The pet food market is a prime example of the hypocrisy of the large, multinational ‘Big Food’ companies, claims Guy Blaskey, the founder of Pooch & Mutt.

According to Blaskey, yet another multinational is trying to claw back some of the decreasing market shares of its brands with the launch of a new product in the UK.

The brand in question claims to have a 'commitment to clean'. They say that a pet’s food 'energizes them from the inside out' and that the recipes are “simple, purposeful and trustworthy - made of real, recognizable non-GMO ingredients'. This stinks of hypocrisy, says Blaskey.

He goes on to say that it is not an independent company, it is a division of a multi-national. "If the company cared about ingredients being 'real' and 'recognisable', then why not apply it to all pet products that they make?"

He says that an even bigger hypocrisy is about to hit the pet food market.

"One of the most important issues at the moment is the environment and the recyclability of packaging. Pet food pouches are notoriously difficult to recycle. 

"The solution would be working with TerraCycle, a company who can recycle this difficult-to-recycle packaging. Pooch & Mutt, along with a few other pet food companies have been in discussions with Terracycle about launching a national recycling scheme for pouches. However, one ‘Big Pet Food’ company have swooped in with their deep pockets and signed a 2-year exclusivity deal to prohibit other companies working with TerraCycle and offering to recycle for their packaging. 

"This is not a call out to Big Pet Food to stop their acquisitions or to not use companies like Terracycle to offer to recycle. This is a call out, to be honest, and be ethical.

"If these companies care about the environment, why prohibit other companies from using a recycling scheme? Why not work with all other manufacturers to create a national programme to help customers recycle all brands of pet food pouches, instead of just one?

"If these companies care about high-quality ingredients in food, why not apply it to all brands?

Guy Blaskey's full comments can be read by clicking here

Head to the Primus stand (G35) at PATS Telford to see the new craze for 2019 – the  Bobble Buddies – from Primus, specialists in handcrafted gifts for the house and garden.

Five of the cutest guys and gals you could wish to meet!

• Sammy the Schnauzer
• Billy the Bulldog
• Darcey the Dachshund
• Pablo the Pug
• Bonnie the Basset Hound

Cute, adorable, charming and delightful, with lifelike colours and “Bobbling” head, people are guaranteed to fall in love and want to adopt them all!

Totally unique to Primus, The Bobble Buddies are going to be the New Craze for 2019.

Contact:

A Perry Ltd. (Primus)

Doulton Road, Cradley Heath West Midlands B64 5QW

T: 01384 414069

W: www.primus.co.uk

E: sales@primus.co.uk

See us PATS Telford, Stand G35

An inventor of cat products will feature in BBC2’s hit TV programme Dragons’ Den this Sunday at 8pm.

Peter Hill, the man behind Petvictus, will be seen presenting his pet inventions to the Dragons, including Katphone (an ultrasonic whistle that calls a cat home) and Pedaldish (a lunchbox for cats).

If you can’t wait for Sunday you can view a clip of Peter’s presentation by clicking here

Cotswold RAW sausages have been withdrawn from this October’s National Sausage Awards on account of the fact the food ‘is not for human consumption'.

A spokesperson for Cotswold RAW said: "We were clearly very excited to receive our unique entry code to the competition a few weeks back, and whilst we made it very clear on all our correspondence that our sausages couldn’t be consumed by humans, we were keen to benefit from the positive sausage aura that always surrounds such a prestigious event.

"The point of our entry was two-fold – to pronounce our appreciation for fine sausages (dogs are just as enthusiastic as humans) and the cool by association tie in with an organisation that actively showcases the often under-appreciated premium credentials of a fine banger. 

"In recent years pet foods have been mirroring human trends with the growth of artisan providers creating tastier, more ‘nutritionally proud’ alternatives to the usual multinational fayre."

The RSPCA range of pet products has been a great success on the RSW International stand at the Glee exhibition, NEC Birmingham, including winning a prestigious New Product Award.

The slow-feeding pet bowl, which won the award in the Wildlife and Pets category, has an intricate maze design. This encourages a pet to eat and drink at a slower pace, helping to encourage better digestion.

The rounded rubber bottom prevents the bowl from skidding along the floor and the movement adds another challenge for a pet. The bowl features high sides to prevent mess and comes apart for easy cleaning.

The company's Fetch & Treat Ball Game was also shortlisted in the New Product Awards, a clear indication that this RSPCA range is a winner for RSW Inetrenational.

Five generations of expertise in animal nutrition and 100% Irish ingredients are at the heart of Go Native – a new complete range of grain-free dog food, treats and dental sticks from Connolly’s Red Mills.

The Connolly family has been making animal feeds in Co Kilkenny, Ireland since 1908 and has used that know-how and commitment to quality to create this ultra-premium, grain-free range.

Go Native has been developed by nutritionists and vets at Connolly’s Red Mills’ purpose-built facility and crafted in their kitchens. Go Native is a complete diet for all dogs, whatever their size, breed or age.

 When only the best is good enough – sourcing the finest Irish ingredients

Connolly’s Red Mills are very particular about using trusted suppliers and only the best, carefully  sourced, natural ingredients are selected for Go Native. 

Fully traceable and sustainably sourced, Go Native food contains 70% meat from a single meat source  – either organic herring or salmon or free-run chicken and turkey  – combined with superfoods like v kale, spinach, broccoli and carrot.

Connolly’s Red Mills’ stringent quality control goes a step further– they even make the poultry feed that’s given to the duck and chicken they select for Go Native.

Recipes include Duck with Apple & Cranberry, Organic Herring with Carrot & Kale, Organic Salmon with Spinach & Ginger and Chicken with Potato & Broccoli.

Go Native grain free meaty treats contain 30% meat and come in four varieties: salmon, herring, duck and turkey. They are cold formed  to ensure all of the nutrients are locked in and suitable for dogs over six months.

Go Native dental super sticks have a unique rough texture and spiral shape to reduce tartar build-up and the formation of plaque and come in two varieties: Carrot & Sweet Potato or Pumpkin & Broccoli. The dental super sticks also contain ground peppermint for fresh breath.

