Vital Pet Products is restructuring following a review of its business, and Director Sunny Sharma has given his personal reassurance there will be no redundancies as a direct result of the change. He also said there should be no disruption to supply for customers.

It had been the intention of the Directors to consolidate Vital Pet Products and L. Batley Pet Products, which have continued to operate as individual units within Vital. The new business will be called the Vital Pet Group and its registered office will be in Sheffield.

Vital has contacted its suppliers to let them know they were transitioning purchases from Vital Pet Products to L. Batley with a view to bringing the consolidated business under the Vital Pet Group banner.

To complete this restructure the Vital Pet Products part of the business will be divested and cease to trade from purchasing or sales functions. The company will go forwards as Vital Pet Group.

Sunny Sharma (left) has been reassuring stakeholders that this is not an indication that the Vital Pet Group is insolvent.

“The Vital Pet Group will continue to benefit from significant and ongoing investment and will be stronger as a result of this change,” he said.

The company has already benefited from £1.45 million of investment in the last 18 months.

He explained that there was no alternative to making this change. “In recent months information was unearthed that was not disclosed to the Directors when the company was purchased.

"There were undisclosed liabilities that extended beyond the core wholesale business and agreements that had the potential to turn Vital into a toxic company and could have eventually caused it to collapse.

"Having exhausted all other options, bringing forward the formation of the new company was the only solution.”

He continued: “It’s such a pity that we have had to yet again cope with another historical hurdle when the last six months have seen an increase in trading performance as a result of the changes we have made.

"The restructure allows the new Vital Pet Group to move forwards with a clean break and without potentially damaging liabilities in the background.”

Vital Pet Group now intends to proceed full steam ahead with future plans and Sunny has confirmed that the core company is in great shape and well positioned for growth.

The Arden Grange Sensitive product range has recently grown with the addition of Puppy/Junior and Light/Senior life stage diets, offering an easily digestible, low-allergen diet for dogs of all ages.

The expansion of the grain free Sensitive range is a result of the ever-increasing consumer demand for such diets and serve a very useful purpose for dogs with delicate digestion or sensitive skin.

Arden Grange Sensitive Puppy/Junior is an ideal choice for puppies suffering with an allergy or delicate skin, though is also suitable for puppies whose owners prefer to feed a grain free diet.

Why choose Arden Grange Sensitive Puppy/Junior:

• Suitable for all breeds.
• Grain free recipe – ideal for puppies requiring a low–allergen, cereal free diet.
• Contains the optimal balance of protein, fat, fibre, calcium and phosphorous for puppies.
• Fresh white fish offering great palatability and high nutritional value.
• A combination of sweet potato and white potato for a slow and steady release of energy.
• Contains joint care supplements, glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM.
• Benefitting from prebiotics FOS and MOS for immunity support.
• High in omega-3 which is great for skin and coat condition.

This new product is available in both 2kg and 12kg bags and will join the already strong Sensitive product range comprising: Sensitive Adult dry dog food, Partners Sensitive wet dog, Sensitive dry cat food, and Crunchy Bites Sensitive dog treats.

Just like all Arden Grange products, the Sensitive range is naturally hypoallergenic, not containing; wheat gluten, beef, soya or dairy products, thereby offering further peace of mind to customers that have a dog or cat with the most common food sensitivities. 

For more information, call 01273 833390 or visit www.ardengrange.com.

PATS Sandown is set to be a must-visit event for pet retailers and buyers as the industry’s leading companies show their commitment to the exhibition on 10^th and 11^th February 2019.

Bookings for the Sandown Park showpiece in Surrey are impressive, and previous exhibitors Anco, Beaphar UK, Danish Design, Dorwest Herbs, flexi, IPN, Johnson’s Veterinary Products,  Kong, Marriages, Natures Menu, Petlife International, Pet Munchies, Royal Canin, Sky Pet Products, Symply Pet Foods and Trixie have already committed to the event. For a full list see the PATS website www.patshow.co.uk.

“We are really excited about next year’s PATS Sandown as it will be the first time we have staged the exhibition on a Sunday and Monday in February,” said organiser Gordon Thomas.

“The new show dates will allow exhibitors to launch products to the trade earlier in the year, giving retailers the chance to stock them in time for major consumer events like Crufts.

“This is just one of our exciting initiatives to continually refresh PATS, and it’s great to know that the pet industry continues to get right behind the UK’s number one pet retail show brand.”

PATS regular Danish Design admitted it was really looking forward to the all the opportunities provided by the show. Rob Newsome, director of sales and operations, said: “The Telford exhibition in September was a great success for meeting customers, existing and new. Now we are extremely excited to be launching a brand new range, all made in the UK, at Sandown.”

It’s a similar story for Petlife International, whose sales and marketing director, James Hancock, said: “Following a successful PATS show in Telford, we are already planning our presence at the Sandown show in February 2019. It really is an integral event in our calendar and provides us with a unique opportunity to meet with retailers, wholesalers and distributors of all sizes.”

Another company excited about PATS Sandown is Pet Trade Innovations. The company’s Steve Driver said: “It’s the best place to show off our ever expanding ranges and great new products. We made some excellent new contacts at PATS Telford and we’ve seen our business grow considerably since, so we are looking forward to seeing what the Sandown show has in store.”

Emma Trevett, of Dorwest Herbs, commented:  “Being a small company we can’t always get to visit all of our UK customers, so PATS is a great opportunity to meet current clients and obtain new ones.”

One of PATS Sandown’s most popular features is the New Product Showcase, which continues to grow in size. Because of its importance the Showcase will again take pride of place in Surrey Hall’s Brasserie Bar in 2019.

All entries in the Showcase, sponsored by pbwnews, will be judged by a panel of pet retailers for the New Product Awards on the first morning of the show.

