Okehampton-headquartered Forthglade Foods Ltd, the award-winning supplier of natural pet foods, has secured £5 million in Growth Capital funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial to further support the firm’s UK and overseas expansion plans as well as the development of a larger manufacturing facility.

The business, which currently employs 80 people, is set to create a further 25 jobs when it completes the move to the new state of the art facility at Okehampton East Business Park in Devon.

Established initially in 1971, Forthglade manufactures 100% natural wet pet food with sales through major pet food retailers, wholesalers and an online offering. In an example of the firm’s output, in June this year Forthglade launched a selection of Gourmet meals for dogs. The natural recipes included Beef & Wild Boar with root vegetables and apple and also Turkey & Goose with pumpkin and cranberries.

Forthglade was taken over by the current management team in 2011, with a successful strategy to develop and expand in the UK and overseas. The business attracted private equity interest from Piper, a specialist investor in consumer brands, in 2015 to accelerate further the sales and marketing of the brand. The new factory, set for completion in 2018, will help increase production of its natural pet food, to boost its exports and fulfil its ambition to become one of the UK’s leading producers of 100% natural pet food.

Santander’s Growth Capital loans are targeted at businesses with annual turnover of up to £50 million which have a demonstrated history of high year-on-year growth in turnover, profit or employment. As well as the financial support, high-growth businesses can also access other support from Santander which includes training (masterclasses), mentoring and seminars as well as access to overseas trade missions and part-funded interns through our partner universities.

Gerard Lovell, Managing Director – Forthglade Foods Ltd, said: “We are delighted to work with Santander Growth Capital in the next stage of our business’ development. Their support will enable us to build a state of the art production facility in Okehampton and invest in the local economy while accelerating our strategy for growth.  The Santander team has been very proactive in developing a relationship with us since we first met them in 2013 and their continued engagement and interest in the business gave us the confidence that they are the right partner for us.”

Carmen Peacock, Santander Growth Capital, said: “Forthglade is a fantastic business with a leading product offering and a very experienced management team backed by Piper Private Equity. We are delighted to support them in their business expansion plans with the development of a new manufacturing facility in Devon as well as investment in continued UK and international growth opportunities for their own brand products. We look forward to working with the business and seeing it grow from strength to strength.”

The owner of a pet shop in a West Sussex village has blamed parking restrictions imposed by the local council for the closure of his store.

Robin Duke will close Gatley’s County Store and Pet Shop, in Lower Street, Pulborough, for the final time this weekend.

He said he was left with no option but to close after parking restrictions were imposed earlier this year.

He told his local newspaper, the Midhurst and Petworth Observer, that people started to park in a lay-by outside his shop after that Horsham District Council introduced car parking charges elsewhere in the village.

“Cars park up here for hours meaning our customers cannot park there anymore,” he said. “There is meant to be a parking warden checking on this part of the village but I haven’t seen one for at least six months.

“We need this lay-by to exist as our customers could park up and only have a short walk to their car with 15 kilogram bags of pet food.”

Mr Duke said there were two big supermarkets in the village with free car parks.

“If you are given the option to park for free at Tesco or pay for parking to use our shop, you’re going to choose free parking every time,” he told the newspaper.

“People have stopped coming to our shop and sales have significantly dropped meaning that business is no longer viable.

“We have been subsidising the shop for two years and I have taken the decision to stop.”

The Government’s decision to increase high street rates earlier this year has also played a part in the decision to close.

“High street rates have gone up in the past six months which does not help the little businesses to thrive in villages like Pulborough,” he added.

You can read the full story on the Midhurst and Petworth Observer website by clicking here.

Kelkay is the UK’s leading supplier of self-contained water features and able to offer a wide range of prices, styles and materials to suit all consumers.

But it’s not just the huge range of quality products that makes them such an attractive supplier to deal with. Their many years of experience and understanding of the category means that they are experts ranging to suit specific retail environments.

Added to this category expertise they have developed the most sophisticated and effective merchandising and displays to make it easy to break into this lucrative and growing sector.

Visitors to Aqua were able to see the wide range of features and the flexible merchandising system in action at the show last week.

The range of around 80 Easy Fountains is supplied in robust white cartons with full colour labels which means they can be positioned attractively on the shop floor.

But the most effective way to maximise sales is to utilise the unique Easy Fountain modular merchandising which can be configured in sizes from only a couple of meters right up to 6 – 8 metres or more depending on the space and the size of the range selected.

Easy Fountain is segmented into four ‘collections’ Modern, Traditional, Natural and Distinctive, designed to suit all situations and tastes. They have also recently added a range of self-contained water courses and classic pond ‘spitters’. Prices start with an RRP of £29.99 rising to £1999.99 for their largest models.

