Durham Animal Feeds, one of the UK’s leading raw pet food specialists, will open its new Raw Feeding Pet Superstore in Lowestoft on Saturday (7th June)...
Durham Animal Feeds, one of the UK’s leading raw pet food specialists, will open its new Raw Feeding Pet Superstore in Lowestoft on Saturday (7th June).
To celebrate, the store is hosting a huge launch event with free dog shows, expert advice, giveaways, party treats, and 20% off everything over the weekend.
This new store at 11 Pinbush Road, Lowestoft, NR33 7NL represents a major expansion for the brand in East Anglia.
After opening a Lowestoft distribution centre in 2021 and running a successful click & collect service, demand for great quality, reasonably priced raw food has soared. In response, Durham Animal Feeds is moving into a new site more than double the size of the original to create the region’s first Raw Feeding Pet Superstore.
The new Superstore will feature:
46 freezers fully stocked with raw pet food
A massive range of natural dried treats, dog toys, and accessories
On-site raw feeding experts available to answer your questions
“Raw feeding is the natural way to feed – nothing added and nothing taken away,” said Lee Hornsby, Durham Animal Feeds’ managing director. “The demand in Lowestoft has been phenomenal, and we’re proud to now offer a full superstore experience for our loyal customers and their pets.”
Durham Animal Feeds is a third-generation family business, founded in Durham, with three distribution centres across the UK. The company supplies both the trade and public, delivering in its own fleet of freezer vans to ensure every order arrives in perfect condition.
Grand Opening Weekend Highlights (Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th June)
Free Dog Shows at 10am & 1pm (Saturday only) — fun categories like Prettiest Bitch, Handsome Dog, Waggiest Tail, and more, with fantastic prizes to be won!
Free doggy ice cream and party food (Saturday only)
Dog training expert available on Saturday only to offer helpful tips and guidance
20% off everything in-store on both Saturday and Sunday
Rik and Helen Cridland, the husband-and-wife team behind award-winning small animal brand, HayPigs!, will be joining Jimmy Doherty on Jimmy and Shivi's Farmhouse Breakfast this weekend to talk all things guinea pig...
Rik and Helen Cridland, the husband-and-wife team behind award-winning small animal brand, HayPigs!, will be joining Jimmy Doherty on Jimmy and Shivi's Farmhouse Breakfast this weekend to talk all things guinea pig.
The ITV show, featuring hosts Jimmy Doherty and Shivi Ramoutar, is set in the Suffolk countryside at Jimmy's farm and is a mix of tasty food, celebrity guests, clever craft and cocktails and lots of amazing animals!
As creators and sponsors of the Guinea Pig Village at Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park, the HayPigs! duo will be joining Jimmy to discuss guinea pig enrichment and wellbeing, as they re-install the village for a new season.
Rik said: “We filmed this just before Easter and were thrilled that the sun came out for us on the day, it really made all the colours in the village pop. But what was even more rewarding (apart from the opportunity to talk about guinea pigs of course) was that the resident piggies were so excited for the return of their village. As soon as we put it down, they immediately ran out of their indoor enclosure to explore it – I think we got some wonderful footage for the show.
“Media opportunities like this are a great way for us to raise awareness of the welfare and enrichment needs of guinea pig, so we are extremely grateful to Jimmy and the team for giving us this opportunity. We hope you enjoy the show.”
This week, Jimmy and Shivi are joined by an absolute icon in the form of singer, actress, presenter (and rabbit lover), Toyah Willcox. Animal enthusiast, Toyah, has recently become a bunny mum to Fripp and Eno, a pair of gorgeous house rabbits. Needless to say, this weekends’ episode will be a fun and fur-filled hour!
Jimmy and Shivi's Farmhouse Breakfast, Series 2, Episode 8, is on ITV this Saturday (7 June) at 8.25am. It will also be available on ITVX.
The Nutriment Company (TNC) has continued its strategic growth journey with the acquisition of German brand Graf Barf, a well-established player in the raw pet nutrition space, from CDS Hackner GmbH...
The Nutriment Company (TNC) has continued its strategic growth journey with the acquisition of Graf Barf, a well-established player in the raw pet nutrition space, from CDS Hackner GmbH.
This move reinforces TNC’s growing presence in Germany, further strengthening its position as a leader in natural, high-quality pet food products.
