Pets at Home is closing all seven of its specialist Barkers high street stores and is offering staff alternative roles at its superstores. All the Barkers shops will be closed by the end of March.

The pet retail chain opened its flagship Barkers' shop in a former Blockbusters store in Wilmslow, Cheshire in March 2014 and had since opened a further six shops across the country – Clifton (Bristol), Farnham (Surrey), Ilkley (West Yorkshire), Marlow (Buckinghamshire), Muswell Hill (London) and Sevenoaks (Kent).

When  the Barkers concept was first launched Pets at Home said  the objective was “to create the best dog shop in the world.”

But now the company has had a rethink and a spokesperson for Pets at Home told Pet Trade Xtra this week: “Barkers is a trial concept of a premium segment small-store format in seven high street locations around the country. 

“There are a number of positive aspects from the trial that we will incorporate into our core Pets at Home stores.

“However, we have concluded that the Barkers concept does not offer the potential to be rolled-out profitably.  We have therefore decided to end the trial and close our seven Barkers stores by the end of March. 

“All colleagues from our Barkers stores will be offered alternative roles in local Pets at Home stores.”

Each of the seven stores has posted a similar message of Facebook. Here’s the post from the Wilmslow store.

“It with an extremely heavy heart that today we have to announce that Barkers of Wilmslow is closing on Sunday 18th March 2018.

“As many of you know, we were the first of 7 shops and have had an incredible four years here in Wilmslow – meeting and being here for you and your barkers has truly been an honour.

“I would like to reassure you all that this decision was not an easy one and certainly not one we have taken lightly, but due to many factors we have to say farewell.

“We have every intention of going out as we came in, as a shop filled with fun, laughter and general doggy shenanigans! So to each and every Barker who has shopped here, been groomed here, attended a party or even done a sneaky little wee on us – do come back and see us before we shut our doors for the last time!

“For all of our spa customers, our groomers will be getting in contact over the coming weeks to discuss your appointments, but please do give us a call if you are worried before then. We can also help arrange an alternative appointment at our sister dog grooming salon, The Groom Room, located in Pets at Home Stockport or Pets at Home Altrincham.

“Thank you! It’s been a pleasure and we will miss you all terribly."

Sainsbury’s has announced that the launch of its new hypoallergenic pet food range is part of a wider investment in the pet aisles.

The new pet food as been created to cater for UK cats and dogs with food allergies or intolerances.T

he new Sainsbury’s range will be available in stores from the end of January 2018 and is the biggest investment the retailer has ever made in its pet food range.

The range, developed with pet nutrition experts, addresses the growing demand for pet food that is free from foods commonly known to cause intolerances or allergies in dogs and cats.

Sainsbury’s Hypoallergenic Range boasts recipes that are made without ingredients such as wheat, grain, dairy, eggs and soya. The retailer has also created a new range of pet treats made without added sugars, which can contribute to a number of health issues such as pet obesity and diabetes.

Meanwhile, Sainsbury’s core range of Complete Nutrition products continue to uphold the high standards customers expect and have all been made to recipes containing no wheat– often found in poorer quality pet foods.

Lucy Taylor, Product Developer for Pets at Sainsbury’s, said: “As our customers become more aware of the ingredients in the food they eat, we’ve also seen a shift in buying habits within the pet food market. Our development focus has been to offer a nutritionally-sound product range to satisfy the numerous pet dietary needs - something we’ve identified as increasingly important to pet owners.

“Responding to this emerging trend, we’ve removed artificial colours and flavours across our pet food ranges and introduced recipes made without grain, wheat and other common allergens. The work we’ve done in the pet aisle makes this type of specialist pet nutrition more accessible, offering products that are not only more widely available, but also more affordable.”

Pet food companies could be doing more to tackle plastic waste, according to Henrietta Morrison, founder and CEO of Lily’s Kitchen. The enterprising business woman is urging other companies to ‘ditch the pouch’ in favour of more recyclable packaging.

Henrietta’s comments follow Prime Minister Theresa May’s pledge to eradicate all avoidable plastic waste in the UK by 2042, which is part of the government’s 25-year plan to improve the natural environment and create a cleaner, greener Britain.

Currently in the UK, plastic pet food pouches are non-recyclable and it is estimated that in the case of cat food pouches alone, 8.8 billion of them end up in landfill every year.

Pouches are widely used by pet food manufacturers in the UK, particularly for single serve portions of cat food, but increasingly so for dog food. So the total number of pouches going into landfill is likely to be much higher.

Lily’s Kitchen made a conscious decision not to use plastic pouches for its cat food on environmental grounds, given their non-recyclability. Instead the company uses aluminium trays which can be widely recycled by householders. The same is true for Lily’s Kitchen wet dog food products, which all come in recyclable aluminium trays or tins.

In addition, for its dry complete food, Lily’s Kitchen uses specially designed paper bags that are 100% compostable. This compared with the rest of the industry where the majority use non-recyclable and non-compostable bags, further adding to the landfill issue.

85% of all Lily’s Kitchen packaging is currently made from compostable or recycled material, or is recyclable at end of life. The company is working towards increasing this to 100% by reducing the amount of packaging on products it uses and making sure it uses recyclable materials wherever possible.