The utmost care and attention to detail at every step

All ingredients are tested in Connolly’s Red Mills’ on-site laboratory and the entire range is grain-free, reducing the risk of allergy. Go Native also contains no wheat, maize, soya or corn, so is 100% gluten-free as well as free from genetically modified ingredients.

“A century of know-how, care and attention at every step has gone into creating this exceptional dog food range,” said sales and marketing director Gareth Connolly. “We’re proud that Go Native is produced using the highest quality, sustainably-sourced, Irish ingredients.”

Go Native Dog food is packed using Connolly’s Red Mills’ unique Nutrient Fresh Management System.

To celebrate the launch of Go Native, Red Mills hosted a special dinner party for some very special four-legged guests. They all thoroughly enjoyed themselves, plates completely cleared with not a morsel of Go Native left behind. The meal was then polished off with a tooth-cleansing Go Native Dental Superfood stick before the guests headed home with goodie/doggie bags.

Check it out here: https://www.redmills.ie/products/pets

To find out more or to register your interest in becoming  a stockist, visit www.gonativedogfood.com

Thejoyofplants.co.uk has selected five pet-friendly plants for October especially for the owners of dogs, cats, rabbits and birds who sometimes fancy a little nibble on something green. 

Chlorophytum (spider plant), Cyperus (umbrella plant), Hordeum (cat grass), Beaucarnea (elephant’s foot) or Bambusa (bamboo) are all attractive to look at - including for those who don’t have pets - and safe for our furry and feathered friends. 

What to look for when buying Pet-friendly plants 

• The pot size, structure and volume of spider plant, umbrella plant, elephant's foot, bamboo and cat grass must be in proportion. 
• Particularly look at the leaf tips: they should not be brown or damaged. 
• Pet-friendly plants must be offered with damp soil. 
• The plant must be free of pests and diseases. 

Range 

• Cyperus: the variety 'alternifolius' is very well known, but the cultivar 'Zumula' is also very suitable as a pet-friendly plant. 
• Beaucarnea has a sturdy stem with leaves that attractively bends backwards. The young variety that only has a tuber, is called Nolina. The trunk and tuber can cope with cats that think it’s a very fine scratching post. Felines often find the leaves irresistible.  
• Chlorophytum comosum with its variegated fronds has a few cultivars which differ somewhat in terms of the leaf colouring. The most common is ‘Variegatum’. Comosum means ‘crested’ and refers to the crests which are found on the plant’s runners.  
• Bamboo in the living room is usually Bambusa vulgare, with sturdy yellow canes on which the bamboo leaves grow.
• Hordeum (cat grass) is a mini field of barley in a pot, container or bowl. It grows upwards in a compact way, provides (house) cats with folic acid and looks like a comical dark green tall lawn. 

Care tips for customers 

• All Pet-friendly plants like a position between light and partial shade without direct sunlight. 
• The plants need a lot of water. The soil should not be allowed to dry out.
• A bit of plant food safe to use on edible plants, once a month keeps the plant strong and healthy. 
• If a cat or dog has got a little over-playful with the plant, damaged leaves can be cut off. The plant will produce new ones. 
• In the News: Pet-friendly plants

World Animal Day (4 October) is an excellent opportunity to highlight Pet-friendly plants, but since people will be spending more time indoors as the temperatures drop, this is a lovely range of plants for pet owners to consider. 

Thejoyofplants.co.uk is an initiative of The Flower Council of Holland and lets consumers experience that you feel better with plants around you.

Almo Nature, the pet food produced with natural ingredients that returns 100% of its profits to cats, dogs and biodiversity, will be joining Vital Pet on the Vital Gallery at PATS Telford 2018 to demonstrate its support for the trade’s leading wholesaler.
 

Almo Nature will be offering exclusive deals that won’t be available anywhere else. The deals include a 25% discount* available from 23^rd to 28^th of September 2018 on HFC pet food range for cats and dogs, which includes more than 70 references, as well as the new Alternative recipes wet & dry, all packed with the best quality ingredients originally fit for human consumption and free from meat meal or dehydrated meat.
 

Customers who will place their transfer orders for Almo Nature at Vital Gallery on Sept 23^rd and Sept 24^th2018 will also benefit of an extra 10% discount** that will be applied to all their future Almo Nature’ orders via Vital Pet from October 1^st until December 31^st2018. 

*for orders including min 5 assorted references (max 10 cases per single reference)

** Cumulable with other Almo Nature offers available via Vital Pet. 

Visit Almo Nature in the Vital Gallery at PATS Telford. 

A lot can happen in a year and that is certainly the case for Stewart Irvine, Co-founder along with his business partner, David Judd of new ethical treats company, Wild Ocean Omega3 Fish Snacks Ltd., trading as Woofs.

Since starting the business in July 2017 and officially launching in February 2018, the firm has now firmly established itself in the pet treat market, with its ethically sourced range of fish-based snacks.

Both Stewart and David are based at the firm’s headquarters in Surrey but the treats are manufactured in the UK at their plant in Cornwall and at their other facility in Estonia. Woofs is now set to launch further new products in the dog snack range later this year and is developing fish-based pet food recipes, working alongside leading pet nutritionist, Moddie Lambert.

WOOFS is one of the only few UK pet food companies to hold the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certificate, which means that all the fish that goes into the manufacture of the treats is from fully traceable and sustainable sources and that the WOOFS’ fishery has been independently assessed on its specific impacts to wild fish populations and the ecosystems surrounding the areas where the fish are caught.

The treats are packed full Omega 3 and have many health benefits for dogs. In addition, WOOFS accesses all of the raw material used in its manufacturing bases, ensuring that the best quality fish is utilised in all of its current and future products.

Stewart explains the inspiration behind the business,

“About a year ago a friend of mine came for lunch and brought her dog Chewie. She was given fish skin (s) as a snack. I was aware that fish was being used in a number of dog food products but I hadn’t understood it was SO popular.