Graf Barf has earned recognition for its commitment to the highest quality standards in the industry. Known for its premium raw pet food – including complete meals, convenient cube portions and various innovative formats – the company has built a strong reputation among pet owners in Germany. Its IFS-certified state-of-the-art, human-grade production facility ensures the highest standards in food safety and quality, supporting the rapid growth of a business that continues to set new benchmarks in the industry.
With this acquisition, The Nutriment Company strengthens its geographic footprint – adding a strong partner in Germany to complement its existing presence with brands like Barfgold, DIBO, Nutriment and Aniforte. This move not only enhances access to high-quality raw nutrition across the country but also lays the groundwork for a more accelerated expansion into Switzerland and Austria.
In addition, TNC and CDS (the previous Graf Barf owner) have formed a strategic partnership to jointly set-up a frozen logistics hub and deliver a multi-brand one-stop-shop offering across mainland Europe.
Together, TNC and Graf Barf will further accelerate the raw feeding movement in Germany and beyond – helping even more pet owners discover nourishing their pets in a natural and healthy way.
Michael Hackner, CEO and owner of CDS Hackner GmbH, said: “When two strong partners with proven expertise and passion come together and contribute their respective strengths, something truly great emerges. We are excited to become TNC´s central logistics hub for Europe from our Crailsheim location and are ready to integrate Graf BARF into the TNC brand portfolio, passionately supporting the brand’s continued growth.”
Anders Kristiansen, CEO of The Nutriment Company, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome the talented team at Graf Barf into the TNC family. Their commitment to quality and consistency has been evident from day one, and their decades of experience with frozen logistics and production will help elevate our operational standards to new levels.”
3P Enterprise Ltd, the parent company behind award-winning pet brand Henry Wag, has reached a new partnership with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider based in the Netherlands. This partnership will see the warehousing, pick-pack, and dispatch of Henry Wag orders directly from within the EU...
3P Enterprise Ltd, the parent company behind award-winning pet brand Henry Wag, has reached a new partnership with a third-party logistics (3PL) provider based in the Netherlands. This partnership will see the warehousing, pick-pack, and dispatch of Henry Wag orders directly from within the EU, significantly streamlining logistics and strengthening the brand’s presence in European markets.
The move marks a major milestone in Henry Wag’s commitment to providing quality pet care products to its growing EU customer base. With a 3PL hub in the Netherlands, the brand will eliminate key post-Brexit trading barriers, reduce lead times, and enhance the customer experience for both retail partners and direct-to-consumer (D2C) shoppers across the continent.
Grantley Rogers, owner of 3P Enterprise and creator of Henry Wag, expressed his excitement about this next phase of the brand’s journey: “We’re seeing strong growth in demand for Henry Wag products across Europe, this partnership is a crucial step in our long-term export strategy. Having stock held within the EU enables us to better serve our retail partners, expand our reach through EU marketplaces, and build lasting relationships with dog owners across Europe.”
The collaboration supports 3P Enterprise’s wider export ambitions, enabling the company to localise fulfillment and scale up international eCommerce efforts through the internationalised henrywag.com website and key online marketplaces. To facilitate this expansion, 3P Enterprise has received valuable support from the Department for International Trade (DIT), assisting with VAT consultancy and legal representation necessary for EU trading compliance.
In addition to operational improvements, the brand is also enhancing accessibility for international customers. All Henry Wag packaging is multilingual and features QR codes linking to translated digital content, ensuring a seamless experience for pet owners no matter where they are located.
With the European fulfillment infrastructure now in place, Henry Wag is poised for sustainable growth across the EU, reaffirming its position as a trusted and innovative name in the pet care industry.
The winner of the PIF Innovation Award will be revealed at the Business of Pets conference, which takes place at the Cranfield Business Management Centre, near Milton Keynes, today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday)...
The winner of the PIF Innovation Award will be revealed at the Business of Pets conference, which takes place at the Cranfield Business Management Centre, near Milton Keynes, today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday).
Sponsored by Worldpay, the Innovation Award celebrates trailblazing products and services that are reshaping the pet industry. This year’s shortlist showcases the most forward-thinking ideas across health, wellbeing, tech, and lifestyle, from both start-ups and established brands.
The 2025 Innovation Award Finalists are:
AniVatio – ProGut A veterinary-backed gut supplement for pets, designed to support digestive health and immunity.
By Teddy – The Cosy Car Seat A stylish, safety-first car seat for dogs that brings comfort and security to every journey.
Indoorcat Ltd – Ready Grown Cat Grass A zero-hassle, nutritious solution for indoor cats to support natural behaviour and digestion.
