B&M has removed a pet treat from its shelves following the death of a dog that fell sick soon after eating a bone from the store.

Pet owner Debbie McQuat used her Facebook page to warn other pet lovers about the bone, stating: “Heartbroken to be putting this post up but if it saves the life of another dog.”

After feeding the bone to her dog Harley it was violently sick. Sadly Harley died and X-rays showed fragments of bone had ripped his bowel apart.

“PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE people do not feed any bones to your dogs,” wrote Debbie, from Stevenston, North Ayrshire, Scotland. “I have just lost a really important part of my life.”

Debbie's post has since been shared over 54,000 times since it went live on March 3.

A B&M spokesman said: “The safety of our customer and their pets is of the upmost importance to us, we’ve taken the precautionary measure of removing the product from sale and will no longer be stocking this item.”

Lintbells, the Hitchin-based company that makes premium natural supplements for cats, dogs and horses, has been included in the Sunday Times list of the top 100 'Best Small Companies to Work for'.

It’s the first time the company has won the award and it’s one of only two pet care companies to have made the list.

Lintbells came in at number 71 and was rated especially highly for its leadership (ranked 41st on the list), the belief that it was ‘giving something back’ (42nd) and the feeling of belonging and ownership at the company (58th).

The 62 employees said that they strongly identified with the company’s values – with an 83% positive score – the company aims to enrich the relationship between pets and people and use science to support pet health.

An impressive 91% of the Lintbells’ team members said they were proud of the company which is now in its twelfth year.

Also important were Lintbells environmental credentials - there was an 87% approval rating of its care for the environment. The company puts a lot of emphasis on ethical and sustainable sourcing, environmental stewardship and full traceability of all its ingredients.

Veterinary Nurse Ellie Gill was one of the employees that the Sunday Times spoke to in compiling the results and she had already experienced the benefits to pets while in practice. “I love the ethos of the company,” she said, noting that she felt that sustainability and environmental responsibility were hugely important," said Ellie.

It’s a young team, with an average age of just 37 and Chief Executive John Howie says it’s important that everyone feels happy and supported at work. “It’s great to hear that our people live our values and collaborate both inside and outside the company to drive success,” commented John.

“It’s just three short years since we originally trialled our YuMOVE brand with the Royal Veterinary College. At that point there were just twenty of us. It’s very humbling to know that despite this fast growth, we’ve been able to stay true to our values and that our team also shares those values.”

Eighty nine per cent of employees said they felt that leadership at Lintbells was inspirational.

HR Manager Rebecca Davies is now aiming to take Lintbells even further up the list.

She said: ‘’It’s great that the team love working at Lintbells and truly buy into what we’re trying to do for the health of pets. Our next job is to work even harder on staff engagement while we continue our phenomenal track record of growth."

Bestpets, the specialist pet care division of Bestway Wholesale, and local independent retailers throughout the country have been supporting the local community by donating a Wild Bird Watching Starter Kit to local primary schools.

Bestpets, through its Delivered depots, asked customers to nominate local primary schools who encourage outdoor activities to receive a free Wild Bird Watching Starter Kit. The following retailers nominated local primary schools close to their businesses:

Bristol Depot - Andy Sheppard @ Rangebourne Pet Care / Nursteed Primary School

Cardiff Depot - Alan Evans @ Evans Country Stores / Ysgol Griffith Jones

Manchester Depot - Michelle Osbourn @ M&L Pets World / Gwersyllt Community Primary School

Exeter Depot - Andy Furse @ Pet and Pony / Meavy CofE Primary School

Luton Depot - Rachael McCullum @ Top End Farm / Kymbrook Primary School

Newcastle Depot - John Paul Stephenson @ JP’s Pet Supplies / Fulwell Infant School Academy

Cambuslang Depot -  Rob Smith @ W.E. Howdens / Coldstream Primary School

Nottingham Depot  -  Felicity Freer @ PenParc Cannock / All Saints Primary School

The Starter Kit, which includes products from the Bestpets own label range and in addition to products from partner supplier Supa Petcare, will allow children to create a mini-sanctuary within their school from which to attract, observe and learn more about the wild birds in their area.

Mike Bailey, Head of Bestpets says “We know that children are fascinated by nature and recent TV programmes such as the BBC’s Winter Watch, Spring Watch and Blue Planet has whetted their appetites even further. As the UK’s leading pet wholesaler, Bestpets wanted to make this learning fun and the starter kit, available on request from Bestpets customers, will provide them - and their teachers - with an ideal foundation to build their own Wild Bird Watch area at school. We hope that this will lead to a greater appreciation of the wonders of their environment and catch a glimpse of rare birds as well as increasing their knowledge of popular birds in the wild.”