After the Aqua event Richard Pyrah, Sales Director said “We’ve had a warm reaction to our Easy Fountains during the show and it has been great to meet some new faces in the aquatics sector. I’m confident that Easy Fountain is well positioned to help these specialist retailers make more from the ‘plug and play’ water features category which has seen such rapid growth in other retail channels.”

Hickory Falls £599.99                           Kelkay’s Richard Pyrah & Alan Sheppard at Aqua 2018

For more about Kelkay  and Easy Fountain, go to www.kelkay.com or e-mail the general enquiries office on salesenquiries@kelkay.co.uk or call to speak to us on 01405 869333.

Kelkay

The Old Airfield,

Heck & Pollington Lane,

Pollington,

East Yorkshire,

DN14 0BA

The unveiling of Chuckit!’s Ultra Ball and Ultra Grip Launcher bundle at PATS Telford has proved so successful, the dog toy expert is now rolling out a limited run of the set to selected retailers across the country. 

With only 5,000 of the ‘Ultra’ combos available, which feature the brand’s best-selling ball and best-selling launcher together for the first time, fans of Chuckit! will have to be quick off the mark to get their paws on one.

The best-selling Ultra Grip Launcher promises play that covers maximum distance with minimal effort, while the Ultra Ball guarantees satisfaction for even the most fetch-fanatic dogs. With its famous high bounce and tough rubber exterior, the Ultra Ball is the pawfect accompaniment for the Ultra Launcher, which launches balls three times further − giving dogs and owners a way to enjoy even more far flung play.

Discussing the launch, Brand Manager for Chuckit!, Will Baggaley comments: “In recent years, the Ultra Ball and Ultra Grip Launcher have repeatedly come out as our best selling and most popular products, so it was a no-brainer for us to combine the two and give our fans the opportunity to own this Limited Edition combo in one purchase.

“We have no doubt that the popular set will be a sell out once it hits the shelves after it received unanimously positive responses at PATS Telford, so our fans will need to move fast to be one of the limited owners!”

The set is available in Medium (RRP £14.99) while stocks last.

For more information on Chuckit, visit: http://chuckit-toys.co.uk/.

Pet Advent Calendars are taking off in a big way this year with the popular Armitage Good Boy Advent Calendar jumping into a nationwide bestsellers chart.

The Good Boy Advent Calendar for Dogs has entered the GTN Bestsellers Christmas Products chart, which lists the top 50 bestselling festive items in garden centres.

The advent calendar was one of 10 new entries to the Christmas Products chart, reaching No 45.

The success of the God Boy product is testament to the fact that more pet owners are buying advent calendars for their animals as well as their children.

Most of the pet calendars are packed with treats and there's even a reusable calendar, which owners can restock for many Christmases to come.

Lily’s Kitchen’s festive range includes advent calendars for both dogs and cats.  The dog advent calendar includes Rise & Shines treats, Organic Cheese & Apple Training Treats and Bedtime Biscuits while the cat version contains Chicken Treats with Liver, Chicken Treats with Shrimp and Turkey Treats with Cranberry.

Pets at Home sell their own branded advent calendars including Rawhide and Munchy dog edition plus a small animal version, while Amazon advertise a Battersea dogs and cats home advent calendar for dogs.

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

Now firmly established as a biennial event, AQUA attracts the major companies in the industry, who acknowledge the importance of exhibiting their products and services to specialist aquatic and water gardening retailers and garden centres, all under one roof.

Organiser Annie Foord said: “I am delighted with the enthusiasm shown by exhibitors and visitors to this event. The positive response to AQUA 2017 proves that the event is continuing to deliver the audience our exhibitors have come to expect from the largest show of its kind in the UK. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to Telford in 2019.”

The doors to AQUA 2017 may now be closed, but the industry praise continues to be heard.

Here’s some great reaction from exhibitors at the show:

Chris Hepburn, Regional Sales Manager, Hozelock: “This was undoubtedly our busiest and most successful of the five AQUAs to date, with a healthy number of new business enquiries in addition to our established customer base. I would commend the show for being well organised (as always) 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.”

Joey Abrahams, Commercial Director, AQUADIP: “We enjoyed another fantastic show. It was the perfect place for us to catch up with current customers but also to display the complete range of products we can offer to new customers. Since the show we have been busy non-stop and received great feedback of the new service we introduced at AQUA: branded dry foods and frozen food.”

Andy Bond, National Sales Manager, OASE: “We had a very successful show. It was definitely the best AQUA to date. The quality of people visiting our stand was exceptional and we spoke to all the right people.”

Richard Pyrah, Sales Director, Kelkay: “We had a warm reaction to our Easy Fountains during the show and it was great to meet some new faces in the aquatics sector.”