Sky Pet Products is one company that knows the importance of winning a New Product Award, having won the Bird Product category at Sandown in the past. Lee Gardiner said: “We were delighted to have our products recognised by the industry. PATS is a great environment to see an award celebrated. The accolade has helped to ensure we are seen at the top of our sector with award winning products.”

There will also be a series of free seminars during both days of the show, and the free-to-attend talks will cover a wide range of topics.

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, free catalogue and many special offers.

With three months to go before PATS Sandown, registration for entry is now open. Full details can be found at www.patshow.co.uk

Group55 has enjoyed a memorable 2018, with the company’s recent achievements being recognised by a remarkable five industry awards since the start of the year.

The company behind market leading grooming brand Animology began its gold rush of awards in March, picking up a Red Rose Award for International Achievement, in recognition of its export success, beating off competition from all industries across Lancashire. Group55 won the same award in 2017, and became the first company to receive this accolade for a second successive year.

This was followed by the FSB North West Scale Up Business Of The Year Award, before the company scooped a much sought after BIBA Business Award at a glittering black tie gala at Blackpool Tower Ball Room in September. The BIBA’s are Lancashire’s largest and longest running business awards programme, with 20 different categories competed for by businesses across all industries.

Group55’s Roll Of Honour was completed just a week later with ywo PetQuip Awards, with the company being presented with both the Business Of The Year and Exporter Of The Year titles at the awards ceremony in Telford.

Such recognition has been a great boost for the company, which has substantial plans for growth in the year ahead.

Group55’s Managing Director Stephen Turner commented: “It’s always an honour to receive any award in recognition of our company’s achievements, and so to win five in one year is really something special.

"To be consistently recognised in this way throughout the year is a huge boost, and speaks volumes about the fantastic team we have here at Group55.

"We will use this as a springboard to launch into what I hope will be an even more successful 2019, with some very exciting new developments planned.”

Pictured above: Group55 win PetQuip Exporter Of The Year.

Top:Group55 Sales Director Martin Breen with BIBA’s Awards Winners.

Dogmatic has been voted 'Best Dog Collar Manufacturer 2018' by the Global Health & Pharma 2018 Animal and Wellness Awards.

"This is a wonderful achievement for Dogmatic," said a company spokesperson.

"We are always delighted to hear how much the Dogmatic Headcollar has helped owners and their dogs and it is their ‘must have’ product. It is wonderful to have such a loyal, growing customer base who continue to ‘spread the word’ about Dogmatic."

For further details on the award-winning range telephone: 01952 245330, or visit www.dogmatic.org.uk to see the many customer photos, testimonials and videos from across the globe.

The life-sized model of Joey – the famous equine hero in the book and film “War Horse” – paid a visit to The Real Petfood Company factory on Kinmel Park in Bodelwyddan as part of its extensive fund-raising regional tour of schools and businesses. 

The brainchild of Richard Kendrick, the poppy appeal organiser in Rhyl for the Royal British Legion, the horse is being used to raise awareness of World War One and the sacrifice made by thousands of British and Commonwealth soldiers as well as the vital role played by horses.

Local chainsaw sculptor Ian Murray – himself an army veteran – took 60 hours to create the model which is made entirely from Welsh oak.

The Real Petfood Company is the lead sponsor for this initiative which will form a major part of this year’s Poppy Appeal activity in the region.

James Lawson, managing director of the company, said: “As a local business we are delighted to support Richard’s inspired idea for commemorating 100 years since the end of World War 1.  I feel it is vital that sacrifices made by the armed forces – both past and present – should not be forgotten and this will be helped by the fact that Joey is proving very popular when he visits schools.”  

Richard Kendrick said: “Between now and November 11^th we have a hectic schedule of locations to visit and we are also supporting Royal British Legion fund-raising activities in other towns.  There is even a possibility that Joey might get to visit the Houses of Parliament.  We have already raised £500 for this year’s Poppy Appeal and are confident of reaching a £1,000 by Remembrance Sunday.”

Pictured

Top: Employees at The Real Petfood Company with the model of Joey.

Above, from left to right: James Lawson (MD at The Real Petfood Company), Graeme Jones (production director), Richard Kendrick (Rhyl poppy appeal organiser for the Royal British Legion).

Leading pet food brand, Webbox, has announced the launch of the next phase of its Webbox Natural campaign, which aims to debunk the most common pet food myths.

The campaign will see the launch of new creative assets explaining what the wording on packaging labels actually means, as well as re-runs of its successful TV advert.

Featuring a flurry of furry animals, from book-climbing kittens and a laundry-wrecking dog, to Great Danes cuddled up next to Shih Tzus, the advert aims to resonate with animal lovers up-and-down the country.

The campaign builds on an impressive year for Webbox Natural, as consumer desire for natural products continues to grow.

There has been a spike in interest in consumer food content in recent years, mirrored by owners who are paying more attention to the ingredients in the food they’re feeding to their pets.

In its new campaign, Webbox Natural aims to educate consumers about some of the ‘myths’ surrounding pet food and the potentially misleading nature of the wording on packaging.

According to the Association of the European Pet Food Industry (FEDIAF) guidelines regarding the percentage of ingredients, what constitutes a product as high quality is quite different to what would be generally assumed. For example, a product labelled ‘chicken with rice’ must contain at least 26% chicken and 4% rice, whereas something labelled as ‘rich in’ needs to contain a minimum of only 14% of the named component.

Julie Butcher, head of marketing, said: “We know that customers are becoming even more discerning about their choice in pet food, and we feel Webbox Natural is leading the way when it comes to natural yet affordable choices.

“Consumers may find packaging labels confusing, for example, a product that is ‘rich in chicken with rice’ may sound more high quality than ‘chicken with rice’, but it is actually inferior in terms of chicken content.