The Wild Bird Watch Starter kit which includes a nest box, a variety of feeders and a feast of food contains:

1 x Bestpets Premium Wild Bird Feed 20kg           1 x Bestpets Suet Block Berry 8 Pack

1 x Bestpets Suet Block Insect 8 pack                    1 x Supa Dried Mealworms 3 Litre

1 x Supa Seed 12 Inch Feeder                               1 x Supa Suet & Scrap Feeder and Tray

1 x Supa Mealworm Feeder                                    1 x Supa Multi Purpose Nest Box

All the kits were hand delivered to the schools by the retailers mentioned above and members of the Bestpets sales and depot teams.

• Bristol & Exeter Depots – Debbie Bishop, Bestpets Retail Sales Development Manager – South West
• Cardiff Depot – Craig Roberts, Bestpets Retail Sales Development Manager – South & Mid Wales, Hereford & Gloucestershire and Matthew Webber, Bestpets Cardiff Section Head.
• Manchester Depot - Cheryll Flanagan, Bestpets Retail Sales Development Manager - North West, North Wales & South Cumbria
• Luton Depot - Karen Tuczek, Bestpets Retail Sales Development Manager - Suffolk, Norfolk & Essex
• Newcastle Depot - Simon McCabe, Newcastle Bestpets Hub Manager
• Cambuslang Depot -  Hazel Nish, Bestpets Retail Sales Development Manager - East, Central Belt & Borders Scotland
• Nottingham Depot  -  Craig Blackburn, Bestpets Retail Sales Development Manager - Midlands, South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire & East Anglia

Comments from the retailers and schools alike have been very positive:

"I am delighted, that with the help of Bestpets, we have been able to support the local community. Getting school children involved with wildlife and nature can only be a good thing." John Paul Stephenson owner of JP’s Pet Supplies.

“We’re delighted to have been given our Wild Bird Watching kit. Children from our Environmental Science Club are taking part in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch: we hope the kit will encourage lots of birds to visit us. We’ll keep on using it well after this special event and we hope its use will spark an interest that lasts even longer.”  Tim Heath, Head Techer of Nursteed Community Primary School.

"We're looking forward to taking part in bird watching during January. The eco- committee will be working with the resources given to us by Bestpets and Evans Country Stores. We are committed as a school to care for the wildlife in our community.”  Spokesperson for Ysgol Griffith Jones.

For more information contact Karen Hubbard, Category Manager, Bestpets on 01484 481196, email Karen.Hubbard@bestway.co.uk or visit bestpets.co.uk

Supreme Petfoods, one of the world’s leading brands for small pets’ food and care, has brought its USA sales and marketing functions in-house.

This will allow the company to meet the needs of distributors, retailers and veterinary practices throughout the USA more efficiently and effectively and leverage its expertise and knowledge of the needs of small pets.

The existing teams providing support for the UK and Europe will stay in place and continue to provide a dedicated service for these areas.

An expanded team of seven sales and marketing professionals is in place from the start of 2018 and is based in the UK office, servicing the US market. A full programme of promotional support and a US-specific marketing calendar has been developed and is being launched by the team starting in January. A new CRM and sales process has also been introduced, improving Supreme’s communications about promotions, deals, special offers and new product launches, to best practice standards.

The move follows a hugely successful year for Supreme, which saw sales increase by 10 per cent and four industry awards recognized the company’s success.

Marketing manager Claire Hamblion says it’s an exciting time for the company, whose popular brands are also stocked in the UK, Netherlands and France.

“Supreme is confident this change will allow us to be more connected with our customers in the USA, allowing us to respond quickly to meet their needs and improve service,” said Claire.

The team will be regularly meeting with customers and attending open houses and trade shows. A rich schedule of US trade show activity attended by Supreme throughout 2018 includes Global Pet Expo, Superzoo and veterinary conferences VMX (formerly the NAVC) and ExoticsCon.

Supreme products are widely stocked in the US and currently available from a selection of specialist pet distributors, including the Animal Supply Company, Central Garden & Pet, General Pet Supply, Lee Mar, Pet Food Experts and Zeiglers.

Supreme is also working with the Mid-States and Wheatbelt groups to expand its distribution in the farm and home store sector, as well as veterinary supply company MWI to support sales and recommendation in the veterinary channel.

Claire says everything is in place to make 2018 an even more successful year for Supreme Petfoods.

We’re aiming for strong growth throughout our range of healthy species-specific foods and bedding. After 25 years, it’s a category we understand completely. Now we can offer our US stockists the high quality support they need to be successful with Supreme. By acting together, we can improve the wellbeing of small pets across the USA and beyond.”

