Industry News

Mackle Petfoods invests £5.7m amid ‘major’ expansion plans

Dungannon-based pet food manufacturer, Mackle Petfoods has invested £5.7m and created 31 new jobs in a major expansion plan to “double its turnover”. The SME is known across Europe for its Naturo range. To support this new project, Invest NI, which has an established relationship with the manufacturer, has offered…

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Alternative Cat Awards opens for entries

Cats Protection has announced the launch of the Alternative Cat Awards 2020, after its annual National Cat Awards was postponed until next year.  Organisers for the online show are now asking entrants to upload videos of their cats to Instagram or Twitter using #AlternativeCatAwards, with entries later judged by a…

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Pet Teezer launches online masterclass

Pet Teezer, the latest dog brush range launched by Tangle Teezer, has announced it is hosting a masterclass for pet owners to celebrate the launch of its new range.  The virtual masterclass is set to take place on 19 August, and will coincide with World Photography Day. In light of…

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Online sales witness 10% decline in July

Online retail sales witnessed a “sharp decline” of 10% in July, according to the latest figures from IMRG’s online sales index. The data group said the decline followed a shift in consumer spending patterns as the hospitality sector reopened throughout the month.  While online sales fell by 10% in the…

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Burns Pet Nutrition celebrates range of national awards 

Burns Pet Nutrition has welcomed four “prestigious” national awards for its business and products.  The group was notably awarded the first ever Which? Magazine Consumers Association dog food brand survey, when it topped a poll of 2,594 surveyed members. The survey highlighted customer’s favourite pet food brands, ranked by customer…

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Puppy prices reach ‘record levels’ during lockdown, says Dogs Trust

Animal charity Dogs Trust has reported “record level” prices for puppies during lockdown, with some breeds reaching as much as £9,000. The research showed that the asking price for five of the UK’s most sought after breeds and the five breeds most often smuggled into the country. Dachshunds, English Bulldogs,…

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Kennel Club welcomes research on ‘ineffective’ electronic collars

The Kennel Club has welcomed the findings of a recent study that assessed the effectiveness of dog training with and without remote electronic collars, compared to training with positive reinforcement. The research was carried out by the Animal Behaviour, Cognition and Welfare Research Group at the University of Lincoln. The…

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Extra support needed for retailers to meet rent demands, says Bira

“Positive action” is needed to help retail businesses meet rent demands as they continue to recover from the Covid-19 crisis, The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has said. It comes as the British Retail Consortium’s (BRC) proposed for a Property Bounceback Grant, after exclusive research revealed independent retailers were concerned…

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BSAVA releases new nutrition webinar

BSAVA has released a new webinar that has been added to its new online guide to nutrition. The essential ingredients of a good nutritional recommendation is presented by Georgia Woods, one of the editors of the new BSAVA Guide, and concisely covers the key points that need to be considered…

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PDSA highlights ‘endless isolation and loneliness’ in rabbits

Hundreds of thousands of rabbits face a lifetime of endless isolation and loneliness, says veterinary charity PDSA. Despite being incredibly social animals, PDSA’s PAW Report found that half (49%) of all UK rabbits live alone (equating to around 440,000 rabbits) and a quarter (25%, around 230,000 rabbits) are kept in…

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