Tag Archives: pets

News

Management buyout and new owners for pioneering pet retail chain

A PIONEERING pet retailer is under new ownership and on the rise following a period of recruitment and investment.

Sion Pritchard and Paul Penketh, directors of Snowdon Holdings, are now majority shareholders of PetPlace having completed a management buyout (MBO).

The company has stores in Abergele, Ruthin, Mold, Llangefni and Chirk, and a headquarters on Tir Llwyd Enterprise Park in Kinmel Bay.

Both Paul and Sion, from Colwyn Heights, were already leading the North Wales business – supported by founder Gwyn Lewis – and are thrilled to be at the helm as PetPlace begins a new era.

With turnover exceeding £10m for the first time, plans to expand their 100-strong team with more sales and administrative staff and the potential to open further stores in the coming years, Sion says they are perfectly placed to grow further post-pandemic.

“The last two years have raised challenges but also given us the opportunity to advance the business in-store and behind the scenes,” said Sion.

“Everything is moving in the right direction, but we are looking at the future, which will eventually include further stores and more staff.

“Whatever happens, we will continue with our long-term and controlled approach and as always the pets and their owners are the number one for priority for everyone here.”

Among the biggest developments during Covid was the opening of a new dispatch warehouse to manage the growing number of online orders, and a popular loyalty app.

All a long way from the launch of Farm and Pet Place in 1970, which started from the back of a van and grew under Gwyn’s initial stewardship to become the region’s leading independent pet product retailer.

He is thrilled the organisation he founded will be in “safe hands” for the next generation and said: “I am excited to take a step aside and embrace this new era. Paul and Sion have so many wonderful ideas and will lead PetPlace to even greater heights, I’m sure.

“I am proud of them both and of course delighted to see PetPlace go from strength to strength after all these years – best of luck to you both.”

Paul added: “Both Sion and I are proud to have been part of the PetPlace family for a long time, so to now be taking it forward and building for the future is a huge privilege for us.

“There are many exciting developments on the horizon as we continue to evolve and have a positive impact on the local economy and the specialist pet retail sector – watch this space.”

For more information on PetPlace, including the PetPlace Plus+ loyalty app, follow @petplaceUK on Facebook and Instagram or email sales@farmandpetplace.co.uk. The app is available on platforms including Google Play and The App Store. 

News

Farnborough’s PTC gives Petdoors.com’s creature comforts with power of Onshape

PTC’s Onshape design platform was put to good use by Petdoors.com to help modernise its best-selling pet flap that is fitted to 25,000 homes every year.

The Endura Flap has built a reputation over the past two decades for its flexibility, pet safety, high insulation values and variable magnetic seal strength and the company wanted to build on this by offering even greater performance to pet owners.

Located in California, the company’s design engineers tapped into the power of Farnborough-based PTC’s Onshape, a product design platform built for the cloud that combines CAD and Product Data Management (PDM) with advanced collaboration and analytics capabilities.

This technology enabled designers to shake off the shackles of the pandemic and collaborate remotely on numerous iterations, ensuring the new Endura Flap was brought to market on budget and quicker than expected.

“It is our best-selling product and the idea behind this was to take what we have and make it better in in every way possible,” said Kevin Hendrickson, director of engineering at Petdoors.com.

“We wanted to give it a cleaner look, make it easier to assemble in our manufacturing process and make it a little more automation friendly. Then just update the current version by incorporating customer feedback to make it a better experience overall for the client and end-user.”

He continued: “I started by sketching in certain elements from the original design in Onshape and worked around them to design the new frame and components.”

Onshape’s configuration editor was critical to a successful outcome, with the integrated data management that is native to the software eliminating the hassle and costs associated with PDM systems sometimes required to manage version control nightmares.

“One of the reasons we love Onshape is because the configuration editor is very good compared to other CAD systems,” Hendrickson added.

“We have four sizes of this pet door, and we use it in door mount, wall mount, window mount and patio door mount formats so you can imagine all the different sizes of windows and doors.

“When you add in the complexity from four sizes for each of these variants you can imagine we have a tonne of configurations. Being able to see all those options without having to design each one discreetly is a big benefit for us.