Comments Henrietta: “We have a responsibility to try not to add more rubbish to our planet.  We want to try and be part of a solution, not contribute to the problem. So, whatever we do, from eco packaging to organic ingredients, as a business we try to tread carefully on the planet our pets love so much.

“It’s clear that non-recyclable plastic pouches are a major burden on our environment and we feel very strongly that the pet food industry should follow our lead by eradicating them from the supply chain. Advances in packaging technology mean that alternative options exist that more than adequately keep the food safe for our pets, which is the primary concern, provide convenience for consumers and enable manufacturers to communicate information about their products clearly on pack.

 “The time has come for the pet food industry to take greater responsibility for the waste it creates through its packaging.”

Lily’s Kitchen is proud to be one of the founding members of B Corp in the UK, and is currently the only pet food company in the world to certify as a B Corporation. The B Corp community believes in using business as a force for good, acting in a responsible and respectful way as a business and using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

Adds Henrietta: “Becoming a founder member of the B Corporation community in the UK has been a hugely inspiring journey, and one that I hope will inspire other companies to adopt a similar approach, particularly to do the right thing for the environment.”

Meanwhile, Lily’s Kitchen recorded an impressive rate of growth of 36% year on year, as the company announced it would continue its mission to provide proper food to all pets.

Over the past 12 months, Lily’s Kitchen chose to invest heavily in the business, particularly in its people, systems and marketing in order to build and grow existing channels and open up new distribution. 

Its decision to invest ahead of growth to ensure the continued expansion of the brand and systems to support this, both in the UK and internationally, led to the company recording a £2.4 million loss in profit to 31st March 2017. However, the business is expected to return to profit by the end of the next financial year.

Henrietta said: “We continue to experience significant growth and have decided to invest heavily in the business to support this. As a result we have performed strongly in all retailers, not only delivering impressive topline growth but also delivering incremental category growth for our retail partners.

“We are excited to be taking on 30,000 new points of distribution in the UK and internationally, across over 2000 new stores in 2018, which will bring new consumers to the category and increase brand awareness. Our mission is to provide proper food for pets so new distribution points will help us unlock this.”

Lily’s Kitchen has demonstrated rapid YOY growth since its launch nine years ago, but with c.2% of the market share, there is still considerable appetite and headspace for further growth.

Inspired Pet Nutrition is investing around £1.5 million in new equipment at its Dalton Mill site near Thirsk in North Yorkshire to meet increased demand for its range of pet food.

In late November the factory achieved a record weekly despatch figure of 5,300 pallets. 

IPN’s Harringtons brand continues to be a top performer, growing 38% YoY with nearly 5m additional unit sales as awareness and availability increases.

As part of the investment, additional robotic equipment is being installed on the site’s four production lines to help meet demand – particularly from own label customers – for two different flavours to be combined on a single pallet.

The four new lines will handle both 10 kilo and 3 kilo bags and the increased automation will boost production capacity by some 100% for the 3 kilo size and by some 50% for the 10 kilo bags.

David Wilson, operations manager at IPN, explained: “Previously, to meet customer demand for two flavours on one pallet, each flavour had to be manufactured separately on single pallets and wrapped.

"The pallets were then moved to another part of the factory where they had to be manually unloaded and re-stacked to combine the two flavours. "

The new robotic equipment – which is linked to a £500,000 multi-directional conveyor – now does this automatically as part of a single process. It can complete 21 pallet loads in an hour and is fully integrated with the factory’s central conveying system.

Completed pallet loads are then transported to the firm’s nearby £7 million distribution centre.

The system can handle supermarket ready 600mm x 800mm pallets - which retailers often use to display goods in-store – as well as the traditional 1200mm x 1000mm size. 

The investment will also enable the company to save up to £190,000 pa in labour costs linked to the previous double handling, while the more efficient use of production equipment will create nearly 50 hours of additional production capacity a week.

The firm is also looking to invest a further £500,000 in another gas-powered generator, with the opportunity in subsequent years to utilise waste heat from the equipment.

The new plant will significantly reduce the firm’s reliance on the Grid and reduce electricity costs as output can be more closely linked to consumption, in addition to bringing associated environmental benefits.

Pictured, from left to right: George Page (Production Director) and David Wilson (Operations Manager) in IPN’s Dalton Mill site which is benefiting from a £1.5 million investment to help meet increased demand for its products.

Felcana, a leading pet technology company that creates an all-in-one digital pet health centre, announced this week that it has received seed funding from InseadAlum Ventures (IAV), a Singapore-headquartered investment firm founded by INSEAD alumni.

Founded in 2015, Felcana develops technologies that innovates across the pet healthcare and veterinary medicine industry by providing a holistic digital approach to pet health.

The financing will be used to launch the Company’s first cutting-edge product, the Health Monitoring Kit, with global roll-out. It will also be used to fund ongoing work on two proprietary technologies currently in development.

The Health Monitoring Kit, designed for dogs and cats, helps pet owners understand what’s normal for their pets, monitor pet activities and behaviour, and reinforce that pet–owner bond.