"Having spent many years in the fishing industry buying and selling fish for human consumption all around the world including the USA, Canada, Sweden, Russia and Japan, I was looking for a change of direction and I started investigating what types of fish and ways of manufacture, were being used in the dog food industry. From my initial research, it was clear there was a lot of mislabelling, the narratives were ambiguous at best, wonderful words such as sustainable were being misused and very little information was given about the place and method of manufacture.

"Coming from the human side of the fish business, I envisaged that the pet industry will go the same way, with regard to labelling, so together with a business partner, we formed Wild Ocean Omega3 Fish Snacks Ltd., to trade under the anachronym WOOFS.

"We decided to be the first in the industry to provide the consumer with full traceability and provenance. We agreed that we would, whenever possible, manufacture MSC accredited products in a plant in the UK, to give consumers complete peace of mind, as to where the goods come from. When it wasn’t possible, we’d work together with our partners to have their facilities MSC accredited.

After we have established our fish based treats and snacks, we intend to expand the treat portfolio to 8-10 products and then start manufacturing wet food in cans and/or pouches. We are also looking at the fast growing raw food sector of the pet food market in which Moddie Lambert, our pet food nutritionist has a particular expertise.  

Moddie has been heavily involved in developing recipes with tripe as the base. Tripe has well documented qualities with plenty of enzymes, good bacteria and nutrients.  Fish will be the main ingredient (s) given WOOFS expertise in procuring first class products. The company is already speaking to potential manufacturers and distributors in Russia and Hong Kong/China.”

The company wants to bring top quality fish products to the attention of the discerning dog owners. Fish has all the natural ingredients/properties to enhance a dog’s health. Woofs’ Cod Fish Fingers and Cod Cubes are made from 100% cod skins. Packed full of  Omega 3, an essential fatty acid that must be supplied in the diet because it cannot be created by the body, these tasty treats help support healthy vision, joint mobility and can help heal sore, flaky, damaged or itchy skin.

The brittle nature and rough texture of the fish skin, is also great for reducing tartar and plaque, which creates healthier teeth, gums and a fresher breath. Fish is a great, easily digestible protein source for dogs and is ideal as a snack for overweight dogs who are trying to lose weight or dogs with allergies or intolerances. It also makes an excellent dog training treat so it is ideal for use in the show or agility ring and can also be used to train gun and working dog breeds.

Other products in the range include Cod Cookies which are made from 85% cod and 15% potato as well as Dried Sprats  which like all the other products in the Woofs range are 100% natural and Hypoallergenic. Woofs’ products are great for dog owners who feed raw as they are a perfect complement to the diet.

The  WOOFS’ range is perfect for retailers to stock. It fully complements the raw food diet as the treats are 100% natural and low in fat. They can also be used as a topper, to enhance the nutritional quality of cheaper diets, as in the new Granola product that has just been launched, which can be sprinkled on top of wet, raw and dry diets.

The WOOFS’ range has been veterinary approved, and the firm works alongside vet Imogen Moore, who acts as an additional adviser to their customers. She has appeared on Channel 4 with Alan Davies. Imogen is currently working as a Veterinary surgeon at the RSPCA Harmsworth Hospital.

Woofs is rapidly expanding its retail base having already secured a number of stockists and will shortly be listed on the Ocado online shopping site. If you are interested in becoming a stockist fill in the form at: www.woofs.co.uk/pages/stockists or email Steve Nile at s.nile@woofs.co.uk

For people, their home is their safe-space. The place where they automatically feel relaxed, comfortable and reassured.

This is also incredibly important for our cats. Unfortunately, they can’t tell us when something in their environment is troubling them or making feel nervous or uncomfortable. Instead, this discomfort is displayed in a number of ways which can be very distressing to cat-owners. This results in both cat and owner feeling their home is not the relaxed, comfortable and reassuring environment it should be.

Help cat-owners restore the calm, stress-free atmosphere to their home with the NEW Beaphar CatComfort Calming Range. Using pheromones which are clinically proven to promote feelings of reassurance and prevent unwanted behaviour in cats, the Beaphar CatComfort Calming Range provides your customers with simple, easy-to-use products, which offer a long-term solution to reducing cats’ stress and preventing unwanted behaviour around the home and while travelling.

Pheromones are the invisible markers left by cats to mark an area as a safe, comfortable space, and are often associated with feelings of reassurance and happiness. Cats leave these pheromone markers by rubbing up against objects or people, which creates a positive connection between the cat and the object, space or person. When a cat feels comfortable and reassured, they are less likely to exhibit problem behaviour, such as scratching or spraying.

By using a synthetic replica of these pheromones in the Beaphar CatComfort Calming Range, it gives cats an indication that the area is a ‘safe-space’, helping them feel more comfortable and settled, and reducing problem behaviour.

The range includes the Beaphar CatComfort Calming Diffuser – Starter Kit, an easy-to-use plug in diffuser which promotes feelings of reassurance and prevents unwanted behaviour for up to 30 days. The handy Beaphar CatComfort 30 Day Refill is also available, meaning your customers can use this product all year-round, and guaranteeing repeat sales.

Also available is Beaphar CatComfort Calming Spray, which is ideal for use around the home and while travelling. Long journeys, and visits to the vets or catteries can be a stressful experience for cats, so spraying the inside of cat.

To support the products in-store and encourage customers to lift them off the shelves, Beaphar has created eye-catching point-of-sale items, including an informative consumer leaflet, A4 and A3 posters, wobblers and a striking counter display unit.

Alongside this, we have also produced digital assets which can be used across social media and your own website. Simply log in to our Trade Zone, and download them from the Media and Marketing Tab.

For more information about the NEW Beaphar CatComfort Range, please contact your local Sales Executive or call our award-winning Customer Service Team on 0333 0066236 or email info@uk.beaphar.com.

The University of Exeter and the British Trust Ornithology (BTO) recently released some research looking at the feeding habits of wild birds.

