Pets at Home is considering a plan to spend £8m on stockpiling pet food and other products in case Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal.

The UK’s largest pet retailer, which has just reported a strong Christmas performance, stated: “As we approach our financial year end and monitor the Brexit process, we may consider increasing our inventory holding by up to £8m.”

The group has in the past warned that 17% of its goods come from outside the UK, and said its stock supply could be disrupted in the event of delays at ports and borders under a no-deal Brexit scenario. 

The latest move comes as many other businesses have been stockpiling goods in preparation for a calamitous no-deal Brexit.

Pets at Home has been boosted by strong sales in its retail business in the run up to Christmas, with the Saturday before Christmas being its biggest trading day ever. 

The retailer also reported like-for-like sales growth of 5.1 per cent in the third quarter to the beginning of January compared to the same period last year.

It said it was on track to deliver its full-year targets, expecting profits to come in between the previously lowered guidance of £80million to £85million.

It comes as Pets at Home issued a profit warning in November and launched a radical overhaul of its veterinary division. 

The Naturediet Feel Good range of healthy, 100% British made wet food for dogs is a vibrant and exciting variety of products, providing dog owners with premium, natural meals packed in Tetra Pak cartons - an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional wet food packaging. Following from the successful launch of Feel Good 390g, Naturediet are introducing a new smaller 200g pack that is perfect for small breeds, available to purchase from late February.

Naturediet have also recently launched their Purely range in the new eco-conscious packs.  The Purely range is a simple 92% meat recipe that provides a nutritionally balanced complete feed for adult dogs and is available to order in 390g.

Honoured with the Award for Sustainability at the 2018 Pet Industry Federation Award, the independent British dog food manufacturer have invested in the revolutionary new packaging format and are switching from plastic trays to recyclable cartons made of FSC(tm) certified paperboard. Naturediet are the first pet food manufacturer in the UK to be able to produce wet food in Tetra Pak and the 3rd pet food manufacturer in Europe to specialise in this technology.

Available exclusively to pet specialist retailers, the new Naturediet ranges are available to order direct or from Bestpets (transfer orders can be taken at PATS). Naturediet will be offering exclusive discounts of up to 20% off at PATS Sandown.

In celebration of their achievements, Naturediet are offering the chance to win 3 fully stocked FSDUs, worth over £400 (RRP) to delegates of PATS Sandown 2019.

For further information on how to enter the competition, offers, availability and pet specialist retailer support visit the Naturediet team at stand G10 at PATS Sandown, email trade@naturediet.co.uk<mailto:trade@naturediet.co.uk> or call 01362 822321.

Inspired Pet Nutrition, the UK’s largest independent producer of dry pet food, is set to grab a slice of the UK’s fast growing wet dog food sector with the launch of a range under the Wagg brand.

Wagg is already the branded market leader by volume in the dry dog sector with a 24% market share and last September unveiled new packaging as part of a major £500,000 re-launch. 

This will be its first venture into the wet food sector where growth is being driven by the plastic tray format with overall branded annual sales more than doubling to over £24 million in the past two years. 

There are four flavours in the new range – salmon, chicken, beef and turkey – available in 390gm trays.  

The trays will be an addition to the VAT-free Wagg Worker range. 

The first three flavours will be on shelf in Morrisons this week with an rsp of 90p. Further listings in the multiples are planned along with a roll-out to retail channels in the pet trade.

Chris Wragg, marketing director at IPN, said: “This exciting new range is a result of both innovation and manufacturing expertise, combined with probably the most well-invested pet food business in the UK.  

"Some £14 million has been invested in new facilities in North Wales and the launch expands the Wagg proposition of ‘no nonsense, great quality and value’ into the fast growing tray sector of the wet market.”

Once again at the forefront of product innovation, HOWND, the multi-award winning pet care brand has launched a ground-breaking antimicrobial dog bowl.

Guaranteed to resist the growth of over 99% of MRSA and E.Coli bacteria, the innovative Hero Bowl’s built-in proven smart silver ion technology gives unparalleled 24-hour antimicrobial protection for dog food and water bowls and is set to be the most hygienic dog bowl on the market.

