Some of the UK’s most innovative small pet care businesses are celebrating after being named as winners in the annual PetQuip Awards.

The award for Supplier of the Year was split between large and small manufacturers. While the award for large supplier (turnover above £100m) went to Butcher’s Petcare, the award for smaller suppliers went to Mutneys Professional Pet Care, and the Shropshire-based grooming equipment company was delighted with its success.

Mutneys co-founder Stephanie Roberts said: “As a manufacturer and supplier of pet grooming equipment, we pride ourselves on our products being developed by professionals, as every product available is tried and tested in working salons before being added to our range.

“We are passionate about providing first-class customer service to our customers and offering products to suit every breed or coat type. To win the Supplier of the Year award and to be recognised for our hard work and commitment is a privilege.”

Pet trade innovator Tracey Voss, founder of manufacturer Tailor-Grace, Huskaloo cat litter and Oggi’s World home-bake mixes for dogs, was named winner of the prestigious Theresa Swann Exporter of the Year 2022 Award just as she celebrates 25 years in the pet trade.

PetQuip director general Amanda Sizer Barrett praised Tailor-Grace and Tracey for providing “strong backup” for their international team.

After collecting the Exporter award, Tracey said: “I am so proud to win the Gold, which is amazing. It means such a lot because it represents everybody’s efforts, not just mine and the product. I feel very proud for everybody.

“Theresa Swann was a beautiful, wonderful lady who was taken too soon and we all miss her. It makes this personal for me. This award will be gold dust for the export team, as it will open many more doors, particularly in the States.”

Tailor-Grace and Tracey also won two Silver Awards, the first for Product of the Year (Food and Treats) for the Oggi’s World Birthday Gift Box, and the second in the Celebrating Green and Organic category for Huskaloo, a compact and easily compostable cat litter made from coconut husks.

“We are super-proud to win this,” Tracey added. “It just goes to show how strong a product Huskaloo is. Huskaloo represents the very best in terms of eco cat litter. It is green and organic and it simply is the only true eco cat litter. It’s great to be acknowledged as such.”

Shropshire-based pet treat startup business Furr Boost is celebrating after winning Best Pet Product of the Year in the Food and Treats category with its range of smoothie drinks.

The products were created by Louise Toal, a former technical manager to the food industry with over 20 years’ experience, and the success of the brand also meant that it was a finalist in three other categories as well: Green and Organic, Sustainability and Supplier of the Year. Furr Boost is also a sustainable product using packaging materials which are recyclable.

Toal said: “There is no one else making a product like ours. Each of our recipes contains a meat, fruit and vegetable, along with added oils and vitamins, so it’s more than a hydration drink, it supports the dog’s wellbeing in areas such as digestion, skin and coat, anxiety, metabolism and immunity.

“We haven’t come down from cloud nine since winning the Gold PetQuip Award and we are delighted to be recognised by the pet trade.”

Podium Pet Product’s natural range of plant-based pet wellness and lifestyle products won the gold award in the category for Green & Organic, plus silver for International Trade, to the delight of chief executive Carina Evans.

“Of course we are over the moon,” she said. “This is an huge team effort and my sincere thanks go Petquip. An huge shout out to all our retailers who voted and who are so knowledgeable about their – and our – end consumer.

“We have an ace wholesaler network and most importantly the team at home totally punch above their weight. I am in awe of them, and we are blessed to be able to operate as we do, stay sane (ish) and have fun along the way. This award is a testament to their skill, ingenuity, and vision.”

The company’s range includes Dog Rocks, which helps stop pet urine burning grass, and Be:Loved, a giftable all-year-round range of wellness and lifestyle products for pets and their parents.

Katy Rehm founder of the Pawfume Shop, will get a chance to enjoy another of Europe’s top trade shows having won an all expenses paid trip to Italy to attend Zoomark 2023 in Bologna next May.

The former veterinary nurse, who also runs a successful dog grooming business, Groomers, in Formby, near Liverpool, was presented with the prize at the PetQuip Awards by Zoomark’s Pascale Sonvico.

Sonvico said: “We look forward to welcoming Katy to Zoomark 2023 and involving her in the show. We hope that she enjoys everything it has to offer and will support The Pawfume Shop as a supplier to European customers.”

David Rees is the editor of PBW News. In a 30-year career in trade journalism he has specialised in the retail and wholesale sectors, holding senior positions at a number of leading titles.

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