The new Aquatics Zone – a dedicated hall for the key aquatics, reptile and watergardening exhibitors – will be one of the major highlights of the three-day PATS 2024.

The biggest-ever Pet & Aquatics Trade Show takes place at the Telford International Centre from Sunday, 29th September to Tuesday, 1st October 2024, with more than 330 brands showcasing their new products.

Visitors will find the Aquatics Zone located in Hall 1A, a prime position immediately next to the show entrance of the Telford International Centre.

The Zone will be packed with almost 40 of the UK’s leading aquatics, reptile and watergardening exhibitors. They include: ALF, Anglo Aquatic Plant, Aqua One, Aquadip, Aquatlantis, Bermuda, Betta Aquatics, BiOrb, Ceramic Nature, CIANO Aquarium, Clearseal Aquariums, Cloverleaf, Dennerle, Dymax, Eheim, eSHa Labs, Exo Terra, Fluval, J&K Aquatics, Neil Hardy Aquatica, NT Labs, OASE, okpet.co.uk – Fish Systems, Peregrine Livefoods, Pettex, PondXpert, sera, Superfish/Colombo/Aquafleur, Tropica Aquarium Plants, Tropical, and Zoo Med Laboratories.

Excitement is already building as the companies plan their activity at the show.

Certikin will be exhibiting its popular Bermuda brand and National Sales Manager Bob Meacham said: “We are excited to be exhibiting at PATS with it being such a premier industry event. It’s a great show for bringing together all the key brands under one roof. We have been working on some exciting new products for 2025 and look forward to showcasing these alongside many of the popular products from our existing leading range of pond and watergardening products.”

Rolf C Hagen is another major company that will have a big presence in the Aquatics Zone. The company’s UK Marketing Manager Paul Trott said: “We’re excited to announce that Hagen’s market-leading Fluval aquatic and Exo Terra reptile brands will be on display in the Aquatics Zone at PATS. We invite visitors to join us on the Fluval stand to discover the latest innovations in app-controlled LED lighting, stunning new aquarium designs and sustainable foods. Our Exo Terra stand will feature one of our biggest launches in years, with a full new range of T5 lighting and canopies with unique, custom light spectrums developed in association with reptile lighting expert Thomas Griffiths from Tomaskas. Visitors can also view the latest developments in LED lighting with our new Terrasky UVB range, along with a host of new products. Whether you’re already a Fluval or Exo Terra stockist or if you’re new to our brands, be sure to pop by our stand and benefit from our exclusive show deals.”

German company Eheim welcomed the opportunity to take a stand at PATS with European Sales Manager Xavier Beguin explaining the decision to be part of the Aquatics Zone: “Having an extended three-day event provides ample time to spend with our retail partners to demonstrate our latest innovations and share our plans for the coming years.”

Acknowledging the importance of this new addition to PATS, the Aquatics Zone will have its own dedicated catering area and New Product Showcase.

All entries into the Showcase will be judged by industry experts to determine the winners of the New Product Awards under three categories: Indoor, Outdoor and Reptile.

“The launch of the Aquatics Zone is really exciting, having been welcomed by the aquatics, reptile and watergardening sectors,” said PATS organiser Gordon Thomas. “We’re confident that this dedicated Zone will inject a real buzz into PATS.”

To make the visitor experience even more exciting there will be unrivalled show offers and competitions, fantastic networking opportunities, a free show catalogue, free parking for up to 1,300 cars and a complimentary tea/coffee voucher.

You can register online at www.patshow.co.uk where you’ll also find a full list of exhibitors and information on how to reach the venue.

After over 100 years of crafting Walter Harrison's seed mixes at its Nottingham mill, Pedigree Wholesale has announced a new partnership with Marriages. The two companies will combine the expertise of two great brands to deliver exceptional products and service to customers. 

A spokesperson for Pedigree Wholesale said: “We are proud to introduce our newly formulated Indoor Bird mixes, created with the finest, high-quality ingredients. We have worked together to bring a best-in-class Indoor bird offering formulated by Marriage's in-house nutritionist to ensure birds maintain a healthy, balanced diet. We have improved many of our well-known mixes, focusing on improving nutritional balance. Marriage's striking packaging clearly communicates the key features and benefits of the products, which will be the key to driving retailer sales whilst helping to keep pet birds in top condition. 

“Marriage's Indoor Bird mixes cater to a variety of beloved pet birds, including parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, lovebirds, budgies, canaries and finches. These specially formulated mixes ensure optimal nutrition for each type of bird, supporting their health and vitality. Several straight ingredients are also available, helping to maximise choice for owners. These Indoor Seed Mixes are available in various pack sizes to help cater to all types of customers.

“The support the launch of the range in-stores we have in-store literature available, are offering competitive pricing and have an introductory deal available to all new stockists. Our dedicated Business Development Managers, Telephone Account Managers and Customer Services team are ready to assist with any questions and ensure a smooth transition.”

All products are available now on www.petproducts.co.uk, which offers detailed information about the Marriages brand. Simply enter the old product code to find the new one with ease. 