She continued: “We continue to experience strong growth in the UK and Europe and appreciate the support we have had from the independent pet trade – so it will be business as usual there, with great promotional deals, support with in store merchandising and high quality products. It means everyone should benefit from our increasing international reach.”

For further information visit Supreme Petfoods at www.supremepetfoods.com.

Pictured: Back left to right:

Claire Hamblion, Marketing Manager

David Soanes, Sales Team Manager

Chris Childs, Managing Director

Chesney Webb, Marketing Executive

Monika Grzelak, Planning Co-ordinator

Front left to right:

Debbie Kibble, Sales Executive

Faye Reynolds, Sales Executive

Danielle Southgate, Sales Executive

With Crufts starting today wannabee dog owners are being warned not to make a snap-purchase when buying a dog. That’s according to research from comparethemarket.com.

Over the past few years, Crufts has sparked trends for exotic dog breeds, including the French Bulldog, Dachshund, Pugs and Chihuahuas.  While these breeds remain fashionable, many potential owners fail to take into account how much a breed will cost to care for over its lifetime.

Prospective dog owners believe the average annual bill for a dog to be just over £880 per year, however this is in fact THREE TIMES LESS than the cheapest breed. For example, a French Bulldog will typically cost £3,033.95 a year to look after. In some cases, this can reach £25,849.33 across a dog’s lifetime, which would deter just under two-thirds (60%) of potential dog owners from taking the plunge.

A lack of knowledge of the potential costs before buying a dog is potentially leaving thousands of pooches in danger of ending up homeless - shockingly, more than one in ten (14%) would consider returning their pooches if costs were to go over £633 per year.

To highlight the long-term costs of owning a dog, comparethemarket.com has collaborated with Vets in Practice’s, Emma Milne. Together, they have created a canine calculator that highlights the range of costs incurred when owning different breeds of dog: https://www.comparethemarket.com/pet-insurance/content/not-just-for-christmas/

The new research further showed that dog food alone can cost up to £1,198.75 per year – a startling contrast and six times more than Brits claim they’d be prepared to spend, which was on average £182.44 per year.

Top 10 Most-Expensive Pooches

Top 10 Least-Expensive Pooches

Stephanie Corbett, Head of Pet Insurance at comparethemarket.com says; “Before buying that new pup for your family, It’s important to take heed of the famous slogan, 'A dog is for life, not just for Christmas', and do the necessary research first. Whether it’s the cost of pet insurance, food, doggy day-care, or simply the time needed to invest in your dog, the expense of a pet can really mount up. 

“With this in mind, we have created a handy tool that allows would-be dog owners to budget accordingly. Before taking the leap and bringing a new family member home, careful financial planning and research will stop any nasty surprises”.

As well as pet-related budgeting, further research found that pet owners also struggle when feeding their beloved pets. In fact, the majority of Brits (86%) are giving their pets extra snacks and treats outside of typical meal times, despite only a quarter of pet owners knowing exactly how much they should be feeding them. This is leading to a pet obesity epidemic - over a fifth (22%) of Brits believe their pet is overweight.

To help combat the issue, comparethemarket.com has developed a pet calorie calculator to measure calorie content of human snacks and treats commonly given to pets, comparing the intake to the human equivalent number of burgers that have been consumed: https://www.comparethemarket.com/pet-insurance/content/overfed-pets/

AQUA 2019, the market-leading showcase for the UK’s water gardening and aquatics trade, will be returning to the Telford International Centre on Wednesday 16^th and Thursday 17^th October, 2019.

Now firmly established as a biennial event, AQUA 2019 is set to attract the major companies in the trade, who acknowledge the importance of exhibiting their products and services to aquatic and garden centre retailers, all under one roof.

Preparations for the 2019 event are underway and the organisers have already received enquiries from companies seeking to exhibit at the show. There is also growing interest from overseas companies and a team from AQUA 2019 will be attending Interzoo in May to meet potential international exhibitors and visitors.

Retailer Simon Jenkins, of Ripples Waterlife, revealed why he thinks AQUA continues to be so popular: “The show, the location and evening party are all fabulous, and there’s always a very good atmosphere around the halls. It’s important for the trade to have a well-run show every couple of years to bring people together and catch up on what’s new. I’m already looking forward to AQUA 2019.”

And Steve Rudd, a partner in Maidenhead Aquatics, said: “The show is the perfect location to meet up with existing suppliers as well as creating new contacts in an enjoyable and relaxing environment.”

As well as getting to see all the new products to be launched on to the market, visitors will also be invited to join exhibitors at an AQUA dinner on the first evening of the exhibition. The dinner is one of the main highlights of the event, where guests get the chance to relax with fellow industry colleagues.