“Our new campaign, which will be delivered via a range of channels including digital, social and the re-run of the TV ad, aims to educate the nation on what to look out for when selecting food for their dog/cat.

 “We know that there are a lot of misconceptions or ‘myths’ out there, and as a responsible manufacturer we want to empower consumers to make the best decision when selecting food for their pets and that’s what we aim to achieve from this campaign.”

Lily’s Kitchen has launched its first dental chew, Woofbrush, in a bid to help the dental health of the nation’s dogs.

The company has worked with an expert vet dentist to develop the dental chews, which are made from natural ingredients, including fennel, parsley, coconut oil, algae and decaf green tea extract. 

Unlike other well-known dental sticks, feeding Woofbrush chews as part of a dog’s daily dental regime leaves owners feeling totally guilt-free as they contain no sugar or chemicals, which are totally unnecessary.

Woofbrush is designed to fight plaque, which can be a major cause of poor canine dental health. Thanks to its unique spongey texture, Woofbrush goes right to the gumline when chewed, which is where plaque build-up can be hard to tackle.

Woofbrush is designed to clean teeth and freshen breath. Bad smelling dog breath can often be a sign of poor dental health and can lead to further health issues affecting the liver, kidneys and heart.  

Comments Henrietta Morrison, founder of Lily’s Kitchen: “At Lily’s Kitchen we care about the whole dog, including its dental health.  But talking to our dog owning customers, we know that many are confused about canine dental hygiene and also struggle to find dental care solutions that don’t leave them racked with guilt because of all the chemicals and sugars found in some readily available dog chews.   

“As a responsible producer of proper food for pets, we felt it was important to help educate pet owners about proper dental care and offer an effective, natural solution that enables them to look after their dogs’ teeth, without any of the worries.”

Lily’s Kitchen Woofbrush has been developed in three sizes and is available from the start of November.

There is educational and engaging POS, developed to support the product in store. 

The response from retailers has been phenomenal with the new chew being listed in hundreds of independent pet shops as well as being available direct to pet parents on www.lilyskitchen.co.uk, RRP from £1.20 (single chew) and from £6.00 (multipack of 7).

Beaphar has added to its NFA-VPS offering with two new flea and tick products – Beaphar Canishield and Beaphar FIPROtec Spray.

Beaphar Canishield is a slow release Deltamethrin collar for dogs that provides long-term protection against parasites, including ticks for 6 months, fleas for 16 weeks and sandflies for 5.5 months. With ticks becoming a more common parasite for UK dog-owners to deal with, as well as carrying bacteria and diseases such as Lyme disease, this is an essential and ideal product to stock. Available in two sizes, small/medium dog and large dog.

Beaphar FIPROtec Spray kills fleas, ticks and biting lice on cats and dogs, and can be used on kittens and puppies from 2 days old. One bottle of Beaphar FIPROtec Spray contains enough product to treat a whole litter, making it the ideal product for breeders.

Both Beaphar Canishield and Beaphar FIPROtec Spray hold the legal category NFA-VPS, so retailers need a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) to stock and sell these exciting new products. SQPs can also earn valuable CPD points online at the Beaphar Training Zone.

For Beaphar customers with multiple staff members interested in receiving training, a session can be arranged with Beaphar’s Technical Support Executive through your local Sales Executive.

For more information about Beaphar Canishield and Beaphar FIPROtec Spray or in-store training, contact your local Sales Executive, call the Customer Service Team on 0333 0066236 or email info@uk.beaphar.com.

For further information visit beaphar.com.

Pet products brand Henry Wag has announced the launch in early December of two new products targeted at the dog hygiene and drying market in response to demand from consumers and retailers.

During 2018, Henry Wag has grown considerably its stockists and product ranges focused on the dog market. And its product development team has not finished yet with a further 10 products being planned for 2019 launch.

Dog Noodle Glove Towel

When Henry Wag launched its noodle microfibre dog cleaning glove earlier this year, it did not predict its immediate success and the need for an early re-order for production.

Similarly demand has been very strong for its more traditional microfibre glove cleaning towel. But owners of larger dogs with thicker coats have been asking for the ease of use of the glove cleaning towel coupled with higher absorbency of the noodles.  So Henry Wag is launching its Dog Noodle Glove Towel which combines both.

The Dog Noodle Glove Towel’s advanced microfibre technology easily removes dirt and locks it away.

It absorbs more water and dries more quickly than regular towels. Its design allows you to reach around the dog to dry all areas of the pet’s coat.

The internal stitching between index and middle fingers gives greater control than other glove products. With an RRP of £17.99 and the launch timed for the peak need for these products it’s expected to sell well amongst the design and health conscious dog owner.

Henry Wag Dog Drying Coat

The Henry Wag Dog Drying Coat is the second addition to the range. While dog drying coats are not new, no other products on the market use the highest quality microfibre nor have considered the best placing for the straps to hold the coat easily and effectively in place.

Available in 5 sizes, the correct size is available for all but the largest dogs. RRPs range from £14.99 to £29.99 making it an affordable choice.

Removing water and dirt reduces the risk of infection and protects the interior furnishing of the home and car.

The Dog Drying Coat can be used after wet walks, swimming or bathing. The advanced microfibre material wicks water from the dog’s coat leaving them fresh and dry. The Dog Drying Coat is a drying product and should not be left on the dog once its coat is dry.

After use the Coat is machine-washable at 40° with a little detergent and no bleach. It can be tumble dried on a low heat.

Veterinary charity StreetVet has launched a campaign to encourage the nation’s animal lovers to put their best paws forward and vote to secure a 100K charity giveaway.

The 100K giveaway is being fronted by UK pet insurance firm, Animal Friends, to celebrate 20 years of donating millions of pounds to animal charities around the world.

