Scampers Natural Pet Store in Cambridgeshire has introduced a charge for the use of carrier bags to help reduce its carbon footprint – and raise funds for a local charity.

The store in Soham is now charging 5p for carrier bags, which will go directly to the Liam Fairhurst Foundation – the charity set up in memory of a local teenager.

Piers Smart (left), who owns Scampers, said: “We feel that plastic bag usage needs to be urgently reduced and we are certain that our customers will agree that we all have our part to play.

“From July we will be charging 5p for carrier bags  - although we would rather not have any at all) - which will go directly into the foundation’s charity boxes.

"Several years ago we were honoured to meet Liam and his brother Callum when Liam was attempting to raise funds for the excellent charity CLIC Sargent.

"We were delighted to help then and now, just through a chance re-meeting on Twitter we are going to help his amazing little brother Callum, his family and loads of supporters to continue raising money through their charity The Liam Fairhurst Foundation."

Liam was diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer in his leg and lungs in July 2005 when he was 10 years old and between this date and the date of his subsequent death in June 2009 he underwent numerous courses of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and operations in an attempt to halt the illness.  On three occasions he spent time in intensive care, was taking numerous supplements to keep his kidneys functioning and for the last year the toll of his illness was such that he was confined to a wheelchair. For most people that would have been enough, but despite everything Liam faced he set out to help other children like him. Liam started fundraising after the death of his 12 year old friend Jack Wilkinson in August 2006.

He chose the charity CLIC Sargent because both Jack and his family had been supported by them and he liked the fact that the charity supported the whole family and not just the child affected by cancer. He chose to do a sponsored one mile swim and with  the help of  the local media succeeded to raise £13000. What was remarkable was at the time of the swim Liam had lost over three quarters of the thigh muscle in his left leg and could barely walk 100 yards! But Liam was determined telling his family “no matter how long it takes I’m not getting out of the pool till I’ve done it”.

He then went on to National Television in ITVs FORTUNE MILLION POUND GIVEAWAY where he persuaded a panel of  five millionaires to part with £50,000 so that CLIC Sargent could purchase and equip a luxury caravan for families affected by cancer to be able to have short breaks away from hospital.

To read more visit http://www.scampers.co.uk/liam-fairhurst-foundation-09-10-2012.asp

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company announced this week that its subsidiary, The Scotts Company (UK) Ltd, has reached an agreement to acquire proprietary brands from Solus Garden and Leisure Limited (in Administration).

The acquisition includes, but is not limited to, the Yeoman, Joseph Bentley, ChapelWood, Botanico, Garden Nation and Bermuda brands. Prior to going into administration, Solus was a leading UK supplier of garden and leisure products, offering a diverse mix of quality brands for more than 25 years.

Mark Pearson, previously Chief Executive Officer of Solus, will join Scotts to lead the acquired brands, which will be operated as a “Scotts Solus Brands” internal division within The Scotts Company (UK) Limited.

“The acquired Solus brands are complementary to our existing gardens business in the UK and fill some gaps in our current product offering,” said Martin Breddy, Vice President and General Manager of The Scotts Company (UK) Limited.

“We are excited to combine these brands with Scotts’ innovation, advertising and marketing and are confident this will help drive faster growth for the UK gardening market. “We welcome the Solus team into the Scotts family and are working towards a seamless transition,” added Breddy.

Tony Barrell, joint administrator and director of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, said: “I am pleased to announce the completion of the sale to Scotts, which secures the future of the Solus brands and business. I would like to thank the employees, key customers and suppliers for all their support over the last eight weeks. We will now be communicating with the suppliers of the third-party branded products, which were not sold as part of the deal.”

Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Building on the huge success of Dentastix, Pedigree is launching its latest innovation - Pedigree DentaFlex, a longer lasting chew that reduces the build-up of plaque and tartar close to the gum line when fed twice weekly.