“Collaboration is extremely easy with Onshape. There was no concern about breaking the model because one person saved on top of the other person’s changes. Programmes I had used in the past did not include a PDM system, so when multiple engineers were working on a product, we had to tell each other when we were on the same part and even coordinate our saving.

“Onshape does not have any of those issues. We can have it open, work on it together, even be in separate places on different computers – ideal for avoiding delays during the pandemic.”

David Katzman, SVP of general operations at Onshape, added his support: “With Onshape’s unique capabilities, such as branching and merging, version control, and unlimited undo, engineers can explore concepts and easily revert back to any step of the design process. Our platform eliminates concerns associated with experimentation.

“We’re excited to see Pet Doors’ continued innovation in Onshape, as they create world class products for pet owners.”

 About PTC

PTC, which has its UK base in Farnborough, is a global company that provides a host of technology solutions to help industrial companies create value for themselves and the rest of the world.

This is achieved through a combination of Augmented Reality, Industrial IoT, Product Lifecycle Management and CAD solutions.

 

News

New canine craft soda launches this April, full of flavour for thirsty dogs

A Great Taste Award winning premium soft drinks maker today launches its new range of soft drinks for dogs. Dubbed Soda Dog by Soda Folk, the soft drinks are all natural sodas with dog friendly flavours. 

Tapping into the growing ’pet humanisation’ trend, Soda Dog comes in two pooch-friendly varieties: Apple and Carrot, as well as Apple and Raspberry. Unlike with usual pet foods, Soda Dog is human friendly, and rewards the drinker with the same great taste.  

Soda Dog Apple and Carrot is bursting with the flavour of soft, ripe apple and naturally sweet carrot. Apple and Raspberry is refreshingly different, rich, rewarding and indulgent with 28% natural fruit juice for a sharp, refreshing taste. 

Simon Waterfall, Soda Folk’s MD, said: “We think of our soda as a time machine in a can, using nostalgia-triggering flavours to transport drinkers to good times. We hope that Soda Dog will have the same effect, evoking memories that will get our furry friends’ tails wagging. Whether it’s that comforting memory of chasing its first ball, chewing its owners’ slippers or peeing on its favourite lampost, Soda Dog will evoke the best moments in a pup’s life.”

Soda Folk is available to buy from Sainsbury’s, Ocado and all good grocers, while Soda Dog is available to select pooches direct from Soda Folk’s website. 

News, Pets

Co-op Insurance’s New Pet Insurance is now available at Quotezone.co.uk

Co-op Insurance’s new pet insurance is now available to purchase at Quotezone.co.uk.

To help make adoption more affordable, Co-op Insurance includes an introductory discount on policies for those insuring a pet from a recognised animal charity or rescue centre – 7.5% for Co-op members and 2.5% for non-Co-op members.

Over the past year, recurring lockdowns and the subsequent change in lifestyle, has seen a surge in pet ownership, with 3.2 million* UK households acquiring a pet.

Although YouGov** research shows that 91 per cent of Brits looking for a pet would consider adopting from a rescue centre, 29 per cent are deterred as they believe they would be expensive to insure and care for.

 

Carl Sharples, Head of Sales and Marketing at Co-op Insurance, said: “Deciding to adopt a pet from a rescue centre is so rewarding. Since the pandemic, we’ve all seen how important rescue homes can be for animals, so we want to do what we can to make it easier for an animal to find a loving home.’’

 

People’s lifestyles have changed dramatically throughout the course of the pandemic and are still changing, so it’s important that potential pet owners take their time and do their homework on this important decision – each breed has a very different set of requirements and characteristics which need to fit well with the household.

YouGov figures also reveal that 12 percent of consumers regret their pets and would consider leaving an unwanted pet at a rescue centre, with 160,000 of these already having been given up***. Not only that, but rescue centres are bracing themselves for another 77 percent of ‘pandemic pups’ to be given up this year.

The RSPCA shared data with Quotezone.co.uk which shows that the number of French bulldogs being abandoned or relinquished is up a staggering 1,567%.