Streetvet, who provide free veterinary care to an estimated 500 pets owned by members of the homeless community on the streets of nine UK cities, is one of three charities in the running to win the 100K prize money.

Pet lovers and their pooches can cast their vote for StreetVet via a simple website mechanic with voting closing on Monday 10 December. Seven-year-old Staffy, Missy, was the first to cast her vote with her paws to support her homeless counterparts who don’t have a voice.

Dr Jade Statt, Co-Founder of StreetVet said: “We’d absolutely love to win the 100K Charity Giveaway. It would help us to keep providing life-saving veterinary care to animals owned by members of the homeless community across the UK. As the nights draw in and the weather gets colder, there is an increasing need for fundamental care and support for man’s best friend.”

The best news service every week.

Subscribe for free by clicking here

Plans to deal with strong odours from a pet food factory are set to be given the green light by the local planning committee next week despite objections from residents.

Councillors will consider an application for a 35-metre chimney at the Real Pet Food factory, which would tower over the village of Bodelwyddan in Denbighshire.

The Real Pet Food Company wants to build the chimney to deal with smells from the factory which had led to complaints. Planners have recommended that councilors vote in favour of the project.

But the local committee have written to the planning committee, saying: “The residents of Bodelwyddan should not be compelled to choose between affected by an obnoxious smell or the visual impact of a 35-metre chimney to alleviate the problem.”

The full report can be read on the Daily Post website, by clicking here

A pet shop owner in Greater Manchester has vowed to stay open despite an online campaign calling for its closure on animal welfare grounds.

Radcliffe Pets Ltd was visited by Bury Council officers, who carried out an inspection of the premises and found the store to be compliant under the terms of its licence.

Local newspaper, the Radcliffe Times, reported that a visit was undertaken by the RSPCA following a referral by Greater Manchester Police and again no issues were found.

Owner Jonathan Beetson is quoted as saying: “My shop is not closing. It is open for business.”

A petition to ‘Close Radcliffe Pets’ has been signed by more than 88,000 people. Hundreds of comments have also been shared on social media, with allegations made about the treatment of animals.

The full report can be read by clicking here

Birds, reptiles and lizards were killed in the blaze at Isle of Wight Pet Centre in Newport.

Firefighters from across the island were called to the shop in Watergate Road shortly after 23:00 GMT on Monday. The fire was out by 00:45.

The blaze began in the shop area on the ground floor of the building and an investigation into the cause is under way.

According to the shop's website, it has been trading for more than 17 years and has a breeding programme of snakes and lizards.

It also stocks birds and other small pets, including rabbits, hamsters and chinchillas.

Around 200 reptiles were rescued from a major blaze which ripped through the Cattle Market site in Nottingham.

The huge fire threatened to spread to the reptile store, Internet Reptile on Clarke Road, near Meadow Lane, endangering the animals living there.

The store sells various reptiles including bearded dragons, geckos, tortoises, frogs and snakes.

To read the full story click here

The Government has issued advice to pet owners planning to take a pet to any EU country after 29 March 2019 in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

On the gov.uk website it states:

"The Government is committed to achieving a deal with the EU. But in the unlikely event we do not reach an agreement, we have a duty as a responsible government to plan for every eventuality.

"To make sure your pet is able to travel from the UK to the EU after 29 March 2019 in any scenario, you should contact your vet at least 4 months before travelling to get the latest advice."

Rules for pet travel

The rules for taking your pet to any EU country will change if the UK leaves the EU with no deal and is treated as an unlisted country.

You must get your dog, cat or ferret microchipped and then vaccinated against rabies before it can travel.

However, to allow effective contingency planning in the worst case scenario of the UK not being granted third country status, you’ll need to take the following steps to make sure your pet can travel after 29 March 2019:

• You must get your dog, cat or ferret microchipped and then vaccinated against rabies before it can travel. Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. You’ll need to talk to your vet about whether you need a rabies vaccination or booster before this test.
• Your vet must send the blood sample to an EU-approved blood testing laboratory.
• The results of the blood test must show that the vaccination was successful (Your pet must have a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml).
• You must wait 3 months from the date the successful blood sample was taken before you travel.
• You must take your pet to a Official Veterinarian (OV), no more than 10 days before travel to get a health certificate.

If there’s no deal, pet passports issued in the UK would not be valid for travel to the EU.

You should contact your vet at least 4 months before you plan on travelling to any EU country.

A successful blood test is only required for first time travel to an EU country. This is provided that your pet’s rabies vaccinations are kept up to date with boosters before the expiry date of the previous vaccination.

Your pet health certificate would be valid for:

• 10 days after the date of issue for entry into the EU
• 4 months of onward travel within the EU
• re-entry to the UK for 4 months after the date of issue

On arrival in the EU, pet owners travelling with their pets would be required to enter through a designated Travellers’ Point of Entry (TPE). At the TPE, the pet owner may be asked to present proof of microchip, rabies vaccination and the blood test result alongside their pet’s health certificate.

Repeat trips to the EU

Pets that have previously had a blood test and have an up-to-date rabies vaccination do not need to repeat the blood test. Your pet will need a health certificate for each trip to the EU.

To get a new health certificate you must take your pet to an OV no more than 10 days before you travel. You must take proof of:

• your pet’s vaccination history
• a successful rabies antibody blood test result

Return to the UK

Your pet must have one of the following documents when returning to the UK:

• an existing EU pet passport (both for UK and EU citizens)
• the EU health certificate issued in the UK used to travel to the EU
• a UK pet health certificate (issued outside the UK for travel into the UK only)

Check the routes before you travel. On existing approved routes your documents and microchip will be checked. If you’re not travelling on an approved route talk to your vet about what preparations you need to make before travel.