Inventor Cat – Dental Wand A playful, easy-to-use dental care toy helping cats maintain cleaner teeth and gums.
Pet Trust UK – Centralised Pet Database A ground-breaking platform to store and share key pet information securely and reliably.
Petcare Technologies Ltd – Pawpal Booking App for Pet Professionals A powerful booking and business management app built specifically for the pet services sector.
Petscribers – Petscribers Prescription Platform A streamlined solution for pet prescriptions, improving access and efficiency for pet owners.
Porter Labs – Pupstation Intelligent devices designed to enhance the relationship between dogs and their humans.
The Clorox Company – Ever Clean Senior Cat A premium cat litter formula designed to meet the specific needs of older cats.
The Muzzle Movement – Size Mitzy A revolution in muzzle sizing and comfort, promoting responsible pet ownership.
The Pet Carpenter Ltd – Bespoke Pet Furniture Design Beautifully crafted furniture for pets and pet lovers, made to order in the UK.
UK LitPet Biotech Co Ltd – LitPet Pawsitive Powder The first traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) calming supplement for dogs, using natural herbs.
The winner will be revealed during the conference, which brings together the brightest minds in the pet industry. From thought-provoking keynotes to hands-on workshops and strategic panels, the two-day event is designed for ambitious businesses looking to scale up, innovate, and stay ahead.
The Business of Pets Conference will feature:
Exceptional Programme: A powerful mix of business strategy, tech, investment, and sector insights
World-Class Speakers & Panels: Learn from the most influential voices in the industry
Workshops for Growth: Actionable takeaways tailored to scaling your pet business
Networking Opportunities: Meet potential buyers, collaborators, partners, and investors
Innovation Showcase: Discover what’s next for the industry
Ruffingtons, part of the Fold Hill Foods family, has secured its first two national listings. The range of artisan, patisserie-style dog treats, will be stocked across the UK in multi-site specialist pet retailer, Pets Corner, and within online retailer, Very...
Ruffingtons, part of the Fold Hill Foods family, has secured its first two national listings. The range of artisan, patisserie-style dog treats, will be stocked across the UK in multi-site specialist pet retailer, Pets Corner, and within online retailer, Very.
The major retailer wins come just 9 months after Ruffingtons began trading, including making a debut appearance at PATS trade show in autumn 2024.
Ruffingtons has enjoyed a strong start, having invested in a robust marketing strategy from the beginning and earning high-profile endorsements from the likes of radio DJ Scott Mills, actor Bradley Riches, and TV personality Ollie Locke. Achieving these high calibre national listings, supplemented by a number of pet stores, cafes, garden centres, and countryside pubs to name a few, means the brand is set to continue to grow.
Fold Hill Foods and Pets Corner have been family-run businesses since their inceptions in 1959 and 1968 respectively – a clear synergy between the brands, both committed to championing prolific pet care and love.
The world’s only carbon neutral pet store, Pets Corner is a leading retailer in the space that cares for pets, owners, and the community. Pets Corner will stock Ruffingtons’ full range, which includes a total of seven SKUs, retailing from £5.50. The iconic collection features the likes of Terrier Truffles, Canine Cupcakes, and Dog Eclairs.
Biscuit Paws (RRP £5.50)
Canine Cupcakes 4 pack (RRP £5.00)
Canine Cupcakes 9 pack (RRP £8.00)
Dog Doughnuts (RRP £5.00)
Dog Eclairs (RRP £5.00)
Marbled Dog Snaps (RRP £8.00)
Terrier Truffles (£7.50)
Known for stocking a range of well-loved and luxury brands, including carrying a number of designer ranges, Very is an ideal online stockist of the luxurious Ruffingtons pet treat range.
Customers will be able to purchase bespoke bundles of the artisan dog treats, retailing from £12.99. Alongside its standard boxed range, Ruffingtons also has a patisserie-style offering for its trade customers–ideal for hospitality and leisure businesses, where products can be picked by consumers and bought individually. Charmingly unique, these stands have been particularly popular since Ruffingtons’ launch in late 2024.
Ben Mankertz, Managing Director of Fold Hill Foods said: “We’re delighted to be listed in Pets Corner stores, a brand that has such similar values to our own. It’s exciting that even more dog owners will get to experience the joy of Ruffingtons–the quintessential treat for your pet when words just aren’t enough to express your love.”