Visitor reaction was equally praise worthy:

Boyd J Douglas-Davies, CEO, Hillview Garden Centres: “Great show for anyone involved or contemplating the aquatics industry. I was impressed by the quantity of exhibitors and the level they had gone to in creating inspirational and engaging displays. Every element of the sector appeared to be represented. The location is good for our business and the facilities are first class for a show of this size. We operate two aquatic shops within the group so both managers attended the show and found it to be an extremely day.”

Mark Evenden, Devotedly Discus: “Aqua Telford is an event that I think just about everyone involved with aquatics looks forward to because it is simply unique. There is not the opportunity elsewhere to view, handle and assess so many products like it. The companies exhibiting, with out exception, put on a good show and there are some very good deals on offer. As a visitor it is easy to register and in the build up you are kept up to date with any developments and conveniently ‘reminded’ of the date and times. The halls are spacious and easy enough to find what you are looking for. I also like the space given to the refreshment areas. For an independent retailer, Aqua Telford is an event you just cannot miss.”

Pete Carey, Aquatic Operations Manager (Pet Team), Pets at Home:

“Another amazing show by the Aqua team. The show was very busy this year and it was so good to see so many aquatics people together and showing that the industry is thriving and growing. Lots of innovation and new products also added to the vibrant and exciting show.”

Steve Rudd, Partner, Maidenhead Aquatics:  “As a trade customer I felt the show was well organised. The Telford exhibition centre is a great venue, in terms of both its location and facilities. The vast majority of the UK aquatics trade were present, showcasing both new and existing products. The show is the perfect location to meet up with existing suppliers as well as creating new contacts in an enjoyable and relaxing environment.”

Simon Jenkins, Ripples Waterlife: “The show, the location and evening party were all fabulous and I thought it went well with a very good atmosphere around the halls for the two days. 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. Overall, I was very impressed and look forward to Aqua 2019.”

Kevin Rose, Lynchford Aquatics Ltd: “The show was, once again, a great showcase for our industry. There was a positive vibe from the people I spoke to, both visitor and exhibitor alike. Everything seemed to run smoothly and the layout had a familiarity from previous shows, which meant navigating it was simple. The venue goes from strength to strength with recent external development making visiting an even more attractive proposition.”

Len MacGlashan, Water World Ltd: “I found Aqua 2017 to be vibrant and full of confidence for the coming year. Aqua 2017 offers anybody within the aquatic industry the opportunity to view new and exclusive products available to us all.”

To keep up-to-date with all the latest news from AQUA 2017 visit www.aquatelford.co.uk

Maine Coon Darwin and whippet cross Scout have been named the ROYAL CANIN Rescue Cat and Dog of the Year respectively.  Rescue cats and dogs were entered into the competition run via ROYAL CANIN’s Facebook page, and Darwin and Scout both romped home with a massive vote!

Darwin and Scout have each received a hamper of ROYAL CANIN goodies, while the rescue centre they came from receives enough food for up to 50 dogs or cats for a month.

Suzy Roffey, ROYAL CANIN National Sales Manager PRO, says: “This is the fifth year of the competition, and the first time we’ve opened it up to dogs as well.  Our aim is to drive awareness and provide support for the many rescue centres we work with throughout the UK, as well as another way of driving footfall into the specialist pet trade.  It’s also very rewarding for us, as animal lovers, to be able to know that rescue dogs and cats are getting the benefit of health nutrition, both while they are in rescue and when they move on to their forever homes.”

Darwin
Five year old Darwin lives with Alison and Mark Ware at TC’s Forever Home, the cat sanctuary they couple have devoted their lives to in Dundrum, Co. Down.  As one of currently 19 cats, all of whom have been adopted because they are elderly, disabled, have special needs or are terminally ill, Darwin’s role is to help settle new cats in and provide nurturing for any cat who needs it.  Alison and Mark adopted Darwin when he was six months old and his elderly owners could no longer cope with him.

Darwin’s story began in April this year, when he was shot in the face with a shotgun, suffering extensive facial damage.  The lead shot blew a hole in the roof of his mouth up into his face, shattering his upper jaw and gum so that there was nothing left on the upper left side. 

Darwin underwent several operations and almost died in Alison’s arms twice, but he and the vets fought incredibly hard, and 12 weeks to the day since his accident Darwin was fully recovered – apart from a little ‘Elvis’ lip and a tendency to dribble it is impossible to believe he was so badly hurt.  Social media has given Darwin worldwide support, with his story featuring on Instagram as #toughestcatintheworld and #fightfordarwin.

Alison says: “We are so proud of Darwin, he’s come through so much and still remained his magnificent, beautiful self.  He really is a very special cat, and clearly sees himself as having a duty to look after us and the other cats, especially when a new one arrives.

“To have won enough food for a month is a significant prize for us – we are part of the local cat rescue community, and we usually fundraise through things like car boot sales and quiz nights for everything we need.  Feeding 19 cats a month is a huge element of our costs, and because our cats are all quite sensitive in different ways we put huge emphasis on top quality food.”

