The UK Pavilion organised by trade association PetQuip was very busy on the first two days of the biggest-ever interzoo in Nuremberg, Germany. A total of 47 companies exhibiting in the UK pavilion experienced high international interest in their products and services.

Amanda Sizer Barrett, director general of PetQuip, said: "It’s great to be at Interzoo on the PetQuip-organised UK pavilion with such a wide variety of excellent UK brands and innovations.

“Buyers from the UK and internationally are busy visiting our exhibitors and also our own industry information stand, where they are finding out more about our member companies and alerting us to their product sourcing requirements.

“UK suppliers visiting Interzoo are welcome to our stand 502a in Hall 9 to learn more about the association and how we can help you to increase your business in the UK and internationally.”

To view a selection of pictures from the UK pavilion see the gallery below...

PATS 2024 organiser Gordon Thomas has been exhibiting at Interzoo this week and has been answering lots of international queries about the Pet & Aquatics Trade Show.

“We are meeting lots of European distributors and retailers at Interzoo,” said Gordon. “We have also met international buyers from as far as the US and even Australia. Interest in UK market seems to be returning after a difficult couple of years.

PATS 2024 takes place at Telford International Centre over three days from Sunday, 29^th September to Tuesday, 1^st October 2024.

To register for free entry visit www.patshow.co.uk

The 21st edition of Zoomark, the global pet food and pet care trade show scheduled for May 5th-7th 2025 at BolognaFiere, was officially presented to international media and companies on day two of Interzoo yesterday (Wednesday).

The press conference – hosted by Luisa Bersanetti, Exhibition Manager at Zoomark, Pascale Sonvico, Show Office and Sales Manager at Zoomark, with the participation of guest speakers Giorgio Massoni, President of Assalco and Mattia Barchetti, Head of Market Intelligence at Nomisma – revealed all the latest news about the event as well as market insights. Giving the promising results achieved with our Rebooking and Early Bird campaigns, Zoomark 2025 is shaping up to be a success, with over 50% of exhibition spaces already snapped up.

“Zoomark, with its winning combination of culture and business, has always been an essential event for the pet market”, noted Pascale Sonvico, Show Office and Sales Manager at Zoomark. “We are grateful to the exhibitors and visitors who have cemented our success over the years, turning Zoomark into an unmissable occasion for the entire industry, eagerly anticipated by companies all over the world and increasingly important from a strategic perspective.

Now Zoomark becomes even more ambitious in its aims and targets, or, as the new slogan says, Bigger and Bolder. Our goal is to involve each company, each retailer and other pet professional to create a memorable event.

2023 was a record-breaking year, with over 68,000 m2 of exhibition space, 1,060 exhibitors and an incredible 28,000 visitors.”

Zoomark 2025 will be the hub of the future. “We want to provide an exclusive platform for all brands around the globe, creating new business opportunities while forecasting market trends and shining a light on topics such as sustainability, the concept of One Health, and tailor-made products, which are so popular with Gen Z”, Sonvico continued. “At Zoomark 2025 we will provide visibility to what is relevant today, but we will also look further ahead and offer space to the future-forward topics within our dedicated areas.

Pet tech is a fast-growing and crisis-proof trend, and with this in mind, Zoomark has decided to build the Next 5.0 area for the future of the pet market, innovation and cutting-edge technology: a space dedicated to start-ups and more established businesses that offer high-tech solutions in fields like pet health and security.

Meanwhile, Zoomark’s brand-new project Factory will put the spotlight on all businesses in the manufacturing supply chain (suppliers of raw and semifinished materials, equipment, packaging and services to the industry and to distributors), which plays an increasingly central role in meeting the needs of a growing market.  

For the first time, Zoomark 2025 will also highlight excellence in the world of pet fashion, design and beauty through the launch of Atelier, a premium space for top buyers, brands and businesses.

Two beloved and long-standing projects will return to Zoomark 2025: Pet Vision (the new products showcase) that in 2023 displayed around 500 novelties, serving as a compass for distributors and retailers seeking future trends, and Aqua Project for businesses in the aquarium and terrarium sector, which will host meetings and seminars as well as exhibition space.”

And the new features at Zoomark certainly do not end there! As Luisa Bersanetti, Exhibition Manager at Zoomark, pointed out, this constantly evolving, always up-to-date event is increasingly global in its outlook.

“Zoomark provides a bridge between Europe and the rest of the pet world”, Bersanetti noted. “In 2023, Zoomark welcomed exhibitors from 57 different countries and 62% of visitors from abroad, including high-profile players from every continent.

