In This Issue
How lucky we are!
British Garden Centres make it 58 with acquisition of Thatcham
Woodlodge brings Glee to its Gloucestershire showroom
Garland continues its new product launch policy by adding 54 items for next season
It could take a decade for British nurseries to recover from Covid-19 lockdown
READYBLAZE … Safer, Greener and Ready to Burn
New style of gardening just keeps on growing
Garden centre urges public to name and shame fly-tipper
Traeger – the original wood pellet grill
Garden centre and nursery faces uncertain future
Global Journey Christmas Face Masks coming soon
Project Regeneration launched at Burford House and Gardens
Glee New Product Awards 2020 - Entries continue to flood in
Good demand for garden plants at Autumn Showroom
First consignment of DJ Turfcare’s new Autumn Lawn Treatment sells out
People’s Choice Award winners announced for the 2020 Farwest Show New Varieties Showcase
Scholarship season open for horticulture students
Never fear, Glee Daily News is here
Apta looks to strengthen merchandising team
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Record August for garden products
Glee New Product Awards 2019 - The Winners
Now is the time to: Review - Re-plan - Rebuild … your business.
August doubles up for growing media
Houseplant sales bloom in July
Plant sales up 30%
EU Exit - No plant inspections at borders until July welcome, but key changes still needed says HTA
Wild Bird Care continues to fall during the summer
The best of last week's
Record Growing Media volumes continue to keep all garden centre sales at all time summer high
Covid-19 incidents at Dobbies in Ayr and British Garden Centres at East Durham
Customers saddened by garden centre closure
The Greener Gardening Company works around the clock to meet exceptional demand for growing media 
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Garden Centre Photo Tours
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
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All the latest news from the world of pet products
Heavyweight multimedia campaign takes Peckish bird brand to new heights
Private equity firm sells its share of pet food firm
Pet treats boom as Brits bid to beat lockdown blues
Situations Vacant
Apta looks to strengthen merchandising team
Four Product Merchandiser vacancies
 

Apta, the leading supplier of quality flowerpots and accessories to the UK garden trade, is looking to strengthen its merchandising team with the recruitment of motivated and ambitious Product Merchandisers...

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Pet treats boom as Brits bid to beat lockdown blues

 

Britain’s cats and dogs have emerged from lockdown licking their lips as pet treats sales boom, the first annual petcare market report, released by market leader Mars Petcare, reveals. 

 

Across the board, treats value sales surged year on year from the week of the UK’s first Covid-19 case in February to the partial lifting of lockdown 12 weeks later; Dreamies saw an astonishing 12.9% growth whilst Pedigree grew an equally impressive 11.8% as treating occasions rose 12% in the weeks following lockdown on 23rd March.

 

“The pet treats boom shows the crucial role pets play in providing companionship, particularly in times of stress,” says Nick Foster, Category and Marketing Director; Mars Petcare UK.

 

“The last few months have been challenging for everyone, so it makes sense that many have sought to ease the strain by treating their pets as they were forced to stay inside. Treating is a way of strengthening the bond we have with our pets, rewarding good behaviour and looking after their health needs. It also gives us a powerful emotional reward.” 

 

The wider pet food and litter market saw sales climb 3.4% in the 12 weeks to 16 May with treats’ growth gathering pace as lockdown continued. In the final four weeks, cat treats’ growth accelerated to 7.7%. Over the same period, positive dog treats grew by 8.8%. 

 

With one in three owners only ever treating their pets with functional products like dental chews, this boom in treating represents a significant opportunity, particularly for specialist pet retailers. 

 

“The significant growth of the category shows just how expandable the pet treats market is,” says Foster.

 

“Dedicated pet shops have the opportunity to educate pet owners on the different products available and, by encouraging them to buy a wider repertoire of treats for a greater number of uses – such as to show love, reward, train or address health issues – we can drive more growth.”  

 

 

Pet food and litter is a highly planned category, with 73% of shoppers researching which products are best for their animals before making a purchase. Pet treat purchases are much less planned, with 44% of sales being made on impulse.

 

“Retailers can capitalise on pet treats’ growth potential by disrupting shoppers’ journeys in store and online with clear range segmentation and increased space,” he says.

 

“Seasonal sales events are also an opportunity, with 40% of millennial pet owners saying they spend as much on treating their pets as they spend on friends on special occasions.”

 

The omens are good for further growth after breeders and pet homes reported huge demand for cats and dogs as Brits sought to ease the isolation of lockdown with new pets. By 2025, it is estimated that one in three pet care shoppers will be millennial. This generation has greater tendency to spend on pet services and accessories, in addition to spending more on their pets at Christmas and other gifting occasions. Specialist pet retailers can future proof their businesses by offering a wider range of goods and services which will appeal to this generation who now, more than ever, have the opportunity to buy a pet. 

 

“Employers are becoming more amenable to staff working from home, making it easier for people to get the pet they’ve always dreamed of,” says Foster, adding that Mars Petcare is now forecasting compound annual growth of 2.4% over the next five years. 

 

“This is another reason why the future is bright for the pet food and treats category.” 

 

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