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Oase ups the pace Pond specialist Oase experienced a marked growth in sales in the first nine months of last year compared with 2010. The satisfactory trend in the water gardening consumer segment was primarily responsible for this. In the German-speaking countries, the company achieved double-digit growth in the water gardening segment in the period mentioned compared with the same period last year. Elsewhere in Europe, Oase’s sales growth was in single figures. The company appears pleased with its results in France and the Benelux countries above all. It noted with satisfaction that the UK market, which flagged during the recession of 2008 and 2009, has now stabilised again. Spain remains a worry, however; the difficult economic situation in general has had an impact on the garden pond market. In eastern Europe, Oase says it has taken “a step forward” in horticulture and landscaping and in pond construction. The principal target group comprises hotels, spa facilities and owners of large gardens, who are prepared to invest in attractive water gardens. Focus on the “Eheim” family brand The “Eheim” family brand is to be brought to the fore in all activities of the aquatics company in future. The process of integrating the “mp” and “Jäger” brands step by step under the “Eheim” family brand, which has taken several years, is thus nearing its end. The “mp” brand is being listed for the last time for aquariums in the current catalogue for the German market. In the catalogue for foreign markets, on the other hand, all products from the Deizisauer company now feature exclusively under the “Eheim” family brand. This change is to be implemented in all countries for Interzoo. “We have now achieved standardisation in all areas, in service, distribution and development as well as in marketing,” explains Ibrahim Mefire Kouotou, who is responsible at Eheim for marketing and product management. The goal of the company is to become a one-stop supplier of high-quality products and top-class service to the pet product trade. Grooming award Su Eld-Weaver was named as the 2011 Groomer of the Year at the British Dog Grooming Championship, winning with a Standard Poodle Scissor and a clipped/stripped Irish Setter. The runner-up was Joanne Angus, and third place went to Peter Ensell. With nearly 80 competitors and more than 100 dogs being groomed, the competition was the biggest ever in the 31-year history of the championship. New targets According to Polish media reports…