Raw pet food specialist Natures Menu has achieved great success in the UK in recent years, winning a string of business and product awards. And now the Norfolk-based company is taking its prize-winning products overseas as it attempts to dominate the international market.

Following up leads from Interzoo 2014 has kept Natures Menu busy. Already well established in Scandinavia, the company has been busy signing up clients throughout Europe. 

Director Peter Roy says: “Our strategy is quite simple: we look to work directly with the largest pet specialist retailer in each target territory and supplement this, where appropriate, with a distributor that has excellent local market contacts with natural pet food."

In the past six months direct relationships with leading retailers has included: Fressnapf in Germany and Austria , Maxizoo in Denmark, Buddy in Norway, Zoo Hobby in Croatia, Arca Planet in Italy, Kiwoko in Spain,  Musti Ja Mirri in Finland and Grizzly Zoo in Sweden.

Ann Kathrin Losenbeck joined the Natures Menu export team from Flexi last year and has given the team focus and extended their contact base for exports. 

She comments: “The key is having the right partners, companies which share your philosophy and understand what’s required to make the product successful. 

"Whilst the basis of launching a product in a new territory is similar, each territory is slightly different, and you need to recognise and accommodate  this. Different territories are at different stages of the natural feeding revolution, and have different domestic dynamics  of supply and demand.”

The recent Zoomark exhibition in Bologna was the launch for Natures Menu in Italy. In four days Natures Menu took orders for 196 freezers for the Italian market. It also secured new distribution in Switzerland, Belarus and Turkey.

Exports are set to turnover £3m this year for Natures Menu.

A petition to stop a pet store from becoming a shop selling discounted alcohol has gathered over 900 signatures from concerned residents.

Happy Pets in Saulfland Place, Highcliffe, Dorset, is set to close with off-licence chain Moorland Wines planning to move into the premises. 

But hundreds of local residents are objecting to the plans, fearing the bargain booze store would encourage antisocial behaviour in the area.

Jim Alexander, owner of the Mace store and Post Office in Saulfland Place, is also against the off licence and has made objections to the licensing committee.

“We’ve been running the petition since last Thursday and the response has been overwhelming with over 900 signatures so far. It shows the strength of local feeling about this,” he said.

Huw Banks, organiser of the petition, said: “I'm very concerned about the potential for social misbehaviour that would come about as a result of this shop opening.

"I am not trying to stop anyone making a living, but there are already six or seven establishments selling alcohol within a mile, so I'm struggling to see what could be achieved by opening another one.

"The late night opening till 11pm also seems excessive. This is a quiet neighbourhood and we don't want that to be spoiled."

Several councillors for Christchurch Borough Council have also voiced their objections to the off licence. Cllr Lesley Dedman said: “As a resident, mother and grandmother I am totally against it.

“If nothing else, it will be a bad influence and encourage people to loiter. So far in Saulfland, people don’t hang about and make trouble, and I’m very much concerned that having this off licence will encourage gatherings and the possibility of alcohol being purchased for underage drinkers, as there are a lot of schools in the area.”

Pedigree Wholesale is urging pet retailers to attend its annual Pet & Aquatic Trade Show on Wednesday, June 3, at Peterborough Arena, East of England Showground, and take advantage from some hot deals.

Packed with lots of fantastic business opportunities, there will be over 70 trade stands representing the market leading brands in the pet trade.

Pedigree Wholesale is also running a fantastic selection of no nonsense HOT DEALS which are only available if you visit the show. 

For ideas and inspiration as to what to stock over the coming months, visitors will be encouraged to check out the New Products Showcase, which will feature the latest innovations from exhibitors.

Retailers can register to attend by clicking here 

Pet Food UK, which has achieved remarkable success with its Barking Heads and Meowing Heads brands, is now seeking to dominate the premium end of the market with its new AATU products, described as being the Aston Martin of the natural food sector.

Newly appointed marketing director Matt Phillips outlined the company's plans at Zoomark recently.