Pedigree Wholesale will continue to supply Indoor Bird products, now under the Marriages brand.

Marriage’s has relaunched its comprehensive indoor and aviary bird food range. The relaunch marks the first phase of the brand’s new identity, which will be extended across other ranges later in the year.

With a fresh new packaging look and a range of new formulations, it showcases the brand's premium quality, both inside and outside the pack.

With 22 innovative products in the category, Marriage’s indoor and aviary bird food contains only the finest ingredients, helping to keep birds fit and healthy.  Every product has been expertly formulated to cater for the individual nutritional needs of budgies, canaries, foreign finches, parrots, cockatiels, parakeets and lovebirds. 

A balance of carbohydrates, natural proteins, fats and essential nutrients helps support optimum health and wellbeing and contributes to healthy plumage and skin. The parrot, cockatiel, parakeet and lovebird foods have been carefully redesigned with an assortment of tasty and wholesome ingredients to help provide opportunities for foraging and physical manipulation. They also help to provide important mental stimulation by delivering a variety of textures, colours and tastes. A premium selection of staple straight foods, that are sustainably sourced, complete the range. 

The new fresh-looking pack design has been utilised across every pack format and size, to bring strong brand identity across the range. Clearer product names and key call outs bring the product features and benefits to life on the pack face, for greater clarity of proposition on shelf. Every pack also includes the Marriage’s® 6 Step Well-being Plan, providing useful feeding tips and helpful ways to support a companion bird's well-being.

New pack sizes have also been introduced across the category to cater for customer purchasing requirements with weights ranging from 1kg all the way up to 20kg.

“We are very excited to present our enhanced, premium quality indoor bird range. We know that choosing a food for a companion bird isn’t just about what looks good. Considerable thought goes into ensuring that each of our feeds help to provide birds with the nourishment they need to stay healthy and happy,” said Sarah Kitson, Head of Marketing. “The new consumer-tested packaging creates real stand out on shelf and provides retailers with the key benefits to share with their customers. 

“No matter the age or breed, we are dedicated to ensuring that birds maintain a healthy, balanced diet. From blends made for companion birds to supporting top show breeders, our feeds are brimming with essential nutrients to help support growth and development.”

For further information on how to stock our new indoor and aviary bird range, call 0845 257 0232 or e-mail contactus@marriagesmillers.co.uk 

An independent pet store in Yorkshire launched last December has grown so quickly it has now moved to a larger unit double the size of its previous premises.

Yorkshire Feed & Country Store in Sowerby, Thirsk, has also created eight jobs in the process. 

Matt Wright, who owns the business with Jason Smallridge, said: “We have always had to travel further afield to get what we needed for our own animals, and identified a gap in the market for a sort of ‘one stop shop’ here in Thirsk. Unlike many big brand name equivalents, our focus is on animal welfare and making sure our customers are confident in making informed purchases, rather than the bottom line.

“We’re adding products and services that we ourselves want and use, and also that our customers are asking for – it’s all about making it easy to have happy, healthy animals.”

The company recently launched a small animal boarding service, enabling customers to take holiday or spend time away from home safe in the knowledge that their animals are being looked after by an experienced team, and also ran a canine first aid course to teach dog owners the essentials.

They plan to launch a grooming service in the coming months and open a second store based on the same model.

Both Matt and Jason are experienced animal owners with a background in agriculture.

Norfolk Industries for Disabled People, an award-winning producer of small pet products, has received a Highly Commended at the 2024 National Learning Disabilities & Autism Awards.

The award was given in the ‘Employer of People with a Disability’ category which looks for a business or charity that demonstrates true values of respect, equality and accessibility for their employees who have a learning disability and/or autism. 

These are values that are close to our hearts and reflect the ethos and ambition of our business. To take the runner up slot in a national-level award, open to both businesses and charities across England, Wales and Scotland, is a real achievement and we are honoured to have been recognised in this way. 

What the judges said: “Norfolk Industries for Disabled People go above and beyond in employing those with learning disabilities and are much deserving of high commendation in this category. They stand as a shining example of inclusivity and take an approach many can seek to learn from.”

General manager, Sharon Tooke said: “It’s been so inspiring to have the business shortlisted for such an award. The event was wonderful and an opportunity to see the amazing work that is going on in the care sector across the country.

“To gain Highly Commended in our category of Employer of People with Disabilities is such an honour and a real acknowledgment of our work to provide a supportive working environment for people with disabilities in our local community.

“It’s also something that our commercial customers can be proud of in that they are supporting a business such as ours by trading with us."

Sales of Norfolk Industries' pet products are crucial in supporting its mission to provide disabled and disadvantaged people with access to the world of work.

Sharon added: "We’d like to thank everyone who currently trades with us for the part you play in making this happen and welcome any prospective new traders to get in touch."

Contact sales@norfolkindustries.co.uk

Award-winning pet retailer Jollyes will open its 105th store – its first in Chester – at 10.00am tomorrow (Friday 16 August).