There will be no change to the current requirements for pets entering the UK from the EU after 29 March.

Travel from countries that are not free from tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis)

You’ll need to take your dog to a vet between one and five days before returning to the UK for an approved tapeworm treatment.

You do not need to treat your dog for tapeworm if you’re coming directly to the UK from Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway.

UK nationals living abroad

If you’re living in Europe and are planning to travel with your pet using a UK-issued pet passport, you should speak to your local vet. They’ll be able to help you understand the impact of Brexit and ensure you’re compliant with EU Pet Travel Regulations.

If you have a pet passport issued by an EU member state, you can use it to bring your pet to the UK.

To return your pet to an EU country from the UK, you’ll need to ensure it has a successful rabies antibody blood test.

If your pet has a successful blood test before leaving the EU you will not need to wait the 3 months before travelling.

Visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-after-brexit

Tailored dog-food brand, tails.com has announced the appointment of Lai-Ping Lai as Chief Product Officer.

Lai-Ping, who joined the company in October 2018, reports into CEO James Davidson, and leads the 18 strong tech and digital product teams at the tails.com HQ in Richmond.

Lai-Ping joins tails.com having led high performing product management, product design and technology teams at some of the UK’s leading industry organisations including eBay, Skype, Zoopla and The Guardian.

A digital native, Lai-Ping will be helping to continually innovate the tails.com digital product, working closely with the CX team to respond effectively to customer feedback whilst harnessing innovation in technology and manufacturing to offer the best product and service for pet owners.

Since launching in 2014, tails.com has seen rapid growth, becoming the UK's most advanced player in the direct-to-consumer, tailor-made pet nutrition category. Today, the company feeds over 100,000 dogs in the UK and delivers more than 6 million bespoke meals each month.

Lai-Ping Lai says: “I am delighted to join the team. As well as having created a leading tailored dog-food product, tails.com offer an unrivalled service to pet owners that helps them make the right nutritional choices for their dog.

“Tails.com were early to identify changes in the way consumers want to shop and care for their pets, and married digital technology, food innovation and advanced manufacturing techniques to offer a customized nutrition service that is changing the world of pet food for good.

“I am excited to be part of the growing team and to build the business to reach even more dogs and owners.”

PFMA is continuing to use its presence at London Vet Show (Thursday 15th & Friday 16th November) to secure an up-to-date picture of the state of pets’ health.

Nicole Paley, Deputy Chief Executive of PFMA, explains: “Our objective is to delve deeper on the subjects of pet health, pet food, nutrition and obesity. In addition to investigating how veterinary professionals are supporting pet owners on feeding choices, we will arm them with free, generic resources produced by experts.”

On stand L13 PFMA will be promoting its huge range of free take away educational materials including:

• 15 nutrition Fact Sheets
• Five Pet Size-O-Meters
• Five posters

If you would like to take part in our survey – or look at our resources – visit stand L13 at LVA. If you are unable to attend but would like to take part in the survey, email info@pfma.org.uk for a link.

In Vogue Pets, distributors of FuzzYard, has now added Croci to its portfolio of brands.

Croci is the largest pet product designer and manufacturer in Italy, and together with In Vogue Pets is launching the 2018/19 Winter Fashion Clothing Collection following the runaway success of last year’s collection.

In collaboration with leading Italian fashion designers in Milan, the collection captures the latest International trends and customer demands.

Each jumper, sweater, padded coat and raincoat is created in the name of Italian craftsmanship and style and represents a new standard for high quality designer canine clothing.

Distributed exclusively by In Vogue Pets.

tradesales@invoguepets.co.uk

www.invoguepetstrade.co.uk   

 01923 853484

CSJ is warning pet owners that fireworks aren’t the only problem pets face at this time of year and now’s the time to start sprinkling its Calm Down! herbs on sensitive dogs’ food.

Festive gatherings of perhaps unfamiliar people, extra noise and excitement can all increase stress levels for many dogs - as can children’s games, high pitched voices or being left alone more frequently whilst owners are out partying.

Symptoms of anguish can be extreme panting, constant pacing, howling or barking, scraping the carpet or door, refusal to eat or drink, refusing to go outside, involuntary toileting, trying to hide or even running away.

But there’s help at hand… CSJ repeatedly hears about the benefits of Calm Down! in helping dogs cope with noise and other stressful situations such as car travel, being amongst other dogs, competition or shows. The company says: “Some of the feedback we receive is almost too good to be true … here are a few examples…

“My Yorkie who is nearly 10 has always been quite nervous/anxious which seems to be getting worse with age. I had tried all the usual diffusers/sprays/ natural tablets etc. with little effect. I decided to try adding Calm Down to his evening meal. He was more than happy to eat it on his usual food and it does really seem to be helping. It has definitely taken the edge of his anxiety and he is now calmer when travelling in the car and more confident out and about when meeting other dogs and people. Wish I'd discovered it sooner, would have saved me a fortune!”

“I bought this supplement to try with our rescue 6 yr old GSD who is extremely anxious, nervous and leash reactive. The change in her behaviour has been amazing. She is far more relaxed and the training sessions are going so much better. Would highly recommend - it''s great to see her start to enjoy life as she should.”

A gentle blend of Camomile, Lemon Balm, Vervain, Lime Flowers and Skullcap Calm Down! comes in a 200g foil pouch – it’s a simple and easy way to make life more bearable for dogs and owners alike.

For more on CSJ products visit www.csjk9.com or call 01745710470

Tetra has upgraded its FilterActive water conditioner, which has been optimised to keep the filter and substrate cleaner for longer while supporting the biological balance in the aquarium after water changes.
 