In 2025, we will further increase the number of buyers from key locations, and particularly emerging markets, offering businesses with stands at the event real growth opportunities.

To this end, we have already launched our new promotional campaign, with significant marketing efforts in advertising, in both print and digital media, across the world. The additional support provided by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA/ICE) for Zoomark’s programme to attract external businesses has been crucial, helping us to meet our targets.”

Other new, highly anticipated projects are also quickly taking shape, including the strengthening of major international partnerships. One such venture is the agreement reached recently with Pet Fair South East Asia, where Zoomark will be coordinating the Italian businesses in the Italy Pavilion.

In a little over a month, on June 26th-28th 2024, Zoomark will bring its Pet Pavilion to the Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Centre in the city’s Futian district for Marca China, a dynamic event for private labels, e-commerce and large-scale retail. Zoomark’s exclusive area dedicated to the pet sector will provide numerous Italian and international pet-related companies with preferential access to the Chinese market.

The centrepiece of the press conference in Nuremberg was the announcement of some of the most significant data emerging from the 2024 Assalco-Zoomark Report. The report revealed that, despite tricky conditions, the Italian pet economy has now reached significant heights, reinforcing Zoomark’s position as a key event for global players interested in the Italian market. Giorgio Massoni, President of Assalco, gave a summary of insights in the Italian pet food and pet care sector and the outlook for the months ahead: “The pet food market is proving to be resilient, confirming the attention that owners give to their pets, their life companions”.

The final item on the agenda was a preview of some of the highlights from a new piece of research conducted byNomisma for Zoomark, which aims to provide a snapshot of the accessories sector by identifying current trends and the opinions, behaviour and purchasing habits of Italian pet owners. 

“Nomisma has honed an innovative approach through its new partnership with BolognaFiere, seeking to analyse and study the trends in a market segment that is increasingly important for the pet sector, responsible for around 20% of overall revenue, which is non-food.”, revealed Mattia Barchetti, Head of Market Intelligence at Nomisma.

The data presented at Interzoo 2024 on Italian pet owners’ shopping habits paints a clear picture of a segment that has shown continuous growth in recent years.

“This survey is only the first step in a larger project, which will continue to develop as Zoomark 2025 approaches”, Barchetti concluded.

“Zoomark is one of BolognaFiere’s most prized events. It has accompanied the growth in the pet industry for over 20 years, interpreting the needs of the market and anticipating future trends. The active partnership between Zoomark and Interzoo and the fact they are held in alternate years makes them both unmissable events in Europe for the global pet food and pet care industry.

As a result of the growth in animal food and wellbeing products in modern mass retail, in June we will take our Pet Pavillion to Shenzhen as part of Marca China – another global BolognaFiere event dedicated to the private label market”, stated Gianpiero Calzolari, President of BolognaFiere, officially starting the countdown to the event. “We are sure that businesses wishing to enter the Chinese market will grab this new opportunity with both hands”.

An award-winning pet store is encouraging cat owners to get their pets microchipped ahead of new legislation coming into force next month, and has set up a fundraising campaign to offer a free service.

Redpaw Pet Supplies in Plympton, Devon, is offering owners heavily reduced priced microchipping drop-in clinics in conjunction with Devon K9 Clinic.

Owner Sammie Hunt said: “Many owners are still unaware that the law is changing this year and from June 10 all owners must have their cat microchipped or face a fine of up to £500.

“The government has introduced this new legislation to make it easier for lost or stray pet cats to be reunited with their owners and returned home sagely. There are some 9 million pet cats in the UK and over 2.3 million are unchipped.”

Redpaw Pet Supplies and Devon K9 Clinic are charging £5 to microchip a cat compared to most establishments where the charge is between £10-£20. 

Sammie recognises some owners can’t even afford the £5 charge and would like to offer the microchipping for free, so she has set up a Just Giving crowdfunding page.

“We would like to appeal to people and businesses around the UK to donate what they can,” added Sammie. “Every donation would provide support for cat owners on low incomes to be able to have a free microchip implemented into the dearly loved cat. For every £5 donation we receive, we can microchip one cat.” 

The just giving crowdfunding page can be found by clicking here

Ther next drop-in clinic is on May 15.

Redpaw Products

E: redpawproducts@yahoo.co.uk  

W: www.redpawpets.co.uk

T: 07752230462

identi, the pet protection expert and one of the UK’s longest established pet microchipping services, has signed a five-year partnership with Cats Protection to provide the charity with identichip microchips.