“Barking Heads Meowing Heads are now an established brand and we will continue to develop this family-aimed product but under the newly branded Pet Food (UK) banner we are now able to fully launch the AATU range, a premium brand for discerning pet lovers," said Matt.

AATU is the first brand from Pet Food UK to contain its unique Super 8 ingredients – a range of eight vegetables, eight fruits, eight herbs, eight botanicals and spices.

Combined with 80% meat, which is preservative free, and uniquely no grain, gluten or potato, the AATU foods are handcrafted in small batches, naturally made without artificial colours, preservatives, flavours or GM ingredients.

Packaged in high end, quality bags which open and fasten with easy lock Velcro, there are three flavours to choose from initially – chicken, duck and salmon. RRPs start at £15 (1.5kg), £34 (5kg) and £60 (10kg).

Paul Hunter (pictured), Pet Food UK director and the man in the hot seat for product development, said: “AATU is the Aston Martin of the natural food market and is for professional people who care about their pets. We also take pride in the fact that we manufacture in the UK using British ingredients."

Artisan Bakes, a new treat range which benefits from the inclusion of chick pea and Saracen flour, was also launched at Zoomark. The treats are oven baked in wood burning ovens and are the second product in the range to include the Super 8 mix. They are available in turkey, salmon/sardine and duck flavours.

Call Pet Food (UK) Ltd on 01442 212392 or visit www.petfoodukltd.com for more information.

Lily’s Kitchen claims to be revolutionising the offerings in the pet snacking category with the launch of three new 100% natural, hand baked superfood snack bars for dogs.

These snack bars are packed with protein and bursting with superfoods and health boosting botanicals.  The all natural range includes:

• Eat Your Greens – Apples, Kale, Spirulina, Wheatgrass & Mint
• Red Berry Boost – Cranberries, Raspberries, Goji Berries & Rosehips
• Sun Shiny Day – Banana, Papaya, Sunflower Seeds and Dandelion Root

Launching on June 8, the easy to snap triangles can be broken off to be given as a healthy treat when out and about. The bars can also replace a whole mealtime too if required.

Philip Wells, technical director at Lily’s Kitchen, said: "This new bar has been very tricky to create and has been three years in the making. Most snack bars are made moist and chewy by adding cheap synthetic additives, which also act as preservatives. We never use artificial additives or ingredients in any of our foods so we embarked upon the challenge to develop a revolutionary baked snack bar for dogs.

"I am absolutely thrilled that we, along with our bakery have managed to create our perfectly formed delightfully crunchy snack bar for dogs using healthy ingredients that we are immensely proud of.”

Henrietta Morrison, founder of Lily’s Kitchen, added: “Looking at the growth in green juicing and healthy snacks, people are becoming more aware of what they eat. They also want their dogs to eat well with nutrient-rich diets to match the healthy foods they feed their families.

"At Lily’s Kitchen, we work hard to find the best ingredients to make the most nutritious recipes possible and this is something our customers really appreciate and we are continually striving to marry our expertise in pet nutrition with busy lifestyle trends and the ever growing demand for convenience.”

Each 36g pack contains two bars, which come in impactful, shelf-ready display boxes each containing 18 packs, designed to encourage impulse purchasing and driving incremental sales in-store. The bars will be supported with eye-catching posters and leaflets.

RRP £1.99 available from selected independent pet shops, health food shops and online at www.lilyskitchen.co.uk

Nikon has come up with a new twist on camera mounts. While most people attach their camera to a helmet or bicycle handlebars, this one fastens to a pet dog.

Not only that, but it also reads an animal's heartbeat, and can be set to snap a photo when the rate rises above a certain level – so the dog's owner can see exactly what has got him excited during the day.

Nikon has named its initiative Heartography. The mount works just like a standard heart rate sensor you would wear to the gym – it reads the dog’s heartbeat, and sends the information to the camera wirelessly over Bluetooth. The Pro Trinket microcontroller is coded to activate the shutter once the heart rate reaches a certain threshold. Then the servo arm depresses the shutter button and snaps a photo.

