Features

Apr- 2019 -

11 April

Vet care consolidation: is the CMA about to intervene?

Rapid consolidation in the UK veterinary care market, with seven major chains now accounting for nearly half of all UK vet practices, has brought with it an increasing risk of intervention by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as concerns about local market monopolisation start to emerge. This could impact…

10 April

The Puppy Contract: a case study

Hannah Stenton, a 27-year-old customer experiences manager from Malton, north Yorkshire, has grown up with dogs and classes herself as an experienced dog owner. When she and her partner lost their 18-year-old Border Collie Tessa last year, they decided to look for a new puppy. That’s when a friend recommended…

Mar- 2019 -

18 March

Does your business need to adapt?

In the spirit of it being ‘Brexit month’ and the looming date of 29 March – which at the time of writing this, no one has a crystal ball to see what changes will happen – let’s take a look at that all important, but often overlooked, skill within our…

11 March

Animal welfare and Brexit: What does the future hold?

With Brexit-day looming, important topics are being discussed. People are asking questions. What will happen to business after Brexit? What about the NHS? How will travel and tourism be affected once Free Movement has ended? While the answers to these questions are certainly important, there are other questions being asked,…

4 March

Why subscription packaging will be huge for the pet trade in 2019

Subscription packaging has boomed in 2018, and it’s not just in cosmetics and male grooming products, pet food has also seen a major uplift in popularity. Consumers in the 21st Century are all about convenience, so having scheduled deliveries has become an essential part of the online shopping experience, making…

Feb- 2019 -

26 February

The premiumisation of pet care packaging

It’s no secret that premiumisation is a growing trend in the pet care market. In particular, high-quality products with functional, grain-free and natural ingredients are leading the innovation and attracting consumers to trade up from mid-price offerings. This is presenting a significant sales opportunity for brands and retailers which effectively…

20 February

Can or carton? Pooch & Mutt’s response

The word revolution dates back to when Nicolaus Copernicus proved that the Earth revolved around the sun, and not the other way around, as the church believed. ‘Revolutionaries’ were people who believed in Copernicus’ work, and that the Earth wasn’t the centre of the universe. The church banned Copernicus’ work…

15 February

Pooch & Mutt/MPMA debate: Can or carton, which is best?

It’s been an ongoing discussion in the packaging sector for some time now, which is the more eco-friendly format for packaging food, cans or cartons? And it seems that question is in the spotlight once more, following claims by pet food manufacturer, Pooch & Mutt, that their new cartons of…

7 February

Your say: 2019’s pet sector trends

Within any market, what is popular will change with the seasons, years and values of society, and to be fully prepared and remain successful it’s important to stay on top of what the consumers want and deem important. According to a survey commissioned by Michelson Found Animals Foundation, the lines…

Jan- 2019 -

15 January

Alternative healthcare: cannabis-based pet products

As an increasing number of pet owners begin to use products for their pet children that they themselves would, a relatively new ingredient is beginning to make its mark in the UK pet market. The use of cannabidiol, or CBD, for health benefits is still quite novel to Britons despite…