The store at 2B Chester Retail Park, Old Seals Way, will be located in a unit vacated by Poundland earlier this year.

The store is set to be officially opened by three special guests. Performing the red ribbon cutting will be the Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Razia Daniels, a Governor of City of Chester University and The Queen’s School Chester.

Alongside The Lord Mayor, who’s also a member of the Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, will be detector dog Sully and his handler Olivia Uguz.

Sully, a sprocker, works for the border force protecting the country and like many service animals may be supported in later years by the National Federation of Retired Service Dogs (NFRSA) which Jollyes recently named as a key charity partner.

The NFRSA helps support the care, well-being, and welfare of retired service animals from across the emergency service family - the police, fire, border force, National Crime Agency, NHS and prison services.

Over the next 12 months, all Jollyes’ stores will be raising money for NFRSA with collections matched by Jollyes up to £20,000 that will help NFRSA support retired service animals and their owners.

The new Chester store will create 12 jobs and will be led by experienced Jollyes store manager Stephen Williams, who’s been promoted to the role after 11 years working for Jollyes in Runcorn.

Joining the Chester team are deputy manager Charlie Davis who has been promoted from his role as supervisor at Jollyes’ Flint store and new supervisor Holly Williams.

Part of the opening day celebrations will be two Jollyes ’Ambassadogs’ who’ll be sharing details of the new store and what it has to offer over the coming weeks.

They are Evie, a six months old Labrador cross Border Collie from Hoole who can be found on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/evie.the.lab.x/ and  Mr Bear an eight year-old rescue fox-faced Pom who lives close to the store.

Dee Radio will also provide entertainment on opening day with activity continuing into the bank holiday weekend with an entertainer and pet theme gameshows on Saturday 24 August giving every customer the chance to spin Jollyes’ iconic ‘Wheel of Fur-tune’ to win prizes.

Jollyes new store will provide pet parents in Chester access to Jollyes’ raw food frozen ‘shop-in-shop’ and a community pet clinic which will open later this year.

Store manager Stephen Williams said: “My whole team is looking forward to delivering the service, expertise – and above all prices – that Jollyes is becoming famous for right across the country.”

Jollyes has grown its store estate by 50% in three years and has had an remarkable start to 2024 winning new investment to supercharge its growth, being named as the best retailer in Britain at the prestigious Retail Week awards for retailers under £250m turnover and making the Sunday Times’ list for the first time as one of Britain’s best big companies to work for.

Jollyes in Chester will be its 105th store in the UK joining other stores in and around Cheshire in Congleton, Ellesmere Port, Widnes, Runcorn and Warrington.  Jollyes main national distribution centre is also in Middlewich, Cheshire.

The organiser of National Pet Shop Day has confirmed the event will return next year and promises it will be bigger and better than ever.

Johnson’s Veterinary Products launched National Pet Shop Day this year as a way of saying thank you to pet businesses for all that they do, and to encourage more pet owners to explore the range of affordable wellbeing support, products and services they have on their doorstep. 

A spokesperson for the event said: “It was humbling and incredibly rewarding to see just how much support that this initiative has received from our retailers and their local communities. But this isn’t the end of the story.  

“We are committed to continuing to communicate the many benefits of shopping with specialist pet product retailers, particularly where support is needed for common minor pet healthcare ailments, such as ticks, fleas or general wellbeing issues. And as such, National Pet Shop Day will return in 2025. 

“We want next year to be even bigger and better than this year and we are already holding important conversations with key influencers and stakeholders about how we will make this happen. But we also need the input of our retailers to make sure that this event continues to be successful and delivers the support they need in order help their businesses to thrive. 

“We will be launching a survey in the very near future to gather opinions and feedback on National Pet Shop Day in order to inform that planning process. What went well? What can we do more of? How can we boost engagement in future years? These viewpoints are crucial to us, and we would encourage all participating retailers to get involved and have their say. 

“In the meanwhile, we genuinely appreciate the many messages of support we have received about National Pet Shop Day, and we hope that those who participated in the event found the experience as enlightening, beneficial, and fun as we did. We cannot wait to do it all again!”

For more information visit www.nationalpetshopday.com

London-based business start-up and pet health supplement company, PAWD DRINKS is celebrating major success this month as it has been accepted onto the NATWest Accelerator Programme. It has also been nominated for three prestigious PetQuip Awards. 

Having become a finalist for the Pet Industry Federation Innovation Awards and having attended their Business Conference in June, the company was introduced to major investors and experts in the pet industry where PAWD DRINKS met the team from NatWest who were impressed with the presentation given by the pet health drinks company at the event.

The NATWest  Accelerator Programme provides one-to-one coaching with their experienced acceleration managers, a programme of thought leadership and events,  access to a network of like-minded peers, supported by ecosystem managers, focused support with access to experts from across the pet industry and use of their modern co-working spaces in one of their nationwide hubs. On top of the business funding that PAWD DRINKS has already received, this mentoring programme will help to propel the business to the next stage of its growth.