So what makes AQUA so attractive to exhibiting companies? Chris Hepburn, of Hozelock, said: “It’s well organised and staged at a venue which is easily accessible and suits the needs of exhibitors and customers alike. It’s an event which has become a great focal point for the aquatic trade in the UK.”

“It’s the perfect place for us to catch up with current customers and also display our complete range of products to new customers,” commented Joey Abrahams, of AQUADIP.

And Jeremy Gay, Evolution Aqua, added: “This show keeps getting better. It attracts a high-calibre of visitor and we love exhibiting.”

To discover more reasons why AQUA has become a vital date in the water gardening and aquatics trade calendar, retailers and suppliers can view comments about last October’s event in a special video at https://vimeo.com/239639526.

Details of the 2019 event can also be found on the website  www.aquatelford.co.uk or interested parties can call the AQUA hotline +44 (0) 1892 862848.

Nylabone, the global pet brand renowned for its dog chew toys and dental solutions, is using the world’s largest dog show as the venue to launch its new range of edible wild themed ‘Snacks’ in the UK.

With an authentic wild bone shaping to encourage chewing and help prevent the build-up of tartar the ‘Nylabone Snacks’ are made from a limited number of ingredients.

They are free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives, have no added salt or sugar, are low in fat, and GMO free. 

Following the stand out ‘wild’ theme, the range is available in a choice of bison, turkey, venison, and turkey & sweet potato flavours ensuring that they stand out from the standard flavours of other brands.

Suitable for puppies and adult dogs, the ‘Nylabone Snacks’ are available in puppy, small, medium, and large sizes.  As with all dog treats the new Nylabone Snacks range should be given according to feeding guidelines.

The new range has fully EU compliant ingredients and packaging and comes in three sizes of blister packs and pouches.   

www.nylabone.co.uk

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) will be exhibiting at Crufts 2018 at Birmingham’s NEC, taking place from today (Thursday) until Sunday.

Visitors to the PIF stand in Hall 5, stand 36 will be able to speak to the team about products and services which are of benefit to dog-related businesses, such as dog groomers, boarding establishments, dog daycare providers and pet sitters.   

From the stand, visitors will be able to get their paws on exclusive PIF Crufts discount vouchers with offers on PIF membership, courses and other products.

PIF will also be showcasing its public-facing mypetpeople.co.uk website which has seen dramatic growth since its launch in July 2017, with thousands of people visiting the site to find their nearest trusted pet business. Visitors will be able to test their dog breed knowledge with a fun and interactive quiz to raise awareness of mypetpeople.co.uk.

PIF’s new canine and human first aid courses, taking place at a range of venues throughout the year, will be available to book and are integral to anyone working with dogs; as well as the Level 2 City & Guilds Certificate in Professional Dog Walking with additional dates recently announced for 2018.

From advice on qualifications, courses and the British Dog Grooming Championship; to mypetpeople.co.uk, licensing, primary authority, membership benefits and much more, the PIF team is looking forward to welcoming visitors to its stand (Hall 5-36) at the world’s greatest dog show.

Following their successful launch, luxury treat manufacturer, The Innocent Pet Care Company has moved its popular rabbit and guineas pig treats into newly designed, resealable pouches.

The two products, Fragrant Herb Nibbles (for rabbits) and Herb Garden Nibbles (for guineas), will shortly be available from all national wholesalers. 

Made in Yorkshire, these air-dried, luxury nibbles are handmade using locally sourced grass, vegetables and herbs.

Available in 60g pouches and RRP is £2.50. For more information contact hello@innocentpetcare.co.uk

Play performs a vital role in a dog’s development from teaching them social skills to helping them learn about the world around them, but are Britain’s dogs getting enough or do they deserve a ‘playrise’?

A team of ‘Data Sniffers’ at pet technology company Pitpatpet Ltd (makers of the award winning PitPat dog activity monitor) have conducted an analysis of their latest data and discovered that on average our dogs play for 20 minutes a day. Can you beat this? 

Think you’ve got a playful pooch? You may be surprised by the top 5 most playful breeds - Chihuahuas, Cockapoos, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels and Vizslas.  It seems that dogs even suffer from the Monday Blues with 12% less play on weekdays compared to the weekend.

Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour & Welfare at Bristol Vet School, Emily Blackwell commented: “The benefits of play for our dogs are both physical and mental. Bonds are formed between playmates and the frequency of play in healthy dogs may indicate the quality of the dog/owner relationship.

"Play also allows dogs to obtain information about the physical environment, learn about social interactions as well as refining motor skills and improving physical fitness. Lower levels of play have even been found to be associated with common behavioural problems in dogs.”    