Owners had better hope their dogs – or amateur ‘phodographers’, as Nikon would have it – are excited by sunsets and nice vistas, and not certain parts of other canines.

The idea is to “literally connect emotions to every photo”. It’s just a concept at the moment, but it could be made real for humans.

The next ‘Meet the Buyers’ event, organised by the Gardenex and PetQuip associations, is to be held at their offices in Brasted near Sevenoaks on Wednesday 17 June 2015. The garden product buyers attending are from a German mail order and online shop, and importers/distributors from Poland and the US. The pet product buyers are from a Finnish pet chain and a Polish distributor. 

Following recent ‘Meet the Buyers’ events, one buyer stated that his company is expecting to do business with thirteen of the fifteen suppliers met during the day, and another buyer stated that his company was now purchasing from four of the British companies that had presented their products and that they were in negotiation with another five suppliers. 

Meanwhile, a British supplier said that as a result of the last event it was supplying wholesalers in Denmark and Romania.  Another supplier confirmed that participation in the events had repaid the time and effort many times over.

Pet Product Buyer Participants

Musti ja Mirri Oy is the leading pet chain in Finland with 109 pet shops, around half of which are franchised.  Their ranges include pet food and accessories for dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, birds and aquarium fish.  Musti ja Mirri has also expanded into Sweden with the acquisition in spring 2012 of the pet specialist retailer Grizzly Zoo, which has since grown from 9 to 22 stores, along with the acquisition of Zoo Support from Braganza AB earlier this year.  Zoo Support is the owner of the Arken Zoo and DjurMagazinet store brands, and is the largest pet care retail franchise in Sweden, with 91 stores across the country.  This latest acquisition gives the Musti ja Mirri group over 220 stores in Finland and Sweden.  The buyer is looking particularly for natural treats such as dried pigs ears / tails for dogs, pouches of wet food for cats and a broad range of accessories.

Azan sp.j. is the exclusive distributor in Poland for Vafo Brit, the internationally-known Czech producer of premium/super-premium dry food for dogs and cats.  Azan is located in Radom in central Poland, 100km south of Warsaw.  It has a 2,000m² warehouse and mainly supplies vets and independent pet shops all over Poland.  The owner of Azan also has a chain of four pet shops in Radom, and is now looking to source dry and wet food, treats and pet accessories from the UK.

Garden Product Buyer Participants

Gärtner Pötschke is the leading German specialist garden mail-order company and online shop.  Its buyers are regular visitors to Glee and source products from many Gardenex members.  During the Meet the Buyers event, the company will be looking for innovative practical and decorative garden products, particularly those not already available on the German market.  Gärtner Pötschke is happy to work with UK companies that are new to exporting.

The second garden product buyer is from ACM Agrocentrum, a Polish importer / distributor of hobby greenhouses sourced from the UK.  The company has over 20 years’ experience in greenhouse sales and supplies to garden centre retailers.   In addition, ACM Agrocentrum operates three on-line shops selling a broad range of garden items including greenhouses, boots, gloves, watering equipment, pest control and bird food.  The owner/buyer now plans to create a store focusing on UK products and would like to meet suppliers of new, original items who are interested in exporting to Poland.

The buyer from the US is import/distribution company World Source Partners, which covers all areas of North America, Canada and Mexico.  Operating through a network of 26 representatives, the company sells to all major lawn and garden and wild bird-care wholesalers in the USA and Canada, as well as many well-known retailers such as True Value, Ace Hardware, Do It Best, Menards, Orchard Supply Hardware, Fred Meyer, Lowe’s Canada, and many others.  An increasingly important segment of the business is direct marketing through mail order catalogue companies and e-commerce sites such as Gardeners Supply, Amazon, and Hayneedle. Ideally, WSP is searching for companies that can offer a full line of products under a respected brand name. 