The aquatics brand has also relaunched its Medica range, which includes three new formulas and an improved packaging for Tetra Medica GeneralTonic Plus, Tetra Medica Contralck Plus and Tetra Medica FungiStop Plus which aim to treat most common fish diseases
 
Upgraded FiterActive
FilterActive_001The improved Tetra FilterActive formula now contains a blend of natural strains of sludge-reducing cleaning bacteria in concentrated form. This accelerate the breakdown of organic pollutants such as fish waste, food remains and dead plant materials and helps reduce sediment in the filter and aquarium. This extends the intervals between cleaning, improves filter performance, encourages substrate activity and prevents decay.

Tetra FilterActive also contains live, nitrifying bacteria which are responsible for breaking down ammonia and nitrite (which are toxic for fish) in the aquarium, settling mainly in the filter and on the filter materials and maintaining the biological balance. However, some of these nitrifiers, which reduce harmful substances, are lost through the regular cleaning the aquarium requires. Tetra FilterActive helps replenish bacteria lost after care activities to help maintain biological activity in the aquarium.

When compared to similar competitor products, the refreshed FilterActive range had one of the most effective blends of live nitrifying bacteria, helping to control the levels of nitrates in the aquarium, which helps fish stay healthy and fishkeepers effectively look after their aquarium2. 

NEW! Tetra Medica GeneralTonic Plus1
This is a multi-purpose remedy suitable for the most common fish diseases helping to treat bacterial infections, skin and gill parasites, which can often make fish shaky or cause them to rub themselves against the aquarium. It can also be used to treat wounds and fungal infections.

NEW! Tetra Medica ContraIck Plus
This is a fast-acting treatment for white spot disease and other skin and gill parasites. Typical symptoms of these diseases include white spots or grey slimy patches on the skin and fins, shaky and rubbing movements. Fish may also display rapid breathing and dull colouration.
 
NEW! Tetra Medica FungiStop Plus
This fast-acting remedy is perfect for any kind of fungal infection, as well as egg fungus, mouth rot and external bacterial infections. Symptoms to watch out for include white, cotton wool-like patches on their fish’s skin, or mould-like structures, as well as fungal infection on wounds and skin inflammation.
 
Refreshed Tetra Goldfish Goldmed
This solution targets the most common of goldfish diseases, such as white spot, fin rot, and skin and fill parasites. Similar to other fish diseases, goldfish tend to display white spots or patches on the skin and fins, appear shaky, and display rubbing movements as well as rapid breathing.
 
Ashleigh Foster, Senior Marketing Manager, comments, “At Tetra, we’re passionate about making fishkeeping as easy and enjoyable experience as possible. That’s why we continually review our ranges for ways to improve their functions. What’s more, we’ve recently refreshed our packaging to offer clearer visuals, descriptions and guidelines to make it even easier to understand how our products can support fishkeepers in ensuring their fish and aquariums remain healthy.”

The new FilterActive range is available in 100ml and 250ml from November 2018 at an RRP of £6.153 and £10.803.
 
The Tetra Medica Contralck Plus, FungiStop and General Tonic range comes in 20ml bottles, with the GoldMed treatment available in 100ml doses. The range is available in independent pet stores from November with an RRP starting from £5.093.
 
For more information please visit www.tetra-fish.co.uk or Tetra UK on Facebook.

London-based Felcana, an intelligent pet care start-up, will be at the London Vet Show, demonstrating to trade show attendees, its award-winning products.

With over 5,600 attendees, 450 exhibitors and world-class presentations by 150 veterinary gurus, the London Vet Show is a key highlight in the veterinary calendar.

Located at Stand J35, the Excel Exhibition Centre, Felcana will be showcasing their Digital Pet Health Platform and array of intelligent pet care products that are shaping the future of more efficient, more personal and more convenient pet care.

Felcana has built the world’s first Digital Pet Health Platform that integrates state-of-the-art artificial intelligence, data analytics and veterinary expertise to help predict, simplify, and treat over 90% of health issues for dogs and cats. Founded by veterinarians with over 20 years’ experience, Felcana is embedded in the veterinary community and recently announced a 4-year research collaboration with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

Felcana’s products provide science-based, credible data on behaviour and activity patterns of dogs and cats.

Their connected products and software continuously gather health-related data on pets, gathering over a billion data points per pet per year. This provides personalised data to support vets spotting early signs of diseases, such as Osteoarthritis, which affects 4/5 of elderly dogs, so that they can proactively intervene at the optimal time and simplify treatment.

Felcana’s suite of products on show include:

• Felcana Go Felcana Go continuously tracks the activity and behaviour patterns of dogs and cats to provide 24/7 monitoring and help identify early signs of health issues such as Osteoarthritis. Not only is Felcana Go the only clinical-grade activity monitor on the market, but it’s also lightweight, waterproof, and bite-resistant. Owners can use Felcana Go to track their pet’s daily activity and rest patterns. It attaches easily to any dog or cat’s harness and collar.
• Felcana Health Felcana Health integrates smart location beacons with activity monitoring to track a dog or cat’s sleeping, drinking, eating and toiletry patterns. Using long-range communications, Felcana Health connects owners to their pets 24/7 and helps vets to identify early signs of diabetes and kidney failure.
• Felcana Pro Felcana Pro is an integrated digital platform designed to give pet health professionals the data they need, quickly and clearly. Using open APIs and real-time data transfer, Felcana Pro encourages data sharing across the pet care industry in one centralized place.

In bringing powerful technology and personalised experiences to owners, vets and insurers, Felcana is digitally advancing and improving animal health and welfare.

In recognition of their pioneering work, Felcana recently listed as the most innovative dog tech start-up to watch 2018 as well as one of the top 10 European pet start-ups to watch in 2018.

If you’d like to trial Felcana’s products in practice or discuss potential collaboration opportunities, Felcana’s team will be available at Stand J35. Located right next to the central seating area with music, freebies and prizes – join them to discuss the future of intelligent pet care.

