News

Pets at Home acquires Ride-Away Pets at Home, the UK’s leading pet retail chain, has acquired Ride-Away, a leading equestrian multi-channel business. According to Pets at Home’s CEO Nick Wood, the deal is “an exciting opportunity” for Pets at Home to strengthen its equestrian offer, “which is very limited at present”. Established by Stephen and Angela Clark in 1980, Ride-Away is a family-owned, multi-channel retail business with extensive online and catalogue operations as well as a store in Yorkshire. The turnover in 2011 was £ 6.7 mio. New study on pet supplements in the US Following double-digit annual sales gains in years past, growth in the US market for supplemental pet nutrition products is moderating, according to “Pet Supplements and Nutraceutical Treats in the US”, a recently released study by market research firm Packaged Facts. As a result, marketers will need to work harder to remain relevant, stresses the firm. With hundreds of products battling for limited shelf space, according to Packaged Facts, selling pet supplements means educating consumers and retailers about their benefits and differences, with veterinarians remaining the toughest customers of all. Aquarama 2013 Aquarama, the international trade show for the ornamental and aquatic fish industries, will take place in Singapore from 30 May to 2 June. Incorporating Pet Asia, the trade show will bring together a global mix of knowledge, expertise and a whole new world of business opportunities in a spectacular setting for the aquatics and pet industries, offering maximum mileage in one dynamic event. The following are highlights of the many events during Aquarama: International Fish Competition, Marine Nano Cube Competition, Freshwater Planted Tank Competition, New Products Display and Rabbit Competition. Group55 extends its distribution The UK-based company Group55 has won three major distribution deals which will see its “Animology” range of pet shampoos and grooming sprays sold throughout the United States of America, Russia and China. Group55 first launched its “Animology” brand in early 2010, with an initial range of just eight retail products. In a relatively short space of time, the brand has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence and is now one of the fastest growing and most talked-about pet product ranges in the UK, states the company. The product range has more than doubled in size. Group55 regards the launch of “Animology” products in the American, Russian and Chinese markets…