The HERO BOWL is the ideal solution for health-conscious pet owners, vet surgeries, kennels, grooming salons and anywhere cross contamination might occur. It is scientifically proven to also prevent the growth of over 99% of microbes, including bacteria, mould and fungi. It is made from recyclable polypropylene.

There’s some clever science behind the design of this bowl. HOWND has partnered with BioCote® - a world leader in antimicrobial technology - to create a pet food and water bowl that will give antimicrobial protection guaranteed for 25 years even if scratched or chewed.  The BioCote silver ion protection will last for the lifetime of the bowl as it is embedded into the product, so it cannot wash off or wear away.

Studies have shown that 67% of dog bowls coming out of the dishwasher still have Salmonella present on their surfaces*. A superior alternative to a stainless steel, ceramic and other unprotected surfaces, the HERO Bowl has 24-hour protection since the technology works constantly to reduce microbes by up to 99.99% on the protected surface.

Although all pet bowls should be cleaned regularly, including the HERO Bowl, the effects of cleaning are short lived and once they have worn off, an unprotected bowl is subject to recontamination, leaving bacteria to thrive unchecked until the next clean.

With an ergonomic design for easy feeding, the bowl has a non-slip base, is dishwasher safe and available in 2 sizes in a range of on-trend colours: Urban Grey, Raspberry Rose, Lavender Blush, Ocean Blue and Spring Green.

Small Bowl 18cm, RRP 17.95. Trade £8.75 + VAT. Large Bowl 23cm, RRP £21.95 Trade £10.50+ VAT.

With distinctive branded packaging and informative visuals, the HERO BOWL has great shelf appeal and will be available to order from Pedigree Wholesale and at PATS Sandown from HOWND stand S10, Esher Hall.

Spend over £250 across all HOWND ranges at PATS Sandown to receive a 15% show discount.

The Mud Daddy portable washing brush has won a major innovation award at the BETA International 2019 trade exhibition at Birmingham's NEC.

The new product from Product Global clinched the Best Pet Product category in the Innovation Awards at the show. This 5-litre brush with built-in sprayer combines water and air pressure, with no need for mains electric or a battery.

The judges said:: “An innovative and versatile product with multiple uses, the brush can be taken everywhere and kept in a car.”

TurmerEase, a complete turmeric supplement for dogs and cats from The Golden Paste Company, was hlghly commended.

TurmerEase is ethically sourced, has 100% recyclable packaging, supports joint health, aids digestion and promotes coat, skin and general health and wellbeing.

The judges said: “The attractive packaging features useful information on ingredients for a product with an appealing smell.”

Sponsored by the show's media partner and leading industry title Equestrian Trade News magazine, the awards are designed to reward creativity, craftsmanship, technology and inspirational invention. Every exhibitor is invited to enter products in the competitio, provided that they have not been introduced to the market during the 12 months preceding the show.

All products entered into the awards' eight categories are considered by a panel of independent judges – each carefully chosen for their skills and expertise in a specific field. This year, those with the challenging task of selecting the winners were British Eventing team vet Liz Brown, master saddler and saddle-fitting expert Kay Hastilow, Steve Hodgson, owner of retail store Nags Essentials, Kathryn Jaquet, managing director of retail business RB Equestrian, independent equine nutritionist Catherine Rudenko and international event rider James Sommerville.

“We have been bowled over by the quality of new products being launched at BETA International,” said show organiser Claire Thomas. “It’s extremely exciting to see the industry working so hard to generate all these fantastic new things, with a great deal of enthusiasm, time and money being invested in them. We were thrilled to see the winners collect their trophies and our congratulations go to all those who played a part in their success.”

The winners of the 2019 Innovation Awards are...

COUNTRY CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR

Winner

Company: Sioen UK

Product: Baleno Pembroke jacket

This jacket with soft, printed fabric in a traditional tweed style is light, stretchy, waterproof and breathable.

Judges’ comments: “We loved the magnetic pockets and tailored cuffs, and the waterproof tweed is eye-catching.”

Highly commended

Company: Aigle International UK

Product: Mujal vest

This quilted vest is designed in a lightweight and water-repellent fabric.

Judges’ comments: “We really liked the traditional look and comfort of this vest.”

