News Europe

Fressnapf tests Belgian market
Two pet product stores by the name of Zoomart opened on 5 November in Melsele and Sint-Niklaas, close to the Belgian-Dutch border. According to information from Fressnapf’s head office, these are test stores of the company’s Dutch partner Jumper. Fressnapf does not want the opening of the two stores to be seen as an entry into the Belgian market.
Pet and Garden Manufacturing sold
Guaber UK has acquired the Scottish company Pet and Garden Manufacturing, which supplies the “Get Off” brand of animal repellents. The purchase price is believed to be in the order of £ 1 – 1.5 mio (€ 1.5 to 2.2 mio). Managing director Chris Murley is expected to remain with the company for three months while the transition takes place and will then act in a consultancy capacity. Production will continue to be located in Sanquhar, although it is still unclear whether Guaber will retain the full pet product range offered by the Scottish supplier. Guaber UK belongs to the Italian Guaber Group, which achieved a turnover of € 226 mio in 2003.
Guaber UK and Pet and Garden Manufacturing exhibited jointly at Glee Petindex for the first time.
Obi has plans to expand
German DIY store operator Obi is continuing to extend its operations in Russia, with proposed new stores for Yekaterinburg, Moscow, Samara and St. Petersburg. New outlets are also in the pipeline for other Eastern European countries: three further stores are to be opened in Poland, plus new stores in Slovenia and Hungary. Another two outlets are due to open in Bosnia-Herzegovina. 145 of the 484 stores currently operated by Obi are outside Germany, and this is where the company is focusing its efforts to expand further.
Paul F. Iams †
Paul F. Iams died at the end of October aged 89. Paul Iams played a significant role in shaping the development of the pet product industry with his decision in 1946 to establish the Iams Company. As the father of nutritional healthcare, his central objective was always to produce and sell only the finest quality pet foods. Even after the Iams Company was sold to Procter & Gamble, the intellectual legacy of Paul F. Iams remained in the company and has repeatedly given fresh impetus to research and development work on super-premium food for dogs and cats.
70 per cent of Aquarama booked up
Six months ahead of the Aquarama aquatics fair, which is taking place from 26 to 29 May in Singapore, 70 per cent of the exhibition stands are already booked up. An extra segment sponsored…