Industry News

Feb- 2021 -

8 February

29% of small retail businesses fear collapse in next three months, study finds

29% of small businesses in the retail sector fear contraction or collapse in the next three months as the coronavirus continues to disrupt business, a study by Hitachi Capital Business Finance reveals. The company which has been tracking small business outlooks across the UK for 26 consecutive quarters found only…

8 February

Usdaw calls for ‘level playing field’ between shops and online retailers

Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) has urged the government to create a “level playing field” between high streets and online retail. To support shops, and the communities they serve, the union has suggested the government should implement “fundamental business rates reform”. The organisation revealed that from analysis…

8 February

BBC defends dog grooming show

The BBC has come out in defence of Pooch Perfect, its new dog competition reality show hosted by actress Sheridan Smith. The broadcaster’s latest output has come under fire from viewers for setting a “bad example” for dog owners. In a statement, the BBC said: “Grooming is a healthy and…

8 February

Mackle Petfoods and Naturo welcomes rising sales

For nearly 50 years, Mackle Petfoods have been creating high quality pet food at their family-owned farm and factories in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The secret to their longevity in the industry? As well as sticking to their main principles of creating food to promote overall health and maintain a…

5 February

Kennel Club welcomes government’s Brexit support for pets

The Kennel Club has welcomed the government’s commitment to addressing Brexit pet travel issues, supporting Westminster’s latest and pressing call to lift the barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Kennel Club expressed its praise over the action taken by Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove in writing to the…

5 February

BRC urges PM to grant ‘greater protection’ to retail workers

Over 65 CEOs have written to the PM calling for “greater protection for shopworkers in England and Wales”, after research conducted by The British Retail Consortium (BRC) found that 100% of essential retail workers have seen an increase in verbal abuse. Whilst conducting the research it was also discovered that…

5 February

Royal Canin launches virtual weight management congress

Royal Canin has invited pet industry retailers to attend a free, half-day virtual congress on pet obesity and weight management. The event aims to “provide new perspectives to help them navigate the challenge of pet obesity” and will take place 24 February. It is set to include games, social networking…

5 February

Protectivity launches search for the UK’s best pet

Protectivity has launched a new competition to search for the UK’s best pet during the pandemic, asking pet owners to share their best lockdown pet stories. The pet insurance provider will offer the winner £100 worth of vouchers, which will be split between pet retailers Canvas Creatures and Pet Planet.…

4 February

Leicester tops list of pet-friendly staycations

Leicester has topped the list of best pet-friendly staycations locations in the UK, according to research carried out by Online Pet Supplies, with 96% of Airbnbs in the city allowing pets. The online pet retailer decided to investigate the surge in UK staycations searches on Google after a recent news…

4 February

Gloucester man raises £4,000 for Dogs Trust

Anthony Edwards has raised £4,000 for Dogs Trust through completing a solo-row across the Atlantic. The Gloucester native sailed from San Sebastian in the Canary Islands on 12 December and arrived at English Harbour in Antigua on Saturday 30th January 2021. As part of the challenge he single-handedly rowed 3,000…