The research found that larger species such as house sparrows and greenfinches monopolised the best food and spent longer feeding than smaller birds. With 43% of UK households feeding the birds, research in this area is important as it highlights that we need to consider not only what we feed but also how we provide this food.

To ensure that all the birds in the garden benefit, the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) provides the following advice:

* Different species of birds have different requirements. Some species are ground feeders (e.g. Robin and Dunnock) while others prefer to feed from hanging feeders (e.g. Blue Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker). There is a wide range of products in the market suitable for hanging feeders, bird tables and ground feeding. Depending on what products you buy for your garden, you will attract certain types of birds.

* If you have a variety of different bird species visiting, the ideal solution is to provide a variety of feeders and food.

* In an ideal situation, you should manage your garden to provide a source of natural foods, through lawns, shrubs and flowerbeds as well as providing supplementary food in bird feeders. This way your garden will be visited by a range of different birds all year round.

Although many birds in nature can find their own food, research shows that providing supplementary food can make a difference in their lives. Some birds may not be able to survive the natural shortage of food during which can occur any time of the year. For more advice on feeding the wild birds including hygiene tips, what not to feed and the needs over the different seasons, please visit: https://www.pfma.org.uk/wild-birds

Read the research

https://www.exeter.ac.uk/news/research/title_679460_en.html

Comfort Zone Calming Vests are now available in the UK via Interpet, who have obtained the exclusive distribution rights to the brand.

The Comfort Zone Calming Vest is designed to provide comfort for dogs in stressful situations such as coping with thunder storms, fireworks, or a trip to the vet. 

With its complete Comfort Compression Technology the vest provides gentle pressure that mimics swaddling to help reduce stress and make the dog feel safer. Available in five sizes (to fit dogs from 3kg to 50kg) the vest is adjustable and made from a soft breathable material that is machine washable.  

They are supplied with simple to follow fitting instructions and a video guide to measuring prior to purchase is available at www.comfortzone.com

Speaking about the addition of the brand to Interpet’s product portfolio Jason Booker Commercial manager said “We’re delighted to be able to offer our clients another leading brand that has to date not been available in the UK. The Comfort Zone Calming Vest is a quality product that complements the current wellness products being offered by our other brands."

The vests are available to order now from Interpet in time to meet pre: ‘bonfire night’ sales opportunities.

Award-winning Wiltshire-based fresh raw pet food company, Poppy’s Picnic will be showcasing its new range of freezers and exciting show offers at PATS Telford.

The new vibrantly-branded freezers are designed to give a pop of pink to any pet retail store and are sure to attract the attention of customers.

There are five freezer sizes for retailers to chose from:

• Three Talisman chest freezers available in 800 x 694 x 850mm, 1239 x 694 x 850mm and 1509 x 694 x 850mm sizes
• Or, if space is at a premium, two Pegasus upright freezers offer the perfect solution - a single door, 670 x 700 x 1985mm and a double door version, 1220 x 700 x 1985mm.

Each version bears the distinctive Poppy’s Picnic pink branding featuring Chief Executive Dog Poppy and have been designed to make raw feeding appear fun, attractive and accessible.

Poppy’s Picnic recipes are lovingly prepared by 4^th generation Wiltshire butchers who supply the fresh meat from their own abattoir - this means 100% traceability and makes the supply chain minimal. All their meals score 5 out of 5 on the All About Dog Food website and there are over 200 glowing reviews for Poppy’s Picnic on Google and Facebook. The brand is supported by a comprehensive PR and marketing campaign in the UK and Poppy’s Picnic is the first UK raw food company to distribute to supermarkets in China and Hong Kong.

Commenting on the aims of the business, Dylan said,

“We want every cat and dog in the UK, and beyond, to have access to the best quality fresh, raw meals - the closest to what they would eat in the wild. We have created convenient food to cover all ages and types of dog to encourage dog owners to try a fresher way to feed and will soon be launching our first cat food range.

"Our core, easy-to-feed COMPLETE range is specially formulated to improve the health of active dogs, and we are constantly innovating. Our industry-first Meatballs are perfect for smaller dogs and those that want to introduce a little fresh to kibble. Our ENHANCED meals have added superfoods to support immunity, joints, digestion and energy levels, and our ‘food with a purpose’ EXPERT range includes the world’s first Puppy Follow-On Paste. We also offer a tasty range of air dried raw bites and bones.”

Poppy’s Picnic was recently awarded the quality assured Made in Britain marque which is accredited to businesses selling goods that have been manufactured or have undergone a final substantial change in Britain. Accolades continue to pour in for the innovative company.  

Following their ‘Start-up of the Year’ win at the Wiltshire Business Awards, they have been nominated in the ‘Best Rural Start-Up’ category at the Amazon-sponsored Rural Business Awards South West, and three of their product ranges have been nominated for ‘Pet Product of the Year’ in the PetQuip Awards and are entered in the PATS New Product Showcase.

They have also been nominated for the ‘Start-up Business of the Year’ at the 2018 Business Leader Awards and finally, hot off the press, Dylan Watkins, Founder of Poppy’s Picnic, has been nominated for the ‘Scale-Up Entrepreneur Award’ for the Wales and South West region in the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

As well as being able to discuss exclusive trade offers and freezer deals for the show, visitors to the Poppy’s Picnic stand (H11) will also have the opportunity to win a free freezer packed full of their best sellers in a prize draw competition.

Royal Canin's portfolio is once again growing, with its new canine wet range, offering dog owners the opportunity to mix feed Size Health Nutrition dry and wet formats; that nutritionally align, providing a complete diet without compromising on size health nutrition benefits.

Wet dog food sales are currently limited in the Specialist Pet Trade with greater prominence seen in the Grocery channel – yet there is huge growth opportunity for wet food with the category’s current worth of £314 Million – and still growing fast.

