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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Feb- 2021 -25 FebruaryGovernment & Legislation
CTSI warns of unofficial pet microchipping registration website
The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has issued a warning regarding a website advertised on Google that offers pet microchip registration but does not meet UK Government standard The service, called UK Pet Chip Registry, claims that for a charge of £15, it will add the pet’s microchip details to…
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24 FebruaryCoronavirus
Scotland to reopen non-essential retail from 26 April
First minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that non-essential retailers in Scotland will be able to reopen from 26 April. Sturgeon outlined the country’s exit out of lockdown restrictions yesterday (23 February), giving businesses a timeframe of when they can expect to reopen. Scotland’s stay-at-home order is likely to remain in…
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22 FebruaryCoronavirus
PM outlines ‘roadmap’ out of lockdown
Prime minister Boris Johnson has set out his four-step “roadmap” to guide the nation out of lockdown “cautiously but irreversibly”, calling the plan a “one-way road to freedom”. Step one will begin from 8 March, when all schools will be allowed to open with outdoor after-school sports and activities allowed.…
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22 FebruaryCharities
Petplan donates £1,000 to Barley Greyhound Sanctuary
Petplan has awarded its £1,000 charity cheque for January 2021 to the Barley Greyhound Sanctuary in Essex. Barley is also a lifelong sanctuary for greyhounds that can’t be homed for any reason. When greyhounds arrive at the sanctuary, they are assessed by the team, who will neuter and care for…
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15 FebruaryBusiness
Kennelpak faces supply chain issues
Kennelpak has revealed publicly it is facing supply chain problems resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, notably with the Yakers dog chews brand. The brand is currently seeing an increased demand of 97% per month compared to this time last year. In a letter to customers, Kennelpak’s national sales manager, Rob…
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11 FebruaryCurrent Affairs
OATA urges government to resolve animal importation issues
The Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) has urged the government to resolve problems surrounding the importation of livestock animal by-products and plants, into the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. In a letter penned by the chief executive of the OATA Dominic Whitmee he stated that businesses throughout…
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Jan- 2021 -25 JanuaryFeatures
The pet food market: A year in review
2020 has been an exceptionally troubling and unsettling year all around the world. The global coronavirus pandemic has profoundly affected individuals, families and businesses and continues to do so as we move into 2021. Many industry and market sectors have been affected as lockdowns were imposed, lifted and reinstated. As…
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22 JanuaryCharities
PDSA report reveals mental health benefits of having a pet
The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) latest Paw Report has found that owning a pet can make people feel less lonely and mentally healthier. The PAW Report, which was produced in conjunction with YouGov, has tracked pet wellbeing in the UK for the last decade. It surveys 18 million…
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21 JanuaryFeatures
Q&A with Tractive founder Florian Gschwandtner
Anyone who has flirted with the idea of entering the sport-tech market, will remember Adidas group’s £200m acquisition of mobile fitness app Runtastic. The deal, which was completed in 2015, proved that in order for athletic brands to appeal to customers: offering some kind of results tracking tech was essential…
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21 JanuaryCoronavirus
Chancellor considers adding furlough extension to March budget
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reportedly considering another extension to the government’s Job retention Scheme (JRS) as it continues to try and mitigate the impact of covid-19 on the UK economy. According to Bloomberg, Sunak is considering a fifth extension to the furlough scheme that will cover roughly 5 million workers…
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