The innovative side of PAWD DRINKS has also been recognised by leading industry organisation, PetQuip and the company is nominated in three categories for their 2024 prestigious awards, Most Promising New Business, Sustainability and Best Product Healthcare & Grooming.

PAWD DRINKS’ products are receiving five star reviews from customers and the team have been out and about attending shows across the country to meet potential customers. They have also been holding community meet and greet dog walking events in Battersea Park in London. Their latest one which attracted nearly 100 dog owners coincided with National Pet Hydration Month which traditionally takes place in July each year and raises the awareness of proper hydration for our furry friends, specifically dogs. 

Started by old friends, business partners and Londoners, Rory Hanna and Archie Wilson, PAWD DRINKS is a new revolutionary and groundbreaking range of liquid health supplements, scientifically crafted to target the common health issues faced by our beloved dogs. These innovative products are the result of extensive research and development by world-leading animal nutritionists including Dr. Farshad Goodarzi Boroojeni and are veterinary-approved. Each formula has been carefully crafted to not only address specific health concerns but also contribute to the overall well-being of our four-legged friends.  PAWD DRINKS are pH neutral and contain no acidifiers or preservatives.

The drinks market for pets is relatively new but growing and PAWD DRINKS tackle a number of important areas. As well as hydration and wellness, PAWD DRINKS are absorbed more quickly andefficiently by a dog's body compared to pills, powders and chews.  This is important when addressing certain health or behavioural issues and when you need a fast result. Administering liquid supplements to dogs is easier than giving them pills or chews, especially for dogs that are finicky eaters or have difficulty swallowing. Liquid supplements can be mixed into their food or water, making it less likely for dogs to detect and refuse them. You can also customise dosage. They are palatable, achieve faster results and are gentle on the digestive system. PAWD DRINKS are less likely to cause irritation or discomfort compared to some pill formulations.

PAWD DRINKS Joints has been formulated to address stiffness and joint mobility with up to 80% of all dogs suffering from some form of mobility issues over the age of 8. PAWD DRINKS Joints contains natural ingredients, such as ginger and devil’s claw root to support joint mobility. 

PAWD DRINKS Calming will help to relax and soothe your dog in any anxious situations. This can be in the form of separation, social, travel or noise anxiety, with around 50% of dogs showing significant fear in response to thunder or fireworks.

So as well as helping to keep your pet hydrated, you can tackle some of the many problems that affect dogs helping to improve their overall wellness.

Costs:  Feed a dog from £1.99 a day, 28 bottle £55.99 subscription deals are available.

PAWD DRINKS are due to attend Edition Dog Live on 25 August and PATS at the end of September.

For further information please visit: www.pawddrinks.com

Furr Boost, the healthy hydration smoothie drink that scooped the Best Product Innovation Awards at both PetQuip and the PIF Awards in 2022 is now adding to its success in 2024 by securing three major wholesaler distributors in the veterinary market.

This comes on the back of their recent successful appearance on BBC One Dragons’ Den where they were offered funding from Dragon, Touker Suleyman and their recent stockist success with Pets at Home, B&M and The Range.

To top off what has already been a successful 2024 for Louise Toal and her team at Furr Boost, they have also made the finals in the Retail Category at the Enterprise Visions Awards. The EVAs which are sponsored by NatWest Bank are the UK’s largest business awards dedicated solely to women and celebrate extraordinary women driving businesses forward. They have also been nominated in three categories for this year’s PetQuip Awards as well: Supplier of the Year, Sustainability and Best Product of the Year Food & Treats.

Company Founder, Louise Toal has had her eye of the veterinary market from the beginning and is a regular exhibitor at the London Vet Show and this year took her products to the BVA Live at the NEC in Birmingham. As a result, Furr Boost will now be distributed by major wholesalers to the vet industry, NVS Group, MWI Animal Health United Kingdom and IVC Evidensia.

.                                                           

Following a successful 20 year stint as a technical manager in the food industry, Louise Toal created her range of Furr Boost smoothie drinks after her Beagle, Phoebe at the age of 18 months became unwell with bladder problems which after investigations with her vet, were linked to the dog’s food. Using her technical background, Louise then started experimenting with protein shakes to help flush out Phoebe’s system and to provide her with the hydration that she needed when she was refusing to drink enough water in the summer months. This led to the creation of the Furr Boost range of smoothies.

Each of Furr Boost’s recipes contains a meat, fruit and vegetable, along with added oils and vitamins, so it’s more than a hydration drink, it supports the dog’s wellbeing in areas such as digestion, skin and coat, anxiety, metabolism and immunity.

Furr Boost can be used in a variety of ways. Served frozen, it can be placed in a Kong Toy or lick mat for dog training or as a distraction, or simply given to a dog as a tasty icy treat. Unfrozen, it can be added as a topper to meals or on hot days, simply pour into a bowl for instant hydration.

Furr Boost will be exhibiting at Edition Dog Live this month and PATS in September.

For further information visit: www.furrboost.com

WAGS, a range of premium luxury pet care products created and manufactured in partnership with leading formulation chemists, is set to exhibit at Glee next month. 

