A sector on the move

The trade magazine PET in Europe changed its title. With effect from issue 1/2010 the magazine appeared as PET worldwide. The reason given by Dähne Verlag for the change of the name was that globalisation is advancing even in the pet supplies business. Flamingo distanced itself from rumours that the company or its proprietor, Erwin van Tendeloo, was planning to establish a speciality chain comprising 20 to 25 stores. The British holistic pet food manufacturer Naturdiet continued its expansion across Europe by partnering the Greek distribution firm Pet line. Later in the year, Naturediet concluded distribution deals with the Romanian pet product company Profipet, the Swedish company Imazo, the distributors Interaltus and Zooserviss in Estonia, and the Belgian company Vadigran. The German Federal Cartel Office fined Mars Petcare € 4.5 mio. A press release by the Cartel Office stated that the American corporation had deliberately flouted German anti-monopoly legislation and had infringed the prohibition of execution in its takeover of Nutro. Swedish franchising retailer Arken Zoo was aiming to open 30 new pet stores in 2009, CEO Lars Bergkvist announced at the International Pet Conference in Amsterdam in November 2008. The German pet supplies chain Kölle Zoo opened new themed stores in Darmstadt-Weiterstadt, Balingen and Villingen-Schwenningen. The American chain PetSmart recalled seven dog biscuit varieties under the “Great Choice” brand as a precaution. The biscuits were reported to contain peanut paste, which was investigated for potential salmonella contamination. Italian company Ferplast aimed to grow in the USA and appointed Harry Gelkopf as its US representative. Ferplast had its own stand at the Global Pet Expo in Orlando. Radio Systems, supplier of the “Pet safe” brand, acquired the assets of Canada-based Multivet International along with the rights to manufacture and sell the company’s products. German franchise chain Futterhaus launched its first store in Styria in Austria. Its new franchisee, headed by Norbert Steinwidder, announced plans to open 20 stores. The British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) showed that just over 20 per cent of households have a cat at home, 20 per cent have a dog, 4 per cent have caged birds, and 12 per cent have fish kept indoors. Spanish company Tolsa, the European market leader in cat litter, struck in a new direction and launched its own cat food brand in Italy and Poland. The Munich-based online pet supplies firm…