To find out more about Ruffingtons or to enquire about stocking the range, head to the website.
Chuckit! has launched its latest innovation – the new Amphibious Boomerang toy. Designed to elevate playtime for dogs from land to sea, this is the perfect summer toy to get dogs and their owners outside, to stay active, and strengthen bonds through the joy of fetch...
Chuckit! has launched its latest innovation – the new Amphibious Boomerang toy. Designed to elevate playtime for dogs from land to sea, this is the perfect summer toy to get dogs and their owners outside, to stay active, and strengthen bonds through the joy of fetch.
The new Chuckit! Amphibious Boomerang features a soft, semi-rigid construction for exceptional visibility and performance for hours of fun. It floats high on the water yet is light enough to fly high through the air. The soft yet durable material is gentle on a dog's mouth and is a great addition to the Chuckit! Amphibious range, retailing at £12.99.
Ideal for playing in lakes, rivers, pools, and the beach, the Chuckit! Amphibious range also includes the Amphibious Balls, Mega Ball and Bumper, all made with a lightweight foam core that won’t sink, burst or pop. These toys are ideal for water-loving dogs and are gentle on dogs’ mouths. The classic Chuckit! bright blue and orange also make these toys easy to see on land or when playing in water.
Available exclusively to Pedigree Wholesale, the Chuckit! Amphibious range and brand-new Boomerang are available to order now.
Animal Focused has announced the launch of a new qualification designed specifically for animal licensing officers in Wales – the VetSkill VTEC Level 3 Award in the Licensing of Selling Animals as Pets...
Animal Focused has announced the launch of a new qualification designed specifically for animal licensing officers in Wales – the VetSkill VTEC Level 3 Award in the Licensing of Selling Animals as Pets.
This Ofqual-regulated qualification was developed in collaboration with VetSkill and will be exclusively delivered and assessed by Animal Focused, a VetSkill-approved centre since August 2024.
Building on the success with the VetSkill VTEC Level 3 Certificate in Licensing of Animal Activities (England), the team are excited to now offer tailored training that supports officers working under The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Wales) Regulations 2021.
The qualification is designed for local authority officers in Wales who carry out inspections as part of their role. It meets the requirement for officers to be suitably trained, equipping them with the knowledge and crucially, the practical skills needed to license animal activities legally, professionally, and ethically -specifically, the activity of selling animals as pets. The development has been supported by Zoe Phillips, Project Manager for Animal Licensing Wales, https://www.animallicensing.gov.wales
Vicky Skinner, Head of Centre at Animal Focused, said: “It’s been fantastic to build on the success of the VetSkill qualification for English licensing officers. With devolved legislation, it’s vital we provide bespoke training for each nation, and this new qualification ensures officers in Wales can access training that’s genuinely fit for purpose.”
As a multi-award-winning educational consultancy and training provider, Animal Focused is committed to raising standards across the sector. With a history of working with pet businesses, welfare organisations, schools, and Local Authorities, Animal Focused continues to develop qualifications and training that put animal welfare at the heart of professional practice.
A Pets at Home store was seriously damaged in a major blaze which broke out at a retail park in Northampton...
A Pets at Home store was seriously damaged in a major blaze which broke out at a retail park in Northampton.
The huge fire ripped through a Dunelm building on Saturday and later spread to Pets at Home next door on the Nene Valley Retail Park.
Other connected buildings were also damaged by smoke as 11 fire crews and appliances fought the blaze.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Phil Pells said: “We do not underestimate the impact this incident has had on these businesses and the people who work there, as well as the local community.
“I want to thank Fire Control, our firefighters, crews from Buckinghamshire and Lincolnshire who assisted us, and our colleagues in police for their hard work over the weekend in what was a large-scale response to this fire.
“We would ask people to continue to stay away from the scene so that our Fire Investigation officers can continue their work.
“I also want to thank those affected, the local businesses and residents of St James, for their continued patience over the last three days. Our Protection Team will be visiting local businesses in the area to offer support and advice regarding fire safety in their premises.”
A spokesperson for Pets at Home told the Northampton Chronicle: "We'd like to thank the emergency services and our colleagues at Nene Valley Retail Park who responded to fire spreading rapidly from the neighbouring Dunelm store, and took swift action to move customers and pets to safety.
"We are supporting our team through this difficult time and thank customers and clients for their support and understanding. We will also continue to help the Police with their ongoing investigation."