Scout
Seven year old Scout now lives with vet nurse Tracey Ison and her husband Paul in Hinckley, after being rehomed aged six months from East Midlands Dog Rescue. 

Scout’s life didn’t start well: picked up as a stray, tiny puppy in County Durham, it was initially thought that he was blind and deaf.  He also had mange and kennel cough.  Euthanasia was considered on the grounds of his many issues and potential of being difficult to find a home for.  However three amazing rescue organisations worked together to save his life, and it was love at first sight for Tracey and Paul when they met him at East Midlands Dog Rescue.

Tracey says: “Although not deaf, Scout is almost completely blind but he doesn’t let this hold him back one bit.  We promised him as normal a life as possible and this is exactly what he has.  Scout has climbed mountains and paddled in the sea, he has achieved his Bronze Good Citizens award and has even tried his paw at agility.

“Scout is now a fundraiser for one of the charities who helped to save his life and also helps to educate people on how life enriching owning a dog with a disability can be. Scout is also a Pets As Therapy dog, a role which he absolutely loves. Scout brings the sunshine into every single day and never fails to melt hearts wherever he goes.”


For more information about Rescue Pet of the Year 2017 or the ROYAL CANIN ranges in general, contact your ROYAL CANIN Business Manager, call 0845 606 9980 or visit www.royalcanin.co.uk.

Students of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies at Edinburgh University have stripped naked for a high quality 2018 calendar with the proceeds going to the All4Paws charity.

All4Paws offers free veterinary care to the pets of homeless and vulnerably housed people with weekly student-run clinics and all proceeds from the limited edition calendar will be donated to the charity.

The students of the Royal (Dick) organised a school-wide fundraising project called 'When Vets Undress' to support the cause and approached CSJ to become an official sponsor. 

CSJ recognised that the project met with their ethos and were eager to help, but asked, “Why CSJ?” and were delighted to get the response. “We opened this up to our 800 vet students, asking for suggestions based on the pet food they personally use. CSJ was brought forward, with strong support from several students.”

Since their launch the website and social media pages of When Vets Undress have gathered a large following and the first promotional video produced by the students had 7,500 views in its first week …. proving that nudity in a good cause definitely hits the spot!   

Brilliant Beef is the latest addition to Pure’s range of freeze dried superfood recipes. Boasting 50% beef this single source protein complete food for dogs is packed with superfood ingredients such as coconut and celery. The new recipe is potato free, making it ideal for raw feeders and dogs with potato allergies.

Marketing Director at Pure Mat Cockroft said: “The launch of our Brilliant Beef Primal recipe is a combination of wanting to continue to offer the very best choices for owners and listening to feedback from our customers.”

The beef chunks in Pure’s new recipe are freeze dried to preserve the meat with less exposure to high temperature or pressure, whilst the vegetables are gently air dried, leaving all our ingredients as close to their natural raw state as possible. Owners simply add water and serve!

Brilliant Beef contains only six natural ingredients: beef and beef liver, parsnip, carrot, celery, coconut, vitamins and minerals.

The new recipe is perfect for:

• Potato Allergies
• Poultry Allergies
• Super Fussy Dogs
• Active Dogs
• Raw Feeders
• Wheat, Grain and Gluten Allergies
• Sensitive Skin and Digestion

To find out more about Pure’s new recipe and full range visit www.purepetfood.co.uk

It is well known how much pets suffer from anxiety during the firework season, however their owners often get overlooked. With this in mind, a survey by Ceva Animal Health, manufacturer of ADAPTIL and FELIWAY, has revealed that nearly 65% of owners are anxious about their pet while fireworks are going off, with over 65% of owners believing that their pet picks up on this anxiety.

Moreover, nearly 80% of those questioned stated that they try and calm their pet if it is anxious while fireworks are going off and over 50% of owners are so concerned about their pet that they do not leave it alone in the house. As a result, over 50% of owners state that they enjoy fireworks less due to their pet’s fear.

Andrew Fullerton MRCVS, behaviour technical manager at Ceva Animal Health, comments: “The firework season is a stressful time for both the nation’s pets and their owners, however owners should act normally around their pets and try to keep as calm as possible to help them feel more settled. 

"Overly fussing a pet that appears frightened will reinforce this behaviour.  Instead owners should try and distract pets with a toy or game.

“Building a den for a dog and a hideaway for a cat a few weeks in advance will give pets a safe place to retreat to when fireworks start.  Plugging in an ADAPTIL or FELIWAY CLASSIC Diffuser close to the den will help them feel secure and create a calm environment for them to retreat to.  

"Ceva also has a list of top 10 tips to give to owners (along with the diffuser) around firework time.  Confining two cats to a household while fireworks are going off may cause inter-cat aggression.  FELIWAY FRIENDS can help reduce conflicts and aggression between cats.”

