The pet trade has given PATS Sandown a massive thumbs-up with exhibitors and visitors agreeing it had been one of the best ever in the show’s nine-year history.

A total of 1,917 retailers and buyers visited the show, representing an increase of 3% on the number who attended PATS Sandown 2016.

The successful show closed with visitors and exhibitors agreeing it had been a huge success, with the event delivering an unrivalled platform for the launch of hundreds of exciting new pet product innovations.

The New Product Showcase was a busy area throughout the event, and retailers admitted they were spoiled for choice as they decided on which items to stock in their stores for the year ahead.

Exhibitors agreed the quality of visitors to their stands was exceptional this year, and felt there was a greater degree of confidence being shown.

Natures Menu’s Peter Roy said his company had experienced a brilliant show, selling over 150 freezers for their raw food products. “We’ve been flat out for the whole two days,” he admitted.

Toby Massey, co-founder of award-winning Beco Pets, said: "This year was another highly successful PATS for us, our best yet, eclipsing last year's sales, especially from the independent pet food specialist market. We took double the numbers of orders from independents, which we can only be put down to strong positive moves in the market.”

SnuggleSafe were attending their first PATS Sandown and were ecstatic to win a New Product Award with their ‘I’ll Eat My Hat’ product for small animals. Chris Kavallares said: “The response from visitors has been fantastic,” while his wife Nicky commented: “This is the best and friendliest show I’ve ever attended.”

Ken MacKinnon, of K9 Dogwash, was in agreement, saying: “This has got to be one of the best shows I’ve experienced, and I’m very happy with the response.”

Beaphar were celebrating their 75^th anniversary and the occasion drew lots of visitors to their stand. “We’ve had a great show and we’re so pleased to have marked our birthday at PATS Sandown,” said Vicky Le Fanu.

Steve Lodge, of Hertford Shelving, said: “The show has fulfilled all my expectations. It’s the perfect place to meet new and old customers, and there is always a buzz about the place.”

And Suzanne Rothman, of Pet Munchies, reported good business on her stand with an impressive amount of orders taken. “The quality of people we’ve met has been excellent.”

The mood amongst visitors was summed up by Gemma Moore, a pet buyer at Longacres Garden Centre, who said: “PATS Sandown is a must-visit event for our team. It’s an opportunity to see all the new launches under one roof and talk to important people in the industry.”

Kent Harvey, managing director of Natural Pet Remedies, said: “This is the first time I’ve visited the show and I’m impressed with the diversity of all the products. There is so much to see.”

Richard Perfitt, of Harleston and Bungay Pet Stores, has been in the pet industry for 20 years and he sees PATS as a great place for networking. “If you have an interest in the pet trade, then you have to come to PATS.”

Organiser Annie Foord said: “We love running this show for the pet industry so it is fantastic to hear that exhibitors and visitors have experienced a brilliant show.”

Date for the diary
PATS Telford takes place on September 24-25, 2017.

Unipet International was another award-winner with its innovative and distinctive Super Suet Starter Pack, and marketing manager Dawn Robinson said: “The success in the New Product Awards has definitely driven people to our stand. We couldn’t have wished for a better first day at the show.”

The Beco Pets Buyers’ Lounge was a hive of activity all day, and co-founder Toby Massey commented: “We brought along 2,000 goody bags containing poop bags and samples of our new food, and at the rate we are going we will definitely run out before the end of the second day.”

And Ray Foard, of Pet Rebellion had this to say: “I’ve really been impressed with the number and quality of visitors to our stand. We’ve taken some good orders and there has been particular interest in our Pet Travel Bag which we launched at the show.”

Forthglade launched their new Cold Pressed dog food range at the show, and joint managing director Gerard Lovell said: “Although we could have launched the product at Crufts we chose to hold it back so we could unveil it to the trade first during PATS. Day one has been a resounding success with huge interest around the launch of our new products.” 

Marriages were launching a new Royal Variety Mixed Corn range for chickens and themed their stand accordingly. Lisa Osborne said: “Our Royal Variety theme is a great way of drawing people on to our stand. We love it here and we always try to bring something new and interesting when we come.”

The show has also drawn lots of positive comments from visiting retailers and buyers.

Angel Moore, from the award winning Manchester pet store Betty & Butch, said: “This is a brilliant show, it’s just massive. It is definitely worth travelling down to see all the new launches. I came here looking for certain items and will leave with a whole lot more.”

And international visitor Stanley van Loggem from Holland said: “PATS Sandown is a lovely environment for sourcing products. The atmosphere and people are fantastic. My aim was to find some serious new contacts and I’ve achieved my goal.