“Wet food is still under-stocked in the Specialist Pet sector yet research shows that 62% of dog owners feed wet, but only 20% of Specialist Trade shoppers buy dry and wet together^.. The new wet offering is the ideal way to take advantage of this, appealing to both existing dry pet food purchasers but also encouraging new owners to buy in to the brand” says Jason Comber, Royal Canin's Category Manager.

The new nine product range is available for Mini, Medium and Maxi dogs in PUPPY, ADULT and AGEING in a chunks in gravy format, and can be easily placed on shelf next to the dry counterpart –the alignment in packaging highlights compatibility, and ease navigation on shelf.

Ben Hurley, Royal Canin's Retail Manager says: “We believe this is a great opportunity for our Specialist Pet Trade partners to upsell wet alongside dry, adding more value to shopping baskets but also providing pet owners with a,  complete and tailored nutritional solution for their pet that they can be assured does not compromise on nutritional precision.”

Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Wet pouches are now available to order, accompanied by a variety of in-store point of sale to support Retail Partners in communicating the new range to customers. 

For more information, please contact your Royal Canin business manager, or call 0845 606 9980.

Manchester-based luxury pet bedding manufacturer Scruffs has announced two product additions to its increasingly popular Noodle Dry Mat.

Scruffs Noodle Drying Mitts  and Towels are extremely absorbent and use the same proven materials as the best-selling Noodle Dry Mat, which has been on sale since 2015.

Micro-fibre chenille is used to produce the 'noodles'. The micro-fibre material is made from millions of textured, ultrafine strands woven together to achieve a surface area that is much greater than the actual size of the product. This vast surface area gives each product its’ super-absorbent properties, soaking up water just like a sponge, as well as improving airflow, this means drying time is greatly reduced.

A spokesperson for the brand, said: “We are excited to finally reveal our new Noodle Drying Mitts & Towels, after being in development for the last 6 months. We are confident both products will add value to the current Drying collection and will offer consumers more variety in this category.”

Scruffs is expected to launch their new Noodle Drying Mitts & Towels at the beginning of September 2018. More information can be found at www.petslovescruffs.com or via contacting sales@petslovescruffs.com.   

For more information on any Scruffs® new products, or for general enquiries, please contact the Scruffs marketing team on marketing@petslovescruffs.com or via phone using +44 (0) 161 702 5060.

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The Pet Industry Federation has announced that its Education Manager, Vicky Skinner, has been appointed by the Department for Education (DfE) as the Chair of a new employer panel designing the content of the new set of T Levels within the Animal Welfare and Management sector.

Vicky will be seconded to the DfE by PIF for this assignment, but will still be working for PIF.

T levels are new technical study programmes for 16 to 19 year olds that include a qualification and an industry placement that will sit alongside apprenticeships and A Levels within a reformed skills training system. T levels have been designed to create the skills revolution needed to meet the needs of the UK economy and are being developed in partnership with government, business and education.

Commenting on her appointment, Vicky said: “I am delighted to be chairing the Animal Care and Management T Level employer panel. I have worked in further education for 13 years and more recently with a wide range of animal care employers through my role at the Pet Industry Federation. As a result, I can see the difference vocational education can make to a young person’s life and also how it can support the industry, providing individuals with practical skills and knowledge as well as other transferable skills essential when working with animals. The T Level development is an exciting opportunity to help shape vocational education for the next generation ensuring it meets the needs of an evolving sector.”

The other Animal Care and Management panel members are: Karen Raine, Managing Director, Country Farm Stud Ltd; Jessica Berry, Head of Animal Management Faculty, Hadlow College; Joanne Needham, Professional Development Manager, Royal Society of Biology; Stephen Goward, Development Manager, Dogs Trust; and Vicky May, Animal Welfare & Therapy Manager, Moulton College.

Nigel Baker PIF CEO said: “I am delighted that Vicky has been appointed to such prestigious position in order to help future generations learn about animal management. Vicky is ideally placed to chair the panel with her experience in college life, apprenticeships and course design.”

The introduction of T levels aims to streamline technical education and focus on developing skills that sit within 15 industry routes. The first T levels will be introduced in September 2020 with full roll-out intended from September 2023.

In Vogue Pets has often been asked if it had a trade website, especially with its growing collection of premium brands. In response to the demand In Vogue Pets has launched a new trade website,  www.invoguepetstrade.co.uk

Understanding how valuable time is for their customers they have made the website easy to use from any PC, tablet or mobile device, it's extremely intuitive and has a live feed to the stock in their warehouse to make ordering as trouble free as possible.

Retailers can now set up a login and then go online to view products, place orders  and review their orders history. Invoices are produced and emailed automatically as soon as the order has been shipped.

In Vogue Pets is the distributor of FuzzYard, P.L.A.Y. & Croci and has its own range of luxury beds and blankets. It will be launching Tre Ponti in the UK very soon.

Web address:  www.invoguepetstrade.co.uk   

Trade email:  tradesales@invoguepets.co.uk  

Telephone: 01923 853484

Ferrets are obligate carnivores with a short digestive tract so CSJ have developed their new CSJ Ferret food in a chicken and salmon based recipe to meet the specific nutrient requirements of adult ferrets.

A complete diet providing good levels of quality protein and fat to help maintain body condition and support stamina when working, its crunchy kibble also helps to keep teeth clean.

Breeders will be please to find that the kibble mixes easily with warm water to produce an appetising aroma so it can be fed soaked in this way to young ferrets until 16 weeks old.

The fixed formula of CSJ Ferret ensures ultimate consistency to avoid tummy upsets and their expert nutritionists have added taurine and increased the vitamin E and lecithin content to improve fat stability and absorption.

Due to ferrets having a short digestive tract CSJ suggest feeding the total amount of food per day on a free choice basis so they are never left for long periods with no food and, as it is complete and balanced, CSJ Ferret removes the need to feed fresh meat, so reducing the problem of fly contamination.

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

The Royal Veterinary College has announced a four-year collaboration with Felcana, an intelligent pet care start-up based in London, to support the continued research into pet traits and behaviours.