To register for the ‘Meet the Buyers’ event, UK suppliers are encouraged to contact The Federation as quickly as possible.  Full details of how to register for the individual buyer meetings are available from Theresa Swann on  email  theresa@petquip.com

Eco-Concept pet housing products are manufactured using a unique material that combines recycled plastics and wood fibres that take the best properties of both but actually looks like real wood. 

They are virtually maintenance free and last three to four times longer than natural wood. 

And you don’t need an expensive tool-kit or the skills of Tommy Walsh to make it (in fact you don’t need any tools at all). They are easy and quick to assemble, cavity wall insulated and are resistant to rot, moisture, mould and pesky wood munching insects.  

Birstall Garden and Leisure Centre is one of the brands leading suppliers of eco-concept pet housing products in the UK.

“The Eco-Concept products are the perfect alternative to wooden structures for those wanting a traditional style whilst keeping the quality and durability high and the price low," said a spokesperson for Birstall.

Eco-Concept pet housing is simple, stylish, and totally weather-proof. They’re also well ventilated, easy to keep clean, and won’t warp or splinter, so pets stay safe, warm and dry, and have the perfect place to relax no matter what the weather and Mother Nature throws at them.

To view the complete range of Eco-Concept Pet Housing visit the Birstall website

PetSafe has expanded its ever-popular FroliCat range with two new automatic cat teasers – FroliCat CHATTER and FroliCat CHEESE.

FroliCat CHATTER is a self-righting ball with a moving golden bird teaser attachment. Suitable for the more enthusiastic cat, the bird makes a swooping motion to keep them entertained. The Cary Canary also emits a chirping sound to attract cats from different locations around the home, giving a full sensory experience. Cats can even be entertained throughout the day with the convenient Play While You Are Away mode.

FroliCat CHEESE offers cats a fun peek-a-boo game as two mice pop out of each side of a Swiss block of cheese. The ideal toy for cats that love the hunt, the toy also operates a Play While You Are Away mode, for spontaneous playtime throughout the day.

International Marketing Director, Angela Critchley said: “Our Play and Challenge range of products has gone from strength to strength since it first launched and we’ve been keen to expand the offering. The new - as well as existing - toys in our Play and Challenge range are designed to improve a pet’s health and wellbeing and keep them alert and active.”

For further information on PetSafe products visit www.petsafe.net  

The son of China's richest man has bought two gold Apple Watch Editions for his pet dog to wear on its front legs.

But Wang Sicong, whose father Wang Jianlin is head of real estate giant Dalian Wanda Group, stopped short of giving his dog four Apple Watch Editions because that would be "too tuhao", a Chinese word for an uncultured display of wealth.

Photos of the Siberian Husky's gold watches, which are the 42mm Edition with white sport bands and cost £9,300 each in China, were posted to the dog's own Weibo social network account. Where else?

They were joined by the caption: "I have new watches! I'm supposed to have four watches since I have four long legs. But that seems too tuhao so I kept it down to two, which totally fits my status. Do you have one?"

Given the Apple Watch Edition is priced from £8,000 to £13,500 in the UK, the answer to that question is almost certainly no.

But then Wang's father has a net worth of $24.2 billion (£15bn), so it's perhaps a surprise that the dog doesn't have a more expensive band for its watches, given the rubber sports straps are the cheapest Apple sells. The dog also has its own Fendi bag and only drinks expensive Fiji bottled water.

The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association is calling on its members not to import or sell dyed or tattooed fish.

They are also being urged to be alert to requests for large quantities of fish to be used as table decorations at parties and events and not to sell fish for this purpose.

The trade body, which represents more than 800 members from across the aquatics industry, has produced two position statements outlining its views to help retailers.

“We do not believe responsible retailers would have anything to do with either of these issues but we wanted to make our position clear on both,” said OATA Chief Executive Keith Davenport.

