023 PetQuip Awards are:

• The Theresa Swann Exporter of the Year Award
• Celebrating Green and Organic
• Supplier of the Year
• Business Service of the Year
• New Starter Award
• Product of the Year (three categories): Accessories/Technical; Food/Treats; Healthcare/Animal Grooming
• International Retailer/Wholesaler/Distributor of the Year
• UK Retailer of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement

The closing date for full entries is 30 June.  Entries will be put through an initial screening test and the finalists will be announced in July before the independent judging panel sits down to choose the winners at the end of August.

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

“The industry in general looks forward to the announcement of the winners at PATS Telford.”