This partnership will enable the two organisations to combine their expertise in a range of exciting pet wearable health projects and enhance the levels of data related to tracking pet behaviours, habits and activities. The initiative is intended to result in an improvement in the welfare of animals in the future.

The collaboration will pool expertise at the RVC, along with the world-leading facilities of the Structure and Motion Laboratory, with the state-of-the-art artificial intelligence that Felcana has to offer. It is expected that the integration of these products and skills will help to predict, simplify and treat over 90% of health issues facing dogs and cats.

Felcana’s Digital Pet Health Platform uses a bespoke modelling process which revolutionises how owners monitor their dog and cat health. Through complex scientific algorithms, which can interpret a pet’s behavioural patterns such as drinking, eating and sleeping, owners are now able to track their pets needs through their smart phones. This technology is hoped to provide effective relief to conditions, such as arthritis, diabetes and kidney failure, at an earlier stage to minimise the pain for the animal.

In parallel to the RVC announcement, Felcana is launching a fundraising campaign on leading equity crowdfunding platform, Seedrs, to raise £150,000. This campaign will help support the continued development and rollout of the Digital Pet Health Platform and goes live on Monday 10th September 2018. Please find more information at: https://www.seedrs.com/

Richard Piercy, Professor of Comparative Neuromuscular Disease at the RVC, said:

“We are very excited about this new collaboration with Felcana. We are confident that this new venture will improve prognoses made by vets in the future because pet owners will be more active in responding to changes in their pet's behaviours. The data will also aid vets in identifying health conditions earlier and will therefore improve the welfare of animals altogether."

Monica Daley, Senior Lecturer in Locomotor Biomechanics at the RVC, said:

“This is an exciting opportunity to leverage our expertise in comparative animal biomechanics and behaviour to develop new algorithms to measure a pet’s activity and behaviour patterns over time. Such approaches have enormous potential to improve pet welfare, allowing owners and clinicians to make informed decisions about care and treatment.”

Dr. James Andrews, Founder and CEO of Felcana, said:

“Digital advancements in the pet care industry have been lagging behind those in human healthcare; vets are often reliant on the abilities of observant pet owners to spot subtle changes in behaviours and habits. This exciting collaboration is therefore essential to improving innovative veterinary technology that will lead to more accurate diagnoses.”

Chris Taylor has been appointed as the new President of the Society of Master Saddlers.

Well-known throughout the industry and with a successful career running Saddlers’ Den in Southport, Merseyside, Chris is a Master Saddler and has run the business for 22 years.

Chris will work closely with the Chief Executive, Hazel Morley, and the Executive Committee, along with the sub-committees over the coming year and was appointed to this new position at the Society of Master Saddlers’ AGM held at The Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.

Chris takes over from Sue Norton, with Ted Boggis moving into the Vice President’s role. 

A former computer analyst, Chris has owned horses and ridden for many years and before moving into the industry full time enjoyed leather work as a hobby.

Said Chris: “I am very much looking forward to my year as Society of Master Saddlers’ President, it is a great honour and no doubt will be very busy but I am sure it will be an exciting 12 months.

“As a bench saddler I hit, stitch or cut it and am passionate about the work carried out.

“Our industry is a very hands’ on, traditional style trade yet we are living in a fast moving, highly technical world.

“More and more people are coming to understand and acknowledge the skill of our craftspeople and qualified saddle fitters.

“It is important not to stagnate and we need to move with the times and buy into new technology and new advances.

“Most of us do not like change, but change for the right reasons is a good thing and we change because our understanding and knowledge improves and it is right to look on this as a big positive for the industry.

“The important people in the society are the members and we need to encourage new ideas to be put forward at all times.

“As a bench saddler I am very proud to be a member of the Society of Master Saddlers and when displaying the logo it is important to remember we are representing the society as a whole and to always maintain a professional outlook.

“I hope that by the end of the 12 months the society will continue to grow and move with the times, being the ‘go to’ society for all matters relating to the saddlery industry.”

For more information on the Society of Master Saddlers visit www.mastersaddlers.co.uk

Independent Vetcare Group, Europe’s largest veterinary group, has published its first ever annual report.

The IVC 2018 report showcases stories and initiatives from all 8 countries that the group operates in.  In addition to a feature on each country the report contains an ‘IVC in numbers’ section, a high line summary from Group CEO David Hillier, and an explanation of the company’s values and principles in action.

“I’m delighted with how the report showcases the astonishing wealth of talent and resource within our group.  I also believe it demonstrates how well positioned we are to preserve the heritage of the many different veterinary clinics that choose to join us,” comments Hillier,

“We wanted the publication to present our vision of how veterinary care should be supported and enabled.  It shows how we share ideas and best practice across the group to deliver our mutual objective of exceptional, affordable veterinary care.  Our unique culture instils an environment of continuous improvement and collaborative growth and I think the 2018 Report reflects this well.”

Hillier concludes, “We couldn’t have achieved this without our incredible people who continue to make IVC such a vibrant and exciting place to work.

They are also directly responsible for our unprecedented growth - this remains a relatively small profession and most practices still join us through word of mouth. In fact such is our growth that the reported number of 878 practices in the publication is already outdated. In the last few weeks we have surpassed the 900 mark with many more practices ready to join us soon”

Further notes:
IVC Group comprises both Independent Vetcare in the UK and Evidensia throughout Europe. 

Report highlights:

• The group now employs nearly 12,000 staff treating 2.3million pets.
• The group has over 60 referral facilities and owns over 60 MRI and CT scanner
•  87% of IVC groups workforce is female

The full report can be read at www.independentvetcare.co.uk/2018report. For the most up to date IVC group clinic count please visit www.ivc.group

Ancol Pet Products has told Pet Trade Xtra that the company objects to the ruling made by the Advertising Standards Authority that promotional material for its poop bags was misleading, and will be seeking further advice.

