www. pettradeworld. com CONTENTS WHO'S WHO Editor: Claire Barks Features Writer: Rosie Barham Marketing and Research Manager: Janet Mee Publishing Director: Naidre Werner Online and Database Manager: Tammy Lister Production Manager: Karry Fuller Contributors: Paul Green, Neil Patrick, Henrietta Cain, John Kelly, Dorne Wright Editors Comment General News p4- 22 New Products p23- 31 Business News p32 Small Animal Food p33- 37 Aquatic Food Focus p38- 41 Reptile Food Focus p42- 45 5 Minute Interview p46 Aquatic and Exotic News and Product Reviews p47 CONTACT US: Editorial/ News/ Reviews claire@ pettradeworld. com 0845 459 9956 Advertising naidre@ pettradeworld. com 0845 459 9956 Address: Pet Trade World, First Floor, Unit 2, A1 Parkway, Southgate Way, Orton Southgate, Peterborough PE2 6YN I'm pleased to report that Pet Trade World has had another very busy month as you'll see by this latest record breaking issue. The biggest ever issue of Pet Trade World with 28 pages of News and New Products alone! There's also a whopping 13 page feature on Small Animal, Aquatic and Reptile food including helpful advice sections from experts on the trade. I'm even more pleased to report that Shadow and Midnight ( Naidre's two new rescue dogs) are settling in beautifully and we've managed to keep them still enough to get a few photos! It really does feel as though they've been here forever. While we're on the subject of the new arrivals we'd also like to say a big thank you to Burges Petcare, Wagg, Zolux- Hobby UK, Trixie, The Company of Animals, Lintbells and RC Hagan for helping set them up in their new home. Naidre and myself spent some time at Discover Dogs last weekend where we were able to meet up with a few people. I do apologise to others that we didn't have the chance to get round and see - largely because of time but also because the show got very busy into the afternoon. Great for the exhibitors. Immediately prior to writing this piece I had a phone call from Diane Moffi tt, from Hills Pet Nutrition, who was telling me all about her previous weekend on a market stall in Stratford Upon Avon ( in the howling wind and driving rain) in order to raise money for Dogs For The Disabled. It turns out that she spent a good few days baking all sorts of goodies to sell ( a real ' Delia Smith' by all accounts) and managed to raise £ 160. A big well done to her and we look forward to bringing you more on that story next issue. I apologise for having to mention this but.... The X Factor. You see, after the debacle of the last 2 shows I have now given it up. I'm now so annoyed with it that I actually hope the dreadful twins win, totally discrediting the show so that it may never return. The only thing that cheered me up after Jaime's exit was a bottle of Pinot Noir Chardonnay while watching the 1st episode of the new series of Top Gear.... which was rather funny and of course, Richard Hammond was as delectable as ever! On a serious note though, I do worry about how many of the voters are pet owners and how much of the pet trade's money is going toward putting fuel into Simon Cowell's Bugatti Veyron rather than buying their pets treats for Christmas! And on that bombshell, may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas xx PET TRADE WORLD DECEMBER 2009 3 Pet Trade W rld Claire Claire Barks Editor Shadow and Midnight

General News 4 PET TRADE WORLD DECEMBER 2009www. pettradeworld. com Sale of Acorn Pet Centres secures 153 jobs Acorn Pet Centres, the pet food retail chain which went into administration on 2nd September, has been sold in a deal that will secure 153 jobs in 24 stores throughout Scotland. The deal, which is for an undisclosed sum, will see Acorn Pet Centres continue to be run by Douglas Mutter, the former Managing Director. Administrators Tenon Recovery said there had been a great deal of interest in the company, with 40 enquiries and a number of strong bids. Joint administrator Tom MacLennan, Head of Tenon Recovery in Scotland, commented: " We are delighted to have secured the sale of Acorn Pet Centres and that 153 jobs will be saved as a result of the deal. The company was in administration for just 10 weeks, and achieving a sale in a diffi cult market is an excellent result. My team and I would like to wish the new owners every success with their plans for developing the business, and to thank the staff, customers and suppliers who continued to support the company throughout." Douglas Mutter added: " In 25 years we built Acorn Pet Centres into one of the UK's leading pet retail chains. We are therefore delighted to have acquired the business, and have exciting plans to develop the company, including hopefully recruiting additional staff in due course as we grow the business." ¦ Customer feedback spurs improvements to HiLife ' 60%' cat food range Research among regular purchasers has prompted a series of improvements to Town & Country Petfoods' HiLife ' 60%' cat food pouch range. Changes being introduced include improved and new recipes, with the only additions to the 60% levels of the main meat or fi sh ingredients being easily digestible, low allergen and natural. These include the ' HiLife Naturals' package: fi sh oil as a natural source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, essential vitamins and minerals from natural seaweed, natural prebiotic chicory to aid the digestive process and natural antioxidant green tea extract. There are no artifi cial additives, colours or preservatives. The relaunched HiLife ' 60%' range provides complete nutrition through every lifestage and comprises multipacks of twelve, each with selections of three improved recipes. There are two adult multipacks, Poultry Collection and Ocean Assortment together with the revamped Kitten/ Junior Collection, which provides all the nutrition needed from weaning to around 18 months and, for less active and older cats from about seven years, the Senior Selection. At the same time, HiLife 70% Tuna Flakes in a 170g can has also been relaunched with recipe improvements similar to the ' 60%' range. Peter Parkinson, Town & Country Petfoods Marketing Director said: " We regularly monitor the opinions of our customers. These improvements refl ect the views of the huge number of loyal HiLife ' 60%' and ' 70%' regular purchasers as well as the already signifi cant and growing demand for cat and dog foods made with natural ingredients. " And I'm delighted to say we have been able to make those improvements without increasing prices." Further information is available from Town & Country Petfoods on 01664 563209. ¦