Key features include:

• Using real-time data to understand your pet's health
• Collecting and analysing information about your pet's health status 24/7
• Providing instant veterinary advice with our live chat feature
• Alerting pet owners of any behavioural and / or physiological abnormalities
• Detecting and predicting early stages of diseases with Felcana's AI system, including diabetes and arthritis
• Supporting veterinarians to make earlier, more accurate diagnoses by providing a stream of continuous and pet-specific data

Designed by veterinarians and former Dyson and Raspberry Pi engineers, the proprietary Felcana system is focused around a collar-worn monitor called a “Helix” which boasts state-of-the-art technology, including Bluetooth 5, housed in a fashion-forward, robust and waterproof design.

The Helix itself has a built-in app-controlled Flashback light allowing owners to locate their pets in the dark. All devices are brought together by the free Felcana app allowing owners to stay live and updated about their pet’s health and fitness at all times.

In addition to the funding, Deepak Shahdadpuri, who has over 15 years of venture and private equity experience, will join Felcana’s Board providing experience gained in previous smart connected device investments.

Shahdadpuri, an INSEAD Alumnus, is currently Managing Partner at IAV and VC-firm DSG Consumer Partners. His previous roles include Beacon India Private Equity Fund, GEM India, Reuters Venture Capital, Bain & Company and Ernst & Young.

Deepak Shahdadpuri, Managing Partner at IAV, said: “We have been very impressed by the Felcana team and their plans to bring technology to the pet wellness and healthcare space.

"James and his team have developed a very exciting product in Helix and are developing a pipeline of products to address the needs of pet owners and veterinarians.

"IAV looks forward to working alongside this experienced and extremely focused team, and leveraging our INSEAD network, in a sector which is experiencing tremendous growth.”

Co-founder, veterinarian and CEO of Felcana, Dr. James Andrews, who graduated from INSEAD in 2012, said: “We are delighted to welcome Deepak to the team and look forward to working closely with him.

"We are very excited to launch Felcana’s Health Monitoring Kit, a digital game changer in the animal healthcare sector. With the support from IAV, we look forward to the next stage in our growth strategy and to be one step closer to our vision for the future of animal healthcare."

Leading the charge when it comes to raising the standards of the ingredients in their food for dogs, Beco Pets, the UK’s foremost eco-friendly pet company, has launched a campaign focusing on the traceability and ethics of the chicken in their free-range chicken recipe.

The first instalment is a short film. It is shot on the free-range chicken farm where Beco Food sources their meat, nestled in the countryside of East Anglia.

It shows us what a modern free-range chicken farm really looks like and the morals and beliefs behind the farmer’s practises.

With 8.5million dogs in the UK, if every dog was to eat a chicken based diet, over 3.5 million* chickens would be used for pet food every week.

The rise in premium pet foods that use fresh meat instead of ‘meat meal’ and ‘poultry meal’ has been a welcome change and every day new pet owners demand greater transparency about the provenance of the ingredients that make up their dog's diet.

George Bramble, co-founder of Beco Food, explains where the free-range offering originated.

"We noticed that only ‘chicken’ was available, this means intensively reared birds, 20 squeezed into every meter square and they have no natural sunlight," said George.

"Only living 32 days from hatching to shelf, they are force-fed into unnaturally fast growth. It’s just unbearable.

"This wasn’t good enough, so when developing our recipe, we visited our free-range farm to make sure it met our standards. It was better than we could have imagined with happy chickens roaming free all day every day, spending their time outside pecking grubs.

"We want to show people that every chicken in Beco Food has had a happy, long and free-range life."

Watch out for the next two instalments due to hit our screens in 2018, the first of which documents Beco Food’s trip to an MSC certified sustainable fishing boat, and the second third follows the day of a park ranger working alongside wild boar.

You can view Beco's first short film at https://vimeo.com/241702794.

*Based on a 20kg dog eating Beco Food Free Range Chicken Recipe and the average weight of UK broiler chickens at 2.2kg.

HOWND is offering 15% off its shelf-ready trade cases of four units of its Butch Leather Cologne and Peach Bum Parfum fragrances in the lead up to Valentine's Day.

HOWND's 'his n hers' alcohol-free doggy fragrances come in sophisticated, luxurious bottles that not only have shelf appeal but smell divine and make an attractive seasonal promotion.

The Butch Leather Cologne has musky, masculine base notes scented with cedarwood and vetiver essential oils (which naturally repel fleas and insects), while the feminine Peach Bum parfum spray has been created with sweet orange essential oils (also ideal for keeping insects away) and jasmine that both humans and dogs love. The perfect product for masking that "doggy" smell and a wonderful add-on extra to offer customers.

Available in shelf-ready tray cases of 4 units, Butch Leather Parfum and Peach Bum fragrances, like all HOWND products are free from alcohol and parabens, and have impeccable ethical credentials; both are Cruelty Free International certified and endorsed by The Ethical Company Organisation and Nature Watch Foundation.

These elegant sprays are beautifully packaged, with a glamorous bow tie on the Butch Leather and a luxurious ribbon adorned with a pearl heart on Peach Bum.

The scents can be sprayed directly onto a dog's coat to help maintain that fresh clean smell on just-groomed dogs and to keep grooming salons smelling fabulous.

The 15% off offer is available for a limited period from January 3 to February 14. Visit www.DogsLoveHownd.com for details. 