Four out of five dogs over the age of three years experience gum disease caused by the build-up of plaque and tartar. Research shows that it is important to reduce plaque build-up close to the gum line, where it matters most.

Developed by oral care science and technology experts at Pedigree, with significant input from leading veterinary dentists, Pedigree DentaFlex is a completely new dental chew. The combination of active ingredients and its revolutionary spongy texture that flexes around the tooth enable it to clean close to the gum line.

The DentaFlex chew contains less than 1.5% fat and has no added sugar, artificial colours or flavours. Pedigree DentaFlex lasts up to seven times longer than Pedigree DentaStix, based on a comparison of medium chews.

Caroline Mabon, Pedigree UK Brand Manager, commented: “With Pedigree DentaFlex, dogs can enjoy a longer lasting chew that gives their teeth a deep clean too. DentaFlex offers a delicious solution to help owners manage their dog’s oral health.”

Functional oral treats continue to be the fastest growing sector within the dog care and treats category, as owners look to reward their pets with treats that are not only delicious, but also help tackle certain health concerns. With only 52% of dog owners buying an oral care product in the last 12 months, the introduction of DentaFlex provides an opportunity to drive further sales growth to the category.

The launch of Pedigree DentaFlex will be supported by a new TV advertising campaign as well as exciting and innovative in-store PoS.

DentaFlex has an RRP from £1.25 for a single pack.

The Garden Centre Group, which has a strong pet and aquatic presence in its portfolio of 140 stores, today announced it will rebrand as Wyevale Garden Centres.

Kevin Bradshaw, Chief Executive Officer of Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “As we continue to grow and transform our business, adopting a consistent national identity for our 140 garden centres will bring increased awareness and visibility to our estate among consumers. This is an important step in taking advantage of our national scale as the UK’s largest garden retailer and differentiating our offer.” 

Sarah Fuller, Marketing Director for Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “The garden has a special place in British culture, and with roots dating back to the early 20th century, the heritage of Wyevale Garden Centres ties deeply to that joyful tradition. Our ambition is to make our brand synonymous with the joys of the garden, as well as a place where anyone can come to find help, ideas and inspiration.” 

An historic legacy in the garden 

A well-known brand within The Garden Centre Group, Wyevale Garden Centres began as a mail-order nursery in 1932 and later expanded into one of the earliest garden centres in 1966. Wyevale Garden Centres continues to enjoy strong recognition among consumers and online is currently the most searched for retail brand name in the garden-specific sector. 

“We chose Wyevale Garden Centres as our brand name due to its strong existing recognition and positive associations among consumers as well its history of being at the forefront of the UK gardening tradition,” said Sarah Fuller. 

“Best of local, best of national” 

The new brand name and visual identity will roll out across garden centres, completing in early 2015. Individual garden centres, which currently carry an assortment of brand names, will adopt the national brand but retain their local name, in the spirit of maintaining their strong connections with local communities. 

“We aspire to offer our customers the best of national and the best of local when it comes to their gardens, and we will continue to nurture the unique characteristics and community-focus of our centres under the unifying umbrella of our new national brand,” said Sarah Fuller. 

A new visual identity 

A new logo and visual identity will accompany the change in brand name, featuring a blooming leaf design as well as vivid green and purple lettering. The design incorporates elements of the traditional Wyevale Garden Centres logo and that of The Garden Centre Group’s popular Gardening Club, the UK’s largest garden loyalty club, with more than 2.5 million members. 

For more information visit www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk 

A growing number of companies specialising in pet grooming products are choosing PATS exhibitions to showcase their latest ranges.

An impressive list of 20 exhibitors have confirmed they will be promoting shampoos and grooming accessories at PATS Harrogate on September 14-15, many of which will be entered into the New Product Showcase.

Companies like Precious Pets London and Christies Global know the importance of unveiling their new products at PATS, having won awards at past shows.