Ceva is offering retailers a comprehensive marketing pack to help educate and support customers with noise sensitive pets in the run up to the firework season. 

The pack features a 60-minute video, a range of marketing material including leaflets, leaflet holders, posters, wall displays and a PR toolkit to support PR campaigns, copy for websites and newsletters and suggested social media posts for Twitter and Facebook.

For further information visit www.adaptil.com/uk or www.feliway.com/uk

Edgard & Cooper has unveiled its new, perfect wholesome recipes to keep pets in tip top condition as the colder months draw in. ‘Goodness from up North’ features three meals full of natural omega 3s.

‘Goodness from up North’ recipes are made with sustainable fish from the Nordic countries, and have been specifically created to give dogs naturally healthy skin and a dazzling new shiny coat.

Edgard & Cooper decided to launch the range after speaking with customers at national and local events about which new recipes they would like to see in their dogs bowls. They decided to make a diverse line of products with digestible fish proteins, including one organic recipe.

The range is ideal for sensitive stomachs due to fish being an extremely digestible protein. The recipes are packed full of natural antioxidants to mop up harmful free radicals, resulting in a healthy heart.

The products, inspired by the popular Fresh Salmon & Trout with Spinach & Apple kibbles, include a Salmon & Trout with Spinach & Apple recipe available in a 400g tin and 150g cup, and a 100g Organic Fish with Fennel & Carrot cup.

Visit www.edgardcooper.co.uk to learn more about 'Goodness from Up North'.

After a busy weekend at Discover Dogs where it sold out to queues of customers, the WildWash team has just been awarded the Best Pet Cosmetics Provider – UK Award by the GHP Animal Health and Wellness Awards 2017.

The health and wellness of animals and the environment we live in was the main factor behind the launch of the WildWash brand and so this award was well received.

The company's latest natural candles to combat pet odour were a huge success at Discover Dogs and the scents drew crowds to the stand. With fireworks night approaching the Calm candle was a firm favourite.

Lily’s Kitchen has extended its range for puppies with the launch of a new flavour Turkey & Duck, available in both 400g tin and 150g tray sizes, as well as a new air dried puppy treat pack. 

The range is natural to ensure maximum benefit and specially tailored nutrition, perfectly tailored  for new furry family members.

Puppy Turkey and Duck Tin; 400g £2.19 and tray 150g, 99p

A natural, grain free recipe with freshly prepared turkey and duck, combined with nutritious pumpkin, kale, and cranberries for added health benefits. This specially tailored complete nutrition for growing pups, contains the right levels of protein, calories and fat and is the perfect texture, making it easy to chew for small mouths.

Chicken & White Fish Slices £4.49 (made with freshly prepared British chicken (40%) and sustainably sourced white fish such as cod, pollock and haddock (30%) to vary between catches and seasons. These 100% natural air dried complementary treats come in a pocket size 60g pack, which is resealable for freshness so is perfect for training when out and about or at puppy school.

Both products offer a good source of natural protein and Omega 3, are hypoallergenic, natural and holistic, and contain NO rendered meats, fillers, artificial flavourings, sweeteners or preservatives.

The extended puppy range from Lily’s Kitchen has been crafted alongside vets and nutritionists. Lily’s Kitchen, the UK’s fasted growing pet food company, has created this range especially with puppies’ small mouths in mind and to aid delicate digestions.

Comments Henrietta Morrison, CEO and founder of Lily’s Kitchen: “As a new pet parent, you want the best for your growing bundle of joy and to give them the best start in life but are faced with a lot of choice, so it can be difficult to know just what is best for your puppy especially when they are so young.

"Natural nutritious food shouldn’t just refer to meals and should extend to treats too. Our extended range of puppy treats are 100% natural and can help puppies with their new feeding regimes and when they require rewarding for good behaviour. 

'Furthermore, by feeding natural food, pet owners can help prevent their puppy from becoming over excited (or badly behaved).”

Available now, Lily’s Kitchen Puppy Chicken & Duck and Chicken & White Fish Puppy Rewards and Turkey & Duck wet tin and tray are the perfect complement to Lily’s Kitchen’s Puppy Dry Food and Puppy Chicken Dinner Wet tin and tray ranges as well as its Cheese & Apple Training Treats, and will be sold in independent pet shops, health food shops and on the Lily’s Kitchen website (www.lilyskitchen.co.uk).

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Inspired Pet Nutrition – the UK’s largest independent producer of dry pet food – has announced that Graham Wheeler, Managing Director of The Real Pet Food Company based in North Wales, has agreed to join the main board of IPN with immediate effect.

Graham founded TRPC in 1999 and has been instrumental in helping our treat business develop into one of the best, most innovative manufacturers of oven baked, semi-moist treats in Europe.

More recently Graham has overseen the move of the business from Flint to Kinmel Park, while supporting the launch of the new Nineteen87 Baked complete range of dog food.