The data also showed a trend for smaller dogs to be more playful than larger ones.  Large mixed-breed dogs miss out the most - playing for 70% less time (on average) than their smaller counterparts.

The insights from Pitpatpet have been released in conjunction with MORE TH>N Pet Insurance as part of their Movement for More Play campaign. This pawsome new initiative will run throughout 2018 and has been designed to educate dog owners about the benefits of play and inspire them to give their dogs what they need - a playrise.

John Ellenger, Head of Pet Insurance at MORE TH>N, commented: “We know how important the role of play is for dogs health and wellbeing and we would always encourage owners to spend time playing with their dog each day, keeping them entertained as a means of ensuring they stay emotionally happy and physically healthy.”

MORE TH>N’s top three tips on keeping your dog more active

1. Make the most of taking your dog for a walk. A simple way of keeping your dog entertained is mixing up the walks you take with them each day. Taking the time to change the whereabouts, or even simply the route, of your walk will provide them with the opportunity to explore new areas, and experience different sights and smells to what they’re used to, providing great stimulation to stay happy and healthy.
2. Try to involve your dog in your day-to-day life as much as possible. Remembering to take your dog out with you when running errands or meeting up with friends is another great way of using these menial outings as precious bonding time with your pooch, while also helping them stay active throughout the day.
3. Don’t let bad weather stop you from playing with your dog. Play-time with your dog shouldn’t be limited to taking place outside of the house, as there are lots of great games that can be used to keep them entertained in-doors as well. Nose work games in particular – such as ‘Find the Treat’ – are a great way of challenging them mentally and helping them hone in on some of their natural skills.

Figures based on 15,000+ dogs across the UK

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Amesbury Pet Stores in Wiltshire will close its doors next month with owner Sue Osment admitting “the time is right” to stop trading after 39 years.

Sue, who joined the business as a sales assistant 36 years ago, told the Salisbury Journal: “I have met a lot of very nice people and had some very happy and sad times.

“I am sorry to the people of Amesbury that have supported us over the years they have been great, but I feel the time is right. We will all miss having a good laugh and a joke with all of our regular customers.”

Amesbury Pet Stores was opened in 1979 by brothers Chris and Frank Langley.

Sue started working at the pet store when Frank emigrated to Australia, and worked her way up to manager and then company director of the Amesbury store and a scond outlet in Salisbury.

Unfortunately, Chris died in 2010 and the Salisbury store closed two years later.

“It just hasn’t been the same since Chris passed away,” said Sue, who has witnessed a change in people’s shopping habits. “It was more hands-on back then. None of this self-service stuff with people helping themselves.”

Amesbury Pet Stores in Salisbury Road is due to close on April 21.

Police have released CCTV of a woman they wish to speak to after a dog-biting incident outside Pets at Home in Branksome, Doset.

Another woman was bitten by a dog, described as a 'collie breed' or similar, as she walked into the shop on the Redlands Poole Retail Park, Branksome. It happened at 5.50pm on Friday, January 26.

The bite ripped through her jeans but didn't puncture her skin.She suffered a large bruise.

PC Sian Dibley, of Poole police, said: “We are keen to trace the dog and its owner."

Anyone who knows the woman in the CCTV image should contact police via dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting 55180013774.

South African pet accessories brand ROGZ has appointed Su-bridge Pet Supplies as a new distribution partner.

The long established UK pet industry distributor is coming onboard to help ROGZ supply the ever growing UK demand for its large range of high quality pet accessories.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to work alongside Su-bridge as one of our key distribution partners," says UK Key Account Manager Sallie-Ann Reed.

"I have known Ian and his company for many years and we have no doubt that they will add tremendous value to our UK business.

"Our range is constantly evolving with new and truly innovative products in the pipeline. It’s a very exciting time here at ROGZ so it’s great to have Su-bridge as a part of our journey."

Su-bridge Pet Supplies join Trust Pet Products, Christies Direct, National Veterinary Services and Armstrong Richardson as a distribution partner for ROGZ in the UK market.

Podium Pet Products, which brought both Dog Rocks and Pet Remedy branded lines to the US market, has hired Kim Goldsworthy as Sales Director for North America.

Goldsworthy, who has been working in the US market for more than three years, brings to this position a wealth of knowledge and expertise – having launched products on QVC and Amazon – and has a proven track record for successfully launching and building brands globally.

Most recently, Goldsworthy served as General Manager – Sales & Marketing for Heyrex NZ Limited, a technology company that specializes in providing pet products and services to global markets. Prior to this, she held the position of Sales/ Category Director for The Shopping Channel New Zealand and Sales Director for Warner Brothers New Zealand.

