PET GAZETTE |
Meet the experts contributing
to this month’s issue
Nigel Baker is chief executive of
the Pet Industry Federation (PIF).
He joined the PIF in 2012 and has
more than 30 years’ experience in
the pet trade. Nigel has considerable
commercial experience from
the senior positions he has
held in pet food manufacturing
and supplier companies.
John Courteney-Smith MRSB is the
bird and reptile manager for Arcadia
Products and a full member of the
Royal Society of Biology. He believes
that we still have much to learn
from the wild and has a passionate
dedication to ever increasing
animal welfare. His aim is to start
a “revolution in exotic pet care”.
Caroline Offord has worked in the
RSPB Communications Department
for over ten years and has spent her
working life in the conservation/
environmental sector. She enjoys
being outside in nature and since
becoming a mum to two boys is
passionate about getting them
outdoors to enjoy and experience
wildlife and the natural world.
Nicole Paley is the communications
manager at the PFMA and has worked
in the pet food industry for over ten
years. Liaising with the PFMA’s team
of industry and veterinary nutrition
experts, Nicole writes on a range
of subjects from pet nutrition to
industry trends and developments.
www.petgazette.biz
3
EDITOR’S LETTER
People within the UK are more
likely than ever before to spend
time online. 88 percent of
adults use the internet, rising
to 99 percent of people within
the 16 to 34 age range. As
retailers have noticed, instant
access to the web is having
an impact on the way people
shop. Online images and ‘cute’
videos are, in some cases, driving
demand for certain pets, leading to serious welfare
concerns. Organisations have raised fears that
some purchasers are unaware of, or unable to
meet, animals’ needs. This issue, Pet Gazette asks a
selection of industry members how the internet
has changed the way the public sources its creature
companions. To find out more, turn to page 14.
This month, we’re also placing multi-cat households
in the spotlight. Over a third of the UK’s cat owners
have two or more of these popular pets. On page
18, the PFMA looks at the products retailers can
stock to encourage a harmonious household. These
essential resources can help your customers to
keep their pets free from conflict and stress. Flick
to page 20 for tips - and items - to help multicat
homes remain peaceful as they gradually introduce
new furry family members to their existing pets.
I hope you enjoy this issue.
July 2017