As part of this, identi has also committed to supporting Cats Protection in raising awareness of the importance of microchipping pet cats, which becomes compulsory in England on 10^th June 2024. Through a paid media partnership, the joint campaign aims to empower both professionals and cat owners by providing guidance and resources to help ensure compliance with the new regulations and overall cat welfare.

Commenting on the partnership between Cats Protection and identi, Amy Spratt, product and marketing manager at identi, says: “The deadline for mandatory cat microchipping in England draws near and according to the Cats Protection CATS Report 2023, there are up to three million cats across the UK that are still unchipped[1].  The new collaboration between identi and Cats Protection has come at a pivotal moment and will help ensure our commitment to creating a safer, happier environment for cats nationwide.”

Stacey Hamilton, corporate partnerships account manager at Cats Protection, informs us: “Microchips are a safe and permanent method of identification which provide a simple and effective way of reuniting cats with their owners should they be lost, injured or stolen. Cats Protection campaigned for the compulsory microchipping of pet cats to be introduced in England and we are delighted to be partnering with identi to raise awareness of this new important legislative change for cat owners. This partnership will positively impact cat welfare as we will collectively support professionals and cat owners with the upcoming microchipping legislation in England, and for years to come. We are looking to work towards a future where every pet is protected and every cat owner is supported throughout the country.”

For further information on identichip microchips visit https://identichip.co.uk or email contact@identichip.co.uk.

Ahead of microchipping for cats becoming mandatory in England from 10 June, nationwide pet retailer, Jollyes, today reported that appointments for the simple procedure had doubled in the last three weeks in its community pet clinics.

But it is now warning unsuspecting owners they could be paying more than four times than necessary for their cat to be microchipped.

Jollyes currently operates clinics in the majority of its 100-plus stores, with microchipping for just £13.00 - in comparison, the same service was found to be as high as £54.30 at one of the big six vet chains in a survey conducted at two locations where Jollyes is opening new stores.

This cost disparity was uncovered after Jollyes carried out research into vet pricing in Northampton where Jollyes opened in April, and Nuneaton, which will be welcoming a new Jollyes at the end of June.

Further research found that the price differential on kitten and puppy vaccinations was even more stark. Both necessary doses are a combined £33 at a Jollyes’ Community Pet Clinic but as high as £98 at another local vet.

Findings from Jollyes’ survey have been submitted to the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) which, on behalf of the government, is planning to investigate overcharging and anti-competitive practices that may lead to pet parents paying far more than needed for vet services.

Fast-growing Jollyes is committed to providing the best possible value to its customers in all stores, and this extends far beyond the low pricing offered at its clinics.

Pet parents can find raw food frozen ‘shop-in-shops’ alongside high-quality private label pet food such as its own Lifestage, K9 and Rileys brands which offer a premium experience without a big brand price tag.

“Seeing the stark comparison between Jollyes prices and the big six vet chains shows it’s right that the government is currently investigating high prices at the big six vets”, said Jollyes’ retail director Craig Smith.

“With the date for the cat microchipping mandate looming, our concern is that many pet parents are in danger of being seriously overcharged if they rush out to get the procedure.

“While it’s important that owners arrange for their cats to be microchipped, it’s also crucial that people are able to make informed decisions about the cost they’re paying for the service.

“Our clinics are essential for the health and wellbeing of our furry friends, and we’re incredibly proud of the value for money that we offer through our dedicated team of vets who are all accredited by the Royal Veterinary College.”

The global ornamental aquatics industry is making its pitch this week at a special workshop taking place in Brisbane, Australia for its proposal on how the international community can support the marine fish species most in need of conservation.

Trade representatives are joining NGOs, exporting countries and Government representatives in a CITES workshop to look at the trade and conservation of marine fish species, concentrating on coral reef fishes.

UK trade body OATA and global association OFI are presenting their proposal for a flexible framework that can be used by CITES to look at the 1,000+ marine species in trade to determine which require further investigation into their vulnerability to harvest to establish if trade is sustainable or if they need management measures to ensure their conservation.

“This framework is based on an in-depth analysis of the actual species in trade, using data supplied by the industry rather than import data which we know has major flaws in it,” explained OATA Chief Executive Dominic Whitmee. 

“This ensures priority can be focused on those species that are actively traded and are most biologically vulnerable to over-harvest. Our framework provides a flexible solution to enable CITES Parties to decide how to focus resources on the species most in need of further attention which is what we all want.”