Sales director Sarah Lane said :"Although we provided the manufacturing data with regards to the bags being biodegradable, as a responsible supplier, we have decided to carry out testing on random batches of bags, to support the claim that they are biodegradable. The ASA ruled that our claim on the website, that the bags “make less impact on the environment” was misleading. The ruling does not apply to the bags themselves or the packaging, it applies purely the statement on the website, or any advertising material claiming that the bags “make less impact on the environment”

"Our bags are fit for purpose and biodegradable as stated and please see the data below to support this. We take this ruling very seriously, and pride ourselves on responsibly sourcing our products. As a family run business we are very aware of the environment and try to make positive contributions to helping the environment, one example of which is we installed solar panels to our warehouse and so now we are using only renewable energy in our day to day running of the business."

Manufacturing data and Ancol's comments sent to ASA:

We have carefully studied the report and the findings of your investigation. Here at Ancol Pet Products we are proud to be one of the only pet accessory suppliers to produce Bio-degradable bags. We have invested a lot of time and money into this range to ensure that our customers receive a quality bag and that the bags comply with the guidelines of being Bio-degradable.

Below I hope to explain the manufacturing technique we use and the reason why we feel this is the best option.

After studying your report it would appear that the issue is with the way the bags Bio-degrade.

“We consulted DEFRA over the topic of oxo-biodegradable plastics. We understood that oxo-biodegradable plastics degraded quicker in the open environment than conventional plastics. However, we also acknowledged that there were concerns that plastic fragments and smaller, microplastics were left behind, which could have a harmful effect on the open environment, and in particular marine life.“

It would appear our Bio-degradable bags are being reviewed and tested against Compostable standards, rather than Bio-degradable standards.

The definitions we have for reference for ‘compostable’ ‘degradable’  and ‘bio-degradable’ are:

• Degradable: The ability to break up into smaller pieces. Degradable packaging products will not break down into their natural organic components, just smaller pieces of the original product.
• Biodegradable: The prefix “bio” refers to the way in which a product will degrade, in this case, via a biological process, bacteria, fungi etc. The product will biodegrade into carbon dioxide, water and biomass from the action of naturally occurring microorganisms. Green waste is biodegradable.
• Compostable: A product biodegrades within a time frame of 4 to 6 months. Green waste is compostable.

We would class our bags as ‘biodegradeable’ and, more specifically ‘oxo-biodegradable’, falling in line with the definition below:

Oxo-biodegradable plastic, made from polymers such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), and PS (polystyrene) containing extra ingredients (metal salts) and tested according to ASTM D6954 or BS8472 or AFNOR Accord T51-808 to degrade and biodegrade in the open environment. These salts catalyze the degradation process to speed it up so that OXO plastic will degrade abiotically at the end of its useful life in the presence of oxygen, much more quickly than ordinary plastic. It has then been converted into small-chain organic chemicals such as ketones, alcohols, carboxylic acids and low molecular mass hydrocarbon waxes which are no longer plastic and biodegradable by bacteria which are ubiquitous in the terrestrial and marine environments. The timescale for complete bio degradation at any time or place in the open environment is much shorter than for "conventional" plasticswhich, in normal environments, are very slow to biodegrade[2] and cause large scale harm.

Plastic produced for our Poop Bags used D2W, meaning our Poop Bags fall into this category. For more information of D2W please check official website below: http://www.symphonyenvironmental.com/d2w/. 

We are confident that our poop bags are fully biodegradable due to the addition of D2W. Whilst we have considered ‘compostable’ poop bags, we have found these have many disadvantages including:

• Compostable plastics rely on food stock, and space to grow food-stock.
• Compostable plastics can require industrial composting, meaning the high intensity and high temperatures that are not found on our customer’s compost heaps.
• If your bio-plastics end up in the recycling stream the materials that were meant to be recycled could become unstable, brittle, and useless. Bioplastic material might actually contaminate the recycling process if not separated from conventional plastics. 

As we take all environmental and product quality issues very seriously we are in the process of conducting a recent accelerated degradation tests and will keep you updated. Unfortunately, we will not see the results for 6 – 8 weeks. This test is designed to accelerate the aging process so it can prove the bags Bio-degrade, as specified, we will of course share these results with you in due time.

Recruitment specialist Lynda Ward, founder of Pet Trade Solutions, says employers needing sales people are increasingly asking for hard workers.

She comments: “Prior to founding Pet Trade Solutions in year 2000 I had spent 18 years in challenging field sales roles in the pet industry, introducing new brands and increasing distribution so I know how hard the job can be but also how hard work pays off.

"The mental and physical highs and lows of these roles can be exhausting and take their toll on people who do not have the right attitude but there are some who will just cruise along and are simply ‘order takers’. 

"My experience in man-management was that the latter are the hardest people to manage … it’s possible to teach people to sell but almost impossible to teach them to have a good work ethic.”

Lynda goes on: “Observing people working on trade stands at dog shows or trade events can sometimes give clues … for example the salesperson who rebuffs potential customers by deliberately not meeting visitors’ eyes as they walk past or not engaging with them as they browse the stand. 

"Conversely, believing that the bright bubbly character who is excelling in those situations when they are surrounded by fellow workers and on a high with the buzz of an event will continue to bring in orders when out in the field alone and having to be proactive, enthusiastic and energetic day after day after day can be a fatal mistake.

"Employers need sales people who will roll up their sleeves and work hard to be successful and it is my job to put the right people forward to the right companies … knowing the people plus how difficult and frustrating the roles can be and understanding the trade itself admittedly does make my job easier!”

Lynda is always happy to personally advise on any aspects of recruitment and marketing strategy and can be contacted on 07946 743784 or at lyndaward@pettradesolutions.com

A dog-owning couple have set up a new franchise delivering premium quality pet food door to door to customers in the Preston area. The new business forms part of Bolton-based Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods’ operation, which has seen rapid expansion in the north of the country in the past six months.

Alison and Steve Critchley, who have been married for over 31 years and live in the Rossendale Valley with their beloved Saluki, Chance, have run various businesses over the years and have also had their separate careers.