PATS Sandown opens at 9.30am tomorrow (Wednesday).

GA MYLABEL has launched a further four new recipes into its own label Grain Free range and is offering 10% off all new recipes for all orders placed during PATS Sandown.

Each recipe contains freshly made delicious ingredients with no artificial colours or preservatives and over 50% meat content.

The four new recipes include:

• Adult Haddock, Sweet Potato and Parsley
• Small Breed Salmon with Trout, Sweet Potato and Asparagus
• Small Breed Chicken, Sweet Potato and Herbs
• Large Breed Puppy/Junior Salmon, Sweet Potato and Vegetables

Each recipe is available to order with your own bespoke label design and our Grain Free packaging with no minimum order.

Alternatively you can use the packaging of your choosing using the MYBRAND service depending on your order quantities.

Visit Stand L3 to find out more and for your free sample.

Contact: Tel 01257 633125, email ga.mylabel@ga-petfoodpartners.co.uk

Danish Design is showcasing lots of new products at PATS Sandown.

The new Lumberjack range offers rustic style and comfort, in a characteristic check design available in three classic colour-ways.

In addition, Danish Design will be launching its new pet cooling mattress, which contains a non-toxic cooling gel to give pets instant relief in the warmer months.

And finally, the company has some new friendly faces to add to its Toystore and a new luxurious design in the ever-popular Cat Cosy.

You can see new products from Danish Design on stand L1, together with the full range. The company will be offering 10% discount for any orders placed at the show.

Mr Johnson's Banana Niblets (6 x100g): Tasty, crunchy, banana treat for small animals – suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice. 

Mr Johnson's Carrot Niblets (6 x 80g): Tasty, nutritious carrot treat for small animals – suitable for  rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, chinchilla and degu.      

Mr Johnson's Apple Niblets (6 x 70g): Tasty, succulent apple treat for small animals – suitable for rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats and mice.

Take a look on the company's website www.mrjohnsons.co.uk. If you require any further information telephone 01476 577670.

As with all Forthglade recipes, the Cold Pressed range contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and is hypo-allergenic. The meals include 30% duck or chicken, 5% liver and 5% white fish, as well as brown rice, vegetables, fruit, omega 3 oils, vitamins, minerals and botanicals.

Unlike many dry foods on the market, cold pressed is very easy for dogs to digest as it gently breaks down in a dog’s stomach without absorbing water, making it the most natural way to feed a dog a complete dry meal.

Forthglade’s Cold Pressed comes in two recipes – Duck with Brown Rice and Chicken with Brown Rice – and can be served as a complete dry meal or mixed with any of the Forthglade wet food ranges. Available to order from April 2017, the dry food comes in 6kg and 12kg bags with an RRP of £34.99 and £59.99 respectively.


Natural Functional Treats

Forthglade’s grain free hand-baked natural treats will be available in four varieties:  There will be a training treat with cheese, a salmon treat to support joints and bones, a turkey based treat for fresh breath and a calming treat containing chicken.  All 100% natural, grain free and free from nasties.

Available in 150 gram pouches in cases of seven, the heart-shaped treats will retail at £2.99 per pouch. The treats will be available from May 2017.

Vitalin is showcasing its range of Super Premium Cat Food to the trade at PATS Sandown.

The range consists of Vitalin Kitten and Vitalin Adult Cat in two varieties chicken and salmon made in Vitalin’s own factory in Lincolnshire.

Throughout PATS the team will be running a competition on the stand to win £300 worth of Vitalin Super Premium Cat Food and all orders taken at the event for both Vitalin and Alpha Feeds products will receive a 25% discount.

Vitalin Kitten provides high quality protein using 100% British Chicken. Vitalin’s on-site nutritionists have worked carefully with veterinary assistance to further enhance the food, using probiotic FOS and MOS to support the digestive system.

Supplementary taurine is also added to promote healthy eyes and heart, as well as nucleotides to help ensure optimum growth and development for all kittens aged one to 12 months. Cranberry extract is used to support urinary tract health, whilst rosemary and citrus extracts deliver natural antioxidant properties.

Vitalin Adult Cat is available in two flavours: 100% British Chicken and 100% Scottish Salmon. These varieties contain all the benefits that are found in Vitalin Kitten as well as added glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM to aid joint health.  More than 40% chicken and salmon are used in the varieties.

This premium quality hypoallergenic food provides a complete balanced diet for all breeds of cat using only the best ingredients, sourced from within the UK wherever possible, making Vitalin the natural choice for all cats.