According to Goldsworthy, “I was always very impressed with the Podium Pet organisation and their portfolio of brands. So it was an easy decision when they asked me to head their North American Team.

"Since joining I have only become more impressed with the innovation, quality and uniqueness of the products as well as their commitment to customer service for both resellers and consumers. I’m excited to be a part of such a driven, focused and agile team.”

Science Selective Hamster is launching with an improved recipe and new-look packaging. There’s also a new pack format for Supreme’s Bathing Sand which will now be sold under the Tiny Friends Farm range.

The Science Selective range benefits from distinctive packaging that looks great on-shelf and now Selective Hamster has a modern look that fits with the rest of the brand portfolio.

What is in the pack is now even better too, with improvements in palatability as a result of changes and upgrades to the recipe.

The kibble size has been reduced and the shape improved, making it easier for tiny paws to grip and it is especially suitable for popular dwarf breeds. Selective Hamster is now an extruded, rather than baked product, giving it a light and crunchy texture that’s even more appealing and ready to nibble. This last change also brings Selective Hamster in line with the other products in the range, making it more consistent and easier for shoppers to understand.

Also new is Tiny Friends Farm Bathing Sand, which references Charlie Chinchilla, Harry Hamster and Gerri Gerbil – all species that enjoy using bathing sand as part of their daily routine. The fun new pack is a cardboard tube and once the bathing sand is in use the tube can be re-used as a fun tunnel toy, or stuffed with hay, which is great news for the environment. It can also be re-sealed to keep the remaining sand fresh and free of moisture.

Claire Hamblion, Supreme Marketing Manager, says bringing sand under Tiny Friends Farm branding gives retailers a great opportunity to cross-sell within the range and block products in the category so shoppers can make their selection quickly, giving them time to browse the rest of the store.

She commented: “Not every owner realises the pleasure their hamster, chinchilla or gerbil can have from bathing in sand. It’s an enjoyable way for them to keep their coats clean and to indulge in a very natural behaviour, which makes it really important from a welfare point of view By putting sand under the Tiny Friends Farm brand and featuring recognisable characters on the packaging we hope that more pet owners will enjoy watching their pets clean up and see the benefits.”

For further information visit Supreme Petfoods at www.supremepetfoods.com, call 01473 823296, or email experts@supremepetfoods.com

The Real Petfood Company – which manufactures premium pet food snacks at its site on Kinmel Park in Bodelwyddan – has confirmed it is committed to spending more than £300,000 on a permanent solution to the issue of the baking aromas which have brought complaints from some local residents. 

The solution will involve the building of two new chimneys through which the odours will be expelled at a suitable height and speed.

Before moving to Kinmel Park, the firm was based in Flint, where in nine years carrying out the same production process, the firm received no complaints about unpleasant odours.

Graham Wheeler, the company’s founder and managing director, said: “It was unexpected to experience problems here as we never did in Flint - it may be due to the topography or particular weather conditions in this locality. 

"However, whatever the reason, we are determined to find a long-term solution as we take our responsibility to the local community very seriously and residents can be assured that we are fully focussed on meeting this challenge.”

When the issue first became apparent, the firm quickly appointed ADAS UK, a recognised air quality specialist, to carry out extensive tests and recommend actions to deal with the odours.  

The company has already taken steps such as converting the cowls on the roof extractors to speed up the dispersal of any odours into the atmosphere and also fully enclosing the baking area to minimise the leakage of any odours into the general factory in the first place.

A planning application for the chimneys, accompanied by a comprehensive assessment of the visual impact, has now been submitted to Denbighshire County Council.  Measures to mitigate the visual impact – such as additional tree planting – have also been included.

More than 30 local residents attended an open day in December for a tour of the factory and to hear about plans to tackle the aroma issue.  A new letter, being sent to local residents and businesses, also invites anyone who wants to study the planning application and associated reports to come and view them at the factory.

The Real Petfood Company – which is a subsidiary of Inspired Pet Nutrition - started production at its Bodelwyddan site about a year ago manufacturing premium pet food snacks and treats under the Wagg and Harringtons brands as well as a wide range of own label products. 

It now has a workforce of 70 having created 40 new jobs in the past year alone with sales growing by some 20%. The objective is for 100 employees within the next three years.

US chilled pet food brand Freshpet, one of the fastest growing pet food companies in North America, has launched three new products on to the UK market.

The company says the new lines – Freshpet Select Tender Chicken Recipe for Small Dogs (454g, £5), a new smaller size Freshpet Select Tender Beef Roasted Meal for cats (454g, £5) and Freshpet Select Grain Free Tender Chicken for dogs (794g, £8) – have been introduced in response to consumer demand for the innovative fresh pet food.

