A successful PetQuip Awards event

Company: PetQuip

Eighteen petcare companies were honoured on Sunday 14 September 2014 at the PetQuip Awards party, held at the Majestic Hotel, Harrogate as part of the PATS exhibition programme.

In addition to awards in six industry categories, a special Lifetime Achievement Award was introduced into the awards for 2014 by the PetQuip association, and it went to Mary Boughton MBE of Dorwest Herbs, which also won the Supplier of the Year award.  A delighted Mary reacted by saying: “We are only a small company so to pick up two awards from such an illustrious international organisation like PetQuip is wonderful. I believe it’s recognition for the connection we have with animals and the passion we show as a team. It’s an honour to receive a lifetime achievement.”

Piers Hampson, the marketing director of the Product Innovation of the Year award winner SureFlap, was determined to use the award to further boost his product, saying: “A lot of time and effort goes into producing innovative products like the Dualscan Micro-chip Cat Flap so we’re delighted to be recognised in this way. The product has been well received by consumers and it’s brilliant that it can now boast this accolade.”

A poignant reaction came from Angel Moore, general manager of UK Retailer of the Year award winner, Betty and Butch.  He said: “I’m dedicating this prestigious award to Manchester and Cheshire Dogs’ Home following the tragedy there. It’s a bitter-sweet moment for us because of what’s happened at the dogs’ home, which is only two miles down the road from our store. But to be recognised in this way is fantastic for us, and gives everyone a boost, especially at this difficult time.”

When Stephen Turner, managing director of the Exporter of the Year award, Group 55, entered the pet market five years ago he always believed that export markets would be the key to the company’s success with the Animology brand. “We owe a lot to PetQuip, UKTI and the Chamber of Commerce, and to receive this award means a lot. We now sell in 40 countries, and this award will help us to develop even further. It’s very important for our international patrons to be associated with an award-winning brand.

The award-winning firms for 2014 are:

Supplier of the Year
Gold – Dorwest Herbs
Silver – Natures Menu
Highly Commended – Burgess Pet Care

Wholesaler of the Year
Gold – Pedigree Wholesale
Silver – Peregrine Livefoods
HC - Collarways

Product Innovation of the Year
Gold – Sureflap (Dualscan Micro chip Cat flap)
Joint Silver – The Canny Co (Mag Lok) and Animology/Group 55 (Clean Sheets)
HC – Beaphar (Nature – natural food range)

Exporter of the Year
Gold – Animology/Group 55
Silver – TastyBone
HC – Pet Revolution

International Retailer of the Year
Gold – Animalis, France
Silver – Petco, USA
HC – Meiko, Switzerland

UK Retailer of the Year
Gold – Betty & Butch, Manchester
Silver – The Pet Centre (Shirley) Ltd, Solihull
HC – Baytree Garden Centre Pets & Aquatics

Lifetime Achievement AWARD
Mary Boughton MBE.  Mary is a director of Dorwest Herbs Ltd, a family business that has been manufacturing licensed veterinary herbal medicines and dietary supplements for over 60 years.  She is a board member of National Office of Animal Health (NOAH), the trade association for the veterinary pharmaceutical industry, and chairs NOAH’s Companion Animal Sub-Committee.  Mary lectures to veterinary practices and veterinary associations in the UK and overseas and has written articles for pet magazines and veterinary publications on matters relating to the use of herbal medicines and alternative therapies for companion animals. Outside of her work-based activities Mary has also been a champion for small businesses, and was awarded an MBE for services to business and the community in 2005.  She has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts since 2006 and of the Royal Society of Medicine since 2010.

The main sponsors of the awards this year were PATS, STAX plc, Natures Menu, Petface and Ernest Charles the Gardman brand.

The highly popular event was staged in association with Impact Exhibitions, the organiser of PATS, and combined a lively mix of industry competition with networking and an element of fun that included dancing to music from The Rockits, the resident band from the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

PetQuip is a division of the Federation of Garden and Leisure Manufacturers Ltd, the trade association that works on behalf of British companies to help its members increase sales worldwide.

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