Covid-19
Covid-19 disrupted every level of the UK pet industry — from in-store operations and customer behaviour to global supply chains and product availability. Under this tag, Pet Gazette examines the commercial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on pet shops, distributors, importers, and suppliers. Coverage includes lockdown trading conditions, workforce challenges, logistics disruption, e-commerce growth, and the long-term shift in consumer purchasing patterns. We also report on government support schemes, safety regulations, and how the pandemic has reshaped strategic planning across the petcare sector.
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Aug- 2020 -17 AugustManufacturers
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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17 AugustFeatures
Why Covid-19 will change the veterinary industry for the better
History shows that challenging times bring out the best in both people and business. It is also true that in time of war, innovation increases a hundred-fold. Our war is with a deadly virus, but I believe some good will come from this period in our lives and in particular…
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14 AugustRetailers
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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12 AugustEconomy
UK in recession following 20% GDP slump
The UK economy has entered into a technical recession following a “record” fall in gross domestic product (GDP) during the second quarter of the year. According to the Office for National Statistics, GDP slumped by 20.4% between April and June 2020, compared with the 2.2% drop seen during Q1 2020…
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12 AugustCoronavirus
Exeter Pets at Home store to permanently close
Retail chain Pets at Home has closed one of its stores in Exeter. The Marsh Barton site stopped trading on Friday (7 August), but will keep its other outlet at Rydon Lane retail park. According to Devon Live, Pets at Home confirmed that 20% of the store’s workforce will lose…
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11 AugustBusiness
Petplan donates ‘vital’ funds to charities
Pet insurer Petplan has paid £700,000 in funds to its animal charity partners to support them through the pandemic. This follows recent research from the Association of Dog and Cat Homes (ADCH) that found a worrying 48% of members did not have funds to ensure they could continue to operate…
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11 AugustFeatures
Veterinary conferences pivot to the virtual
Can a veterinary professional be too educated? Can they know too much about veterinary medicine? Of course not, and the booming veterinary conference industry proves that pet-care professionals know that knowledge is power. I suppose I should clarify: The veterinary conference industry was booming…before Covid19 hit. Covid-19 and the conference…
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10 AugustBusiness
Central Garden and Pet sales soar in Q3
Central Garden and Pet has announced that total sales rose by 18% to $833.5m (£637m) in the third quarter ended 27 June. This rise was largely driven by organic strength in both its garden and pet segments. In addition, net income rose to $68.8m (£52.6m), against the $46.2m (£35.4m) recorded…
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7 AugustFeatures
How marketing strategies have been impacted by Covid-19
James Langan, managing director of Natures Menu, shares his thoughts on how marketing strategies have been impacted by the Covid-19 situation and tips on how brands and retailers should move forwards. Effective use of online channels and strong communication There has been a clear shift to online marketing during the…
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3 AugustManufacturers
Burns Pet Nutrition partners with Dog Furiendly
Burns Pet Nutrition has partnered with Cwmbran-based pet travel platform Dog Furiendly as its official dog food partner and sponsor for the year. The one year partnership will see the two companies working together to arrange communal walks and virtual meet-ups amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Dog Furiendly said as part…
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