For more information visit: http://www.felcana.com

Billy + Margot Ltd has acquired the UK business Benyfit Natural Pet Food Limited from its shareholders and founders, Ben Van Praagh and Greg Van Praagh.

Billy + Margot is part of the international pet food group that trades as Real Pet Food Company in all markets outside of the UK. In addition to its UK business, the RPFC Group has operations in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and China.

Benyfit Natural is a UK based producer and distributor of optimum natural nutrition for dogs. Started in 2015, it has gained traction in the market, particularly after successfully insourcing manufacture of its range of high quality frozen meals earlier in 2018.

Benyfit Natural currently employs a team of more than 10 people who will join forces with the existing Billy + Margot team.

The combined business will be led by Greg Van Praagh who will take on overall responsibility for the management and growth of the UK market as well as help support the Group with its expansion into the frozen category in other markets. Helen Ellwood will continue to be the lead for the commercial function.

David Grant, CEO for the RPFC Group, said the acquisition represents an important step in the Group’s strategy to continue to grow internationally, with a strong and strategically aligned brand in the frozen segment that aligns to the Group’s category and portfolio strategy.

Mr Grant pointed out that the RPFC Group is the global market leader in Chilled & Fresh Pet Food.

“This move will strengthen our position in the pet care market globally,” he said. “Importantly, it allows us to continue to focus on natural and fresh ranges that are becoming increasingly important to our consumers."

The RPFC Group was acquired by a group of Asia Pacific leading investors in November 2017. The partner group is led by Hosen Capital, a leading private equity firm based in Beijing, together with China’s largest private agribusiness enterprise New Hope Group, and Singapore investment company, Temasek.

The acquisition took effect from 1 November 2018.

Loving Pets, named in an international ‘fastest growing’ company list, has seen its foray in Australia take off in a spectacular way.

Since its launch in June, Loving Pets Australia has already picked up many new customers across the continent and received outstanding feedback at the Australian trade show “AusPet”.

Malcolm Hall, Managing Director of Australia, said: “We’re very excited to be part of such an innovative, expanding, award winning global organisation. We see a massive opportunity to grow this brand across Australia & Asia.”

Loving Pets was named in the renowned The INC 5000 ‘Fastest Growing Company’ list.

Pictured, from left to right: Malcolm Hall (Managing Director/Owner Australia), George Patience (Managing Director/Owner Australia), Eric Abbey (CEO & Founder Loving Pets), Shane Layton (Vice president & Owner Loving Pets), Jonathon Moyce (Managing Director/Owner Loving Pets Europe).

The UK’s largest independent producer of dry pet food is concerned that the health of the nation’s pets could be at risk in the event of a hard Brexit.

“There are some 15 million pet cats and dogs in the UK. Naturally their owners want to ensure that they are able to purchase their favourite products without major interruption from supply side issues,” said Richard Page, managing director of Inspired Pet Nutrition (IPN), the company behind the well-known Wagg and Harringtons brands. 

“This is not a comment on the pros and cons of Brexit itself, but we are concerned that in the event of a hard or no deal Brexit, minimal planning has been done to deal with the congestion which is likely to occur at UK ports.  This could cause significant disruption to our supply chains and damage an industry which is valued at about £3 billion.”

Currently IPN sources some 85% of its raw materials from within the UK including wheat from the Vale of York and packaging from Somerset.  However, raw materials such as maize currently come from France where growers can guarantee to supply the huge volumes required, whilst other raw materials – such as turkey proteins - are not manufactured in the UK in sufficient volumes and have to be sourced from mainland Europe.

“People are focussed on how goods from Europe could be affected at the ports, ignoring the fact these goods will also be joining an import queue of other materials from around the world,” he added.   “Like many businesses, we operate a just in time production schedule with raw materials such as maize only delivered 2-3 days before it is required.  This enables us to achieve production efficiencies and product quality which would be at risk if we were to face supply chain disruption.”

While a recent Institute of Directors survey of UK business leaders showed that nearly 50% were not intending to do any planning for Brexit, IPN has a six-strong team which meets weekly as part of its determination to ensure the business is fully prepared for whatever Brexit agreement finally emerges.

IPN is focussed on mitigating post-Brexit risks and has gone through its full supply chain, analysing the countries of origin for all its raw materials.  Part of IPN’s strategy will be to treble stock of finished products and increase stock of ‘at risk’ raw materials.  It is hoped this will provide a good buffer for customers, should disruption at ports become a reality.  As a further safeguard, and to ensure these stock levels can be reached, IPN has also obtained additional warehouse space.

Despite the likely challenges which will be posed by a hard Brexit, Richard Page feels the business is as well-placed as it can practically be.  “Whether the product is a baked treat, extruded dry pet food or a wet dog product sold in trays, we can make it at our three factories where we have invested some £60 million over the past 14 years,” he added.  “We are currently working on sourcing an even higher percentage of our raw materials from within the UK and, as an independent, family run business we can respond very quickly to market opportunities.”   

Michael Bellingham, CEO of the PFMA (Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association) commented: “Market access with frictionless borders is vital to our members as some 80% of them currently export to the EU and 50% import raw materials or finished goods.   A large number of our members are planning seriously and we are working closely with them. We share their real concerns, however, that all the planning in the world will amount to nothing if ports gum up and owners find they cannot get hold of the products their pets prefer."

Wilsons Pet Food, a Perthshire-based pet food company that can trace its heritage back well over a hundred years, has just launched a range of exciting cold press recipes for dogs. The company has also announced plans today to invest in the growing raw food sector of the market by building a plant to manufacture the recipes so that they can take advantage of the increasing popularity in high meat content premium pet food diets and the growing trend to feed raw.