Heights Farm Premium Pets Foods, a family-run business based in Bolton, Lancashire, is set to expand its empire with the launch of a new franchise operation.

This will allow more customers across the UK to have Heights Farm’s premium quality pet food delivered straight to their doors via a fleet of vans operated by pet-loving entrepreneurs who are in charge of running their own businesses in their own particular localities.

This model allows customers to make considerable cost savings on their delivered cat and dog food when compared to many other leading premium pet food brands on the market.

Stephen Ward, founder and owner of Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods, set up the company in response to his own experience of the pet food industry when his Douge De Bordeaux Mastiff, Milo started to develop a number of allergies which started to make his life very tough.

Despite being put on a prescription diet by the vet and taking a course of steroid tablets, the vet bills started to mount and Milo’s itchy skin condition continued once he stopped taking the tablets.

Prolonged use of steroids could also have had serious side effects such as liver and kidney damage and it was only after switching to a salmon- based hypoallergenic dry food that many of Milo's symptoms started to clear up.

Stephen said: “For the first time Milo was actually happy, his patchy coat had started to heal and the redness had almost gone. Stool quality was also greatly improved.  It turned out that Milo was in fact wheat and wheat gluten intolerant.

“It was at this point that we felt our dog had been almost held in a state of disrepair. We contacted the veterinary practice explaining that the root cause of Milo’s condition was the wheat-based food that they had been supplying us. Every meal consumed was a trigger and the steroid was then the expensive sticking plaster that never actually fixed anything.

“This experience got us thinking how many more pets and pet owners had been in the same situation as ourselves?

“Poor Milo relied on us for his health and wellbeing and we had been passively making things a whole lot worse through misguidance at considerable expense.

“So after lots and lots of research and investment we decided to come up with the most amazing hypoallergenic blend of complete dry food that would in effect be a health food for dogs and cats with a very special and clinically proven ingredient-Green-Lipped Mussel.

"The extruded kibble is exposed to a steam process that gives a honeycomb texture inside, aiding digestion. The complementary natural ingredients such as Kale, Carrots & Peas, Yucca, Rosemary, Seaweed etc. also complete this natural dry food.

“Trials were carried out and the samples went down a storm. In May 2009 we took the brave step to establish our very own premium pet food company named after our family home Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods.

"The product range starts from puppy through to adult with proteins such as Chicken, Lamb and Salmon. We believe that if your animal benefits from the Green-Lipped Mussel daily you build an excellent bone and joint structure that will support your animal well throughout all life stages.

"There is no need for a senior type of product although we do offer our Dietary+Plus food which is great for maintaining/losing weight. Our products come in 2kg and 15kg sacks and are very keenly priced within the premium graded equivalents.”

Heights Farm has enjoyed steady and consistent growth through word of mouth. The model is based on a very personal one to one service, with unique products, not available on the high street, at a keen price and giving outstanding customer care levels, with a convenient delivered to the door service.

Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods supply nationally with a next day delivery service and internationally within 2-3 days delivered by their courier network and offer free delivery within Bolton Blackburn and Chorley areas from their fully liveried and kitted out Ford Transits.

Stephen continued: “Our next move is to market our fantastic Franchise Opportunity, allowing individuals or couples to invest in our company and purchase a carefully mapped territory which will enable them to grow their very own Heights Farm business.

"Again, we have invested a considerable amount into our franchise operation, particularly in our bespoke IT system 'Datadog' which makes building your business a breeze and allows full business support from our Bolton HQ.

“Initially our plan is to launch franchises throughout our North West region i.e. Preston, Wigan, Worsley, Altrincham, Stockport, Oldham & Rochdale, Warrington, Southport etc. with other national locations being introduced over the coming years. 

“We see this as a fantastic opportunity for people who love animals and being outdoors to create a cash positive business with full head office support. There's no need for any previous business experience as we have all the tools to quickly help you establish your region. The franchise term is 5 years with the option to renew or then market your established Heights Farm business investment. Cost of franchise is £9,999.00 + VAT.”

For further information on setting up your franchise visit www.heightsfarmpetfoods.co.uk, tel 01204 322755 or email enquiries@heightsfarmpetfoods.co.uk

Pictured: Bailey (chief taster), Stephen Ward (founder of Heights Farm Pet Foods) and Carole Sutton (latest franchisee).

Lily’s Kitchen is extending its tray format to its range of food for dogs to appeal to the nation’s smaller canines. 

The new tray range reflects the same great flavours as its tins and are designed as single servings for smaller dogs, or as a delicious topper when combined with dry food for larger dogs.

With 14 new flavours to choose from, customers can enjoy familiar favourites as well as some new tray recipes including: new Cottage Pie recipe, which replicates the ingredients list in the already popular 400g tin of Beef Potato & Vegetable Dinner, Fish Supper, full of freshly prepared salmon and herring with vibrant pumpkin and kale, and Wild Campfire Stew, which contains freshly prepared venison, wild boar and salmon. 

All 150g trays have an RRP of 99p.