A number of teenage boys have been questioned in connection with the fire. Witnesses or anyone with information regarding this incident should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
UK Pet Food has announced Dr Matt Elliott, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Manager at Mars, as its new Chair...
UK Pet Food has announced Dr Matt Elliott, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs Manager at Mars, as its new Chair. He succeeds Rupert Phillips of Spectrum Brands, who stepped down from the role slightly early after a move away from pet food into the animal feed sector.
With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Dr Elliott brings a wealth of knowledge across product development, quality, science, and regulation. He has been an active contributor to UK Pet Food since 2018, serving as Co-Chair of its Scientific and Regulatory Review Committee for nearly seven years. He also chairs the Additives Working Group at FEDIAF (the European Pet Food Association).
Dr Elliott said: “It’s a real honour to take on the role of Chair, following the excellent leadership we enjoyed from Rupert Phillips. I’ve hugely valued working with the passionate team and look forward to building on that in a new capacity.
This is a pivotal time for the UK pet food industry. As we reset relationships with the EU, double down on sustainability and standards, and harness the potential of technologies like AI. UK Pet Food, and the industry more broadly, has always prided itself on being at the forefront of innovation, and part of my role as chair will be to continue the push to move the industry forward as a whole.”
Michael Bellingham, CEO of UK Pet Food, added: “We’d like to thank Rupert Phillips for his energy and leadership during his time as Chair. We’re delighted to welcome Matt Elliott into the role and look forward to working with him to help shape the future of the industry.”
Pictured: Matt Elliott (left) with Michael Bellingham and Rupert Phillips.
Having a dog at home could help to prevent eczema in children who are genetically prone to the condition, a study has found...
Having a dog at home could help to prevent eczema in children who are genetically prone to the condition, a study has found.
The international study team, led by scientists from the Universities of Edinburgh and Bristol, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and the German Research Center for Environmental Health, examined data from almost 300,000 people to investigate whether those who are prone to developing eczema might respond differently to environmental factors.
Children with a change in their DNA that increases their chance of developing eczema were less likely to have the condition if they were exposed to a dog in early life, researchers say.
The findings provide new insights into what could cause eczema in children and how environmental factors may influence genetic risk, experts say.
The study did not look at the effect of dog exposure in the treatment of existing eczema, and experts caution that introducing a dog may make symptoms worse in some children.
Eczema is an itchy skin disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental effects, but little is known about how the two interact.
Researchers tested for interactions between the 24 most significant eczema-associated genetic variants and 18 early life environmental factors during the mother’s pregnancy and the child’s first year of life.
An initial analysis of more than 25,000 individuals suggested there may be a relationship between seven environmental factors – dog ownership, elder sibling, cat ownership, breastfeeding, smoking, antibiotic use and washing practices – and at least one established genetic variant for eczema.
They then tried to replicate their findings in a larger group of almost 255,000 people. The strongest interaction found was between a region of DNA code that increased the risk of eczema, but in children or babies whose families owned a pet dog, that risk disappeared.
The variation in genetic code was located near a gene for interleukin-7 receptor (IL-7R) – a protein involved in immune cell function and inflammation.
Lab tests confirmed that in human skin cells with the genetic variant, molecular signals from a dog that could trigger allergy instead worked to suppress skin inflammation.
The findings suggest that the IL-7R protein may provide a potential target for future treatment or prevention of eczema, experts say.
The study also pointed to a similar effect among young children with older siblings, but further studies are needed to confirm the link. Scientists suggest that exposure to a variety of bacteria at an early age, through contact with dogs and other children, could be behind the protective effect.
Populations used in the study were limited to those from a white European background. Research involving a more diverse group of people is needed to better understand interactions between genetic and environmental factors linked to eczema in other ancestral groups, the team say.
The study is published in the journal Allergy. The international research team included scientists from the UK, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, United States, Ireland, France, Sweden, Australia, Italy and Kuwait.
Professor Sara Brown, from the University of Edinburgh’s Institute of Genetics and Cancer, said: “The most difficult questions I’m asked by parents in clinic are about why their child has eczema, and how they can help. We know that genetic make-up affects a child’s risk of developing eczema and previous studies have shown that owning a pet dog may be protective, but this is the first study to show how this may occur at a molecular level. More work is needed, but our findings mean we have a chance to intervene in the rise of allergic disease, to protect future generations.”
Dr Marie Standl, from Helmholtz Zentrum München - the German Research Center for Environmental Health, said: “With this study, we address the important question of why some children are more vulnerable than others and, as a consequence, develop atopic eczema when exposed to certain environmental factors.”
