Industry News

Jul- 2020 -

13 July

Puppy smuggling trade continues during lockdown, says Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust is warning the public about the perils of buying dogs via online adverts after rescuing dozens of smuggled pups since the start of lockdown worth tens of thousands of pounds that were destined to be sold on to unsuspecting UK buyers during the peak of the lockdown puppy-buying…

13 July

Footfall suffers despite June reopening

Footfall in June saw a “significant improvement” against the 73.3% decline reported in May, but was still less than half the level of last year, with an annual decline of 56.6%. According to the latest figures from Springboard, footfall fell by 65.1% in high streets and 62.3% in shopping centres,…

13 July

Vets Now ECC congress to be held virtually

Vets Now has announced its emergency and critical care congress for the veterinary profession is going virtual this year due to uncertainty around coronavirus. Vets Now, which hosts the event, has announced the congress will move online resulting in more places for delegates and exhibitors as well as an expanded…

10 July

PFMA launches nutrition guide for kittens

In celebration of National Kitten Day (10 July), the PFMA has released a new factsheet featuring the guidance needed to ensure that kittens are given a healthy, balanced diet. According to the association, getting a cat’s diet right from kittenhood” helps way beyond the first few years of life”. The…

10 July

Footfall decline eases amid ‘sluggish’ recovery

Footfall across the UK rose by 19% in June against the month prior, but was still down by 62.6% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the BRC. In the first two weeks of the month, footfall decline averaged 77.1%, but this improved to 53.3% in the remaining three weeks…

10 July

PIF urges government for clarity on VAT reductions

The Pet Industry Federation (PIF) has called on the government to include commercial kennels and catteries in the tourism businesses who will be able to pay lower rates of VAT from next week. The federation said businesses in the pet boarding sector (kennels and catteries) have experienced a huge drop…

10 July

Usdaw ‘disappointed’ PM fails to back shop worker protection law

Retail trade union Usdaw has criticised the prime minister for failing to back a new law to protect shop workers from violence. The trade union has called for a firm commitment from the government to take all available actions to tackle the issue. The news comes as Usdaw revealed one…

9 July

West Midlands man arrested on suspicion of £495,000 furlough fraud

A West Midlands man has been arrested as part of an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation into a suspected £495,000 Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) fraud. HMRC officers executed a search warrant yesterday (8 July 2020) in the Solihull area and arrested the 57-year-old. This is the first arrest…

9 July

PetsPyjamas launches campaign for hospitality sector

PetsPyjamas is calling on dog owners to help generate £2bn for the hospitality industry by taking holidays in the UK this year. The pet travel company said that the amount could be generated if 10% of the UK’s 9.9 million dog owners took a regional holiday in 2020. In light…

9 July

Bira ‘disappointed’ mini-budget does ‘not help indie retailers’

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has expressed its “disappointment” that Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s mini-budget does not “directly help retail business owners”. Sunak announced a raft of further measures to support the recovery of the economy following the coronavirus lockdown, in Parliament yesterday (8 July). Features of the budget included…