OFI President Shane Willis added: “As part of this work we also reviewed all the global regulations and management measures currently in place for marine fish species to prove that our industry is far from being the uncontrolled and unregulated trade that is often claimed. 

“However, we are concerned that key exporting countries and small nations are not represented at the workshop and we hope the Secretariat will make efforts to engage them before any decisions are taken. 

“Otherwise this risks yet another scenario where developed Western nations impose poorly informed opinions on less developed nations without a full and proper understanding or recognition of the issues they face. It is crucial to involve range states in any decision making from this workshop, along with the fishing communities who will be most affected by any decisions.”

The workshop is also likely to hear counter proposals from anti-trade NGOs whose aim is to limit the fish species that can be traded in the home aquarium industry.

The proposed framework has the support of global pet trade bodies including: Asociacion Espanola de la Industria y el Comercio del Sector del Animal de Compania (Spain), Dibevo (the Netherlands), European Pet Organization (Europe), Norges Zoohandlers Bransjeforening (Norway), Pet Advocacy Network (USA), Pets Canada (Canada), Pet Industry Association of Australia (Australia), Sustainable Users’ Network (UK), Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (Austria) and Zoobranschens Riksförbund (Sweden).

This work project was first launched by CITES in 2019 following a proposal from the European Union, Switzerland and the United States of America, prompted by Fondation Franz Weber which has a campaign to stop the marine ornamental trade.

Find out more about the workshop and read the industry framework paper on OATA’s website here https://ornamentalfish.org/what-we-do/represent-the-industry/cites-marine-fish-proposal/

Pictured: Dr Matthew Bond presents the industry framework at the CITES marine workshop.

The Agria Dog Walk UK is set to make a splash with its inaugural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt, aiming to break the record for Largest Dachshund Dog Walk this May.

Taking place at Marble Hill House, London, the record attempt is a new element of Agria’s annual charitable Dog Walk and requires a minimum attendance of 250 Dachshunds to set the new record. 

Supporting the event and GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt, animal welfare activist and TV personality Jodie Kidd is calling for owners of Dachshund dogs to join her and her dog, Sausage, by bringing their precious pups along to help smash the record in the name of animal welfare.

But it’s not just a Dachshund affair! Occurring at three sites across the country, British dog owners and their canine companions of all breeds are invited to join thousands of dogs and their families across Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Norway and Sweden, in putting their best paw forward to raise vital funds for animal rescues, including Dachshund Rescue UK, Poodle Network and Beagle Welfare.

Those attending the event can take part in a leisurely walk on Saturday 18th May at their closest official Dog Walk site, choosing from Marble Hill House in Twickenham, Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire and Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland. In partnership with English Heritage’s Dog-Friendly Days Out and supported by The Kennel Club, the event is set to be a great day full of family-friendly fun. Dogs walking at the many other dog-friendly English Heritage locations across the country will also generate a donation for dog rescue. Find your nearest one here!

And for those who can’t make it to an English Heritage site at all – the Agria Dog Walk is also a virtual event. Those walking in their local areas will trigger a donation simply by posting a photo of their dog and tagging Agria Pet Insurance, with the hashtag #AgriaDogWalk2024.

Tom Gannagé-Stewart, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship, English Heritage, says: “English Heritage is thrilled to welcome the Agria Dog Walk for the second year in a row and deliver another fantastic event at three of our historic sites. Being part of such a significant effort to raise money for dog rescue means a lot to us as an organisation, and our partnership with Agria Pet Insurance helps us continue our vital work as an independent charity, and raise awareness of the 150+ dog-friendly historic sites in our care.”

Agria, one of the world’s leading animal insurers, is set to donate £5* for every dog that walks the walk around the beautiful British countryside, to help support dogs in need.

Vicki Wentworth, CEO at Agria Pet Insurance, says: “We’re so excited about this year’s event – especially as we attempt a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title! Through our close work in the rehoming sector, we see every day how increasingly tough it is for animal rescues, so raising money for them with the Agria Dog Walk means the world to us.

“Last year 1,500 dogs and their families took part, generating donations of over £18,500 to help care for animals abandoned due to no fault of their own. Every dog who participates makes a difference, and we can’t wait to see them all take part on 18 May!”

Entry to Marble Hill House is free. Visit agriapet.co.uk/agria-dog-walk for information on how to pre-book your tickets at Belsay or Kenilworth, and access exclusive discount codes for 25% off the entry fee. Taking part is free for existing English Heritage members – just turn up and join in!