All of its pampering products have been developed by dog lovers for dog lovers. Each product is vegan friendly with key active ingredients. 

The range of products is proudly made in the UK to high standards, manufactured with clean formulations and high in natural origin content up to 92- 95% in all products. 

Carefully curated to provide convenient solutions for everyday problems such as muddy paws, shedding and tangled coats, stinky odours whilst feeding, restoring and repairing a dog’s coat and skin. 

The range of grooming products for dogs consists of luxury shampoos, deodorizing sprays, fragrances and nose & paw balm. Formulated with key active ingredients such as natural wheat proteins (silicone free) and Aloe Vera extracts to soothe and moisturize skin and coats. Hyaluronic acid that hydrates, protects and reduces frizz, natural active botanical ingredients and Vitamin E to achieve fantastic health, well being and shine on all coat types. 

“We have created fresh and unique fragrances to ensure your pampered pooch will always look, feel and smell amazing," said WAGS spokesperson.

www.wagspetcare.co.uk

contact@wagspetcare.co.uk

Glee Stand Number: 9B31

Glee takes place at the NEC Birmingham on 10-12 September.

See gallery of pictures below...

A new podcast, ‘Pet Business Disruptors’, has made an instant impact since launching recently and has consistently ranked in the top five in its niche. 

The show was founded by host Clayton Payne, COO of The Bug Factory, and is supported by co-host Harvey Blackaby, a pet store manager. The podcast benefits from their collective 30 years of pet business experience.

The aim of the podcast is to give the audience a chance to listen to the business and marketing strategies of expert guests from the pet industry who have set themselves apart through innovation, game-changing ideas, and calculated risks.

“We are providing a platform for start-ups, people with new ideas, industry disruptors, people with stories to tell and strategies that work”, said Clayton. “I want to support the pet industry by bringing together people who have knowledge to share. It is critical to keep the pet industry innovative and thriving”.

The debut episode features Hugh Petit, co-founder of Grub Club, sharing how he made a fast move to market, getting their brand into Pets at Home in record time. 

The podcast is seeing international success as it enters the charts in the USA, Germany, and Ireland and is ranking number one in Hong Kong. Clayton recently returned from America after flying over to film episodes with Zen Habitats Emma Lock, better known as Emzotic, Randy Williams of WeGroCo and Be Spotted’s Instagram and Pet Marketing Specialist Jamie Keane.

Clayton added, “The show is attracting attention because it highlights the advantages of thinking differently, being an outlier, achieving a different outcome and how important it is to disrupt your category and push boundaries when the ideas are right”.

Other guests include David Hartigan, CEO of Hemp Heros, Michelle Hollis, vet and member of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society, The Animal People Recruitment Company and Pet Industry Writer Pixie Greatorex.

The successful launch has already seen the ink dry on some big industry names who will be featured in the next season of the Podcast. Season one is available to listen to and download from Spotify, YouTube and the Apple Podcast App.

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UK Pet Food has announced the appointment of two new chairs to lead its Sustainability Committee – Priya Hamilton, Corporate Affairs Manager at Purina and Caroline Curtis, Operations Director at Tails.com.

Both Priya and Caroline have been active members of the committee since its formation in 2020. The committee's mission is to support its members on their journeys towards a more sustainable future. Sustainable raw materials, environmentally friendly production, and recyclable packaging materials, all play a major role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the pet food industry.

On the new appointment, Priya of Purina commented: “I am really thrilled to be taking up the position as Sustainability Co-Chair at UK Pet Food. I believe that as a business, we can really create a tangible impact and be a force for good. This impact can be even larger if we work together as an industry, driving collaboration and collective effort for the greater good.”

Caroline, responsible for end-to-end value chain at B Corp Tails.com, advised: “I’m excited to take up the position as I'm passionate about changing the world for good through responsible business. UK Pet Food is a wonderful organisation fostering collaboration to advocate for change.”

Welcome to Priya and Caroline and we look forward to seeing the progressive work of the committee over the coming months.

You can read more about UK Pet Food’s sustainability work here. 

The owner of an independent pet shop has thanked the local community who rallied round after a car smashed into the front of the store.

The accident happened at the Pet Arc in Cults near Aberdeen last Friday.

Posting on the store’s Facebook page, owner Anthony Reilly said: “Thankfully, no one was hurt. The emergency services were absolutely great in response to this and I couldn’t thank them enough.

“Our shop is now temporarily watertight, safe and secure, until we get a brand new shop front fitted, which may take a few weeks.

“I would like to also thank the driving instructor Jonathan Park, who was first on the scene – he was such a massive help. Also Crest Glazing, who were brilliant at their job, and Charlie at Scottish & Southern Electricity network. 

“Everyone was such a great help and messages from friends and customers offering to help clean up the mess, I couldn’t thank them enough.”

After a final clean-up the  shop re-opened for business on Sunday.

“We can’t thank the community of Cults and the wider area of Aberdeen who support our family business where we offer dog grooming and pet supplies.

