A 60% increase in entrants for the PetQuip Industry Awards in 2014 reflects the vibrancy of the UK pet product sector, according to the PetQuip association. The award presentations and party are set to take place alongside the PATS exhibition in Harrogate next month and main sponsors this year will be Petface, PATS and STAX.
Designed to bring together suppliers and retailers in the UK and internationally, the PetQuip Awards’ event was an unqualified success in its inaugural year in 2013.
“Winners of awards last year have reported that the accolades have contributed to their business success since their wins and this could have had a bearing on the rise in applications this year," said Pat Flynn, PetQuip’s trade association manager.
“A recent well-publicised example is Pure Pet Food. The company used its success in winning the PetQuip Pet Product Innovation as part of its impressive pitch to TV’s Dragon’s Den team, and cited the fact that they had won the award from the world renowned trade body PetQuip as a factor in their successful development. Interestingly, the Product Innovation award category has attracted over 50 nominations this year.
“The sheer number of this year’s nominations made it a real challenge to choose which companies or individuals should go through to final judging," Pat added, “and the finalists list reflects the very high standard of the entries we have received."
PetQuip Awards Finalists
UK Pet Retailer of the Year
Betty & Butch, Manchester; Melbicks Garden Centre Pets Department; Baytree Garden Centre; Pets & Aquatics; The Pet Centre (Shirley) Ltd, Solihull; Pets at Home.
International Pet Retailer of the Year
Animalis, France; Meiko, Switzerland; Petco, USA; TiendAnimal, Spain.
Supplier of the Year
Burgess Pet Care; Dorwest Herbs; Hagen; Nature’s Menu; Pet Revolution.
Wholesaler of the Year
Bestpets; Collarways; Pedigree Wholesale; Peregrine Livefoods; Vital Pet Products.
Pet Product Innovation of the Year
Beaphar; Burgess Pet Care; Butch & Bess; The Canny Company Ltd; Christies Direct; Dorwest Herbs; Group 55 (Animology); Pet Munchies; Pet Revolution; Pooch & Mutt; Precious Pets; Sureflap; Town & Country Petfoods.
Exporter of the Year
Baggee & Doggee; Christies Global; Group 55 (Animology); Pet Revolution; Spotless Punch (Get Off); Tasty Bone
Lifetime Achievement Award
The winner of this award will be announced on the night.
The entries will be judged by an independent panel of judges during August and the winners will be announced at the PetQuip Awards Party at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate on 14 September 2014. The event, being staged in association with Impact Exhibitions, the organiser of PATS, will combine a lively mix of industry competition with an element of fun that will include music from The Rockits, the resident band from the Cavern Club in Liverpool.
Tickets for the awards ceremony and party night are available from PetQuip’s trade association manager, Pat Flynn on telephone (+44) 07778 313623 or e-mail: pat@petquip.com; or from the PetQuip secretariat on 01959 565995 or e-mail: info@petquip.com
