Around 200 luminaries representing the UK and international retailer and supplier pet sector attended the 2018 PetQuip Awards & Dinner party held on 23 September. The sixth edition of this annual event took place in the Ludlow Suite at the Telford International Centre during the PATS Telford pet trade exhibition. The organisers were pleased to take part in the awards evening by announcing the PATS New Product awards prior to the PetQuip Awards presentations.

The PetQuip awards, presented by Pat Flynn, PetQuip trade association manager and Amanda Sizer Barrett MBE, director general of the PetQuip association, included eight gold and eight silver medals, plus six highly commended awards and a special Lifetime Achievement Award for John James of James & Steel.

The awards results are:

Business of the Year

Gold -  Group 55

Silver - Natures Menu

Highly Commended-    Broadreach Nature +

Exporter of the Year

Gold -  Group 55

Silver - Burgess Pet Care

Marketing Project of the Year

Gold -   Hownd

Silver - Company of Animals

Highly Commended–    Natures Menu/True Instinct

Highly Commended -    Just for Pets

Pet Product of the Year

Three categories:-

1) Food & Treats:

 Gold -   Hownd – Hemp Wellness Treats

 Silver - Nutriment – Dinner for Cats

 Highly Commended-     Poppy’s Picnic – Enhanced Pet Food/Complete Meatballs/Follow-on         Paste

2) Accessories:

Gold -   Danish Design – Dog Duvet

Silver - Collarways – Mookiemax grooming and massage tool

HC -     K9 Organics – shampoos/paw balms 

3) Health & Technical:

Gold - Sure Petcare – Microchip Pet Door Connect/Cat Flap Connect Silver - PetWeighter – Dog Feeding System

International Pet Retailer/Distributor/ Wholesaler of the Year

Gold - Whesco, Denmark

UK Pet Retailer of the Year

Gold - Mutt & Co Pet Boutique, Hartlepool, Teesside Silver - Pack and Clowder, Hackney, London

Highly Commended -     WaggleAntics, online retailer

Lifetime Achievement Award: John James

Reacting to Group 55’s double win, Stephen Turner said: "To win both of these prestigious awards – Business of the Year and Exporter of the Year – is amazing. It's the ultimate recognition for the work we do. It couldn't be achieved without a fantastic team."

In the citation announcing John James as the Lifetime Achievement award recipient, Amanda Sizer Barrett said: “The winner of this year’s PetQuip Lifetime Achievement Award is a trader par excellence, a man who loves the pet trade and all the camaraderie of pet trade shows. He has been working in the pet trade since his mid twenties, promoting pet products throughout the world in the ‘80s as European sales director for a well known brand.

“In the nineties he decided to try his hand at running his own business, starting from his garden shed.  It is now an established family business trading via distributors throughout the world.

“This distinguished man is well liked and respected by his suppliers, many of whom are here tonight.”

Amanda Sizer Barrett then cited numerous plaudits received from across the trade for John James, including: ‘A true gentleman and a passionate advocate for the pet trade, congratulations’ and ‘I have worked with this man for many years, he is as straight as a die and a pleasure to deal with’. She concluded:

“The team here at PetQuip feel that special recognition for John should also include being one of the best partners we have ever had the pleasure to share the dance floor with!”

John James was thrilled at the surprise announcement, he said: "I had no idea this was going to happen. It's a very humbling experience and one I will treasure. It is wonderful to be recognised in this way."