RRP – 1.5kg £10.99

For further information about Vitalin call +44 (0) 844 800 3347 or visit www.vitalinpetfood.co.uk

"Our core purpose has always been to help every pet owner care well for their animals by providing affordable, accessible and understandable pet care products. We help pets to live healthy, happy, long lives and their owners to reap the rewards that animal companionship brings."

Dr. Sue Huggett, Business Manager for the UK & Ireland, added: “Today, the pillars of our company remain true to our origins; Quality, Expertise, Service  and Trust. We work hard to nurture new and existing relationships, and we look forward to working alongside our customers for the next 75 years."

Beaphar is inviting retailers to joinin the celebrations at PATS Sandown on stand F13. The stand will be buzzing with activity, exclusive show deals, prize draws (for your chance to win a fully stocked WORMclear CDU & Fitbit Charge 2), cakes and more. The company will also be showcasing its core product ranges, including several new products.

Pet owners are looking for toys that prolong play while making tasty treats last longer. This challenge inspired the designers to create Qwizl, a durable and challenging dog toy that extends the life of treats such as dental chews but can also be used for all types of tasty morsels.

A continuous interior hole allows treats to extend out Flexible inner ridges grip different size treats, and the toy’s durability withstands heavy chewers. It contains side openings to release scent and taste.

All Zogoflex toys are made with an amazingly tough material that is buoyant and pliable, non-toxic, BPA and Phthalate free and FDA compliant.

Zogoflex is a recyclable plastic composite which includes recycled plastic bottles, so whilst they look and feel like rubber toys, they’re not and that’s what makes them so durable. They float, can go in the dishwasher and come with a one-time refund or replacement guarantee against dog damage.

Zogoflex is distributed in the UK by Collarways Limited www.collarways.com

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Lily’s Kitchen is launching its Great British Breakfast tin (400g), giving pet parents the opportunity to extend their special weekend breakfast to their four-legged family.

With increasing numbers of owners sharing a meal time with their pet, occasion based recipes give parents the opportunity to give an exciting complete and balanced meal to their dog, safe in the knowledge that the natural ingredients are feeding their overall health. 

Recent success of the Sunday Lunch tin (400g) showed a genuine appetite for recipes that are not only based on tasty human meals, such as Lamb Hotpot, but for recipes that help the whole family to enjoy a traditional meal time together. Breakfast is one of the nation’s favourite meal times and was a natural choice to add to the range alongside a top-seller Sunday Lunch.

The Great British Breakfast recipe is a delicious combination of mouth-watering, breakfast ingredients including venison sausage meat (which is high in protein and one of the leanest meats), haricot beans (packed with natural fibre to support a healthy heart) ham and eggs, topped with parsley for digestive support and Lily’s Kitchen’s signature healthy herb blend. 

The novel protein mix of venison sausage meat, ham and egg adds a further point of difference from the rest of the Lily’s Kitchen 400g tin range, encouraging existing shoppers to buy this recipe alongside their current repertoire while also attracting new customers into the brand.

Like all Lily’s Kitchen recipes, the ingredients in our 400g tin have been chosen for their high nutritional content, helping to not just fill their tummy but support the health of their pet.

The natural nourishment provided within helps to promote a shiny coat, healthy skin, and good digestion. The product is hypoallergenic, natural and holistic, and contains NO rendered meats, animal derivatives, added fillers, artificial flavourings, sweeteners or preservatives.  It is also grain free, helping reduce bloating and wind.

CEO and Founder Henrietta Morrison, says: “Our pets are family and deserve to be included in our favourite mealtime moments. What better way to start the day than with a hearty and wholesome breakfast made with delicious ingredients. 

"Being able to share occasions such as this with our pets is what consumers are looking for, which is why the humanisation trend is booming in the category. ”

The new Great British Breakfast recipe, RRP £2.49, is available to order from 21st March 2017 and will be sold in independent pet shops and on the Lily’s Kitchen website (www.lilyskitchen.co.uk).

ZiwiPeak’s slow, gentle, twin stage air-drying process crafts a food that is as nutrient dense and digestible as a completely raw diet but safe, clean to handle and can be stored for up to 21 months.  

All of their air-dried dog food recipes start with 98% premium New Zealand meat, organs, bone and green-lipped mussel, a great natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin. To complete the remaining part of the recipe, they hand select essential vitamins and minerals, natural kelp, parsley, chicory inulin & lecithin for a complete & balanced diet.

The diet is available to buy in 4kg, 2.5kg, 1kg and 454g bags in Beef, Lamb and Venison varieties. Two new varieties are shortly to be launched, Blue Mackerel & Lamb and Tripe & Lamb.