 

Greg Wilson, Founder of pet insurance comparison website Quotezone.co.uk, comments: “This is the first time we’ve featured Co-op Insurance pet insurance and we’re proud of its support for rescue animals and value for our customers.

“With the cost of living reaching a ten year high and rising, it’s never been more important to have a quality pet insurance product to safeguard finances and make sure that animals get the best care.

“This product from Co-op Insurance, aims to support those who choose to rescue their animals with discounted premiums, which hopefully entices more owners to consider adoption.”

 

There are lots of rescue charities, like the RSPCA, who take in all sorts of animals including purebreds, as well as rescue organisations that specialise in specific breeds, so there is plenty of choice available.

Co-op Insurance’s new pet insurance provides cover for pets over 8 weeks old, as well as access to unlimited video consultations with fully qualified veterinary surgeons 24/7, 365 days a year as standard, as well as dental and farewell cover (subject to terms and conditions).

Quotezone.co.uk is one of the leading insurance comparison websites in the UK, helping over 3 million users find a more competitive deal on their insurance – including specialist pet insurance products such as puppy insurance, older dog insurance, kitten insurance and cat insurance.

The new pet insurance product will be delivered with partner, Markerstudy Broking, a division of the Markerstudy Group, which will provide end-to-end administration for the Co-op Insurance pet brand.

News, Pets

Lily’s Kitchen Enhances Customer Experience With Ordergroove Subscriptions

Ordergroove, the leader in Relationship Commerce, announced today that Lily’s Kitchen, the U.K.’s No. 1 brand in premium natural pet food1, has successfully implemented an Ordergroove subscription experience. Seeking to provide a seamless shopping experience for consumers, Lily’s Kitchen partnered with Ordergroove to deliver an innovative subscription offering that prioritises convenience.

Since launching the Ordergroove subscription experience in April 2020, Lily’s Kitchen has achieved rapid success. By June of the same year, the brand attributed more than 10% of its total sales to its subscription experience. At the end of 2021, this figure had doubled and now accounts for 20% of monthly sales.

The bespoke subscription offering, implemented by certified B Corp Lily’s Kitchen, ensures customers receive a regular supply of their pets’ favorite recipes while also offering incentives such as cost savings and delivery. What’s more, subscribers have full control over their recurring orders, including the ability to edit, pause or cancel at any time. Subscribers can also change order frequency or switch between similar products with ease – ensuring customers receive enough wet and dry recipes and treats each month to keep their four-legged friends happy and healthy.

 “We celebrate the pet-parent relationship in all its forms,” said Michelle Corp, eCommerce Director, Lily’s Kitchen. “By adding a subscription experience, we were able to make it much more convenient for pet parents to stock up on their pets’ favorite recipes – and free them up to spend more quality time with their cats and dogs. We knew subscriptions were going to be popular, but their rapid growth was greater than we anticipated. It’s a mutual success story for our valued pet parents, Lily’s Kitchen, and Ordergroove.”

When selecting a subscription solution, Lily’s Kitchen prioritised ease of use and flexibility for its customers. The brand also desired a subscription technology that would seamlessly integrate with its existing eCommerce platform and that had a high level of automation.

“The decision by Lily’s Kitchen to launch a subscription offering aligns perfectly with the brand’s mission to deliver wholesome pet recipes and be a force for good,” said Greg Alvo, CEO, Ordergroove.

“The results Lily’s Kitchen has achieved with subscriptions are phenomenal and are a testament to the importance of fostering relationships, rewarding loyalty and listening to consumers’ call for convenient shopping experiences.”

News

Best in Show: Lily’s Kitchen retains B Corp status

Premium natural pet food brand and award-winning producer of proper food for pets, Lily’s Kitchen, has this week achieved its third recertification as a B Corporation.

B Corp’s rigorous testing re-occurs every three years and accreditation is only awarded to companies meeting the highest standards for social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability. The first pet food brand in the world to certify in 2015, Lily’s Kitchen has consistently evidenced their commitment to making sure their business is a force for good over the last six years.