The new trays will also be available in a convenient multipack featuring mixed recipes including some of Lily’s Kitchen’s best sellers, like Chicken & Turkey Casserole and Lamb Hotpot. (Multipack of 6 trays, RRP £5.60)

All of Lily’s Kitchen recipes for dogs use freshly prepared meat and fish along with vibrant fruits and vegetables, with no unnecessary additives or flavours, rendered meats, cheap fillers or fibrous leftovers. 

As with all of its range, the new tray recipes from Lily’s Kitchen, the UK’s fastest growing pet food company (as featured in the Virgin Fast Track 100 for the third year running in November 2016), have been crafted alongside vets and nutritionists.

Available now, Lily’s Kitchen’s new trays for dogs will be sold in independent pet shops, health food shops and on the Lily’s Kitchen website (www.lilyskitchen.co.uk)

Pet food manufacturer Fish4Dogs has pledged its support to a charity that strives to maintain the inseparable bond between pets and their owners when age or infirmity affect their lives.

The Worcestershire-based company has agreed to partner the Cinnamon Trust which helps more than 87,000 people a year look after much loved and much needed companion animals.

A network of 16,000 volunteers ‘hold hands’ with owners to provide vital loving care for their pets – keeping them together for as long as possible. The Trust arranges foster care when owners go into hospital, can help owners find pet-friendly residential homes and, if this is not possible, the life-time care of the pet while maintaining contact between the owner and their pet.  The charity also takes on the life-time care of bereaved pets.

Fish4Dogs has promised to help support this work, helping the recruitment of trust volunteers by including information in its sponsorship and gift boxes, through email campaigns to customers and jointly attending events.

It has also agreed to run a discount scheme for volunteers, many of whom will have their own pets, and provide ‘new walking friend’ bags to volunteers who provide practical assistance to housebound pet owners; by walking their dogs, transporting animals for vets appointments, shopping for pet provisions or offering short-term foster care.

Fish4Dogs CEO, Graham Smith, said that the relationship with the Cinnamon Trust would be “long-lasting, engaging and purposeful”.

“Most people will recognise the importance of the bond between a pet owner and their cherished companion. Pets enrich our lives, bring with them happiness and laughter and this is particularly true when the owner is an older person who perhaps lives on their own,” he added.

“They provide comfort, loyalty and protection from loneliness and despair. It is vital that we help maintain these relationships for those who are at their most vulnerable and we are committed to supporting the Cinnamon Trust in delivering this service.”

The Cinnamon Trust is the only specialist national charity which seeks to relieve problems faced by elderly and terminally-ill people and their pets. It was founded in 1985 by Mrs Averil Jarvis MBE, who named the charity in memory of her beloved Corgi, Cinnamon.

Averil said that the partnership with Fish4Dogs would reinforce its efforts by encouraging greater volunteer participation which in turn would support increasing numbers of people in need.

“I am delighted that Fish4Dogs has decided to support The Cinnamon Trust.  We could not do what we do without our network of volunteers and this extra support and recognition will greatly assist our volunteer recruitment drive to meet the ever-increasing demands upon our services, as well as providing some tasty, healthy food and treats for the dogs we all love.”

Exhibitors at BETA International 2018 have lined up some special events, launches and celeb visitors on their stands to make the trade fair experience truly memorable. Here are just some of the exciting activities...

ABBEY ENGLAND features two Ask the Experts talks – on Leather and Its Uses, with Richard Farrow and a Pittards representative, on Sunday at 10.30am and Monday at 3pm, and on Saddlery Training and the State of UK Production – a Bright View of the Future, with Mark Romain and Patrick Burns, on Sunday at 3pm and Monday at 10.30am. G10.1

BETA is celebrating its 40th anniversary with cupcakes and glasses of bubbly, which will be served to visitors on its stand during the course of the show. G7.1

BRANSBY HORSES, BETA International 2018’s chosen charity, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, with plans for an exhibition running from February to November and Proms in the Paddock in June, as well as VIP Days in July. E8.3

DANISH DESIGN PET PRODUCTS marks its 30th anniversary with a competition for visitors to its stand to win a luxury hamper. Q7.1

EQUESTRIAN TRADE NEWS is running its famous prize draw giving retailers a chance to take home thousands of pounds worth of products for their stores – just by bringing along their business cards to the stand. The Yorkshire Shepherdess visits the ETN stand on Monday at 2.30pm to sign copies of her best-selling autobiographies. Q1.1

HORSE FIRST will be serving glasses of fizz to mark its 10th anniversary. H1.1

JEREMY RUDGE SADDLERY welcomes sponsored para-dressage rider Sophie Christiansen to its stand on Monday – when she will also be interviewed in The Charles Owen Hub at 3pm. K10.2

NEUE SCHULE is joined by Teddy the Shetland at its stand on Sunday to show off the company’s new pony bit range and meet and greet his fans. D2.1

RED GORILLA is fundraising on its stand throughout BETA International to support the release of gorillas back into their natural habitat as part of a scheme to support the Aspinall Foundation. Life-size sculpture Red-G will be giving trade fair visitors a warm welcome. C7.1