Graham will be Director of Product, Process and Innovation across the group and is welcomed by the board at a time of rapid growth and expansion through investment in manufacturing capabilities and people.

Wheeler comments: “The successful implementation of the Kinmel Bakery has been a long held dream which I have been very proud to achieve made more exciting by the launch of the new Nineteen87 baked complete range. 

"I’m looking forward to developing many more equally exciting and innovative snacks, treats and completes in my new role helping to make Kinmel Park the benchmark for baked pet food excellence."

The British Dog Groomers’ Association has announced that Belinda Morris is the latest groomer to join the ranks of its Guild of Master Groomers.

Belinda has been grooming for 12 years and is currently team leader at the successful Hadlow PIF Grooming School at Hadlow College in Kent. Prior to that, Belinda worked at Pets at Home and The Dog Shop in Galway Ireland.

Membership of the Guild of Master Groomers is only open to those BDGA members who have completed all ten units of the Pet Industry Federation’s Higher Diploma. It is a prestigious accolade, held by only 21 other groomers in the UK today.

On achieving her place in the Guild of Master Groomers, Belinda said: Becoming a member of the Guild of Master Groomers has been my ultimate goal. It provides a fitting recognition of the time and effort I have dedicated to my own personal self-improvement in the dog grooming industry and proof that I have made the grade.

The BDGA Higher Diploma is a hugely challenging qualification in every aspect with regard to both the practical standards required and the self-motivation needed to undertake the theory and written elements of it. However, as the highest grooming qualification the UK grooming industry offers, it stands for a lot!

‘As a teacher of the next generation of dog groomers at Hadlow PIF Grooming School, I wanted to be at the highest level I can be, in order to pass on that knowledge and expertise to my students, and be an example of what study and qualifications can ultimately lead to.’

To dog groomers aspiring to one day join the Guild of Master Groomers, Belinda has this advice: "You need to be strong minded and determined to reach your goal. You also need to be prepared to travel to breed experts and breed specific seminars, and attend dog shows and grooming competitions to learn more about the breeds you will be grooming for the qualification.

"However, there are now a few Facebook groups out there for this qualification where you can get advice and get to know others doing the qualification. These groups can be very supportive and confidence-boosting, something which is priceless when the going gets tough."

The BDGA is part of the Pet Industry Federation and offers a range of qualifications to dog groomers, including the City & Guilds Level 2 and Level 3 dog grooming qualifications delivered through its accredited training schools; and the Higher Diploma.

Further information is available at www.petfederation.co.uk

BETA International enjoys an enviable reputation for the quality of its celebrity guests and speakers. In 2018, the show is certainly not resting on its laurels, as it welcomes both equestrian and country personalities – one of eventing's best-loved riders, William Fox-Pitt, and a well-known face from television, Amanda Owen, the Yorkshire Shepherdess.

They will both talk about their lives and careers in The Charles Owen Hub on Monday 22 January.

The first British rider to become eventing's world No 1, William will share anecdotes and memories as he looks back on many years spent at the top of his game. The father-of-four, who suffered serious head trauma in 2015 after a fall on the cross-country course at Le Lion d'Angers, France, will chart his road to recovery and participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics on his horse of a lifetime, Chilli Morning.

In addition to his glittering equestrian career, where he is the only rider to have won five out of the six CCI 4* three-day events worldwide, he is a board director of the Eventing Riders Association and has written two books – Schooling for Success and his autobiography, What Will Be.

Amanda, a busy mother of nine children, will provide a fascinating and heart-warming insight into her life as a shepherdess on a remote, 2,000-acre hill farm, Ravenseat, at the top of Swaledale, in the Yorkshire Dales.

A best-selling author who has appeared in TV shows The Dales, Ben Fogle's New Lives in the Wild and Countrywise, Amanda will delight trade fair visitors with her wonderful photography and rural recollections of a life ruled by the seasons and animals.

“We are thrilled that William and Amanda are coming to the show,” said BETA International organiser Claire Thomas. “They are sure to be a real hit with our visitors and exhibitors, who will relish the opportunity to find out more about this remarkable pair.”

BETA International is the world’s leading trade fair for equestrian, country clothing, outdoor and pet products. The 2018 show will take place at the NEC, Birmingham, from 21 to 23 January. Visitor entry is free on pre-registration at www.beta-int.com.

Pets at Home is on the search for pet product innovators as it holds a ‘Dragons’ Den’ style innovation day this November.

The Innovation Day will be held on Monday 20 November with a closing date for entries set for Sunday 10 November.  

It will offer the chance for aspiring inventors, incumbent suppliers, entrepreneurs and pet owners to pitch pet-friendly product ideas to a panel of expert judges from the UK’s largest and most successful pet specialty retailer.

