Successful Meet the Buyer events – Joybuy starts in the UK

Gardenex and PetQuip, the International Trade Association of Pet Equipment Suppliers from the UK, rounded off 2025 with a series of highly effective Meet the Buyer events, reaffirming their long-standing value to member companies across the garden and pet sectors.

Footprint Products, an importer and distributor from Ontario specialising in innovative products for the lawn and garden, outdoor living, electrical and hardware sectors, supplies and services customers across Canada, working with major DIY and home improvement chains including Canadian Tire, Rona and Home Depot Canada, as well as garden centre retailers such as Botanix and Sheridan Nurseries.

Over two days of online meetings hosted by Gardenex and PetQuip, representatives from Home to Garden, Strata Products, SoilWorx, Pet Rebellion, Buddycare, DotDotPet, Group 55 (Animology) and Scruffs held extremely productive discussions with Footprint Products’ CEO.

‘A big thank you to Gardenex who were extremely helpful in matching my new supplier needs and arranging the meetings’, commented Richard Goba, CEO Footprint Products. ‘Overall, it was a brilliant success and we will be introducing many new UK products into Canada as a result of their work.’

New to the UK, JD.com is a leading retail and technology company, listed on Nasdaq and HKEx, and is China’s largest retailer by value. Joybuy is JD.com’s new European online retail business, bringing trusted brands, high quality products and value to customers across the UK and Europe, PetQuip reports. For consumers, Joybuy provides a one-stop shopping experience with same-day and next-day delivery. For suppliers, it offers a traditional retailer model with fast onboarding and no involvement in after-sales service or returns, allowing brands to focus on growth and expansion across European markets. Currently in the beta/testing phase, Joybuy will formally launch in early 2026.

Gardenex and PetQuip hosted an in-person Meet the Buyer event at Joybuy’s offices in Central London. Seven meetings were held with the buyers, with VegTrug, ALM Manufacturing and SBM participating from the garden sector and Petface, Lily’s Kitchen, Ancol and Buddycare taking part from the pet industry.

‘The launch of Joybuy into the UK is very exciting and we were delighted to be the first trade association to facilitate meetings with their buying team,’ commented Joe Denham, Director General, Gardenex and PetQuip.

Planning is already underway for a comprehensive programme of Meet the Buyer events in 2026, featuring a mix of online and in-person opportunities, as well as hosted buyer meetings at the UK’s key trade shows. An online meeting for the pet sector is currently being arranged with leading Dutch/Belgian marketplace Bol on 4 February. Contact eleanor@gardenex.com for more information and to apply for a place.