The SOCIETY OF MASTER SADDLERS is running daily competitions for apprentices and trainees on all three days of the trade fair, with prize-giving on the Fashion Show stage on Sunday during the BETA International award presentations starting at 5.15pm, then in the competition area next to the SMS stand on Monday at 4.30pm and Tuesday at 2.30pm. Sunday’s competition, to make a cob-size pair of cheeks with hook studs, is open to Millennium and Saddlery Scheme apprentices. Monday’s competition, to make a raised brow band, is open to second-year Capel Manor College students. Tuesday’s competition, to make an item to be announced on the day, is open to first-year Capel Manor College students. In addition, the President’s Choice class of the SMS’s National Saddlery Competition – with the theme of boys’ toys – will be on display and open to judging by trade fair visitors in the competition area. J11.1

STIERNA EQUESTRIAN SPORTSWEAR welcomes to its stand event rider and brand ambassador Izzy Taylor on Sunday. M8.1

THE VIP VERY IMPORTANT PAD is joined by two of its brand ambassadors, Australian Olympic team medal winner Sam Griffiths on Sunday afternoon and New Zealand event rider Hollie Swain on Tuesday afternoon. F8.3

BETA International is the world’s leading trade fair for equestrian, country clothing, outdoor and pet products. The 2018 show takes place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 21 to 23 January. Visitor entry is free on pre-registration at www.beta-int.com/visit. For further information contact Clair Webster, telephone +44 (0)1937 582111 or email clairw@beta-int.com

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Suffolk-based pet food manufacturer Skinner’s has appointed Des Smith as Managing Director. Des joins the company after spending 10 years at Aspall Cyder where he was appointed Managing Director in 2011 and then CEO in 2012.

During his time at Aspall, the business grew from £11m to £40m and he was actively involved in raising new investment for the company which culminated in the recent sale.

Des will take over the reins from Greg Panter, who will be taking on a new role within Skinner’s as Executive Chairman.

Greg said: “I am delighted to welcome Des to the business. He is extremely well respected within the food and beverages industry and was responsible for growing the Aspall business by almost £30m.

"Skinner’s have ambitious growth and development targets over the coming years and I firmly believe that Des is best placed to take our business to the next level."

Des Smith said: “I am thrilled to be joining the team at Skinner’s. I was initially attracted to the role because of its family run heritage and opportunities for growth.

"I actually grew up in Stradbroke, very close to the Skinner’s mill, so have always had a lot of respect for the company. I feel privileged to have been given the opportunity to lead the business on the next stage of its development."

Skinner’shas also announced the appointment of Hiedi Hutchinson as Marketing Manager.

Hiedi, who has most recently held senior marketing and PR roles within the cruise and travel industry, will be taking over the marketing reins from Gabrielle Putt.

Gabrielle will be leaving the business at the end of March to follow her heart to Africa where she will be joining her partner James. The Skinner’s family wish Gabrielle the very best on her new adventure.

For more information about Skinner’s pet food contact 01379 384247, email info@skinnerspetfoods.co.uk  or visit www.skinnerspetfoods.co.uk

Aquatics wholesaler Peter Golding Ltd  is set to close as its owner seeks to pursue other interests.

For more than 30 years, Peter Golding Ltd has been making weekly deliveries to aquatic outlets, pet shops and garden centres throughout the UK.

It’s the last chance to nominate individuals or teams for the prestigious Ceva Animal Welfare Awards 2018, which celebrate the achievements of welfare heroes from the farming, veterinary and charity industries.

The awards are held to celebrate outstanding vets, vet nurses, animal welfare professionals and animal welfare teams which have dedicated their careers to the health and welfare of animals. 

They are now in their ninth consecutive year and are due to be bigger and better than ever, with an impressive new venue and extended guest list.

The award categories include:

• The Chris Laurence Vet of the Year Award supported by Your Dog and Your Cat magazines
• Vet Nurse of the Year supported by Agria Pet Insurance
• Charity Team of the Year supported by PDSA
• Charitable Contribution of the Year supported by Blue Cross 
• Farm Animal Welfare Award supported by R.A.B.I. and NADIS
• International Cat Care Welfare Award supported by International Cat Care (award is chosen by International Cat Care and is not open to nominations)

The nomination process is easy, simply visit www.cevawelfareawards.com to nominate a welfare hero. They can come from all walks of life, all ages, and from anywhere in the world, and will be assessed on the evidence provided in the original nomination.

Entries must be in by Friday 26 January 2018.

Photizo Light Therapy is co-sponsors the 35th Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain Aviemore Sled Dog Rally, taking place on January 27-28.

The race is now the largest event of its kind in the UK, with over 1,000 sled dogs and 250 mushers. Organised by the Siberian Husky Club of Great Britain, in conjunction with Forestry Commission Scotland, the race is run on forest trails around the beautiful Loch Morlich, in the shadow of the Cairngorm mountains.

Photizo’s Vetcare is no stranger to the ‘sled dog’ community, which began in 2013 when Kaz and Pete Jones from the multi-award winning ‘Team Coldfeet’ met Ruth Milner, MD of Danetre Health, the UK distributor of Photizo Vetcare.

Intrigued by the potential of modern Phototherapy offered by the non invasive and portable Photizo device, Kaz and Pete immediately decided their Husky team would benefit from regular ‘light therapy’.

Kaz Jones explains: “Using Photizo as part of our healthcare routine to keep Team Coldfeet in pole position couldn’t be simpler. We’ve so impressed by its effects to re-oxidise the key muscle groups prior to and after a race.

