High Street
The high street remains a vital battleground for pet retailers, balancing in-person service with growing digital competition. Pet Gazette covers the role of independent pet shops, regional chains, and national retailers on UK high streets — reporting on shop openings and closures, rent pressures, footfall trends, and evolving customer expectations. We also examine localised marketing strategies, product merchandising, and how high street stores adapt to omni-channel retail. For wholesalers and suppliers, this tag offers visibility into the challenges and opportunities facing brick-and-mortar stockists across towns and cities.
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Nov- 2025 -6 NovemberEconomy
UK retail footfall dips 1.3% in October
Retail footfall across the UK fell 1.3% in October compared with the same month last year, according to data from MRI Software. The decline was led by a 2.3% drop in high street visits, while shopping centres and retail parks recorded smaller decreases of 0.2% and 0.4% respectively. The report…
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Oct- 2025 -30 OctoberBusiness
Pets Corner partners with Deliveroo for on-demand pet supplies
Pets Corner has agreed an exclusive partnership with Deliveroo to offer on-demand delivery of pet products across selected areas of London and Brighton. The move marks the first time a national pet retailer has joined the Deliveroo platform. It will allow customers to order a range of Pets Corner items,…
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22 OctoberFeatures
Is Pets at Home really a victim of a ‘subdued’ pet market?
“It’s not just one issue behind Pets at Home’s challenges. A squeeze on household budgets, rising costs in real estate and shifts in consumer behaviour have combined with the challenges of delivering a broad ‘pet care platform’ strategy,” says Anna King, a retail consultant, of the troubles facing the UK’s…
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Sep- 2025 -1 SeptemberManufacturers
Ruffingtons celebrates first year of ‘rapid growth’
Dog treat brand Ruffingtons has marked its first anniversary in which it saw it double its initial growth targets and expand to more than 200 stockists across the UK. The company, part of Lincolnshire-based Fold Hill Foods, launched at the Pets and Aquatics Trade Show (PATS) in September 2024 with…
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Apr- 2025 -10 AprilRetailers
Johnson’s unites with PIF and Bira on National Pet Shop Day
Johnson’s Veterinary Products has announced that it is partnering with the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) and British Independent Retail Association (Bira) for National Pet Shop Day. The event will return on 12 July 2025 following a successful first running in 2024. More than 200 pet shops participated in the inaugural…
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2 AprilRetailers
Retailers refrain from price rises in March
Retailers did not resort to price rises throughout March, according to the latest BRC-NIQ Shop Price Index, despite rising cost pressures. It comes as high street retailers are competing for reluctant shoppers, who are more likely to be pulled in with seasonal promotions. Mike Watkins, head of retailer and business…
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Jan- 2025 -3 JanuaryEconomy
Total footfall was down 2.2% in 2024
Total UK footfall in 2024 was down 2.2% compared with 2023 according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). Footfall decreased year-on-year for all four nations, with Scotland falling by 1.5%, England by 2.1%, Wales by 2.6%, while Northern Ireland experienced the biggest decline at 5.8%. Alongside this, total…
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Dec- 2024 -24 DecemberEconomy
Footfall rises ahead of Christmas but remains lower than 2023 levels
Footfall rose for the second consecutive week last week across all UK retail destinations with retail parks and shopping centres paving the way, according to MRI Software’s new data. However, levels were still considerably lower than the same week last year. For the week to 22 December, footfall rose by…
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Sep- 2024 -13 SeptemberRetailers
Retail industry is overtaxed, says BRC
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has claimed that the retail industry is overtaxed compared with other sectors of the economy after new research found retail pays 7.4% of all business taxes (£33bn), a share 1.5 times greater than its share of the overall economy (5% GDP). The BRC said this…
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Jul- 2024 -5 JulyEconomy
Taylor Swift and Euros boost footfall amid damp June
Taylor Swift’s UK tour and the Euros helped strengthen footfall during a very wet June as total UK footfall decreased by 2.3% in June (YoY), up from -3.6% in May, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). On a segment basis, high street footfall decreased by…
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