“Finally, I would like to send my best wishes to the driver and partner, and hope they are okay. They were so apologetic about the incident but accidents do happen sometimes.

But again no one was hurt so all good.”

Pictures taken from the store’s Facebook page.

The Pet Centre in East Street in Newquay has started naming and shaming anyone it has caught stealing from its shop on its social media accounts.

It has also produced a wall of shame inside the store in a bid to prevent further shoplifting.

In a recent incident captured on CCTV on Sunday (August 11), two men can be seen approaching the Pet Centre and, as they walk past the entrance, one of them casually grabs a £25 dog bed and walks off with it.

Owner Paul Larkin told Cornwall Live: “We go through the rigmarole of reporting incidents to the police but they can't or won't always charge people," he said. "It's frustrating. We still report incidents but we've also upgraded our CCTV system and decided to name and shame those we catch stealing from us. We put it all on social media.

"We have a wall of shame in our shop too. It's just for the locals. If we had a wall of shame with the tourists it'd be bigger than the shop. It is getting that bad which is annoying but it will continue as these people don't think there are any consequences."

The full story can be found here

The Big Cat Sanctuary, which includes the presenters of the popular wildlife CBBC TV show ‘One Zoo Three,’ has confirmed its attendance at The Cat Show Live, the UK’s first non-competitive feline event.

The UK-based charity helps to conserve and protect wild cats like jaguars, leopards, lions and tigers. Their sanctuary, set in 32 acres of grassland in Kent, is home to 11 of the 40 different wild cat species; without this support, many of them are at risk of extinction.

The rescue mission – saving five traumatised lions from war

Their recent and ongoing Cats in Crisis Campaign sees the charity set to evacuate five African Lions from war-torn Ukraine.

The impact of the war has been devastating, leaving Armarni, Lira, Vanda, Rori, and Luna with significant trauma. So far, £150,000 has been raised, and at the time of writing, they are awaiting a temporary move to Belgium, where they will rest until they are able to make their way to their newly built home in The Big Cat Sanctuary.

Luna will be the first to arrive in the UK as she has significant shell shock and needs the most urgent rehabilitation and care. The charity has faced challenges with the complex paperwork and hopes that all issues will be resolved so the cats can begin their journey by the end of August.

A chance to meet and support The Big Cat Sanctuary

The Big Cat Sanctuary is joining The Cat Show Live for the launch of a brand new feline event on 14th September at the NEC in Birmingham. The show brings together over 200 cats from 50 breeds who will be there to meet and greet the audience rather than compete, which makes this a revolutionary concept for a UK audience.

Powered by Antinol

The charity and show came together after an introduction from the show's headline sponsor, Antinol.

They have also been partnering with The Big Cat Sanctuary since June 2023, supplying the older wild cats with supplements to support their joints and raising vital funds through the sale of their products.

The introduction was made, and all three companies came together for a recent open day at The Big Cat Sanctuary.

What unites The Big Cat Sanctuary, The Cat Show Live and Antinol?

 A love of cats of all sizes and a set of closely shared values underpins each of these organisations.

• The Big Cat Sanctuary - Outside of their campaign, The Big Cat Sanctuary and its sister site, Hertfordshire Zoo, promote animal welfare and conservation through many different channels and avenues. This includes tours, experiences, workshops, outreach with schools and the community, and its popular CBBC series One Zoo Three. They are absolutely dedicated to providing a fully enriched life for the resident cats, both mentally and physically with varied diets within a peaceful environment.
• The Cat Show Live -  The welfare of cats and the education of their owners is at the heart of the show. In its 250-seat theatre, they will host educational talks by experienced experts, including a talk on dental health from Dental Wand business owner Victor Carpio, as seen on Dragon’s Den. The show also brings together several charities, rescues and cat clubs in its dedicated charity section ‘Hope Alley’. This sees the use of AV screens to promote the rehoming of rescue cats using pictures and QR codes that guests can scan. This will link them up with the rescues to talk about adoption.
• Antinol - At the core of everything they do, Antinol believes every cat (big or little) deserves to have their best day, every day. Not only do they provide the older cats with supplements to support their joints, but they play a big part in raising money for the Sanctuary.

The charity, the show and Antinol are on a collective mission to promote feline welfare and provide opportunities for education about all things cat, big or small.

One Zoo Three - CBBC popular TV series

Hertfordshire Zoo is the sister site of The Big Cat Sanctuary. One Zoo Three takes the audience behind the scenes at the Zoo with brothers Aaron, Tyler, and Cam. The boys grew up on the site where they used to play hide-and-seek after closing time and just ‘hang out’ with the animals.

No wonder they grew into passionate animal lovers

The TV series educates viewers on the over 800 rare and exotic animals they look after along with raising awareness of The Big Cat Sanctuary and what we need to do to protect endangered species.

It is thought one, if not all, of the brothers will be attending the show.

This is your cat call - are you going to The Cat Show Live?

Join over 3000 other cat lovers to support The Big Cat Sanctuary and many other charities and rescues at The Cat Show Live, which will be held on September 14th at the NEC in Birmingham.