Highly commended

Company: Grubs Boots

Product: Cyclone boot

The new boot from Grubs features an Australian, V-cut, three-piece, full-grain Iberian leather upper and oil and acid-resistant sole.

Judges’ comments: “We were particularly impressed with the boot’s sleek lines, combined with hard-wearing sole.”

FEED & SUPPLEMENTS

Winner

Company: NAF

Product: Five Star Magic

Five Star Magic, which has helped owners, riders and horses to retain calmness, confidence and concentration, now has a new formula tested in trials.

Judges’ comments: “This is a well-researched and presented product, clearly labelled and with instructions that are easy to understand. We were impressed with the depth of research and development that has gone into the new formula.”

GENERAL

Winner

Company: Stride Innovations

Product: Steady wrist band

This training aid helps riders to maintain a low hand position, which can be set from a mobile phone, with high, medium or low sensitivity.

Judges’ comments: “Here is a genuine innovation suitable for riders of all levels and abilities, providing a benefit to performance.”

Highly commended

Company: Crafty Ponies

Product: Stableyard set

All the tack and equipment looks realistic, and works realistically, in this stableyard set, which comes with illustrated booklets to help children learn.

Judges’ comments: “The many accessories, all with educational information, make this an interactive product with a craft element.”

HORSECARE EQUIPMENT & [Horse] CLOTHING

Winner

Company: Equilibrium Products

Product: Therapy hind and hock magnetic chaps

These chaps, designed to be worn in the stable to support hock health, fit the contours of the horse’s hind legs closely to ensure comfort without restrictions, over-tightening or slipping.

Judges’ comments: “Cleverly designed and of excellent quality, the Vitaflex magnetic chaps fit beautifully to address the long-time issue of slippage and are commercially viable at a good retail price.”

Highly commended

Company: Comco

Product: Silver bandage pads

The fabric of these bandage pads contains silver ions with antibacterial and antistatic properties for maximum hygiene and comfort.

Judges’ comments: “The silver technology makes these pads good for skin conditions and injuries.”

Highly commended

Company: Horseware Products

Product: Amigo Bravo 12 Reflectech Plus Med rug

This rug, with interwoven reflective yarn in the body and hood, increases a horse’s visibility in low light and night-time conditions.

Judges’ comments: “The innovative fabric is impressive and the product quality fantastic, with a good profit margin in a high-end market.”

RIDER CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR

Winner

Company: Mountain Horse

Product: Illusion reflective jacket

This technical padded jacket features reflective threads integrated to fabric on the upper part, front and back, and has a detachable hood and water-repellent finish.

Judges’ comments: “The Illusion is a smart, practical jacket with clever use of reflective technology.”

Highly commended

Company: Ariat Europe

Product: Devon Pro Nitro boot

The latest Devon Pro boot, featuring Nitro technology, boasts premium full-grain leather on the upper part, with a soft leather lining and cushioning around the top line and shorter zip than previously.

Judges’ comments: “This stylish, quality, high-end boot is backed up with sound technology.”

SADDLERY & TACK

Winner

Company: Bliss of London

Product: Sportiva Dressage FLX saddle

The saddle features a fully interchangeable knee block, allowing existing blocks to be angled or changed to a completely different shape and style

Judges’ comments: “We found this to be a really exciting idea, neat and well designed.”

Highly commended

Company: The Bombers International Trust

Product: Relaxed Performance Weymouth bit

This spring-loaded bit is designed to ensure a relaxed performance by the horse, softening the curb and poll pressures typically associated with a Weymouth bit.

Judges’ comments: “This is an innovative design we have not seen before.”

SAFETY & SECURITY

Winner

Company: Charles Owen/Airowear

Product: MS1 Pro jockey skull

This new skull introduces MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system) technology to the Charles Owen range of helmets, providing greater protection at speed.

Judges’ comments: “This is a genuine innovation in safety, lightweight, with good fit, shape and ventilation, and removable liner.”

Highly commended

Company: Finest Brands International

Product: Champion Revolution MIPS deluxe hat

The hat offers six areas of protection, using MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system) technology.

Judges’ comments: “We were very excited by the use of MIPS technology, as well as the great quality and labelling. This is a product that Champion and retailers can really shout about.”

More than 80% of pet owners would make keeping their pet a main priority in the event of a relationship break-up, says new research by British equestrian and pet specialist Harry Hall.