Precious Pets London won the Best New Grooming Product at PATS Sandown in March for their Luxury Conditioning Dog Shampoos and the company’s Charlotte Nash admits: “PATS has been fantastic for building awareness of our brand and for establishing new business relationships. We couldn't have asked for more from the show or its organisers, and we’re confident that will continue at Harrogate.

“We're excited to introduce a new scent called Citrus Sunshine into our range. We’ll be also exhibiting our new range of natural eau de toilettes for dogs that match the scents of our shampoos. We've had a pretty amazing year and we are looking to cap it off with a another fantastic PATS Harrogate.”

Christies Global, meanwhile, have won two awards at PATS in the past year, clinching the Best New Pet Care Product with their PetCare Flea & Tick Treatment at Sandown, after winning the Grooming Award for their Pet Therapy Pet Wash Sponge at Harrogate in 2013.

“PATS is a great place to launch new products and we’ve always found the response from visitors to be amazing. Winning a New Product Award certainly helps in creating lots of awareness,” says Colin Christie.

Group55 are a veteran of PATS and the company’s Stephen Turner said the exhibition had played an important role in the growth of their Animolgy brand, another award-winner at the show.

““As a manufacturer of professional and retail grooming products PATS has become an essential feature of our trade show calendar. There is no other event in the UK that allows us to meet with so many pet specialist retailers and groomers under one roof.”

As well as showcasing the latest dog grooming accessories, PATS is also home to top-class demonstrations from members of Groom Team England.

The Grooming Workshops grow in interest with every PATS show that takes place. During the daily grooming demonstrations, the groomers and their commentator, popular consultant Diana North, will be giving advice and answering questions.

Two of the country’s top groomers will be demonstrating their skills this year. On Sunday, September 14, Alison Rogers will be performing her show and pet trims on a Bichon Frise, and on Monday, September 15, Mike Wildman will be showcasing handstrip and clipping techniques on a Cocker Spaniel.

The companies exhibiting grooming and associated products at PATS Harrogate are:

• 3P Enterprises Ltd
• Ancol
• Armitage Pet Care
• Armstrong Richardson
• Beaphar UK
• Butch & Bess
• Christies Global
• Ferplast (UK) Ltd
• FOP
• Gor Pets
• Group55
• JAK Marketing Ltd
• Multifox
• Oggy Pets
• Paragon
• Pedigree Wholesale
• Pet Brands
• Pet Revolution
• Precious Pets London
• The Company of Animals

For more information about grooming activities at PATS and those companies exhibiting related products visit www.patshow.co.uk

The Pet Industry Federation has launched a new insurance solution for dog groomers, pet sitters, dog walkers and home boarders, arranged by Jelf, to help ensure that they have the right cover in place to protect their businesses, at the right price.

Developed exclusively for PIF members and designed in conjunction with leading insurance broker, Jelf, this new insurance covers the core risks faced by dog groomers, sitters and walkers and includes an element of boarding insurance cover too for those businesses which look after dogs from one household at a time.

Features covered within the insurance include up to £5m public and products liability, care and non-negligence cover, and legal defence costs, as well as options to purchase loss of key cover, property, grooming equipment, employers’ liability and much more.  Annual standard cover starts from just £50.

Nigel Baker, Chief Executive of the Pet Industry Federation said: ‘We are delighted to offer dog grooming members, pet sitters, dog walkers and certain home boarding members this fantastic new insurance product. Jelf have talked to our members as part of their research and used this knowledge, expertise and professionalism to develop a highly competitive product which I can recommend to our members.’

This new insurance comes in the wake of a whole raft of new member benefits now available to PIF members which includes: discounted legal advice for businesses, their families and employees; access to audit, tax and financial advice all year round, a 24/7 regulatory legal helpline, regular legal updates and news, HR advice and discounted HR services.

Jelf will continue develop insurance packages for the other PIF associations.

Whether it’s time to renew now, or in the future, current PIF members should telephone 0845 869 5342 or email pif@jelfgroup.com to arrange a quotation from Jelf or visit the PIF Membership Benefits website – www.pifmembershipbenefits.com to find out more details.