“While it might be legal in the country of origin to artificially dye or tattoo fish for purely cosmetic purposes we consider it a totally unacceptable practice that would definitely be illegal here in the UK. It makes no sense to be involved in something that we know would be considered animal cruelty if it was done in the UK. Responsible retailers really should have nothing to do with fish that have been cosmetically marked in this way and we would not support any OATA member trading in these fish if they were found to have fallen foul of the law or face criticism in any way. 

“We are also aware that retailers do get asked to sell unusually large quantities of fish to be used as table decorations at parties or events. Again, responsible retailers should refuse these sales and thankfully we’ve already been told by many of our members that they are doing exactly that. We’re concerned it may be cruel, that the fish may be disposed of irresponsibly after they served their decorative function and just it encourages this attitude that ‘it’s only a fish’ so doesn’t count for much. This sort of ‘throwaway’ attitude to fish does our industry no favours at all.”

After a review of its position statements on issues facing the industry, OATA decided to write out clear statements for retailers, and importers, to follow. Both position statements can be seen in full on its website at http://www.ornamentalfish.org/conservation-welfare/welfare/statements 

Mid Golden Retriever Crosby won the Best in Show award at the Devon County Show, and his owner Debbie Fenn admitted that pet food firm Forthglade had played a big part in the animal’s helath and vitality.

Crosby, whose pedigree name is Willsbrook The Hairy Biker at JanDeburn, beat off stiff competition to take the title.

Gerard Lovell, Joint MD of Forthglade who produce high quality natural pet food in the nearby village of Winkleigh, had a stand at the County Show and were touched when both Debbie and Crosby, from Newton Abbott, visited the stand to inform them of the win.

“We’re thrilled to learn that this beautiful dog won Best in Show and to hear how much he enjoys his natural Devonshire diet.  It’s lovely to meet Forthglade fans at these shows and to see the effects of the diet on so many happy healthy dogs.

Forthglade will also be attending the Royal Cornwall Show on June 4-6.  For more information on Forthglade visit www.forthglade.com.

In a move to further strengthen its digital marketing, Radio Systems Corporation, owner of the PetSafe and SportDOG brands, has made a high profile appointment and brought Kristin Hodgkinson on-board as International Digital Marketing Manager.

In her new role Kristin will be responsible for the International PetSafe and SportDOG websites. She'll focus on developing and implementing a digital strategy to maximise the customer experience.

A highly experienced digital strategist, Kristin has excellent experience in SEO, PPC, Email, Social and Display. She has previously managed a digital team of specialists and focused on both B2B eCommerce and lead generation.

Kristin said: “Radio Systems Corporation is a dynamic and ambitious organisation which also places great emphasis on valuing each and every employee and that has a high appeal to me.

"This is a new, exciting role within the company and I'm looking forward to working closely with the teams in the US, Europe, Canada, China, Japan and Australia.”

Commenting on the appointment Radio Systems Corporation Vice President - International, Brad van der Veen, said: “Kristin is a huge asset to the digital team and her extensive experience in SEO, digital marketing and strategic development will help us drive our digital offering to the next level.”

Radio Systems Corporation re-located its European headquarters, including its multilingual customer services centre, to Dundalk in 2012. There are currently 27 people based at the European operation in Dundalk, which trades as Radio Systems PetSafe Europe Limited.

A reptile collector who kept rodents in squalid conditions to feed his pet snakes has been jailed for 150 days.

Steven Riddell has also been banned from owning or keeping all animals – except for his family dog.

Animal cruelty inspectors found 130 creatures, including mice, rats and rabbits, kept in filthy conditions by Riddell, who used his greenhouse to breed the rodents as “live” food for the 50 snakes which filled a room of his home.

But, when he appeared for sentencing at Paisley Sheriff Court yesterday, his actions saw him thrown behind bars.

The court heard that a seasoned SSPCA inspector was sickened by what they found at Riddell’s mid-terraced house in Erskine, following a tip-off in April last year.

