International trade association, PetQuip, has celebrated its fifth annual award ceremony for the pet sector. 22 companies were honoured during a dinner and party at the Telford International Centre on September 24th.
The awards were presented by Pat Flynn, PetQuip trade association manager, and Amanda Sizer Barrett MBE, director general of the PetQuip association.
Amanda commented: “Our team at PetQuip works hard year-round to promote connections between suppliers and pet retail buyers across the world; so it is particularly rewarding for us to be able to celebrate the successes of this innovative and vibrant industry with our fifth year of the PetQuip awards; this industry is such a great one to be involved in!”
Jamie Gleave, of Paws & Claws pet shop, which was voted joint UK Pet Retailer of the Year, said: “This honour means everything to us. It is recognition for seven year of hard work transforming an ailing pet shop into a thriving business.”
The main sponsors of the awards this year were PATS, APPA (American Pet Products Association), Global Pet Expo, Natures Menu, Group 55, The Dog Treat Co, Loving Pets, Pet Trade TV and James & Steel. The event was staged in association with Impact Exhibitions.
The 2017 award-winning firms are:
Business of the Year
- Gold – Pedigree Wholesale
- Silver – Natures Menu
- Highly Commended – Forthglade
Exporter of the Year
- Gold – Pet Revolution
- Silver – Natures Menu
- Highly Commended – Armitage Pet Care
Marketing Project of the Year
- Gold – Hownd – Bring your dog to work day
- Silver – Cotswold Raw
- Highly Commended – The Dog Treat Company
Pet Product of the Year – three categories
Food & Treats
- Gold – Verity & Voss (Oggi’s Birthday & Christmas Gift Boxes)
- Silver – Beco Pet (Free roaming wild boar with broccoli & pumpkin ethical food for dogs)
- Highly Commended – Burgess (Excel long stem feeding hay)
Accessories
- Gold – Hownd (All seasons natural skin, nose and paw balms)
- Silver – Phoenox Textiles (pet mats range – new designs)
- Highly Commended – Accapi (Ruffwear Front Range Harness)
Health & Technical
- Gold – Motorola (Scout Traks GPS system)
- Silver – Pet Revolution (Natural flea & bug repellent)
International Pet Retailer/Distributor/Wholesaler of the Year
- Gold – blue gray, sro (Petpark), Slovakia
UK Pet Retailer of the Year
- Gold – joint winners: Paws & Claws, Frodsham, Cheshire and Pet London, Wigmore Street, London
- Silver – Pets Pantry, Warrington, Cheshire
- Highly Commended – The Wandering Dog, Cullercoats, Tyne & Wear
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Terry Brown