All of ZiwiPeak’s Moist Dog Food follows the same tasty recipe as their air-dried food but with added moisture canned in small batches. Again the food is as nutrient rich as a completely raw diet but safe, clean to handle and can be stored for up to 3 years.

The canned food now uses chickpea as a natural binder and has NO Agar or TSPP binders. The food is available in Beef, Lamb, Tripe with two new additions, Blue Mackerel  & Lamb which is rich in omega oils and Tripe & Lamb.

On the cat food front, the ZiwiPeak recipe follows the same tasty formula as the dog food. The air-dried food is available to buy in 400g bags of Beef, Lamb, Venison and a new variety, wild caught New Zealand Blue Mackerel & Lamb which is high in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. This new variety will be launched at PATS in ZiwiPeak’s new packaging and branding style.

ZiwiPeak also offers a Moist Cat Food that is canned in small batches in order to retain the moisture of the product, available in four varieties: Beef, Lamb, Venison and the new Blue Mackerel & Lamb.

ZiwiPeak is not only a good conditioning food helping to maintain a healthy skin, but is also excellent for cats that suffer with allergies, need to maintain the correct body weight  and for those cats that may suffer from digestive and renal disorders.

ZiwiPeak can be used as a complete diet or as a great alternative for cat and dog owners that feed a raw food diet for those times when it's not always convenient to prepare raw meat. ZiwiPeak is an affordable choice for cat and dog owners wanting to feed an excellent premium food to their pets.

ZiwiPeak is distributed by Natural Pet Products Ltd. For further information visit their website: www.naturalpetproductsltd.com, tel: 01926 883409 or email:sales@naturalpetproductsltd.com

“As pet owners begin to see the benefits of using certified boarding care and start to demand more from providers, we expect the Pet Boarding Scheme will contribute towards helping raise service and quality of care standards across the industry.  This will ensure a more humane outcome for pets in care around the United Kingdom and provide owners with peace of mind their pets are being treated kindly and fairly.” said SAI Global’s Regional Director of Operation for EMEA Anne Scorey.

Across the agricultural industry, SAI Global supports a wide variety of businesses to improve their animal welfare standards.  The company has two successful pet welfare quality assurance schemes already operating in the United Kingdom: Grooming Gold Standard and Pet Retailer.

Two levels of certification are available under the new Pet Boarding Scheme; a basic quality assurance level and, for those going above and beyond in terms of service deliverables, a Gold Standard level. 

Businesses achieving certification earn the right to use SAI Global’s ‘five ticks’ standards mark which SAI Global owns.  Only clients certified by SAI Global may have the privilege to display one of these very highly regarded marks. The recognition in the marketplace gives our certified clients a cutting edge over competitors who are not certified by SAI Global.

From a reputational perspective, certification provides a business’s customers with confidence in the quality and safety of the service; when customers trust a company’s services, it helps secure their ongoing business sustainability.

In addition to the reputational benefits participating in SAI Global’s Pet Boarding Scheme provides, the certification auditing process is designed to further support pet boarding businesses by:

Demonstrating dedication to pet care to meet customer expectations for a caring, clean, safe and skilled service;

• Identifying opportunities to streamline internal operations, reducing time needed to perform activities, decreasing waste, reducing procurement costs and increasing productivity;
• Ensuring all legal and regulatory operational obligations are met;
• Identifying and mitigating risks and areas for possible improvement within the business,
• Improving quality and safety of services provided; both for pets and employees.

To earn certification, an annual audit of a pet boarding business is undertaken by a UKAS independently witnessed assessor.  The audit includes a mix of onsite observation, staff interviews and paperwork checks benchmarked against set requirements.

For more information about SAI Global’s Pet Boarding Scheme or to speak to an advisor, call 01908 249950.

Animology has added to its multi-award winning product range by launching a unique colour enhancing shampoo – True Colours.

True Colours is a specially formulated shampoo that enhances the full spectrum of colours within a dog’s coat.

Specialist shampoos for white or black dogs are widely available, however, Animology believe that True Colours, which utilises the latest developments in formulation chemistry, is the first dog shampoo to improve the radiance of all dog coats regardless of hair colour or mix of colours.

Group55’s Managing Director, Stephen Turner, commented: “We are thrilled to be launching yet another industry first that delivers meaningful innovation to our sector.

"Following the global success of our unique ‘Fox Poo’ shampoo it is testimony to our R&D programme that we can launch another ‘game changer’ in such a competitive market sector.

"All our consumer research suggests True Colours will quickly become a best seller which means our retail partners can confidently stock the shampoo in the knowledge that it will sell.”

The news of the new addition to the Animology range coincides with the vibrant re-brand of the full Animology range that was revealed last week.