The best of last edition of Pet Trade Xtra
The top-read stories from last week's Pet Trade Xtra can be seen below, if you missed them...
Podium Pet Products accelerates rural entrepreneurship following CEO Carina Evans' graduation from Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme...
Podium Pet Products accelerates rural entrepreneurship following CEO’s graduation from Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme.
From kitchen table to global markets
Podium Pet Products’ story began at a farmhouse kitchen table in Dorset, where Carina Evans started handcrafting natural solutions for pets. Through hard work, local support, and a dedication to quality, the business has grown from humble beginnings to operating out of a modern 2,500 square foot warehouse. The company’s award-winning products, including favourites like Dog Rocks and Beloved Wellness grooming products, are made with ingredients from the West Country, supporting local jobs and reflecting the best of British countryside values.
“We’re incredibly proud that our journey started at the kitchen table and has led us to a thriving business supporting rural communities,” said Carina Evans, CEO of Podium Pet Products. “I reimagined recipes I found in my grandmother’s books I found after she died, into the products in the BeLoved range. Our rural roots inspire everything we do, from sourcing natural ingredients to supporting local suppliers and giving back to our community.”
Championing Local Business and Community Spirit
On completion of the Goldman Sachs 10KSB programme, Carina has joined a select group of UK entrepreneurs. The programme’s expert teaching and mentoring has given Evans and her team fresh ideas and new confidence to grow the business, create more jobs locally, and continue supporting the well-being of pets and their owners.
“The support and expertise I received through the programme have been invaluable,” said Evans. “It’s helped me connect with other business owners facing similar challenges, and together we’re building a network that benefits our communities. The mental well-being aspect, knowing you’re not alone as a business leader, has been especially important.”
Supporting Women in Rural Enterprise
As a woman leading a thriving rural business, Evans is passionate about encouraging other women to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. “There’s a real sense of camaraderie among women in business, it’s a powerful largely untapped force,” she said. “The 10KSB programme has given me a platform to share our story and inspire others to take the leap”. The Buy Women Built group and Joanna Jensen from Child’s Farm recommended and enabled participation on the programme. The Goldman Sachs 10KSB cohort has provided a unique environment where female founders and leaders could share insights, address common challenges, and build lasting partnerships. This collaborative approach is essential for unlocking new growth opportunities and strengthening the broader business ecosystem.
Mental Well-being and Leadership Resilience
The demands of entrepreneurship can take a toll on mental health, a topic the 10KSB programme addresses head-on. Evans credits the programme’s emphasis on well-being and peer support as a key factor in her renewed focus and energy as a business leader.
“Having a trusted network of like-minded peers has been invaluable,” Evans said. “It’s not just about business growth, it’s about building resilience, staying motivated, and maintaining a healthy balance and leadership style as we scale.”
About Podium Pet Products
Podium Pet Products is a leader in natural pet health products, serving customers in the UK, EU, USA, and Canada. The company is dedicated to innovation, sustainability, and the well-being of pets and their families worldwide.
Pets at Home has seen its pre-tax profits rise by 14.1% to £120.6m in the 12 months to 27 March, up from £105.7m the year before, as the group described it as a year of ‘profound transformation’...
Pets at Home has seen its pre-tax profits rise by 14.1% to £120.6m in the 12 months to 27 March, up from £105.7m the year before, as the group described it as a year of ‘profound transformation’.
The surge in profits was driven by a strong performance in its vets business, with pre-tax profits up 23% to £75.9m and sales up 13% to £655m.
But the company’s retail business took a hit as consumer sales dropped 1.8% to £1.3bn and profits plunged 16% to £72.9m.
Lyssa McGowan, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The past two years have seen a profound transformation at Pets at Home. We have moved from a business with a strong presence in pet retail and vets, to a true pet care platform.
“We now have a platform that is fit for the future and capable of delivering sustained outperformance and market share gains through delighting consumers and increasingly fulfilling all of their pet care needs. During this period of transformation, we have completely replatformed our digital infrastructure, built new capabilities around our data, brand and marketing, and simplified our distribution network to a single distribution centre fulfilling stores, online and subscriptions, and we have achieved this against the backdrop of a normalising pet care market and low consumer confidence.