Get your tickets here https://thecatshowlive.co.uk/tickets/

Pedigree Wholesale has announced the acquisition of the Collards Dog Food brand. The range, previously owned and distributed by Kennelpak, includes over 30 dry and wet dog food products suitable for all life stages, from puppies to senior dogs.

Collards Dog Food is renowned for its complete and balanced nutrition, featuring high-quality ingredients and carefully crafted recipes. These products ensure dogs enjoy delicious, nutritious, and healthy meals. Specially formulated to be gentle on a dog's stomach, Collards offers easy digestion and peace of mind for pet owners.

Made using hypo-allergenic principles by restricting protein sources, Collards recipes use a single meat or fish source while avoiding common bulking agents such as wheat and wheat derivatives, known to have the potential to cause allergies.

Julian Grindey, Managing Director at Pedigree Wholesale, said, "The Collards brand is already well known in the marketplace and is a valuable addition to Pedigree Wholesale's own and exclusive brand offerings."

He continued, "We want to assure current Collards stockists that we are in strong supply of the product already, while offering other specialist pet retailers the opportunity to stock the brand in their stores and online in the coming weeks." 

Tom Neale, National Account Manager at Pedigree Wholesale, said, "Our Business Development Managers are aware of all previous stockists at KennelPak, and the team will be getting in touch over the coming weeks. For any enquiries, please feel free to contact us.”

The Collards dog food brand is now exclusively available through Pedigree Wholesale. To place orders or for more information, please contact your Business Development Manager or the Customer Services Team at 0115 982 3900.

The Nutriment Company has announced the appointment of Peter Roy as its new Managing Director for the UK.

Peter brings extensive experience in the pet food industry, having started with Anglian Meat Products in 2010 and helping it transform into Natures Menu in 2011. 

Under his leadership, Natures Menu grew from £6m to £64m in revenue and expanded into 14 European countries. After Agrolimen acquired Natures Menu in 2021, Peter founded COYA Pet in 2022, the UK's first freeze-dried raw pet food brand. Within a year, COYA was listed in 1,400 UK stores and was acquired by IFD earlier this year.

In his new role, Peter will oversee The Nutriment Company’s UK operations and strategic initiatives, with a strong focus on expanding its market presence and strengthening brands Totally Natural Pet Products, Nutriment, Nova and Natural Instinct. 

Committed to driving innovation in the UK pet trade, he aims to support retailers in their growth and success, working closely with them as partners. Additionally, he is enthusiastic about exploring further acquisitions to bolster our market position and service offerings.

“We are thrilled to welcome Peter Roy to our team,” said Anders Kristiansen, CEO of The Nutriment Company. “With his extensive experience and proven leadership, we are confident in our ability to achieve our ambitious goals in the UK market. All our brands are committed to the UK pet trade, a sector Peter is enormously passionate about.”

Commenting on the appointment, Peter said: “I am honoured to join The Nutriment Company and lead the UK team. My career has been dedicated to the pet food industry, and I am passionate about driving innovation and supporting our retail partners. Together, we will work to enhance our offerings and achieve new milestones in the UK market.”

Spending on pets has soared some 76% over the past five years, according to Nationwide’s Spending report. The significant rise in spend follows a peak in pet ownership during the pandemic years.

Nationwide’s Spending Report – an analysis of more than 239 million debit card, credit card and Direct Debit transactions – shows c.£7.6 billion was spent overall in June. Spending overall was up 3% per cent compared to the previous year, while transactions were up 5% per cent.

The increased spend on pets is a theme that has emerged in recent years. With £51.8 million spent by Nationwide customers in the year to June, the total costs of keeping a furry, scaly of feathered friend outweighed total spend on childcare (£37.1m), gardening (£30,1m) or looking for love from a human companion (dating: £986k). There was a four per cent increase in spending on pets in the last 12 months alone.

Separate Nationwide research of 1,000 pet owners showed the average person spends £126 per month2 on everything from food and treats to bedding and insurance. However, there are a range of additional costs which can sharply increase the cost, including dealing with long-term health issues (£361) or injuries (£338), pet trainer (£264), dental care (£262), dogwalker (£248), home repairs (£247), kennels (£245), grooming (£140) and vet bills (also £140).

However, ongoing cost-of-living pressures has led 14 per cent of owners to consider giving up their pet, with one in ten (10%) having to take the difficult decision of rehoming a pet.

Essential spending overview: the amount spent in June reached £4.2 billion down one per cent compared to the previous year, while the volume of transactions (c.121m) was up two per cent. Housing continues to account for the biggest rises with renters seeing an 18 per cent increase, while mortgage repayments increased 12 per cent. However, there were falls in spending on utilities (-17%) and discount stores (-6%).

Non-essential spending overview: at £3.4 billion, overall non-essential spending was up five per cent on last June while the number of transactions (c.118m) was up seven per cent. Euro 2024, combined with periods of warmer weather, also boosted spend, with some of the biggest rises recorded on gambling (+12%) and eating and drinking out (+10%). However, there were falls on spending on dating (-15%), DIY & home maintenance (-11%), gardening (-3%) and clothing and shoes (-3%).