Most pet owners said getting custody of their fur baby was “very important” after a break-up, and companionship (49%), improving happiness (18%), and exercise (12%) were found to be the top three reasons for getting (and wanting to keep) a pet.

The most common method to decide included a frank discussion around each person’s financial situation and living arrangements, followed by negotiating and compromising around other shared assets.

One respondent shared her own story about the custody decision of the dog that she owned with an ex-boyfriend:

“To be fair there wasn’t much of a discussion… he kept the dog and I was really sad! Rather than a conversation to decide, it was more of a given that she would stay there (he was staying in the house which had land and he could afford at least £200 per month on doggy day care, and I had to move into a flat with no garden and no pets allowed). Also, we had such a horrible breakup that I never wanted to see him again”.

Some stated that they would even consider shared custody, as a last resort. However, based on vet advice, the animal’s best interest should be at the forefront of the decision:

 “If it was in the situation of a break-up, I would advise the pet going with their ‘alpha’. From a practical perspective, it is also important to think about who has the most time to overcome any anxiety that the split may cause the animal, as this can be a very slow process”.

More information can be found here: https://harryhall.com/pets-make-us-happy

The research also found that seeing and spending time with animals makes people feel happier, particularly for women. As sadness and loneliness are some of the most common negative feelings during a break-up, having a pet around can provide a level of comfort, and be somewhat of a coping mechanism. 

When asked how animals make us feel, 91% of respondents used words that were overwhelmingly positive, including “affection”, “content”, “loved” and “comforted”, showing that animals can make a real difference to how we feel.

Other findings suggested that, aside from difficult life events, our pets make us happier people in general - over half (51%) of pet owners would rank their happiness levels at 8 or above, compared with just 39% of non-pet owners.

 Dipti Tait, a hypnotherapist and behaviour expert, commented on the effect of relationship break-ups on pets themselves:

 “The primitive brain that animals have like routine, familiarity and consistency... This part of the brain is also very associative and responds to triggers easily (like tapping on the food bowl). When there is a disruption to this (such as during a relationship breakdown, where an owner’s familiar face becomes an absent one) it can cause anxiety and stress for our pets.”

 Liz Hopper, Managing Director at Harry Hall, commented on the findings:

 “As a team of pet and animal lovers, we wanted to discover how our furry friends can help us through difficult life events and discover the ways that animals can positively impact our mood.

 “Our research showed that pets have a special place in our lives, providing love, loyalty, and companionship, especially during tough times such as a relationship breakdown. Therefore, it’s no surprise that many pet owners see keeping custody of their fluffy friends as a main priority when faced in that situation.

“It’s important for people to remember this winter season that pets aren’t just for Christmas… as well as providing companionship, they really do offer us so much more to improve our general wellbeing, increase our happiness, and can even be a great help through difficult times.”

Natures Menu will reveal its new Country Hunter Superfood Bars to retailers at stand F14 at PATS Sandown on February 10-11.

Part of the Natures Menu Country Hunter range, the chewy superfood bars, which are suitable for all dogs, are not only great tasting but also made with natural ingredients and are rich in protein.

Gently air-dried to retain the natural goodness and provide a mouth-watering chewy texture, the new bars will be available in a range of flavours including Beef with Spinach and Quinoa; Salmon and White Fish with Cranberries and Kelp; Duck with Carrot and Pumpkin Seeds; Chicken with Coconut and Pumpkin Seeds; and Turkey with Cranberry and Pumpkin.

Made with quality human grade ingredients, the bars, which are available in 100g resealable bags, will be available to order from early March and are the ideal healthy snack or training treat for our four-legged friends.

Peter Roy, Business Development Director at Natures Menu, said: “We’re looking forward to offering an exclusive first look at our new Country Hunter Superfood Bars to retailers at PATS in February.

"The past 12 months have been particularly successful for Natures Menu having launched our new premium brand, True Instinct and our continued investment in the brand to meet with customer demand. Our latest product launch is a prime example of our continued commitment to transforming pets’ lives through delivering an every-growing portfolio of tasty and nutritious pet food all while offering unrivalled customer service.”