"We also use Photizo as a preventative tool, and to heal minor injuries that just happen to Huskies, even if they’re out playing in the garden! What’s great is its portability and that there’s no need to wear laser goggles because it is LED light.”

Kaz and Pete Jones of Team Coldfeet are Brand Ambassadors of Photizo and have helped spread the word amongst the Siberian Husky sled dog circuit.

Steve Rooke, Co-Founder of British Siberian Husky Racing Association, commented: “We originally bought a Photizo to help with a very active 7 year old girl who developed arthritis in her pasterns but still loved running. This was on the advice of both our doggie chiropractor and another musher who uses Photizo and had seen good results using it. 

"Our girlie took to the treatments immediately, they're non-invasive, possibly a little soothing and it also became a bit of 'one-on-one' time with me after running!

"Naturally we started using it on the other ‘Sibes’ in our kennel after heavy or fast training runs when we could see they were a little stiff and even started using it on scratches, nicks and wounds. Would I want to be without it? Absolutely not!"

For more information see: https://www.danetrehealthproducts.com
 

Ampet Products, the sole distributor of the Xtra Dog fleece walking harnesses, has reached an agreement with Agilitynet for Xtra Dog to co-sponsor the agility Winning Out certificates.

The Agilitynet Winning Out Certificates and New Year’s Honours List are the ways of celebrating people’s accomplishments in winning out or moving up at a Kennel Club or UK Agility show.

It all started back in 2003 when Agilitynet’s co-founder, the late John Leslie, won out of G1 with his big white Standard Poodle and realised that no one - other than him and a few club mates - knew what he had done. So Agilitynet decided to do something about this.

Since then, every January on New Year’s Day, Agilitynet post a list of people who won out the previous year and in February they are awarded a certificate for every dog that has gone up a grade or grades in Agility.

Ellen Rocco co-founder of Agilitynet said: “We are very excited to be partnering with Xtra Dog. We have known the Xtra Dog team since the company’s inception and love their ethics towards dogs and their professionalism as a company.

"I know numerous people in the agility world in the UK and in the USA who use and swear by Xtra Dog harnesses so this is a perfect partnership for us.“

The Xtra Dog fleece walking harnesses was designed by Tellington TTouch Instructor Marie Miller in 2010, who is also a founder member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.

There are many agility competitors who choose them include Lauren Langman who has represented Great Britain in the sport. They are also used and recommended by many trainers, dog owners and even vets.

 “We are thrilled to be sponsoring these awards,” said Alex Wilson, marketing director of AmPet. Xtra "Dog already works with a number of agility competitors and it’s awesome that these certificates exist to recognise achievements in this sport. As a dog training instructor myself I love the fact that agility is a sport that both dog and handler can enjoy together.”

For further information on the Agilitynet Winning Out certificates, contact Ellen Rocco by email on ellen.rocco@agilitynet.co.uk or by telephone on 020 7359 6461 and for information on Xtra Dog harnesses visit AmPet Products at www.ampet.dog or telephone: 0330 088 1673.

Hokamix’s new Problem Indicator is helping owners to find a natural solution to their dog’s health problems.

It’s quick and easy to visit www.hokamix.com and simply click on the relevant area (e.g. Skin and Hair) on the dog to find a list of issues and advice from the experts.

As a world renowned supplier for over 30 years Hokamix offers a sensible supplement to any food - enabling owners to adapt their dog’s meal to its nutritional requirements.

“With our problem indicator dog owners can easily find the right product from our comprehensive range and, should the problem be particularly difficult, our veterinarian can provide free expert advice through the contact form.”

Hokamix is available throughout the UK from CT Pets via http://www.ctpets.co.uk/    or by calling 01539 624541

Inspired Pet Nutrition has strengthened its commercial team with three new national account appointments.

All the new arrivals – Tom Keighley, Rob Scrimger and Josh Underwood – were previously at Asda and bring with them a total of more than 20 years experience gained both in-store and in national buying roles.

Tom was at Asda for 5 years as a merchandising analyst and a buying manager – in his new post he will be IPN’s national account manager for Morrison’s, the Co-Op and Bookers. 

Rob spent nine years in-store and was latterly a buying assistant.  In his new post as a national account executive, he will be working across multiple accounts and project managing NPD. 

Finally, Josh – who has joined as a junior national account manager – has more than 5 years buying experience and will be focussing on further developing IPN’s business with Asda. Both Rob and Tom are proud Labrador owners.

Tom Page, sales & marketing director at IPN, said: “These new arrivals bring with them a wealth of top quality retail and account management skills. They will play key roles as we look to increase both our branded and own label sales with the leading multiples.”

Pictured, left to right: Tom Keighley, Rob Scrimger and Josh Underwood.

Bethan and Danny Fitzgerald had stopped racing their ‘oldie’ sled dogs but felt that early retirement just walking on the beach and in the forest didn’t suit them so Danny decided to treat them to a 6 dog race at the New Year’s race at Thetford.

Bethan told CSJ: “They ran like 3 year olds and won Gold! Charlie ran like a dream pulling the bike and was just pipped into second place by a younger dog, so the next weekend Danny raced Charlie again on the bike at the prestigious BSSF British Championships round one and two race. 

