Bookings for the Sandown Park showpiece are impressive with more than 100 firms having already secured their stand space.

Previous exhibitors have made sure they have re-booked early with top brands like Barking & Meowing Heads, Beaphar, Bern Pet Foods, Burns Pet Nutrition, Ferplast, Flexi, Lennox, Lovejoys, Marriages, Pedigree Wholesale, Royal Canin/James Wellbeloved, Sharples and Grant, Trixie, and Wagg committed to the event.

There will also be host of new and international exhibitors choosing to exhibit their 2016 launches at PATS Sandown. Companies like Kevin Milner Countryside and Shires Equestrian, plus Petitamis, from Italy, and Schulze Heimtierbedarf, from Germany, have confirmed their attendance.

“It’s great to know that the pet industry continues to get right behind PATS Sandown,” said organiser Annie Foord. “Visitors to the show can be assured they will get to see and speak to the leading names in the industry. Early indications point towards lots of new products being launched at the show.”

Rob Harvey Specialist Feeds are returning to PATS after a seven-year absence and are hoping to impress a growing number of pet retailers with their wide range of bird food.

“Over the last four years we have been importing bird related products from all over the world, and because the bird category seems to be a growth area for the pet trade, exhibiting at PATS Sandown seems the sensible option for us. It’s the ideal place for us to showcase our massive range,” says Rob Harvey.

Kevin Milner Countryside is a firm specialising in outdoor photography, which already supplies a number of pet stores with a range of greetings card containing animal images.

“PATS Sandown was recommended to me by a pet store as the best place for the company to present its products to a wider audience,” admits Kevin Milner. “I’m hoping to sign up more pet shops, garden centres and wholesalers to stock our extensive range of greetings cards.”

Dirk Schulze, of Schulze Heimtierbedarf, has signed up to exhibit at PATS Sandown because he believes the UK is the biggest market outside the US for dog and cat products.

“I like the layout of PATS because the organisers make it easy for visitors to check out the latest products, and everything is under one roof,” says Dirk.

One of PATS Sandown’s most popular features is the New Product Showcase, which continues to grow in size each year. All entries in the Showcase will be judged by a panel of pet retailers for the New Product Awards on the first morning of the show. The results will be known and highlighted throughout the halls for the rest of the exhibition.

To help make the visitor experience even more enjoyable and rewarding, both the Surrey and Esher Halls have their own entrances and registration points, with visitors benefitting from free show entry, free parking, a free catalogue and many special offers. There will also be a full programme of free seminars.

To register for free entry to the show and to view the full list of exhibitors visit www.patshow.co.uk