On previous Innovation Days, Pets at Home has seen more than 150 inventors - from across the globe - pitch their product ideas to key decision makers in the business who are excitedly searching for new products and concepts to bring to the pet industry.

Claire Gavin, Head of Private Brands & Innovation at Pets at Home, said: “The Innovation Days offer a rare and exciting opportunity for people to share great ideas and work with us to turn those ideas into real products.

“From aquatic accessories and fish food to rabbit runs and puppy pens, if you have an idea we want to hear from you!.”

The Innovation Days, held at the Pets at Home Support Office in Handforth, South Manchester will give potential product creators a chance to gain advice from sourcing, buying and technical experts on how to make a good concept into a great and very commercial one.

Claire continues: “We spend our time searching the four corners of the globe for fantastic product ideas and concepts.  However, nothing comes close to those ideas born from necessity. By that I mean the passionate pet owners who have been unable to find solutions and then spend time, creative thought, tenacity and determination to create their very own answer to a problem – that’s innovation.”

Pets at Home has seen a number of product ideas forged from Innovation Days go on to be huge success stories. In March this year, following the first Innovation Day of 2017, HayPigs!®, a range of quirky, fun and functional products for guinea pigs and other small animals, was launched exclusively online.



Rik Cridland (above), managing director of HayPigs!®, said: "The Pets at Home Innovation Day was a fabulous opportunity for us to pitch our new range to a team of industry experts. At the time we were actually in the early throws of production prior to launch, so timing couldn't have been better.

“While the pitch itself was a little daunting at first, I soon realised these Dragons didn't have sharp teeth and it was a really rewarding and worthwhile experience!

“For such an established retailer to show faith in our ideas and back us in the way they have has been a real boost for our fledgling business. Things are going really well and we're excited to see what the future holds!"

Pets at Home know that pitching to a large retailer can be a daunting prospect so have supplied some top-tips to help you create a really compelling presentation of your idea:

1. Knowledge & Passion - Make sure you know your product and your customer inside out – and excite us so we feel the same
2. Differentiation - Ensure you understand the unique selling points of your product, what sets it apart from others, why customers would want it and why Pets at Home should stock it
3. Know Who You’re Pitching To - Visit Pets at Home stores before you pitch to demonstrate your understanding of the existing range, price structure, space, customer and how your product can add a different and credible dimension
4. Competitor Landscape - Understand your competition and be prepared to talk about what gives your product a competitive advantage verses long established existing products
5. Commerciality - Try to ensure your product is commercially viable by researching costs and volume potential or sharing sales successes to date
6. Bring It To Life - Prepare a mock up (ideally a full prototype) – props and visuals don’t have to cost very much but can make all the difference to us sharing your vision
7. Marketing Know-How – How will your product or brand have a voice?  Understand the marketing levers available to support sales and have a clear plan to drive awareness
8. Be creative! - Products conceived because you’ve needed to find a solution for something the market can’t satisfy are very often winners – share the journey you’ve travelled
9. Be Confident - Don’t be too scared to ask for feedback, help or advice
10. Preparation, preparation, preparation! - Practice your pitch, believe in your product and deliver it with confidence!

Remember that well thought through pitches that are commercially viable are the ones that are most likely to succeed.

If you have a fully developed and prototyped product for the team to consider please send through a presentation of your design concept to productdesign@petsathome.co.uk.

Pets at Home will then contact anyone whose concept grabs their attention and give them the opportunity to deliver a 30-minute pitch to the panel of trading experts on Monday 20 November.

The deadline for responses is Sunday 10 November.

The winners of the AQUA 2017 New Product Awards were chosen by a panel of highly respected aquatic retail judges, and were presented with their honours at a special dinner attended by over 700 guests.

The judges chose the winners of nine catergories from more than 100 new products entered.

Their decisions took into account a number of guideline criteria such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging and value for money.

The judges agreed that the New Product Showcase had produced a high calibre of entries with a tremendous amount of innovation. They were pleased to see such a wide range of products, and felt the majority of items on display showed some great innovation.

Here is a full list of the winners together with the judges’ comments:

POS/Merchandising/Support

Winner: Mobile Aquatic Display System

Entered by: Beaver Plants

Judges said: This product makes self-shopping for the customer a lot easier. It’s neat and tidy, easy to maintain, and a lot of thought has gone into the display system.

Reptile

Winner: BioPod Terra

Entered by: BioPod

Judges said: The winning product stood out in this category. It has amazing features, including LED lighting and smart phone technology, and looks like a piece of furniture that integrates well into the home. It’s at the top-end of the market but is good value, and elevates terrariums on to the same level as aquariums.

Pond Pumps

Winner: Blagdon Liberty Pond Oygenator

Entered by: Blagdon

Judges said: Being solar powered with a battery back-up, this product is very eco-friendly. It has a multi-use function – for example it can be used in the transportation of fish. It also has good customer information and point of sale.