Animology True Colours is available in: 250ml SRP £5.50

For more information, or to order visit www.animology.co.uk. Alternatively email sales@group55.co.uk.

Award-winning UK company WOOF&BREW are to extend their range of healthy herbal teas, tonics and treats for dogs.

The company are introducing Pawsecco, a healthy herbal ‘wine’ suitable for both dogs and cats.

This product has been prompted by the fantastic response to Bottom Sniffer beer (launched last year), selling over 100,000 bottles so far, as well as many customer requests for cat products.

Co-founder and Managing Director, Steve Bennett, commented “Our customers love the idea of having a drink with their four-legged best friends and Pawsecco offers another lovely, healthy product alongside our doggy beer, Bottom Sniffer. Being suitable for cats too means the experience can also be shared with our feline friends, and offers owners of both dogs and cats the experience of a ‘family night in’."

WOOF&BREW’s range of healthy, herbal teas and tonics, which also now have an international presence, are proving highly successful nationwide in an extensive range of pet specialist outlets across the UK.

With seven blends available, including Anxiety, Skin&Coat, Senior and Ha-Pee Lawns (specifically designed to reduce urine burns on the lawn), all blends have been specifically designed to help with a range of conditions in dogs.

WOOF&BREW's range is being showcased at PATS Sandown.

Info: www.woofandbrew.com

Following demand from customers, Johnson’s Veterinary Products has introduced a new larger size of its popular Aloe Vera Shampoo, which is part of the best selling range of shampoos and grooming range for dogs and cats

Aloe VeraA Shampoo contains moisturising and soothing extracts of Aloe Vera, together with vitamin extracts (including vitamins A, E and F). It helps to condition and nourish the coat, moisturises the skin and helps to control flaky skin conditions, and leaves a soft lustrous finish with a pleasant fragrance and is suitable for all breeds

Like all Johnson’s range of  grooming aids, Aloe Vera Shampoo is kind and gentle to coat and skin and has been developed without cruelty to animals. It is attractively packaged for on-shelf impact, in easy to hold bottles with one handed flip-top caps.

• Code G076  Aloe Vera Shampoo 200ml   RRP £3.35 
• Code G077 Aloe Vera Shampoo 400ml   RRP £4.65
• Code G064 Aloe Vera Shampoo 5 Litres Trade £16.99

WildWash has introduced two new natural flea repellent products to its range.

The company has spent the last year researching into natural ingredients with insect repellent qualities. It has used ingredients from four continents that have been chosen as the most effective insect repelling botanicals in their country of origin.

Combining these together has enabled WildWash to create an effective natural Anti Flea Shampoo for dogs and a powerful natural Flea and Bug Repellent for dogs and horses.

The WildWash Pro Anti Flea Shampoo for Dogs has a revolutionary blend of plants and herbs. With ingredients sourced from all over the world that include Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Lemongrass, they work together to help deter fleas, flies, mites and ticks.

The WildWash Pro Flea and Bug Repellent is for use on dogs and horses. It contains a blend of essential oils known for their flea repellent properties which includes Horsetail, Eucalyptus and Nettle. The Horsetail and Nettle also help to condition and brighten the coat. It can be applied freely to skin and coat to deter fleas, flies, mites, ticks and mosquitoes.

• Dog Rocks – 100% natural prevention & cure to pet urine burn marks on grass, shrubs & hedging.  Sold through Podium Pet Products in Europe & North America.
• Pet Remedy – The only natural solution to stress & anxiety in all household pets.  Sold through Podium Pet Products in North America.
• Torus Water Bowl - A travel friendly watering system that auto refills and filters water without the need for batteries or power and comes in 1L or 2L variants.  Sold through Podium Pet Products in Europe.
• PetproBio – A natural prebiotic supplement for your pet’s overall health and wellbeing.
• Sold through Podium Pet Products in Europe.
• Pet Angel - Stylish antibacterial grooming tools for all pets designed & produced by Royal and Celebrity hairdresser Richard Ward.  Sold through Podium Pet Products in Europe.
• Non-Tip Feeder – Safe, durable and stackable feeding solution for your horse.  Sold through Podium Pet Products in Europe.

The company has experienced a rapid change in a short time and continue to grow.  They won a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in 2016.  Podium Pet Products is owned by three ex GB athletes who have transferred their skills from sport to business; Andrew Hine and Nick Evans having represented GB during their careers playing International Polo and Carina Evans having represented GB as a World Cup Skeleton athlete.

The new name is effective and implemented immediately.  For more details about their products, visit www.podiumpetproducts.com or come and see them at PATS Sandown at stand number F18 from March 21-22, 2017.