Together they owned a grocers off license in Church, just outside Accrington and for 22 years, Alison has worked as a Teaching Assistant working with children in the primary sector.  Steve also worked in transport for over 40 years and for the last 15 years has owned his own road haulage company.

Alison has wanted to change jobs for quite a while but never really knew what to do. She explains: “I have always loved animals, especially dogs, so I then started to look at different franchises with animals in mind. Quite a few left me disappointed and I began to lose interest in ever finding the right one. Then in February this year we saw Stephen, the Founder of Heights Farm and chatted for a while about his products, we got our dog a sample or two and went home. We then went on their website to find out more about their hypoallergenic food range for Chance and saw that there was an opportunity to buy a franchise and downloaded a prospectus. We read all about it and were so impressed at how the company had grown from their own beloved dog, Milo having allergies. At this point we were already interested.

“The following month, March, we went back to the Farmers Market in Helmshore and spoke to Carole who is the franchisee for the BB postcode area. We chatted to her for a while, asked lots of questions and she told us the PR area was available and to give them a ring. So we arranged a meeting and more or less straight away decided this was the opportunity I’d been looking for. Stephen and Sarah say that the third time you see Heights Farm you’re more likely to buy something but for us the third time we saw them we bought a franchise! I think one of the things that impressed us the most was how Heights Farm Pet Foods is a family run business and the passion they all have for what they are doing and I wanted to be part of that family!”

Stephen Ward, founder and owner of Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods, set up the company in response to his own experience of the pet food industry when his Douge De Bordeaux Mastiff, Milo started to develop a number of allergies which started to make his life very tough. Despite being put on a prescription diet by the vet and taking a course of steroid tablets, the vet bills started to mount and Milo’s itchy skin condition continued once he stopped taking the tablets. Prolonged use of steroids could also have had serious side effects such as liver and kidney damage and it was only after switching to a salmon- based hypoallergenic dry food that many of Milo's symptoms started to clear up.

 “For the first time Milo was actually happy, his patchy coat had started to heal and the redness had almost gone. Stool quality was also greatly improved.  It turned out that Milo was in fact wheat and wheat gluten intolerant.

“It was at this point that we felt our dog had been almost held in a state of disrepair. We contacted the veterinary practice explaining that the root cause of Milo’s condition was the wheat- based food that they had been supplying us. Every meal consumed was a trigger and the steroid was then the expensive sticking plaster that never actually fixed anything.

“This experience got us thinking how many more pets and pet owners had been in the same situation as ourselves?

“Poor Milo relied on us for his health and wellbeing and we had been passively making things a whole lot worse through misguidance at considerable expense.

“So after lots and lots of research and investment we decided to come up with the most amazing hypoallergenic blend of complete dry food that would in effect be a health food for dogs and cats with a very special and clinically proven ingredient-Green-Lipped Mussel. The extruded kibble is exposed to a steam process that gives a honeycomb texture inside, aiding digestion. The complementary natural ingredients such as Kale, Carrots & Peas, Yucca, Rosemary, Seaweed etc. also complete this natural dry food.

“Trials were carried out and the samples went down a storm. In May 2009 we took the brave step to establish our very own premium pet food company named after our family home Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods. The product range starts from puppy through to adult with proteins such as Chicken, Lamb and Salmon. We believe that if your animal benefits from the Green-Lipped Mussel daily you build an excellent bone and joint structure that will support your animal well throughout all life stages. There is no need for a senior type of product although we do offer our Dietary+Plus food which is great for maintaining/losing weight. Our products come in 2kg and 15kg sacks and are very keenly priced within the premium graded equivalents.”

Heights Farm has enjoyed steady and consistent growth through word of mouth. The model is based on a very personal one to one service, with unique products, not available on the high street, at a keen price and giving outstanding customer care levels, with a convenient delivered to the door service. Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods supply nationally with a next day delivery service and internationally within 2-3 days delivered by their courier network and offer free delivery within Blackburn, Burnley, Clitheroe, Bolton, Bury, Manchester and Districts, Oldham and Districts, Preston and Districts, Todmorden, Wigan, Rochdale Oldham  Halifax, Keighley and Skipton areas from their fully liveried and kitted out Ford Transits.

Heights Farm offers sample packs which allow pet owners to try before they buy.

For further information on setting up your franchise visit the Heights Farm Premium Pet Foods website: www.heightsfarmpetfoods.co.uk

When it comes to customer service the Fish4Dogs Events Team have gold-winning standards and now they have a certificate and rosette to prove it!

For it wasn’t just the showring action that came under close scrutiny at the recent Gatcombe Horse Trials but its exhibitors, who were ‘mystery shopped’ by BETA – the British Equestrian Trade Association – throughout the event.

Fish4Dogs was awarded ‘Gold Stand’ status for the “passion, enthusiasm, knowledge and overall on-stand welcome” which its team demonstrated.

The company has an extensive annual show programme, attending more than 30 championship events, family dog shows, charity fundraisers and specialist conferences where dog professionals come together to share and learn.

Said Jo Little, Head of Marketing: “Our show team is very experienced and has a true understanding of our products. They listen to owners, to understand their concerns and outline the benefits of fish in the right context – whether it be joint and mobility concerns, looking for great coat and skin condition, or simply providing an easily-digestible protein source to provide dogs with the energy they need to thrive.”

Each member of the show team is a brand ambassador. They often join the Fish4Dogs family having previously been a customer whose pets have benefitted from a fish-based diet. This gives them the confidence to be able to speak to other pet owners at shows and this passion for dog welfare shines through.

The team also have experts on hand to whom them can refer more complicated questions including Fish4Dogs professional veterinary, nutritional and technical specialists.

The trade stand emphasis is always on letting the food speak for itself – a try before you buy approach rather than the hard sell.

“We are advocates rather than sales people - friendly, empathetic, champions of fish. The purpose of our attendance is to share our story, enthusiasm, give out samples, and take the names of interested owners for follow up. We are delighted when dogs discover something new. For us, it’s the connections we make through the dogs that makes attending shows an absolute pleasure.”