At each recertification, the Business Impact Assessment becomes more challenging and requires a minimum of 80 points to earn the coveted recognition from B Labs. Lily’s Kitchen was able to increase its score from 91.1 to 92.3 this year.

The achievement is another key milestone in Lily’s Kitchen’s journey to helping protect the planet for future generations. The company constant aim to tread more lightly on the planet is recognised in Lily’s Kitchen’s dedication to make all of its packaging fully recyclable by 2025.

Samantha Crossley, Marketing Director at Lily’s Kitchen commented, “We are extremely proud that Lily’s Kitchen has not just recertified as a B Corp, but has managed to recertify at a higher level than our last accreditation. It’s a true testament to how hard the team at Lily’s has worked to honour our commitment to pets, people and planet.”

Lily’s Kitchen is one of the founding members of B Corp UK, a global community of over 4,088 companies in 77 countries using business to solve social and environmental problems since 2009.

“It’s such an honour to be part of the B Corp community, and demonstrates that businesses don’t have to choose between commercial success and making a positive impact on the world around them. You can be successful, and operate with purpose,” Samantha added.

News

HRH The Princess Royal visits Lintbells in recognition of significant local employment, business growth and charitable work during COVID-19

Lintbells, a manufacturer in premium natural pet supplements and two-time recipient of the Queen’s Award, recently received a royal visit by HRH The Princess Royal. The visit to Lintbells’ Head Office in Weston, Hertfordshire, was to mark the expansion of the business, significant local employment and charitable work achieved during the pandemic.

Over the past 18 months, the business boosted local employment, with more than half (50 percent) of the Lintbells team being employed during COVID 19 (March 2020 – July 2021), including a number of graduate trainee and apprenticeship positions. The team which was originally 60 people has now grown to 120. 

The royal visit gave the Lintbells team an opportunity to meet HRH The Princess Royal and talk through many of the business and charity initiatives the company is running both locally, nationally and internationally, including the UK and USA.

Some of the initiatives include the #RescueYourRescue programme to support UK and US rescue centres in the height of the pandemic and the #ThankYouDogs’ campaign, which recognised the huge contribution the nation’s dogs gave to their families throughout the pandemic.

Key attendees joining Dr John Howie DL, CEO, Lintbells Ltd to welcome HRH The Princess Royal included HM Deputy Lieutenant Anthony Chapman, leading Sea Cadet, Holly Allen, and The Rt Hon Sir Oliver Heald QC MP, Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire. Also present were Cllr. Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Vice Chair of North Herts District Council, Ian Fullstone, Deputy MD of North Herts District Council. John Davies, Lintbells Co-founder and Ben Long, Company Director, Lintbells Ltd.

HRH The Princess Royal unveiled a commemorative plaque presented by Dr John Howie. Outstanding Contribution Awards were presented to Louise Quinn, Darren Spavins, Katie Govier, Charlotte Kingsley, Amanda Smith and Rebecca Davies to recognise their long-term service and dedication to supporting the company’s development and mission to give pets an active life for life.

John Howie, CEO and co-founder of Lintbells, said: “We were delighted to welcome HRH The Princess Royal to Lintbells. It was a tremendous honour to receive her visit, and our team was extremely excited to meet HRH The Princess Royal. After so many months of working from home, it was an excellent way to bring the team together and receive such incredible recognition.”

The visit was rounded off by the presentation of flowers and a hamper of Lintbells products for HRH The Princess Royal’s own horses and dogs.

Retail

Pioneering pet chain unveils new North Wales HQ after pandemic sales hike

A LEADING pet retailer has opened new headquarters following a pandemic sales boom.

PetPlace – which has stores in Abergele, Ruthin, Mold, Llangefni and Chirk – has joined Tir Llwyd Enterprise Park in Kinmel Bay.

The company, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, will be based out of a 10,000 sq ft office and warehouse facility.

Managing Director Sion Pritchard said: “As a company we have grown and grown over the past few years, and that growth has accelerated since the onset of the pandemic.

“We quickly adapted to the challenges, transforming our stores into Covid-safe environments – installing Record FlowControl, a revolutionary automated system – introducing other safety measures and ramping-up the click and collect service to meet a 600% rise in demand.