The new product launches come a few months since the launch of Freshpet’s Dog Joy Turkey Bacon dog treats, the UK’s first fresh and refrigerated treats.

The brand claims to have added £1.6 million in value to the pet category since its UK arrival at the beginning of 2017.

Freshpet’s range of fresh, natural, less-processed pet food is now available in 300 Tesco stores and 78 Asda stores nationwide. It is merchandised in unique Freshpet branded fridges in the pet aisle – a UK first for the category.

Explains Freshpet Co-Founder and Europe’s MD, Cathal Walsh: “We’re absolutely delighted with the response that Freshpet has had in the UK. Our two new recipes and new pack size will add further excitement for shoppers and help make a difference to the lives of the UK’s cats and dogs.

“As more and more owners treat their pets as members of the family, they are increasingly willing to buy higher quality, natural food for their pets, reflecting their own eating desires and habits. Health and indulgence are huge influencers in the growth of premium pet food and Freshpet’s success in the UK in its first year clearly reflects that.”

Beco Pets has launched its first localised campaign near Newark in Nottinghamshire, tackling the problem of owners not cleaning up after their dog in public places.

An estimated 17 million poops are deposited by dogs every day in the UK. With people living in denser environments than ever before, when owners don’t clean up after their four-legged friend, it has a negative and smelly impact on the rest of the community. The abandoned faeces become a ticking time bomb of dangerous bacteria and can even get into the water supply.

Becky Lambert, Beco Pets very own eco-warrior, promotes the environmental benefits of using degradable poop bags. She is a mother of two and spends her school run constantly dodging dog faeces on the pavements with her children.

Becky has worked with Beco Pets and Flintham Primary School near Newark to educate children and parents about why it is so important to clean up after their dog.

Becky set up an in-school activity session to educate the pupils about the importance of picking up the poop. She gave them a drawing challenge to complete at home with their parents, asking them to illustrate what makes a responsible dog owner. The kids came back with some adorable, creative and informative drawings (we think we may have a few Picasso’s in our midst). Soon you will find the illustrations pinned up in the local public areas, encouraging owners to scoop the poop.

Beco Pets launched the UK’s first degradable poop bags in 2014, leading the charge in creating environmentally friendly options for pet owners.

The company's environmental stance helped to tackle the issue of millions of plastic poop bags going to landfill or ending up in our oceans.

Beco Pets has since created ethically sourced fresh meat recipes, supporting local farmers and British enterprise while minimising the foods carbon footprint.

PetSafe Brand will be introducing two exciting additions to its popular toy range for cats and dogs – the PetSafe Grip ‘n Tug and the FroliCat Fox Den Automatic Cat Teaser – at PATS Sandown on March 20-21.

Show attendees will be able to learn more about the new toys on Stand G1 as well as view recent popular items from the broad PetSafe Brand range which includes Pet Doors, Easy Walk and EasySport Harnesses, Drinkwell Pet Fountains and Solvit Travel & Access products. 

PetSafe Brand experts will be on hand to chat through the items and the brand’s focus on developing high quality products that enhance the relationship between owners and their pets.

Below is an overview of key products that will be on show at Stand G1. To find out more about PetSafe® Brand in the meantime, visit the website at www.petsafe.com/UK.

Perfect for playtime

Play & Challenge toys from PetSafe Brand make playtime fun for cats and dogs of all ages while also challenging them mentally to keep them actively engaged.  The following brand-new toys will be on show at PATS:

NEW! PetSafe Grip ‘n Tug™, £12.99 – this durable toy provides a rewarding, safe and fun experience for dogs and owners and is a wonderful way to train dogs with basic commands like “drop it.” Its smart design means the fleece and rope braided tug does not get stuck in a dog’s teeth or gums and its protective handle makes it safer and less tiring for pet owners.  Conveniently, the “Tugs” are detachable, meaning they can be both machine washed and replaced once worn (replacement Tugs can be bought separately).

NEW! FroliCat Fox Den Automatic Cat Teaser, £25.99 – this fun and unique addition to the popular FroliCat range excites cats by teasing them with a realistic fox tail. The sly fox hides in his den, waiting to shake his realistic fuzzy tail at unexpecting cats.  The toy has a “Play-All-Day” mode allowing pet owners to entertain their cats when they are not home, and its inbuilt motion sensor will automatically shut off the toy when it’s not in use.

Pet Doors

The PetSafe Brand range of pet doors have been designed to give pet owners more control over their home while giving pets the freedom they need and deserve.

