In This Issue
The lockdown gardeners – who are they and how do we keep them?
When it rains... sales fall. Garden centre business as normal...
Fire & water - Woodlodge adds to product line-up for 2021
#millionplantingmoments as plant sales stay strong
Christmas grows by 21% with chocolate as the topping
Tong applies for planning permission for a second site
Firm acquires intellectual property of Internet Gardener
Royal visitor to Food Hall at Squire’s Frensham
Homebase launches UK’s first ‘Green Aisle’ to help shoppers make environmentally friendly choices
GCA members plan for a successful Christmas
Clear ‘N’ Collect combines functionality and sustainability for the most advanced rake yet!
Get your own copy of GTN Xtra
Rosebourne sign up Whalley and Ormrod
Planting in pots and houseplant care drive sales
Visors out sell facemasks in garden centres - updated
Wild weather boost for wildlife
Darlac appoints Business Development Manager
HTA’s Ornamentals Management Committe welcomes new appointments 
The best of last week's
Christmas gets off to a flying start – up 71%
Garden centre sales up 30% in September
Garden centres must work in partnership with suppliers
Blue Diamond interim results show resilient performance
The birth of a brand: Woodlodge’s new Honey & Wild range to ignite sales of garden décor in 2021
Retirement Village plan submitted for Solihull garden centre site
Garden Centre Photo Tours
Haskins Snowhill re-opens after £15m re-vamp
Bestsellers Top 50 charts every week
Buy your subscription to the GTN Bestsellers printed weekly newsletter
All the latest news from the world of pet products
Winners of the PATS Telford 2020 New Product Awards revealed
Pet and garden store chain commits to the high street
Mars Petcare to drive seasonal sales with festive additions
Team Beco recruit dogs to sniff out River Thames litter
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Winners of the PATS Telford 2020 New Product Awards revealed

The winners of the highly-prized PATS Telford 2020 New Product Awards have been revealed following a special judging day involving a panel of independent pet retailers.

 

Entries to the awards poured in after it was announced they would go ahead despite September’s show being cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions.

 

An impressive total of more than 140 products were entered across seven different categories of the awards, sponsored by pbwnews.

 

The judges’ decisions took into account a number of guideline criteria, such as product innovation, design, quality, packaging and value for money.

 

All of the entries are posted on the PATS website, giving pet stores the opportunity to see and understand the new products available and to make informed choices about what they may wish to order for the crucial months ahead.

 

“It was great to see that our exhibitors took this opportunity to showcase their new products in this way,” said PATS organiser Gordon Thomas, of Impact Exhibitions and Events. “It proves the value and importance of the PATS Awards, and we know that winning is viewed as a big achievement within the pet industry.

 

“I’d like to thank our sponsors pbwnews for helping to make the judging day such a success, and our panel of independent retailers for taking the time to attend and judge the winners. Social distancing and other measures were in place. The judges said it was vital to be able to see, touch and feel the entries before making their final decisions.”

 

Here is a full list of the winners together with the judges’ comments:

 

CAT FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Winner: Cat LickiMat Slomo from Sharples Pet

It was a unanimous decision from the judges, who agreed this product is sturdy and of high quality. It’s so good that one judge uses it for her own dog.

 

DOG ACCESSORY AND TOYS

Winner: Ultra Fetch Stick by Chuckit (from Pedigree Wholesale) 

The judges loved this product’s sturdiness and value-for-money ­and they liked the fact that it floats. They said everything about it is good.

 

DOG FOOD AND PRODUCTS

Winner: Eco-Friendly Premium RaCore 80/10/10 Raw Frozen Dog Food from Wilsons Pet Food 

The judges liked the green credentials of this product, and felt it also has a good price point.

Highly Commended: True Instinct from Natures Menu

 

DOG TREATS AND PRODUCTS

Winner: No Hide The Feast Limited Edition Chew by Earth Animal (from Pedigree Wholesale)

This was a closely contested and well-supported category. The judges decided the winner was No Hide Chew, billed as ‘the healthy alternative to raw hide’. They liked the price point (from £3.99) as well as the ingredients (turkey, pumpkin and cranberry), and felt the chews would last well. 

Highly Commended: Paddock Farm Ostrich Metatarsus Bone from Antos

 

GROOMING PRODUCTS

Winner: HOWND Spa Banana Facial and Natural Tear Stain Treatment from HOWND

The judges said the product had a pleasant smell and would be good to use on dogs at home as a face wash. They also liked the fact it’s paraben-free.

 

PET CARE PRODUCTS

Winner: Country’s Best Minavital from Versele Laga

This enriched mineral mix for poultry impressed the judges, who agreed it was an easy and effective way of giving chickens multi-vitamins. With the chicken sector growing rapidly, this value-for-money product should be a big seller.

 

SMALL ANIMAL AND BIRD PRODUCTS

Winner: Pet Remedy Small Mammal Calming Treat from Pet Remedy

The judges liked the product and the fact that it actually had a small animal picture on the packaging. One judge vouched for the calming product, having used it themselves and finding it to be really effective.

 

Retailers can now vote for what they think should be Best in Show from the winners listed above. Go to www.patshow.co.uk/buyers-best-in-show-new-product-award#/ All votes will have the chance of winning M&S vouchers worth £100. Voting closes at midnight on October 13, 2020. 

 

All items entered for the New Product Awards were donated to PATS’ chosen charity Dogs for Good, who train assistance dogs for adults and children with physical disabilities, to use as competition prizes at their many events.

 

The charity’s Corporate Partnerships Manager, Cathryn Simpson, said: “Dogs for Good really do value the kind generosity of PATS and the pet industry in general for supporting the charity in this way, especially during these challenging times.”

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