Award-winning pet retail chain Jollyes is offering cheaper vet services at its newest shop – the 102nd store in its portfolio – which opened in Northampton.

The store in an old Furniture Warehouse unit on Towcester Road includes a Community Pet Clinic that offers vet services such as microchipping and vaccinations at much lower prices than traditional vets.

Vets accredited by the Royal Veterinary College are offering transparent and low pricing on essential services that pet owners need.

Primary course vaccinations for dogs and cats are available in Jollyes’ community pet clinic for £33 covering both doses and annual boosters for £25. Microchipping, already compulsory for dogs and mandatory for cats in England from June, start at just £13.

The government through the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) is already investigating the top six vet chains for possible overcharging and anti-competitive practices that may be leading to pet parents paying far more than they need for vet services. 

As part of that investigation, Jollyes provided its own evidence to the CMA about vet pricing in Northampton. While some vets were reticent to give prices, those that did were significantly higher than those offered in Jollyes.

A microchipping service that costs £13 at Jollyes was as high as £30 at one local vet, and the price differential on kitten and puppy vaccinations was even more stark. Both necessary doses are a combined £33 at a Jollyes’ community pet clinic but as high as £98 at another vet.

Jollyes’ commitment to value to Northampton pet parents will go well beyond the clinic service it provides.

The new Jollyes store will have a raw food frozen ‘shop-in-shop’ alongside high quality private label pet food such as its own Lifestage, K9 and Rileys brands which offer a premium experience without a big brand price tag.

Jollyes has recruited a team of 12 in Northampton, including manager Andrew Bartlett who joins the pet retailer from Topps Tiles.

For the proud dad of two Labradors, Rocky and Raven, looking after pets runs in the family. Andrew’s mother-in-law runs an animal rescue centre, the source of his two labs and three cats Larry, Lana and Luna.

Andrew got married on 6 April but is delaying his honeymoon so he can open the store.

Performing the grand opening tomorrow will be Mayor Cllr Stephen Hibbert and Mayoress Liz Coxalong. There’ll be animal-themed stilt walkers and the Jollyes mascot to meet and greet customers with free goodie bags for the first 100 customers.

The following weekend on Saturday 4 May, there’ll also be live entertainment with prizes, Jollyes’ iconic ‘Wheel of Fur-tune’ with on-the-spot instant wins and balloon modelling for the kids.

“We’re already working hard getting the store ready for opening at the end of the month so we can give pet parents in Northampton a new alternative for their pets at home.” said Jollyes regional manager Natalie Bentley.

“With a successful store in Kettering, we know how much people in Northamptonshire love their pets, so Andrew and his team can’t wait to bring the kind of value and service we’re famous for, here to the heart of the county.”

Jollyes’ Northampton store is its 102nd, capping off an amazing few weeks for the retailer as it won new investment to accelerate its store growth and then being named as the best retailer in Britain at the prestigious Retail Week awards for businesses in the category for retailers turning over less than £250m.

The store was officially opened by Mayor Cllr Stephen Hibbert and Mayoress Liz Cox as well as by local charity Redhead Rescues Animal Sanctuary.

Pictures from the opening can be viewed in the gallery below...

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The British Independent Retailers Association has said the low footfall for April shows worrying signs for the high street. 

The BRC-ShopperTrak Footfall Monitor report for April 2024 showed that footfall had decreased over the month.

Key findings from the BRC footfall monitor include:

• Total UK footfall decreased by 7.2% in April (YoY), down from -1.3% in March.
• High Street footfall decreased by 6.9% in April (YoY), down from -1.5% in March.
• Retail Park footfall decreased by 6.2% in April (YoY), down from -3.5% in March.
• Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 7.2% in April (YoY), down from 0.3% in March.

Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent businesses of all sizes across the UK, expressed concerns about the drop in footfall and its potential impact on smaller retailers.

Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira said: "The timing of Easter last year (April vs March this year) distorts the figures, but there are still some very worrying signs for the independent retailer. Consumer confidence is still low and fragile and we need economic growth to bring people back to the high streets. We also need the newly elected councillors and mayors to ensure that high streets are safe, attractive and accessible to everyone if we are to reverse the decline in footfall."

Helen Dickinson OBE, BRC Chief Executive, said: "While UK footfall was impacted by poor weather last month, this was artificially exacerbated by the comparison with 2023, when Easter was in April. All locations saw declines on the previous month, and nearly all major cities performed similarly poorly. However, there was good news in Edinburgh, where footfall was positive once again owing to the investment in local shopping locations in the Scottish capital over the past few years.