Natures Menu has over 35 years in the business and aims to satisfy the nutritional needs of our pets and provide them with a healthy diet that is packed full of pure, natural goodness. Approved by vets and offering raw dog and cat food made with quality meat and fish, blended vegetables, fruits and healthy carbohydrates, Natures Menu prides itself on using ethical product sources wherever possible.

Discover more about the new Natures Menu treats by visiting stand F14 at PATS Sandown to learn why the Country Hunter Superfoods Bars will no doubt become a firm favourite with customers and their beloved pets. Natures Menu will also be running some exclusive freezer deals at PATS.

For retailers wanting more information on Natures Menu ranges, please visit www.naturesmenu.co.uk or speak to an expert for advice on 0800 0183770.  

Popular petfood brand HiLife is sponsoring the ‘HiLife Pets As Therapy (PAT) Dog of the Year’ competition for the 16th year, recognising the pawsome pooches and their owners that volunteer to improve the lives of people in their local community.

Pets As Therapy (PAT) is an independently funded charity with over 5,000 volunteers across the UK. Its registered PAT pets provide animal assisted therapy and bring comfort, smiles and friendship to thousands of people every week. In support of the positive impact offered by these super pets, popular petfood brand, HiLife, has been sponsoring the charity competition since 2004.

The HiLife PAT Dog of the Year competition showcases the remarkable therapy dogs that visit schools, hospitals and care homes throughout the year. This year’s finalists, Jack and Lulu the Labradors, Maggie the Greyhound, Abbee the Golden Retriever, Bella the Bichon Frise and Molly the Border Collie will attend a presentation day at Crufts, where one pup and their owner will be crowned winner.

Barry Coase, who got his dog Bella the Bichon Frise to help manage his PTSD, became a PAT volunteer when he realised that she could help others like him. He said: “Bella is a lovely dog with a very calm nature. We’ve found that veterans like me are able to open up more in therapy when they are stroking her.”

On reaching the final of this year’s competition, Cath Jones who visits local care homes with her Labrador Jack said: “Receiving such positive feedback from our clients and the staff is a reminder of the huge impact your dog can have on people’s lives.”

Deborah Dow, CEO at Pets As Therapy, said: “The HiLife PAT Dog of the Year competition is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on the incredible work that all of our dogs and their owners do in local communities, week in week out.

“Our volunteers really do changes lives and the five finalists were nominated by the local organisations they support, who shared moving and heart-warming tributes, highlighting their dedication to helping others.

We would like to thank HiLife for continuing to help us promote our charity’s work and for encouraging more people to register as a volunteer with Pets As Therapy.”

Commenting on the longstanding relationship with Pets As Therapy, Tony Parkinson, managing director for HiLife, said: “Each year we look forward to hearing the inspiring stories of the Pets As Therapy volunteers and to helping celebrate the incredible power of pets!

“The selfless nature of these brilliant dogs and their ability to offer unconditional love brings so much joy to everyone they meet. Now in our 16th year of sponsoring this award, it’s always a privilege to be involved in the Crufts presentation day and meet the owners of these four-legged heroes.”

For more information about Pets As Therapy, visit www.petsastherapy.org or call 01844 345 445.

For more information about HiLife and Town and Country Petfoods, visit www.hilifepet.co.uk  or visit www.facebook.com/hilifedog or follow @HiLifeDog on Twitter.

Main pictured above: Last year's winner Sheena and Inca.

Below: this year's finalists.

London based pet food company Pooch & Mutt has launched a weight loss challenge for dogs to highlight the problem of pet obesity and encourage owners to help their animals get in shape.

Pooch & Mutt’s ‘Pets Get Slim’ challenge invites dog owners to take part in a 12-week slimming programme.

The challenge is open to anyone wanting to help their dog slim down in 2019. There are no costs involved, signup is free, and anyone who would like to track their dog's progress can download their very own weight loss journal.

As an incentive to kick start the doggy weight loss journey, Pooch & Mutt is also offering an initial 20% discount on any size of its Slim & Slender food. 

 “We came up with ‘Pets Get Slim’ to highlight a serious problem, but in a way that hopefully encourages people to act," says ays company founder, Guy Blaskey.

“We know that most of the pet food sold in the UK is made by the same confectionery companies that are behind the obesity epidemics in our children.