PetSafe Microchip Cat Flap, £79.99 – the latest addition to the PetSafe® Brand pet door range, this high-tech cat flap gives pets easy access to the outside world while keeping out troublesome unwanted cats and other animals. It works by reading a cat’s unique microchip ID and doesn’t require an additional collar or accessory. Suitable for cats up to 8kg, it can be easily programmed for up to 40 microchipped cats, making it ideal for both single and multi-cat homes. The door is extremely secure, boasting a reinforced dual auto-latch with a four-way manual lock. Furthermore, it features a built in draught excluder.

Extreme Weather Pet Door, from £50.99 – this is the perfect door for extreme hot or cold climates, boasting maximum energy efficiency that is 3-1/2 times higher than standard single-flap doors in the PetSafe Brand range.  Suitable for cats or dogs, the 3-flap system protects homes from the elements while giving pets the freedom to come and go. With a durable plastic frame, this well-designed door fits most doors and interior or external walls.

Fabulous feeders

Automatic pet feeders from PetSafe® Brand enable owners to manage their pet's feeding schedule and maintain portion control even when they can't be there in person.

Digital Two Meal Pet Feeder, £50.99 – this clever feeder allows pet owners to manage pets’ diets even when they’re not at home. Ideal for cats and small dogs, the convenient automatic feeder system has a digital display that lets owners set the timer for each meal up to four days in advance. Battery operated, each section can hold a portion size equal to 355 ml, so pet owners can be assured their pets will get the right portions at the right time. Dual locking lids also ensure that pets can’t access the food early.

Tip top training
PetSafe Brand has many solutions to help teach dogs to curb their excessive barking behaviour in a matter of days.  One of the most effective methods are Ultrasonic Bark Control deterrents which release an ultrasonic sound each time a dog barks.

PetSafe Indoor Bark Control, from £23.99 – this clever device has an internal microphone that automatically emits an ultrasonic tone when it is within range of a barking dog.  The high-pitch tone is silent to humans but surprises dogs, causing them to stop barking.  In time, the device should stop dogs making excessive noise as they come to associate their bark with the unpleasant sound. Effective up to eight metres, the device can be used in one room or a second device can be used for multi-room coverage.

Travel time
Pet owners increasingly want to take their pets with them when they go places, which means lots more trips in the car. To help keep people and pets travel safe, PetSafe Brand has introduced several products to prevent driver distraction and comfortably restrain pets.

Solvit Standard Pet Safety Seat, £69.99 – this handy booster enables pet owners to give their dogs a ride with a view. With its rigid internal structure that integrates with the vehicle seat belt and quilted cover with fleece liner, the seat comfortably and securely cradles dogs.  The booster seat can be quickly fitted in one minute in the front or back seat and holds one or more pets up to 13.5kg.

Solvit Deluxe Pet Safety Seat, £78.99 – for even more comfort, pet owners can try the Deluxe version of the seat which has the same design but includes a plush quilted faux suede shell with quilted plaid liner.

Access all areas
With advancements in care and nutrition, pets are living longer, and many need help getting places.  PetSafe Brand has a range of ramps and stairs perfect for reaching vehicles and medium to high elevations in the home, helping reduce stress on pets’ joints.

Deluxe Telescoping Pet Ramp, £112.99 - this adjustable, lightweight ramp has a high-traction walking surface and gives pets easy access to both vehicles and furniture.  The ramp can support over 180kg with no bending and its adjustable design extends from 96 to 182cm. Alternatively, there is a slightly larger model of this ramp, the Deluxe XL Telescoping Ramp, £150.99, which is 38cm longer and 8cm wider and best for when pets need a flatter climbing angle.

Solvit Triscope Ramp, £139.99 – this adjustable, lightweight ramp is an ultra-compact solution to help dogs reach vehicles and their favourite furniture.  Weighing just 6kg, the ramp has a clever three-piece compact telescoping design meaning it can extend from 71 to 177cm with no folding required.  It can support over 135kg, making it ideal for even large pets.

Solvit UltraLite Bi-Fold Pet Ramp, £69.99 – the lightest full-size ramp on the market, this nifty product allows pets to safely get up and down with less stress on their joints (and pet owners’). Weighing just under 5kg and supporting over 90kg, the all-plastic ramp gives pets a sure footing with its high-traction walking surface and four rubber feet.

Solvit PupSTEP®+Plus, £48.99 – these portable stairs help pets reach their favourite elevated places, such as a sofa or bed. Pets can travel up and down safely with the built-in side rails and non-skid feet and the steps are foldable for easy storage. Lightweight at just over 2kg, the steps can support over 50kg, making them ideal for small-medium sized pets.