"It is now vital that elected councillors, mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners all play their part in designing the right planning, transport and neighbourhood safety policies to create thriving shopping destinations in communities across the country. These actions, locally and nationally, can contribute to boosting footfall and revitalising retail centres,” she added.

New research from the Royal Veterinary College, in collaboration with researchers from the National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) in Taiwan, has produced the first-ever ‘life tables’ for the UK companion cat population.

This represents a major step forward in how we understand the lifespan of companion cats and revealing new information on mortality rates and influencing factors.

Using records from the RVC’s VetCompass Programme, the researchers analysed data from 7,936 cats under primary veterinary care in the UK that died between 1st January 2019 and 31st March 2021. The results were then broken down by breed and sex and presented in life tables.

Life tables predict the remaining life expectancy and probability of death across a range of age groups in any given population. This information on remaining expected life can be used for cats from any age of interest and can help, for example, prospective owners and cat rehoming centres to predict how much longer a cat for rehoming may live.

Understanding typical remaining lifespan can also support owners and veterinarians when making complex decisions about the best treatment option to protect a cat’s overall wellbeing.

Key findings from the study include:

• The overall average life expectancy at age 0 (their first year of life) for UK companion cats was 11.7 years
• Female cats had a 1.33-year longer life expectancy than male cats at age 0.
• Burmese and Birman breeds had the greatest life expectancy from age 0 at 14.4 years, followed by Crossbreed (11.9 years) and Siamese (11.7 years).
• Sphynx cats had the shortest life expectancy, at 6.8 years from age 0.
• Factors such as being purebred and non-ideal bodyweight (either too light or too heavy) were linked to shortened life expectancy.

Dr Kendy Teng, Assistant Professor of Animal Welfare Epidemiology at National Chung Hsing University, and lead author of the study, said: “The development of life tables for the UK companion cat population represents a significant milestone in understanding the life of cats. Knowing the expected lifespan of their cats, we're not just raising awareness, we're helping the owners to make 'pawsitive' decisions for their cats.”

Dr Dan O’Neill, Associate Professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology at RVC, and co-author of the study, said: “Since the early civilisation of man, predicting the future has been one of our greatest fascinations. These new life tables finally enable owners of cats to do just this and to predict the future life expectancy for their cats based on novel scientific methods and the power of Big Data.”

Agency 51, a leading UK BigCommerce development agency, has been named the winner of the coveted BigCommerce EMEA B2B Excellence Award following their work on the build and launch of Pedigree Wholesale’s new website in August last year. 

The Awards took place in April at the Leadenhall Building in Central London and celebrated the skills that EMEA’s leading BigCommerce partners bring to their clients when developing on the platform. 

The B2B Excellence Award recognises Agency51's focus on efficiently solving the complex needs of Pedigree Wholesale's new website and its work in utilising B2B product features such as multiple price lists, open APIs and customer groups. 

The portal offers real-time integration into Pedigree’s SAP ERP back-office system, support for tens of millions of customer-specific prices, restricted product catalogues, multi-location stock management and multi-user customer accounts.

Daniel Warren, Agency51’s Managing Director said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised in these awards. As both a Preferred Partner and a B2B Specialized Partner this award cements Agency51’s reputation as the go-to agency for business-to-business BigCommerce implementations.”

The BigCommerce site supports Pedigree’s “Customer First” mission for 2024, providing a much-improved experience for users in terms of stability, speed, ease of ordering and real-time stock information.

Chris Simmons, Pedigree Wholesale’s Head of Ecommerce also commented: “The success of Pedigree Wholesale BigCommerce was based on our vision of what we wanted to achieve, delivered by a skilled development agency using a first-class ecommerce platform. Agency51 truly deserves this testament to their skills and hard work.”

Additionally, Agency51 was runner-up in both the Excellence of Delivery category (which recognised BigCommerce partners who launch client sites on time, on budget, and in a way that delights customers) and Partner of the Year (which celebrated shortlisted partners’ ability to maximise their clients’ revenues).

Alex Nolan, BigCommerce Partner Manager said: “I’m delighted Agency51 has won this award, and it is testament to their hard work, dedication and skill in delivering complex B2B BigCommerce ecommerce projects that they have done so.” 

Jollyes has launched its first ever ‘Paws for a Purpose’ local charity and good cause search. 

The retailer is asking customers via Facebook to get involved and nominate a chosen charity.

Every store across the business will be running the initiative so by the end of May it will have a network of over 100 local charities from which to choose to support.