'It is also a problem when pet owners think they are treating their pets by giving them titbits that they shouldn’t really be having. Unfortunately, it is a case of killing them with kindness.” 

Recent figures have revealed shocking statistics about dog diabetes: 

• 1 in 300 dogs is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes throughout their lifetime.
• 30,000 dogs are currently suffering from diabetes.

With Pets Get Slim, Pooch & Mutt is hoping to encourage the UK’s pets to get better.

 “Our goal as a company is to help dogs everywhere lead happier, healthier lives. We’re hoping that when people take part in Pets Get Slim and start to see a difference in their dog, they’ll feel motivated to keep the progress for good.” 

Pet owners can sign up to the challenge here: bit.ly/petsgetslim

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A pet shop, which shared premises with a baby gift store, in Yarm, North Yorkshire, has shut up shop.

A note in the window from the owners states the decision to close was "extremely difficult" but one they had to make due to difficult trading conditions.

The business called Zibizi opened in 2016 and offered a range of products, with a quirky twist - a personalisation service.

The baby boutique on the ground floor sold items such as toys, clothing, nappy bags, playmats, and gifts. Meanwhile, the pet store on the first floor sold treats, beds, clothing, leads, and blankets. It also housed The Paw Room - a dog spa, which featured a jacuzzi bath for canine companions.

To read the full story click here

Luxury pet treat manufacturer, The Innocent Pet, has set tails wagging across the country this Christmas with its largest donation of treats to date.

With the introduction of a zero-treat waste policy, the Yorkshire based family business has been able to donate nearly 400kg of grain free, air-dried treats to over 40 animal rescues and dog charities in 2018.

Marketing executive, Charlotte Wright said: “It’s fantastic to see so much effort put into not only reducing waste but offering animals an extra treat that they may ordinarily not have.

"We ask for rescue nominations through our social media pages, and our customers choose which charity they would like to receive a lovely donation of treats. We think it’s so important because many of our customers own pets who have come from these very rescues."

The Innocent Pet was founded following inspiration from rescue lurcher, Bongo. The company works closely with several charities, including Hounds First, where the family’s second greyhound-lurcher Mash was adopted.

The team is looking ahead to a busy 2019, with the intentions to donate even more treats this year.

PFMA research shows that around half of the UK population with outdoor space feed the birds during winter – 51% for city dwellers and rises to 57% in rural communities.

However, recent reports highlight the decline in the wild bird population and there is scope for improvement.

Nicole Paley, PFMA, said: “The winter months provide a challenge for birds, as frosts, winds and snow can make it hard to find natural food supplies.

“Some smaller birds need to eat 30-40% of their body weight to survive the winter and supplementary feeding can provide a lifeline.

“We have some great advice here: https://www.pfma.org.uk/wild-birds on how to support the local wildlife:”

During the winter, birds need high energy, high fat foods such as fat/suet balls and sunflower seeds. 

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 on the market suitable for hanging feeders, bird tables and ground feeding.

Birds need to drink and bathe daily – even when it’s cold – help birds by providing a fresh supply of water.

Think about other animals in the household. Foods such as raisins, currants, sultanas and grapes are poisonous for pets.  

Hygiene is important, leftover food should be cleared daily and feeding stations, water containers and baths kept clean.

Think about location – provide shelter from harsh weather and in an open, safe place away from hiding predators.

With the checklist completed, you can now sit back and await your guests – be patient, it may take a few days. Remember you don’t need a garden to feed the birds – a balcony or window will also work.

Pooch & Mutt claims it has received demands from the Metal Packaging Manufacturers' Association to remove an advert for its new cartons of wet food for dogs. The company says its packaging is 80% more environmentally friendly than cans and urges customers to ‘Ditch the Can. Help the Planet’.

According to Pooch and Mutt, the move by the MPMA has been triggered by big pet food companies who dominate the market with canned dog food.

Guy Blaskey, founder of Pooch & Mutt, said: “This is not the first time we have received threats around our marketing.

“The latest campaign for our wet food cartons urges customers to ‘Ditch the Can. Help the Planet’, as cartons are proven to be 80% more environmentally friendly than cans.