Wilsons Pet Food, which is now owned by Craig Wallace and his family, can trace its origins right back to the time of the Crimean War.

Fed up of toiling in a seed crushing mill and going out and selling animal feed from the back of his horse and cart, John Wilson, the original owner of the business, managed to set up his own feed mill in Dundee in the 1880s. He was able to introduce labour saving machinery from the United States and the advent of electricity in the 19th century led to the increased productivity of the mill.

During World War Two the mill was taken over by the Ministry of Food producing animal feeds for the war effort. In the 1980s the business moved to state-of the-art facilities in Dundee to concentrate fully on the working dog feed market which Wilsons Pet Food still specialises in to this day.

As well as working dog foods, the company produces an expanded range of products to cater for an ever-demanding consumer and continues to innovate within the pet food sector. They source only the best quality ingredients and produce top quality, appetising foods which help to maintain the health and vitality of any dog.

“It was a philosophy actively embraced by John Wilson, and we are proud to continue that long tradition” says Craig Wallace.

Craig himself has a strong background in manufacturing having spent the last decade working in the food industry from both the manufacturing and consultancy side of the business.

When he bought Wilsons Pet Food he was looking for a business that he could call his own and having seen what he saw as the poor quality of dog food being sold in the market, he believed that there was a better way and felt fortunate when Wilsons came up for sale and that he could take over an established brand.

Craig has been brought up around dogs all his life owning a Springer Spaniel when he was younger and now being the proud owner of a Dogue de Bordeuax. He has made it his mission to produce some of the best pet food on the market and to make Wilsons Pet Food one of the best premium food manufacturing companies in the UK.

With the only purpose built factory in the UK to produce cold press food, Wilsons are hoping to expand their customer base even further. They want to establish the Wilsons brand even more in the pet food market as well as maintaining their presence in their more traditional markets of working dog and agriculture.

Craig says,

“Our cold press food has been designed from the scientific data to have the correct level of protein as well as the right balance of fat to protein. Our range was developed with the help of pet nutritionists Milka and Damir Tesla who organise the Nordic Pet Food Conference and are experts in the field of cold press pet food.”

Cold Press Dog Food is a dry dog food which is pressed at a lower temperature of 55 - 65°C compared to ‘kibbled’ dry dog food which is extruded at a temperature of approximately 145°C.

High temperatures result in the denaturing of proteins and complexing of starches (sugars) reducing digestibility and thus absorption within the gut. Cold pressing minimises the impact of temperature damage and produces a food with greater digestibility and superior nutritional value.

The lower temperatures used with Cold Press Technology allow a greater range of beneficial raw materials to be added, including fragile herbs which have significant health benefits for dogs and are sources of essential vitamins and antioxidants. These cannot be used effectively in traditional extruded ‘kibble’ as they would be almost entirely destroyed in the high temperature process.

The natural pressing and blending of materials create a high density, high nutrient, high digestibility product that breaks down naturally and quickly in the digestion process; releasing all the value and goodness as it does so. Whereas, traditional kibble can remain intact and partially digested for hours.

“The Cold Press process itself brings a number of benefits” says Craig, “however, at Wilsons we are mindful that a well-rounded product needs good quality ingredients and a well-balanced, nutritional recipe. We have worked with the top nutritionists specialising in Cold Press products, who have, based on scientific studies, created a complete dog food with all 6 of the major nutrient groups:  Carbohydrate, Protein, Fat, Vitamins, Minerals and Water.

“Achieving a good balance of vitamins and minerals is important and we have ensured that our product adheres to the “golden ratio” for 1 part Phosphorous to 2 parts Calcium to aid bone development.

“The Cold Press technique has also allowed us to incorporate super foods which provide additional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, including:  Seaweed, Ginger, Turmeric, Thyme, Cranberry, Dandelion Root and Merry Gold Yellow .

“Starch is an essential part of a balanced diet. The domestic dog has evolved/adapted to a starch rich diet but is only able to digest cooked starch. We pre-cook all our starch (particularly peas) to break down the cell walls and aid digestion.

“An important trend in today’s market is the prevalence of “Grain Free” foods, with key emphasis on the removal of Wheat Gluten from products. We have designed two of products to be completely grain free with our other product using a low allergenicity gluten source, rice.

“Our recipes have been designed with a limited ingredient ethos with single source protein. It was essential for us to keep the product as natural as possible and so we have prioritised achieving nutritional balance through ingredients. Wherever possible we use all UK ingredients. We have had to source the best rice from abroad but even our seaweed is sourced from UK coastal waters; supporting UK industry and minimising the carbon foot-print of our product. Not having to import product is a cost saving for us also, which we can pass on to the customers.”

The Wilsons cold press food is currently available in three varieties, Mountain Stream which is Scottish Salmon and Sweet Potato, Secret Pasture which is British Lamb and Brown Rice and Sunrise Song which is Chicken and Vegetables. The recipes can be purchased in 2.5 and 10 kg bags.

Wilsons currently has a factory being commissioned in Blairgowrie, after removing their small pilot line,  which will be purpose built for the cold press manufacturing process and the project is being supported by the Scottish Government. The second unit Wilsons are getting is for raw frozen food and has been built by the Perth Council. This unit has its own solar farm.

Wilsons are currently being stocked by Vital Pet Food, Broomhall Wholesalers, Harbo, Pets at Home and Tarff Valley to name but a few. They are looking to expand their stockists further south and work with retailers who specialise in stocking premium and raw food diets, especially independent and grouped pet stores.

For further information on Wilsons Pets Foods visit: www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk. If you are interested in becoming a stockist visit: www.wilsonspetfood.co.uk/become-a-stockist/ or Tel: 01250 798298 email info@wilsonspetfood.co.uk