Mark Nalder, Nationwide’s Strategy & Performance Director, said: “Costs have risen across the board in recent years and pet ownership is not immune from this. While people plan for everyday costs such as food or insurance, it is the additional costs that can soon mount up, such as kennel costs or vet bills and long-term health conditions not covered by insurance.

“Spending rose as we head into summer with more people travelling and discretionary spend in supermarkets increasing as the UK enjoyed the Euro’s tournament and the occasional opportunity to get out their BBQs.”

An army veteran is on a mission to deal with dog poo after becoming a canine professional when he left the forces.

Nick Avery, now living in Bristol but originally from Torquay, served with three regiments including Airborne Forces in his 22 years service.

During this time he saw tours of duty around the world including the Northern Island and Falklands conflicts.

After leaving the army, Nick continued to use his forces skills working in security and humanitarian endeavours abroad, but then after a friend got him into dog walking when home on leave, he found that it was the exact change of pace that he needed.

He said: "I found myself starting to decompress and realised that dog walking was so therapeutic, I was out in nature and not having to worry about anyone wanting to harm me or the person I was looking after, I suddenly had an epiphany, I didn't care about money anymore I just wanted to do this for the rest of my life."

But on his walks Nick was always annoyed by litter, and in particular the dog poo bags discarded by owners in the beauty spots he visited.

"One of the things you learn in the army is never to leave litter, it can lead to the enemy finding your location, and it is bad for the environment. It started to really annoy me how trees were becoming dog poo trees, dog poo bushes and it is so ugly and dirty.

"I think because some of the bags say biodegradable on them people must think they just melt away, but they take years to go back to the earth." Said Nick.

In lockdown Nick and his wife Vicky moved back to Torquay to care for his father, who sadly passed away two years later from dementia. Nick was also one of the many ex forces personnel who were called upon to help communities around the UK during the pandemic.

It was a difficult time, but it also gave Nick the time to think about what his work might be going forward, and after his spell with dog walking he came upon a bright idea.

Nick enthused: "I decided that maybe, if people had a Pawfectbag which was designed especially for dog walkers they may not feel the need to leave all their dog poo and litter lying about. In the pandemic more people got dogs than ever before, there are now 12million dogs living in the UK so this is a problem that urgently needed solving."

Nick invented the Pawfectbag design, and set about finding UK-based manufacturers to help him make the bags a reality.

The unique bags can fit all your dog walking essentials, in special removable sections and a third pocket which is specifically designed to hold bagged dog dirt and litter keeping it away from other items. The section is easily removed to be cleaned and refitted, ensuring that the bag remains hygienic.

When the bag has reached the end of its life, the compartments can then be repurposed as decorative hanging baskets, with the firm giving customers advice on how to recycle their purchase.

He added: "The bags are produced in Devon so have a low carbon footprint and it was also really important to me to support the British workforce. The removable pockets are my unique selling point, and I hope that people who use the bags may even be inspired to rebag and pick up other dog poo and litter as they walk. Dog poo is no good for the environment and affects animals both domestic and wild."

The business is now in its third year, and Nick couldn't be happier doing the job that he loves and travelling to canine events around the country.

He's also teamed up with the National Federation of Retired Service Animals charity, which supports service animals of all stripes in their retirement, something that Nick is particularly proud of as a veteran himself.

"We all have a life expectancy including animals. I believe they serve us well in detecting bombs and weapons to name a few. When they retire they deserve to live out their lifestyle with love and fun, and this is exactly what the charity gives them. For every bag sold a donation goes to them so we can help to make a difference.

"I feel like I have a product here which can really solve a problem and give back, and it's all UK based. This really has been an amazing journey for me and to be able to help other dog owners, a charity and the environment and do my bit is a brilliant thing. It has been wonderful.”

Corby + Fellas has won the business to implement its acclaimed WinRetail System for Swallow Aquatics, which has stores in Essex, Kent and Norfolk.

Corby + Fellas specialises in EPoS, stock control and retail management application software and systems for pet shops, country stores, farm shops and garden centres, both instore and online. 

The company’s software is fully integrated to accommodate not only weighed and measured items, but also comprehensive promotions with such products. It also offers a suite of restaurant applications, from self-service kiosk, to table service APPS and kitchen ordering and production.

A spokesperson for Corby + Fellas said: “Swallow Aquatics is renowned as ‘Britain's Number One Aquatic Experts’ for good reason. With arguably the best range of aquatics supplies on offer anywhere in the UK, they are confident that you will find all your aquatics needs on their website and in their four specialist stores.

“C+F will be providing Swallow Aquatics with a new customer APP, interface to their Shopify Website and full integration to XERO.

“We look forward to a long-standing partnership with Nick, Gavin, Will and the Swallow Aquatics Team.”

If you are interested in seeing how Corby + Fellas can help your business email sales@corbyfellas.com