“The new loyalty app has also been a major success and as a result of this cumulative impact we decided the time was right for us to find a new headquarters and move to the next level.”

He added: “Tir Llwyd in Kinmel Bay is the perfect place for us; central and easily accessible, we are delighted to join the community of long-established and successful organisations already based here.

“It is also less than a stone’s throw from the distribution hub that handles PetPlace’s online orders, so it’s a win-win situation for us.”

Chester and St Asaph-based BA Commercial handled the transaction on behalf of site owners Pure Residential and Commercial.

Director Fraser Crewe said: “We are delighted to have worked in partnership with PetPlace to secure this move. The site is easily accessible from the A55 and meets their distribution requirements while also giving them a central North Wales base.

“We congratulate them on all their recent success and wish them the best of luck for the future.”

For more information on design and build opportunities at Tir Llwyd – where units range from 2,900 to 4,100 sq ft, call Howard Cole or Fraser Crewe at BA Commercial on 01244 352121 or email fraser.crewe@bacommercial.co.uk.

For more information on PetPlace, including the new PetPlace Plus+ loyalty app, follow @petplaceUK on Facebook and Instagram or email sales@farmandpetplace.co.uk. The app is available on platforms including Google Play and The App Store. 

Coronavirus, Retail, Tourism

Pet retailer steps in to help save much-loved North Wales zoo from extinction

PETPLACE has joined forces with one of Wales’ most popular tourist attractions in a bid to save it from extinction.

The Welsh Mountain Zoo – the National Zoo of Wales – in Colwyn Bay is facing the biggest crisis in its 57-year history, with gates closed since March 22 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Their dedicated team has continued to provide care and support for more than 140 species, but with no revenue coming in they are struggling to meet the site’s monthly running costs of more than £120,000, including food, heating and bedding for the animals.

The public continues to support the Zoo’s fundraising campaign, and leading North Wales retailer PetPlace this week revealed how it will be helping the much-loved family favourite.

Managing Director Sion Pritchard said as a company dedicated to the health, happiness, and wellbeing of animals, they are only too happy to give their support.

“As well as donating our own branded food and using our buying team to source and supply them with specific products, we will be adding Welsh Mountain Zoo gift cards to our site and crediting 10% of each sale of these back to them for future purchases,” said Sion.

“The Zoo staff have products and food they buy regularly, so with people wanting to donate we have created a dedicated wish list page on our website identifying priority items.  Again, 10% of all these sales will be credited to the Zoo for future purchases.

“We will also be working with our suppliers to extend the time needed for payment from the Zoo, will help with storage of perishable goods, ensure we provide free delivery of fresh stock to them as and when they require, and are looking at other ways we can ease the burden at this difficult time.”

He added: “I live locally and have been visiting the Welsh Mountain Zoo since I was a child. It means a lot to me personally to be able to do something and like many people it would be devastating to see North Wales lose one of its greatest attractions.

“Thanks to everyone who has helped us put this together and donated to the cause – please continue to do so as the weeks and months ahead will still be challenging for them.

“I would particularly like to say a massive thanks to Ray Seager Scaffolding Services who have joined in supporting us. It’s great to see so many local businesses pulling together to help a worthwhile, local cause and it really shows the great community spirit we have in this region.”

Sion also paid tribute to PetPlace suppliers PureBed, who have already offered donations of products and additional support.

Jen Jesse, Director of Operations and Administration at the Zoo, thanked PetPlace for their efforts.

“We really appreciate the support shown to us by PetPlace,” she said.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by contributions from businesses and individuals who have provided an overwhelming amount of support since we took the difficult decision to close our gates.

“We are currently planning our approach to reopening and managing the impact that Covid-19 has had on the wider operation but look forward to making some positive announcements around dates very soon.”

To support the PetPlace campaign, visit www.farmandpetplace.co.uk, select the items you would like to purchase for them, and when you checkout be sure to enter the delivery address as Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay, Conwy, LL28 5UY.

Alternatively, call the sales team on 01492 542662 or speak to a Manager in store.

For more on Welsh Mountain Zoo, visit www.welshmountainzoo.org