“It’s disappointing to get threats from MPMA. This is probably the least controversial campaign that we have done. If I was running one of these big pet food companies and losing millions in sales year on year I’d spend more time getting my own house in order. It’s almost a compliment that they consider us such a threat.”

With the environment such a hot topic at the moment, the Pooch & Mutt boss added: “For far too long big companies have put profits ahead of the planet and we are all becoming increasingly aware of how unsustainable this is.

“We need new approaches in a lot of industries to start fixing these issues and it tends to fall to smaller, more innovative, caring companies to develop these products and get them to market. These companies then need to promote these products. The new products and marketing are a threat to big, established companies, who have been resting on their laurels for far too long.”

Leading pet food supplier Natures Menu has hit back at claims made in a national daily newspaper that ‘deadly bugs in trendy raw pet foods pose a risk to owners’.

The Daily Mail ran a story on its website on Saturday reporting that Public Health England had issued a warning about raw food for pets making humans seriously ill.

But Craig Taylor, Managing Director at Natures Menu, told Pet Trade Xtra this week: “The recent Public Health England investigation has raised some important points for the industry and as Europe’s leading experts in raw we felt it important to add our wealth of experience to the debate.

“Over our heritage spanning 37 years, we feel there is no evidence to suggest that pets fed on a frozen raw diet are more likely to spread bacteria to humans," added Craig (pictured right).

“We of course always promote good hygiene practices for raw feeding and work closely with the PFMA on raw guidelines here in the UK. Furthermore our industry is carefully controlled by the relevant authorities and submits to all testing required, as well as abiding by all relevant EU legislation.

“We therefore believe that the risk to customers in handling raw pet food is no higher than that of handling raw meat for their own consumption, providing basic hygiene rules are implemented.

“Raw feeding responsibly is completely safe and pets love and thrive on a natural diet of quality ingredients, with countless customers and vets reporting significant health benefits, and we are determined to continue to educate pet owners and the industry on the benefits of responsible raw feeding.”

The Daily Mail story reported that Whitehall scientists said feeding dogs fashionable raw meat diets puts their owners at risk.

In its latest report, Public Health England said a food poisoning outbreak in August 2017 left four people seriously ill. One unnamed victim died of acute kidney failure.

The common link between all four cases – in the North East and South East – was contact with dogs.

The Daily Mail reported that all four were struck down by the same STEC bug – shiga toxin-producing E coli – and three dogs were fed on raw meat diets containing green tripe, the untreated contents of cows’ stomachs.

PHE said that its report suggested ‘an increasing trend in potential risk to humans from raw pet food’.

The full Daily Mail story can be read by clicking here

A pet centre owner was left heartbroken after his Landrover Freelander, used to rescue animals, was found damaged beyond repair, reports the Mid Sussex Times.

Steve Edgington, who owns Hassocks Pet Centre near Brighton, hoped he would find his beloved 4x4 but his dream was shattered when he received a call from the police on Tuesday. The vehicle had been stolen on Christmas Eve.

He said: “I had a call from the police to say they had recovered my vehicle in Brighton – it was apparently involved in a police incident, and it has been written off.

“It is such a shame – it is devastating, there is always that hope when something has been stolen or you have lost something – that you are going to get it back in one piece.

“I always kept her nice – she was beautiful, she had just passed her MOT – it is heartbreaking that it has ended like this.”

To read the full story click here

Lily’s Kitchen has had another strong year of growth fuelled by consumer demand for premium natural food for pets and a 25% increase in distribution points.

In the year to 31st March 2018, the innovative company, which reached its landmark 10th anniversary in 2018, saw sales grow by over 30% to become a £50 million retail brand.  

Planned investment in its people, systems and marketing, plus the success of unique new products including its Woofbrush dental chews, has seen Lily’s Kitchen reap the rewards, setting up the business for further success and putting it in a strong position for future growth.

Looking ahead to 2019, further expansion into international markets, including Europe, USA and Asia is planned, together with further product innovation.

David Milner, CEO, says: “Lily’s Kitchen is at a very exciting moment, pioneering natural pet food growth in the UK and abroad.

"The investment we have made to date will support the business at this inflection point and put it on a strong footing going forward.

"Consumers can see a difference when they switch their pets to our food and this recognition continues to bring new consumers into our brand.”