The Pet Industry Federation is an introducer appointed representative of Jelf. Jelf Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Owners can now calm their anxious dogs in no time, with a pioneering coat that gives pets a therapeutic hug.

Now available from The Company of Animals, the fast-acting Anxiety Wrap is a lightweight, breathable pressure wrap especially designed to calm anxious, excitable, or fearful dogs. 

The cleverly designed and patented elasticated wrap uses scientifically proven acupressure on key points of the dog’s body, as well as gentle maintained pressure to relieve stress, mimicking the calming effects of hugging a distressed child.

A US clinical study has shown that the Anxiety Wrap is effective in calming nine out of 10 distressed dogs (For details of the trial, please refer to the Journal of Veterinary Behaviour 2012).

The Company of Animals’ founder Dr. Roger Mugford said: “The Anxiety Wrap is a tried-and-tested solution and works as a brilliant natural alternative to sedatives or other drug-based therapies.    

Not only are the techniques used by the Anxiety Wrap scientifically proven, but the wrap is highly regarded by vets, trainers and dog owners in the United States where it has been available since 1991.

The Anxiety Wrap can also be combined with a facial wrap for an even stronger calming effect.  This simple device calms over-excited dogs prone to excessive barking, and is therefore named ‘Quiet Dog’”.

A huge fan of the power of Anxiety Wrap to calm any dog, Dr. Mugford has seen the product provide astounding results with his patients at the Training and Behaviour Centre in Surrey.

One memorable case he helped with Anxiety Wrap was a TV talent show winner. While the Border Collie was a confident top dog in the show ring, it was easily upset and scared by the adulation it received, developing a phobia to clapping and celebratory fireworks. However, applying the Anxiety Wrap created an instant calming effect in their star performer. 

The Anxiety Wrap is made from 98 per cent polyester and 2 per cent Spandex.  It has unique, non-restrictive leg straps which allow animals to jump, run and swim with ease.  Unlike other body wraps, it does not over heat the dog in warm weather. 

The Anxiety wrap comes in seven sizes and retails at £29.99. The Quiet Dog is available in 5 sizes and retails at £4.99.

For more information about Anxiety Wrap or Quiet Dog, visit: www.companyofanimals.co.uk

The Bistro cat feeder is claimed to be the “smartest cat feeder ever”, and it’s capable of monitoring your pet’s health in addition to feeding it!

Facial recognition tech is one of the most impressive (if slightly over the top) features on the Bistro feeder, with the food dispenser capable of recognising which cat it’s feeding, making it ideal if you’ve got multiple felines in the house, and you’ll get a notification if an unrecognised cat is attempting to feed.

Bistro gets a webcam, so you can actually keep an eye on the cats that are eating, and there’s a companion app for your smartphone where you can even monitor your cat’s eating history – helping to keep it healthy. Concerned he or she isn’t eating as much as before? It’s certainly a lot easier to keep an eye on things with Bistro.

The Bistro app can also make dietary suggestions, helping you cat to stay in tip-top condition, with the feeder itself making sure your cat is fed the right amounts even if you’re not around for the day!

The clever tech doesn’t stop there either, as there are integrated scales built-in to monitor the weight of your kitty when it’s eating, making it easy to keep tabs on your cat.

Check out the Bistro in action below:

The increasing demand for good sales people, particularly in the South East, is clear evidence the pet industry is growing again after several years of challenging economic conditions. That's the view of recruitment specialist Lynda Ward.

Lynda, owner of  Pet Trade Solutions, says there is an increasing demand for field sales people to cover South East territories due to new companies introducing products for the industry and others expanding.

“The South East in particular is always the first territory to be attended to in these cases and the fact that there have been so many new roles in the area this year is a very good indicator that the pet industry is moving on.

