Record turn-out of exhibitors

The wholesale company Laroy Duvo, which distributes the "Eukanuba" and "Iams" brands among others in Belgium, was not the only exhibitor with a reason to celebrate at Anido. The news that its newly launched "Iams Cat" single-serve meals had won the Anido award for best new product in the pet food category set the champagne corks popping among the firm's staff. Another winner of the coveted award in the pet accessory category was Nagel's Pet Pro-ducts for its dog bed "Relax Divan Imit".And the show organizers had cause for celebration too: with 120 exhibitors and 5 014 visitors, over 3 000 of them attending on the Sunday, Anido 2006 was an outstanding success, even though incessant snow showers on the Sunday deterred some visitors, primarily from the Netherlands, from making the trip to Kortrijk.In the trade fair business word has got around that Anido occupies a key position as a platform for the pet product trade in Belgium, northern France and the Netherlands. In contrast to the big international events in the sector, Anido tends to resemble a big family party - everyone knows everyone else, the atmosphere is informal and not as stressful as at big shows. And the venue, the Xpo Kortrijk, leaves nothing to be desired either: it is easy to get to and has ample parking space.In addition to the leading Belgian wholesalers and big international manufacturers, a host of companies from France (including Zolux, Alter Ego and Amblard), Germany (Sera, Bosch Tiernahrung, Bewital and Schulze Heimtiernahrung among others), the Netherlands (including Renske and Ruinemans Aquarium) and Italy (Chemi-Vit and others) took the opportunity to raise their profile in Belgium by exhibiting on their own stand. Some of them even presented new products at Anido that are awaiting their big launch at Interzoo - for example, Dennerle's new "AlgenBlocker", an algae preventative, or the new range of ferret food from Bosch Tiernahrung. Versele Laga presented a variety of new products at the show: mountain hay with camomile and dandelion, an odour inhibitor for small animals, "Deodo", with pine or apple fragrance, "Terra Mix" bird peat and various mineral products for birds under the "Prestige" brand name. New products were also in evidence from the Belgian pet food manufacturer Beduco, which presented a new healthcare line as part of its "Fides" brand family. This includes aloe vera juice, biotin, spirulina, garlic, MSM, MSM/glucosan and yeast tablets and a milk substitute preparation…