Kennelpak, the pet specialist wholesaler, brand owner and distributor, has announced an exclusive distributor partnership with leading US-based pet foods and treat manufacturer, Primal Pet Group, to supply two new brands for the UK’s fast-growing natural occupier dog chew category. 

Bringing together two pioneers and leaders in the thriving yak chew category on both sides of the Atlantic, the partnership capitalises on opportunities in the market and establishes Kennelpak as the go-to distributor and wholesaler in the UK. 

Pioneers in the US, Himalayan Pet Supply, a leading brand in the Primal Pet Group portfolio, introduced The Original Himalayan Dog Chew to the market establishing a nearly $90 million natural occupier dog chew category. Under the agreement, Kennelpak, the original supplier of yak chews in the UK with market-leading YAKERS brand, will drive further growth by launching Primal Pet Group’s best-selling natural occupier dog chew brands, Himalayan Pet Supply and Yellow Yak.

By adding Himalayan Pet Supply and Yellow Yak brands to Kennelpak’s carefully curated portfolio, these new products, along with the award-winning YAKERS range, now serve the premium, quality and value natural occupier market. Further benefiting both retailers and pet parents, the new additions also add bacon, chicken and peanut butter flavour natural occupier dog chews in the UK. 

As the trend towards the humanisation of pets continues, the new agreement builds on the expansion of Kennelpak’s own market-leading YAKERS brand into a value-added superfoods proposition. The new partnership leverages the UK’s growing natural occupier dog chew category that is outperforming the overall pet food market and where there is continual demand for new and innovative products and flavours from discerning pet parents looking to keep their pets healthy and stimulated with an alternative to rawhide.

Celebrating 50 years of pet food expertise, Kennelpak will benefit from Primal Pet Group’s extensive experience in the US where the Himalayan Pet Supply brands have captured 60 percent market share.  With the US pet market generally considered to be three years ahead of the UK, its natural occupier dog chew category growing 13 percent year on year and a trend towards an increase in different flavours, this new agreement sees Kennelpak primed to be the distributor of choice for UK retailers looking to provide UK pet parents with greater selection.

Building on Kennelpak’s channel expansion strategy, the enhanced natural occupier dog chew portfolio will be available across a selection of specialist, online and grocery retailers, ensuring pet parents have ready access to these treats. Recent investment in an experienced sales team and support function has put Kennelpak in the perfect position to capitalise on these opportunities. 

Commenting on the announcement, Kennelpak Chief Executive Officer, Claire Bayliss (right), said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Primal Pet Group, expanding our market-leading natural occupier dog chew offering in this exciting and growing category to provide a turnkey solution for retailers and pet parents in the UK. It is thanks to our unique positioning and our long-standing and trusted reputation within the pet sector that make us a natural choice for global brands looking to sell into the UK market and to meet the evolving needs of pet parents nationwide.”

Jon Balousek, CEO, Primal Pet Group, said: "With Kennelpak’s strong experience within the UK pet sector and our reputation for high-quality natural occupier dog chews that drive sales, this partnership is poised for success. Our mutual commitment to excellent products, as well as our deep understanding of the natural occupier dog chew category, make us ideal partners. We see tremendous growth potential for our brands in this market and look forward to pet parents in the UK discovering our Himalayan Pet Supply and Yellow Yak products.”

The new products are available in the UK from June 2024.

For more information about Kennelpak visit www.kennelpak.co.uk

For more information about Primal Pet Group visit www.primalpetgroup.com

Pets Choice Ltd has the purchase of premium pet food brand Vet’s Kitchen from Pets’ Kitchen Ltd and will take over responsibility of sales from 1st June 2024. 

Vet’s Kitchen will join Pets Choice’s other pet brands, which include Webbox, Bob Martin, Felight, TastyBone and B-Calm.

Pets’ Kitchen Ltd will now concentrate on the development of its clinical veterinary practices under their Vet’s Klinic brand.

A long-term collaboration agreement between the two companies will continue in support of both the Vet’s Kitchen and Vet’s Klinic operations.

Pets Choice supplies partners in the grocery, independent, and pet speciality sectors and eCommerce with high-quality products in a variety of formats. It plans to use this latest acquisition to grow its share of the premium and advanced nutrition sectors.

The sale also allows Pets Choice to increase its reach within the veterinary channel, and to benefit from Vet’s Klinic’s professional expertise, as the practices will continue to provide consultation services regarding new product development and recipe updates. This partnership-led approach to the sale also means that the two businesses can work together to deliver Vet’s Kitchen’s popular pet clubs activity in the future too.