"No-one is pretending that it’s ‘easy out there’ due to the level of competition and retailers still cautious buying stock but the fact that there’s a demand for face-to-face sales skills shows that many companies are shifting up a gear and meeting the challenge head on."

Lynda is always happy to personally advise on any aspects of recruitment and marketing strategy and can be contacted on 07946 743784 or at lyndaward@pettradesolutions.com

Happy Paws has won the Fressnapf/Maxi Zoo Innovation Award 2014, beating off competition from 20 other companies from all over the world. The Easy-Tie was very well received by the judging panel made up of senior buyers and CEOs. The products will now be placed into 1,300 Fressnapf stores across Europe.

"As a start-up, this award is such an honour and will help to establish the brand Happy Paws  and the Easy-Tie as a must-have convenience/safety accessory, making the task of securing dogs, Easier, Safer and Quicker. We will soon be launching several other products," said Tim Joannides, of Happy Paws.

Collarways has announced it will be distributing a new line of products from Pampered, based in Milan.

The line is separated into two areas – the Pampered POP collection of leather items and the Disney licensed, Minnie and Pluto range.

All products are proudly made in Italy and manufactured in the heart of Italian handicraft culture.

The range isn’t just collars and leads but beds, bowls and apparel under the Disney license and a range of treats made with natural ingredients.  The Italian design flair has been applied to all  products making them visually appealing without compromising on quality.

Katie Goldsmith, Director at Collarways comments:  “ A licensed brand is a new venture for Collarways but as with all the brands we distribute, we have taken great care in selecting the Pampered products to be a part of our offering.

"The appeal of the Disney characters will attract customers but doesn’t compromise the classic designs and we are delighted to be bringing them to the UK market.  All items are available to order now and make sure you find us at PATS Harrogate on stand H7 to see for yourself.”

www.collarways.com 0845 4568395.

A pet-friendly Italian beach has introduced an ambulance service for dogs, to treat four-legged companions feeling ill in the heat.

Bathers at the seaside resort of Bibione, near Venice, can ring a helpline called Mi Fido di Te - the Italian for "I trust you" - and volunteers equipped with oxygen, dressing kits and a microchip reader will tend to the dog.

Local authorities have said it is most common to see dogs suffering from sunstroke or dehydration, or who injure themselves while playing on the sand, the Ansa news agency reports.

In serious cases, pets can be stretchered from the beach to a veterinary clinic. The service is free, but the volunteers accept donations to help cover costs.

Bibione resort already has a range of canine facilities, including showers, beds and leashes, as well as Pluto Beach, which is especially for dogs.

Pet care brand Blooming Pet Products has recently enjoyed a packaging overhaul, with all products now displaying new colour coded labels that group the range into categories, to make selection ever easier.

Blooming Pet Products’ supplements, shampoos and creams are made by Equimins, a respected and trusted horse care company dedicated to providing high specification, effective products at a reasonable price. Blooming Pet Products’ range shares this ethos, bringing quality pet products at an affordable price that help to support various issues that a pet could encounter.

“Our new branding is fresh, crisp and is easy to understand- turquoise is for joints, brown is for skin and coat, red is for liver and kidneys, purple is digestion, blue is for calming and green is for nutrition,” says David Willey from Blooming Pet Products.

“We’re excited to unveil our new branding, it’s refreshed the range. The high specification products inside the bottle or tub remain the same, so there’s no compromise on quality- you’ll still be using the same quality products, made to our tried and trusted formula on your dog or cat.”

All Blooming Pet Products are made in the UK at the company’s Devon facility. With quality being a top priority, the range provides cost effective support to a number of concerns, including joint support for older cats and dogs, probiotics for pets, calming products for exuberant animals and even a detangler and conditioning spray. Best of all, all products are well priced, with prices starting at £3.95 for a tub of Aloe Vera Gel. In addition, free advice is available by calling the company or visiting the website.

For more information, see www.bloomingpets.com or call 01548 531835.

