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.
-
Oct- 2020 -15 OctoberTrade Organisations
Covid and Brexit concerns see Petquip membership rise
Petquip has seen an increase in membership from companies which are concerned about uncertainty resulting from the UK’s transition from the EU and further Covid-19 restrictions. The trade association’s sister organisations, Gardenex and the Commercial Horticulture Association, have also seen a membership rise; all three being part of Federation of…
Read More » -
15 OctoberCoronavirus
London to move to Tier 2
London and Essex will face tougher Tier 2 Covid-19 restrictions from Saturday (17 October), including a ban on the mixing of households, local MPs have been told. According to the BBC, health secretary Matt Hancock is set to update MPs on the latest measures in the Commons later today. Under…
Read More » -
12 OctoberCoronavirus
PM unveils three-tiered lockdown system
Prime minister Boris Johnson this afternoon announced a new three-tier lockdown system that will see some hospitality businesses in the North-West forced to close from Wednesday. Under the new system, different rules for regions will be classified as being on ‘medium’, ‘high’ or ‘very high’ alert depending on the rate…
Read More » -
2 OctoberEvents
Petquip reveals 2020 Awards winners
Petquip, the international trade association of pet equipment, has revealed the winners of its 2020 Awards. For the 2020 Awards, the organisation handed out Gold Awards to nine companies, with eight receiving Silvers and six picking up the Highly Commended accolade. Winners included ChickenGuard, winning Gold for Exporter of the…
Read More » -
2 OctoberEvents
New dates for PATS Sandown 2021 announced
Organisers of PATS Sandown have announced that the show will be moving to a new date in 2021. The two-day trade event, which was originally set to take place on 14 February and 15 February, will now be held on 11 May and 12 May at Sandown Park, Surrey. Meanwhile,…
Read More » -
1 OctoberPet Owners
PFMA notes ‘dramatic rise’ in new Millennial pet owners
The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) has found that 35% of young adults have now acquired or plan to acquire a pet, according to its new Covid-19 pet survey. The survey found that 19%, or 2.1 million Millennials collected a new pet in lockdown, while 16%, or 1.8 million, are…
Read More » -
Sep- 2020 -24 SeptemberRetailers
Pets at Home welcomes ‘sustained’ momentum
Pets at Home has welcomed “sustained momentum” across both its retail and veterinary operations in its latest trading update. The group had previously reported that sales momentum was returning across all areas of the business in its first quarter results published 31 July. According to the group, this reflected a…
Read More » -
18 SeptemberRetailing
Mayor of London urges government to extend business rates holiday
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and London Councils have joined together to urge the Government to extend the business rates holiday and help protect thousands of jobs in London and across the country. Businesses in the retail, hospitality, leisure and childcare sectors are currently benefiting from 100% relief from…
Read More » -
17 SeptemberGovernment & Legislation
Government extends commercial eviction ban until end of year
The government has decided to extend its commercial property eviction ban until the end of 2020. Businesses have been shielded from eviction over the last six months through the lease forfeiture and debt enforcement moratoria, which was originally set to end on 1 October. Retail and hospitality trade associations, including…
Read More » -
15 SeptemberCoronavirus
Unemployment rate rises to 4.1% in July
The rate of unemployment in the UK increased 0.2% to 4.1% in the two months to July 2020, according to the ONS. The UK economic inactivity rate was also estimated at a joint record low of 20.2%, 0.6 percentage points lower than the previous year and 0.3 percentage points lower…
Read More »