It was stifling inside as a tarpaulin had been used to cover the virtual tomb in which the mice and rats were found, providing little ventilation or natural light to enter.

One of the inspectors could only remain inside for a brief moment as she had difficulty breathing in the oxygen-starved interior, which was stinking of stale ammonia from urine and droppings that filled the cages and containers.

One cage, which weighed two kilogrammes when clean and empty, was caked with a solid mass of droppings mixed with bedding that weighed almost 14 kilogrammes.
The callous 42-year-old freely admitted he had seen the rodents as a cheap source of food for his prized snakes which, by comparison, appeared to be well cared for.

It was, said one of the investigators, “a night and day” situation.

Inside the greenhouse, rats and mice, some with young which were lying on top of faeces, and one half-entrapped in compacted droppings, were kept in squalor in cages stacked from floor to ceiling.

Two mice were alive but paralysed, while others were dead or dying.

In some of the cages, faeces and urine was found to be six to eight inches in depth.

The only traces of drinking water found was coated in green algae.

Some of the rats and mice were found to have bite and scratch marks and others had parts of their tails missing.

Many had respiratory problems and some were poking their noses out of gaps as they desperately tried to get a gasp of fresh air.

When he appeared in the dock, Riddell pleaded guilty to two contraventions of the Animal Health & Welfare (Scotland) Act of causing unnecessary suffering by failing to provide adequate care, nutrition, water and clean bedding.

Rabbits, which were kept in similarly disgusting conditions in a nearby hutch, had been family pets, it was stated.

They too, were found to be neglected and their coats were stained yellow from urine.

It was stated that Riddell had agreed to hand over ownership of all of the animals, many of which were put down, although some were nursed back to good health and re-homed.

When quizzed by officers, unemployed Riddell accepted the conditions were disgusting and unacceptable but maintained he had “taken his eye off the ball” due to a series of family problems.

He said he knew that some of them were in poor health but hadn’t sought veterinary attention as they were “only food for my reptiles”.

Heartbroken dog owner Helen Nutter, 30, offered a £500 reward on Facebook to find Spaniel-cross Tilly after she disappeared during a caravan holiday at Towyn, North Wales.

The dog, who vanished chasing a rabbit, has now turned up 150 miles away two weeks later.

Helen had given up hope when she had a call from a man in Worcester to say he had found five-year-old Tilly.

The mother-of-one, of the Wirral, Cheshire, said: "It is a complete mystery how she travelled that distance - someone must have taken her.

"I'm just glad to have her back - if only she could talk!"

CSJ’s Spring weight pink hoodies each raise £2 for Cancer Research UK.  Neither CSJ nor the manufacturers are making any profits from the sales - every penny goes to Cancer Research UK.

Handy for those days when dog walks start off warm and turn colder or start cool and then suddenly warm up, the versatile hoodie can be whipped on and off in a trice and tied around your waist when not needed.

The soft cotton, fleece lined hoodie in the brightest of bright pinks is created with twin needle stitch detailing. The double fabric hood has matching pink cords and the kangaroo pouch pocket even has a tiny hidden opening where you can tuck your headphone cord or dog treats.

With its ribbed cuffs and hem the hot pink hoodie is a certified Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP) made from 80% cotton 20% polyester.

To order visit http://www.csjk9.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=141&idcategory=15 or call 01745 710470

To mark the launch of the new 4fleas Spot-on products, Johnson's offered the chance to win stock to the value of £1,052.75 (RRP) in a special Pet Trade Xtra competition. The winner was Dapper Dogs Dundee.

To stand a chance of winning the prize, we asked you to name the decade Johnson's Veterinary Products was launched. The answer was the 1920s.

The first correct entry to be drawn out of the hat was Dapper Dogs Dundee.

When she was told of the news Tracy Burns, of Dapper Dogs Dundee, said: "That is absolutely amazing. I have just got out of hospital after an operation so this news is a great pick-me-up."