Tony Raeburn, CEO of Pets Choice, said: “This is a fantastic acquisition for Pets Choice as we continue our drive in both product premiumisation and into the vet sector.  We’re excited to onboard the Vet’s Kitchen team and pair their knowledge with our own.

“Our expertise in growing brands perfectly complements Vet’s Kitchen’s use of professional insight in its product formulations, and we believe this acquisition will act as a real partnership and deliver even better premium food for pets. The acquisition will also mean customers and listings alike will benefit from Pets Choice’s distribution network, making Vet’s Kitchen products all the more accessible to all.  Vet’s Kitchen will complement our existing portfolio of growing brands entering us into the Premium sector which is extremely exciting.” 

Managing Director of Pets’ Kitchen, Laura Shears, commented: “We have just opened our second, state of the art, ‘Vet’s Klinic’ veterinary practice in Reading and we have been seeking to divest our pet food division whilst maintaining an ongoing association. We are delighted that we can hand over the Vet’s Kitchen brand to Pets Choice and to continue with a collaboration agreement for the long-term benefit of both companies.  We look forward to seeing the Vet’s Kitchen brand go from strength to strength under Tony’s fantastic team.”

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

US giant General Mills, whose portfolio of brands includes household names such as Cheerios and Häagen-Dazs, has completed the acquisition of Edgard & Cooper, one of Europe’s leading independent premium pet food brands. 

With this transaction, the company further advances its Accelerate strategy, including the prioritisation of its core markets, global platforms and local gem brands to drive sustainable, profitable growth and top-tier shareholder returns over the long term.

“Edgard & Cooper is at the intersection of our Accelerate strategy's core markets and global platforms," said Jon Nudi, group president, Pet, International and North America Foodservice, General Mills. "We’re thrilled to welcome the Edgard & Cooper team to the General Mills family, and we look forward to partnering together to advance their mission to revolutionize premium, natural pet food.”

Established in 2016, Edgard & Cooper is one of the fastest-growing and most-recognized independent pet food companies in Europe, with estimated 2023 retail sales of more than €100 million across 13 markets. With omnichannel distribution capabilities and a commitment to sustainability, the brand is delivering high-quality pet food to dogs and cats across Europe while reducing its impact on the planet. Headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, Edgard & Cooper will be a separate operating unit led by its three founders, Koen Bostoen, Louis Chalabi and Jürgen Degrande, with its financial results consolidated into General Mills’ International segment.

“We’re excited to join Team General Mills and continue doing what Edgard & Cooper is passionate about — making better dog and cat food with real ingredients that pets love and pet owners feel good about,” said Koen Bostoen, founder, Edgard & Cooper. “Combining our brand’s natural positioning and commercial capabilities with General Mills’ marketing and supply chain expertise, we’re ready to accelerate Edgard & Cooper’s growth.”

General Mills will fund the acquisition with cash on hand.

Raymond James & Associates Inc. acted as General Mills’ lead financial advisor in this transaction. White & Case LLP served as legal advisor. Morgan Stanley & Co International plc served as exclusive financial advisor to Edgard & Cooper, and Linklaters LLP served as legal advisor.

The new three-day PATS 2024 continues to exceed all expectations as a record number of companies and brands book stand space for the show, which takes place at Telford International Centre from Sunday, 29th September to Tuesday, 1st October 2024.

With PATS 2024 taking over all of the exhibition space at Telford International Centre, this year’s event will also feature the Aquatics Zone, a dedicated area for aquatics and watergardening exhibitors.

Showcasing all of the latest launches under one roof, the show’s reputation has grown impressively over the past 16 years since launching in 2009. With such a winning formula, PATS has become the ‘must-visit’ event for UK and international retailers and buyers.

Natural dog food supplier Finer By Nature is making its return to PATS, eager to take advantage of the show’s reputation for attracting key decision makers and buyers, and the show has also attracted an impressive number of first-time exhibitors, like PAWD DRINKS and Fell Dog.

As the exhibitor numbers continue to grow over the coming months, work continues on delivering the best visitor attractions, including:

• The biggest ever showcase of new pet, aquatic and watergardening products
• Unrivalled show offers and competitions
• Top groomers giving insightful demonstrations, workshops and talks
• Fantastic networking opportunities
• Free entry, free show catalogue, free parking for up to 1,300 cars and a complimentary tea/coffee voucher

You can register online at www.patshow.co.uk where you’ll also find a full list of exhibitors and information on how to reach the venue.