“In FY25, we also saw another outstanding year of growth in our vets business, fuelled by the commitment and expertise of our partners, supported by our best-in-class scale services, platform benefits and industry knowhow. Our practices significantly outperformed a more subdued industry backdrop and delivered this progress despite the ongoing uncertainty of the CMA investigation – further demonstration of the power of our unique joint venture model.
“I am tremendously proud of our colleagues and partners for navigating this challenging but critical period which leaves us in a position to look to the future with confidence. While FY26 comes with its own challenges as we digest externally imposed cost headwinds and heightened macro uncertainty, our objective is clear – to deliver outperformance against our underlying markets, across our business.”
Financial Highlights
Group consumer revenue up 2.7% to £1.96bn, against a subdued but resilient market backdrop.
Vet Group consumer revenue up 13.0%, record sales supported by high quality growth driven by higher visits, average transaction values and significant growth in Care Plan revenues.
Retail consumer revenue down 1.8%, impacted by a period of subdued growth in the pet sector due to a soft UK consumer backdrop throughout FY25, deflation and normalising levels of new pet ownership. In addition, we saw some transitionary impacts from our digital platform launch. However, the fundamentals of the business remain healthy with consumer satisfaction improving through the year.
Total Group statutory revenues up 0.1% to £1.48bn, with Group like-for-like# (LFL) revenue -0.4%. Vet Group revenues up +16.8% (LFL# +16.2%) to £175.3m, with Retail revenues -1.8% (LFL# -2.0%) to £1.31bn.
Group underlying PBT of £133.0m, up 0.7% YoY, in line with guidance, with Group underlying PBT margin +5bps.
Vet Group underlying PBT of £75.9m up 23.3%, driven by the increase in fee income YoY whilst maintaining a broadly flat cost base.
Retail underlying PBT of £72.9m down 16.6%, driven by the impact of lower revenues with gross margins broadly stable and good cost control.
Group statutory PBT £120.6m, up 14.1% with the underlying profit fall offset by a £13.9m reduction in non-underlying costs YoY to £12.4m in FY25.
Underlying EPS 21.0p, up 1.6% with a 1.4% underlying profit for the period decline, offset by 3.0% share buyback accretion.
Total dividend per share of 13.0p (up 1.6%), final dividend held at 8.3p.
Free cash flow up 21.5% to £83.8m, reflecting the increase in underlying PBT#, lower non-underlying costs and lower share purchases linked to our employee benefit trust (EBT).
Vet Group £67.5m up 15.8% driven by strong sales growth, leveraged through our capital light model.
Retail £30.6m up 14.6% with lower non-underlying costs helping offset lower underlying profits.
Balance sheet remains robust with adjusted net cash# of £6.2m (FY24: £8.8m), before lease liabilities of £348.3m. Cash and cash equivalents of £39.5m at the end of the year (FY24: £57.1m).
£25m share buyback announced for FY26, having already completed £125m in buybacks in last 3 years.
Strategic Highlights
FY25 was a year of strategic progress against a more challenging macro backdrop. Importantly, the key elements of our strategy are now complete and will underpin future growth. Highlights include:
Pets Club members grew 5% to 8.2m helped in part by auto-enrolment on the new digital platform, further increasing our active consumer base from which we can drive share of wallet gains in the future.
Our retained consumers continue to see higher ACV3 – faster consumer growth than anticipated diluted our total consumer ACV3 (down 2% to £175) but retained consumer ACV3 growing 1% to £216.
Digital platform fully transitioned providing the foundations to leverage our Pets Club data to drive an increasingly personalised consumer experience.
Distribution network optimisation complete, with all sales channels now being fully serviced by our single site distribution centre in Stafford.
Subscription revenues +30%, with 13.0% (from 10.0%) of Group Consumer revenue# now generated via subscriptions. Particularly strong growth across Easy Repeat and Care Plans as our improved offer and functionality resonates with consumers.
Retail consumer satisfaction +10pts since start of year driven by improvements in availability, service and value for money.
Further growth in vet footprint – 3 new JV practices and 15 JV extensions completed in the year with accelerated ambitions for future supported by a robust partner pipeline. In FY26 we plan to open at least 10 new JV practices alongside 15 extensions.
Continued investment in our Pet Care Centres with 4 new openings and 32 Pet Care Centre refits including 4 major refits in our new trial format.
Progressed our sustainability agenda – In partnership with Meatly we supported the launch of the world’s first cultivated meat dog treat and over 250 own brand pet food ranges have been carbon footprinted.
Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe has announced that global superstar Robbie Williams stars in a new TV advert and mini movie for FELIX, as part of the brand’s latest ‘It’s Great to Be a Cat’ campaign across Europe...
Nestlé Purina PetCare Europe has announced that global superstar Robbie Williams stars in a new TV advert and mini movie for FELIX, as part of the brand’s latest ‘It’s Great to Be a Cat’ campaign across Europe.
Known for his free-spirited and cheeky nature, proud cat owner Robbie has reunited with the most mischievous cat around to enter FELIX’s famous black and white world, making him the first human to ever do so. He has also recorded a new song exclusively for the campaign, celebrating feline personality traits we admire, with the aim of inspiring people to experience these traits even more in their own lives. From their mischievous and playful nature to their free-spirited and authentic approach to life, our cats have plenty of attitude.
In the films, on air, YouTube and across social media platforms from today, FELIX is visited by the internationally acclaimed recording artist who arrives with dinner for him before FELIX rides a vacuum cleaner robot and makes mess of a shelf with Robbie. Stepping through the front door, Robbie Williams transforms into an animated version of himself. Throughout his visit he experiences FELIX’s playful and free-spirited nature, which includes knocking books and picture frames off shelves, jumping onto a turntable and putting the spotlight on the popstar. Impressed by FELIX’s ability to get away with mischief, Robbie sings about the various feline traits he envies and why ‘It’s Great to Be a Cat’. The advert ends with the duo tucking into dinner and FELIX savouring the delicious cat food - showing it’s the ultimate reason why ‘It’s Great to Be a Cat’.
In another first, FELIX is hitting the road with Robbie Williams as the headline sponsor of his 2025 European Tour, bringing the cat food and music industry together like never before. The tour kicks off on 31st May 2025 in Edinburgh, Scotland (UK).
Robbie Williams said: “It’s a privilege to be back with FELIX and to be the first person invited into his black and white world, where we can celebrate how great it is to be a cat. I love how my cats live their lives exactly how they want, when they want. They’re masters at being mischievous, true to themselves, confident, free-spirited and playful. This definitely rubs off on me – clearly, they’re my spirit animal.”
Fabio Pietro Degli Esposti, European Marketing Group Director at Nestle Purina, said: “This year is set to celebrate why it’s great to be a cat like never before. One ultimate reason is enjoying irresistible food every day, but it’s also how our cats’ brilliantly mischievous, free-spirited and confident personality traits can benefit us if we all embrace a bit of cat attitude. Who better to inspire this than Robbie Williams and FELIX; both with these personality traits in abundance. And after FELIX previously spent time playing around in Robbie’s world, the new advert shows the popstar joining our iconic cat on screen – the first-ever human to enter and have a taste of FELIX’s animated world.”
Neerdog – the ‘Need to be Near your dog’ brand – has secured a listing with pet specialist chain Pets & Friends. The lifestyle accessories brand is built around the belief that spending time with your dog outside is one of the best ways to boost mental well-being...
Neerdog – the ‘Need to be Near your dog’ brand – has secured a listing with pet specialist chain Pets & Friends.
The lifestyle accessories brand rooted in the outdoors, is built around the belief that spending time with your dog outside is one of the best ways to boost mental well-being.
The brand’s full accessories range is now available in stores, including the highly rated Go-B-Bold and Go-Cee-Y Harnesses, Collars and Leads as well as the Stink-Proofed kit!
Each item is part of what Neerdog calls ‘Feel Good Kit For Feel Good Moments’ – kit that encourages people to unplug, get outside and reconnect with the joy of the simple things. Kit colours and patterns are inspired by nature, including Hollyhock, Lantana and Erysimum Harnesses.
Sales director Lauren Bentley said: “We are so excited to see our products now available through Pets & Friends, a trusted and much-loved name in pet retail.
“Our mission is to provide dogs and their humans with high quality, comfortable and practical kit that helps them feel and look good when exploring the great outdoors.
“This exciting partnership means we can connect with even more dog parents and see lots more dogs wearing our feel-good kit, thanks to the team at Pets & Friends for helping us reach a huge milestone for Neerdog.”
For more information on the Neerdog range of products visit www.neerdog.com
The new Chuckit! Amphibious Boomerang features a soft, semi-rigid construction for exceptional visibility and performance for hours of fun. It floats high on the water yet is light enough to fly high through the air. The soft yet durable material is gentle on a dog's mouth and is a great addition to the Chuckit! Amphibious range, retailing at £12.99.