Nestlé has opened Mexico’s first Purina Pet Park just north of the country’s capital Mexico City, underscoring the company’s commitment to the country’s fast-growing petcare market. 

The new “Parque Purina” facility, located in Cuautitlán Izcalli, sits on a public space that offers a range of attractions specially designed for dogs, such as agility games and areas to play Frisbee. 

The Parque Purina inauguration comes a week after Nestlé announced plans to open a new pet food factory in the Central Mexican state of Guanajuato in the first half of 2015. 

The CHF 200 million factory project is part of a five-year investment of CHF 900 million (USD 1 billion) in the country that Nestlé revealed earlier this year. Located in the city of Silao, the factory will create 300 jobs and include a distribution centre for national supply and import and export to Central America. 

Mexico is one of the fastest growing markets for Purina in Latin America with double-digit growth in 2013 alone. 

Developed by vets and loved by pets, 8in1 Delights dog treats are long-lasting, low-fat snacks that promote healthy teeth and gums and help to develop strong jaw muscles.

"8in1 Delights are the only rawhide chews with chicken meat in the middle. Continued chewing and gnawing of these tasty treats help to remove the plaque that so often leads to tartar formation and other dental problems," said Alex Hinton, trade marketing manager for 8in1.

"The Delights range is free from artificial colouring or flavour enhancers and includes different varieties suitable for all sizes of dog. In trials, 9 out of 10 dogs preferred 8in1 Delights to other rawhide chews* and the wide range of choices keeps pets – and owners happy."

These treats are available in a number of varieties:

• Original – Chicken wrapped in rawhide
• Dental – Chicken wrapped in rawhide with added minerals for fresher breath and healthier teeth and gums
• Strong – for dogs with stronger jaws
• Beef - ideal for dogs with sensitive tummies and skin

The UK’s Number 1* normal nutrition specialist brand is proud to announce the launch of the new BETA Breed Specific Range.  As dog breed groups have similar characteristics and needs, BETA Breed Specific products offer high quality and Complete Dry Dog nutrition tailored for the 4 most popular breed families – Spaniels, Shepherds and Setters, Terriers and Retrievers.

The Advanced Nutrition category is currently the only segment of the market offering tailored nutrition for a variety of different breed types.  Pet owners believe their dogs are special and those shopping for Normal Nutrition brands in the Specialist channel are likely to be looking for tailored, quality nutrition too.  PURINA, with its 85 years of expertise in dog nutrition and behaviour has carefully developed the Breed Group Specific range offering tailored nutrition for specific breed groups.

It is important for consumers to understand how each recipe is tailored to the individual needs of the different breed types and the new pack format allows simple communication of the benefits for each breed.  There is also a strong visual link on front of pack to the breeds they are developed for and the imagery used.

Here is a summary of how each recipe has been specifically formulated for each breed type:

• Spaniels are lively by nature which means they need a food that will sustain their energy needs throughout the day.  BETA Spaniels is specially formulated with high levels of protein and fat to help them maintain their extremely active nature and vitality for life.  Also suitable for hunting dogs.
• Shepherds and Setters are natural born explorers but they can be more prone to sensitive digestion.  BETA Shepherds and Setters is specially formulated with ingredients that are easy on dog’s intestines and contains all the right nutrients to help keep muscle mass in peak condition.
• Terriers are always on the lookout for adventure and love a good run around in the hope of finding it.  BETA Terriers formula is a balanced mix of nutrients designed to replenish energy, help maintain muscle mass and help keep bones strong and healthy.
• Retrievers love playtime – and they also love mealtimes.  BETA Retrievers is a specially balanced formula with all the nutrients needed for a healthy, active life but with reduced fat levels compared with BETA Adult to help keep optimal body condition.

For more information please contact your PURINA Business Development Manager or visit www.purina-beta.co.uk

*Reg. Trademark of Société des Produits Nestlé S.A.

*IRI value share – Total pet specialist w/e 9^th Nov 2013 (excluding PAH)