"The great combination brought home a Gold and were the second fastest team of the whole weekend."

Veterinary Surgeon Beth went on: “Charlie will be 7 years old this year and thankfully is still looking amazing.  Looking after our dogs is our priority especially as most are at senior status this year.

"A lifetime of good nutrition and training helps the longevity of the dog, especially for the larger breeds. A fine balance of the right amount of energy in their complete diet is key for growth and maintenance. Thanks CSJ for providing the best nutrition for our dogs.” 

For more info on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com

A high street pet shop in North-East London may be forced to close down because of plans to turn the building into a restaurant.

Family-run Parker’s Pets has been trading in Stoke Newington High Street for over 40 years but is set to close in March.

The pet shop is run by Mike and Jeff Parker, sons of the store’s founder Albert Parker. They sold the freehold to the building two years ago and have recently tried to find alternative premises.

Mike told the Hackney Gazette: “Our time has come to an end, because the leaseholder of the property feels he can get a higher rental income elsewhere.”

Mike and Jeff, who run a reptile and aquatic shop in Romford and a kennels in Harlow, have been looking unsuccessfully for another shop but they haven’t found anything they can afford.

Mike added: “We are disappointed. We have loyal customers and they are disappointed too.

“They want us to find somewhere else because there isn’t really another local pet shop in the locality, so we are still looking around to see if we can find something suitable.

“We want to carry on the business in the area if we can find something at the right price.”

Inflexion Private Equity announced this week that it has invested in Lintbells Limited, a leading producer of nutritional supplements for pets.

Founded in 2006, Lintbells is now the leading pet supplements company in the UK, including two key brands: YuMOVE, the number one joint mobility supplement for dogs and cats, and YuMEGA, the UK’s number one supplement for skin and coat.

Lintbells has growing international businesses in Asia and Europe.

The UK market for pet supplements is worth approximately £100m and is growing at 7% per annum as pet owners become more aware of the existence and effectiveness of such products.

With an immature and fragmented market, there is significant scope for Lintbells to scale further. There is also the opportunity to launch new products, enhance Lintbells’ existing digital presence and continue its international expansion.

Inflexion can draw on its experience in the pet-care market, having already invested in Medivet, the UK’s largest independent operator of veterinary practices, and Kynetec, the primary provider of market data to companies operating in this sector. 

Tim Smallbone, Head of the Enterprise Fund, Inflexion, commented, “We are delighted to have partnered with such a strong and motivated management team. The business is well placed to accelerate its already impressive growth in both the UK and internationally, with significant investment and R&D underpinning Lintbells’ prospects.”

John Howie, CEO & Co-founder of Lintbells, said: “We are excited to have brought on board a true partner whose international presence and sector expertise will be invaluable as we work together to drive Lintbells’ growth.

"We knew we had found the right partner when the Inflexion team showed the ability to quickly understand our business and what drives it. It made the process move incredibly swiftly.

"We look forward to working closely with them as Lintbells attracts new customers, launches new products, and enters new geographies.”

The Inflexion deal team comprised Tim Smallbone, Ben Long and Robin Senivassen. Ben Long will join the board on completion.

This deal was made by affiliated funds advised by Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP.

The dog walking and pet sitting firm, We Love Pets, has been recognised as one of the UK's top franchises.

The Berkshire-based company was placed at No 66 in the list produced by industry magazine Elite Franchise 100.

The magazine recognises the country's brightest businesses and ranks them according to a range of criteria from their financial performance and heritage in the industry to their contribution to the community and the way they embrace innovation.

We Love Pets has been providing dog walking and pet sitting services to thousands of customers for 10 years.

Each branch is owned as a franchise, supported by a head office team of business, marketing and pet experts, vet nurse and solicitor.

"We’re delighted with the success of our franchisees, they have all complemented our ethos of looking after people and pets," said strategic director Jo White.

British pet food brand Little BigPaw is looking forward to a successful 2018 with rapidly expanding UK and International partnerships after collecting a number of impressive industry accolades last year..

Little BigPaw was presented the Award for Innovation at the China International Pet Show held in Shanghai. The award honours companies whose products are highly innovative and embrace the latest global consumer trends.

The company was also thrilled to be crowned winners at the UK Pet Industry Federation Awards, walking away as Exporter of the Year in recognition of its overseas sales successes. Little BigPaw is now available in 40 countries worldwide.

Only recently launched, the company produces a range of super premium wet complete foods for dogs and cats.

All produced in the UK, every recipe is made with select, high quality ingredients and only with British meat. The foods are 100% natural, hypoallergenic and grain free, making them well suited to dogs or cats with sensitives or intolerances.

Little BigPaw provides optimum nutrition, but most importantly… big taste for all pets.

Little BigPaw is distributed internationally and works with many leading UK wholesalers including: Glenkrag, Natural Pet Products, Pedigree Wholesale, Su-Bridge and Trust Pet Products.

2018 promises to be even busier for the company with a selection of new products ready for launch early in the year.

For further information about Little BigPaw visit www.littlebigpaw.co.uk. To contact the team to discuss distribution opportunities in the UK or Internationally email bigtaste@littlebigpaw.co.uk.