Pond Filters

Winner: EazyPod UV Automatic

Entered by: Evolution Aqua

Judges said: It is an excellent compact unit with good price points. This self-cleaning, mechanical and biological filter system for garden ponds has the added benefit of built-in UV.

Pond Food, Care & Accessories

Winner: Laser Guard

Entered by: Velda BV

Judges said: This is an improved way of dealing with a major problem – protecting pond fish against herons with green laser beams, flashes of lights and sounds.

Aquaria & Furniture

Winner: BioPod Aqua

Entered by: BioPod

Judges said: This new generation of aqua/terraria is adaptable, being suitable for both fish and reptiles. It has amazing features and fits perfectly into the home environment.

Freshwater Equipment

Winner: ZA BL-2 Breeding Box

Entered by: CeramicNature

Judges said: A lot of thought has gone into the design, making it very unique. This breeding box can also be used as an isolation tank for sick or aggressive fish.

Aquarium Food Care & Accessories

Winner: Corydoras Sticks 80g

Entered by: Natures Grub

Judges said: The winning product is sure to become a bestseller because of its great price point, making it an easy add-on sale. It’s a pro-biotic insect meal made in-house, containing over 20% insect meal as well as crustacean and aquatic plant meal.

Marine Equipment

Winner: ALR1 Algae Light Reactor

Entered by: ITC Aquatics

Judges said: This light reactor range is innovative, impressively designed, practical and represents good value for money.

Leading investment company Old Mutual PLC raised its stake in Pets at Home Group PLC late last week, acquiring a further 1.09% stake in the pet goods retailer.

Having held a 12.01% stake in the London-listed firm prior to the transaction on Friday, Old Mutual now has a 14.10% holding through 70.5 million Pets at Home shares, according to a stock market announcement on Tuesday.

Based on Pets at Home's current issued share capital, Old Mutual upped its stake by around 10.5 million shares from 60.1 million beforehand. Based on the closing share price on the day of the transaction last Friday, the purchase would have been worth around GBP20.1 million, and value its current holding at about GBP135.4 million.

Based on trading on Tuesday, with Pets at Home trading down 1.0% at 185.75 pence, the value of Old Mutual's stake has fallen to about GBP131.0 million.

The purchase comes amid a recent sell-off by another major shareholder in Pets at Home. Kravis Roberts & Co sold off 61.0 million shares last Tuesday for around 195.08 pence for a total of GBP119.0 million, before selling off further shares through two other firms last Thursday.

British start-up, Catipilla, is launching a new range of cat climbing frames at The National Pet Show at Birmingham’s NEC on November 4-5.

Following months of development and testing, Catipilla is excited to be bringing its innovative concepts to the burgeoning pet market.

Founded at the start of 2017, Catipilla’s idea is simple - to replicate a natural environment and create safe, stimulating spaces for cats to climb and roam freely. Their wall-mounted climbing frames are a new concept in a competitive market and will be showcased within the Cat Zone at The National Pet Show.

Catipilla’s product range is being manufactured in the UK and is focused on high quality. Each climbing frame is wall-mounted and made with contemporary materials including anodised aluminium, EPP and zinc-plated steel. The climbing frame is modular and can be installed inside or outside the home. Pre-orders have already been secured from the UK, Denmark, France and New Zealand.

23-year-old co-founder, Joseph Sutton, on launching Catipilla, “After months of development and testing, we’re excited to finally get our ideas in front of people and see their reaction. Our climbers have been built by cat people, for cat people and we can’t wait to see them in action.”

Having secured seed funding, the team at Catipilla has ambitions stretching far beyond The National Pet Show with multiple ideas for new products already in the pipeline. Catipilla’s stand (C122b) will be located in the centre of the Cat Zone at The National Pet Show. Catipilla is seeking the opportunity to work with trade partners in the near future.

For more information, visit www.catipilla.com.

For trade enquires contact joseph.sutton@catipilla.com

Former OATA chief executive Keith Davenport has been presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the organization. Keith received the award at the AQUA 2017 Dinner in Telford last week.

Keith was recruited to help set up and run a new trade association, originally called OFI UK, to tackle a number of big issues facing the industry at the beginning of the Nineties. Renamed OATA in 1997, he took  the organisation from strength to strength, raising standards and awareness over a quarter of a century.

Keith arrived as a fresh-faced lecturer at Sparsholt Agricultural College where he taught the ornamental fish-related courses. He was recruited by Richard Sankey and Dave Keeley to help set up and take forward a new trade association to tackle a number of big issues threatening the industry in the 1990s.

The fact that OATA members – and indeed all companies that work within the ornamental aquatic industry – are still doing business is largely down to Keith’s tenacious efforts on our behalf.

He’s represented UK businesses at national, European and even world level and OATA estimates that because of his work he’s saved the industry more than £250 million in that time.