The branch meets in Belgium

Exhibitors and pet sector professionals met at the 17th staging of the Anido pet supplies fair to discuss the latest trends in the sector and to present new products and innovations – and there were plenty of these on show. While the first day of the show attracted primarily smaller pet shop proprietors and their families, the buyers from the bigger pet store chains came to Kortrijk on the second day. In addition to large numbers of French, German and Belgian visitors to the show, the exhibitors said that a large contingent of trade visitors from Holland came to this year’s event. The latest products were also on show to the large audience on an extra exhibition area called “New@Anido” in eye-catching glass display cabinets. Visitors then chose the best new products from these in the food category and the accessories and care product category during the first day of the fair. The products receiving Anido awards received special recognition at a large gala event on the Sunday evening. First place in the food category went to the dog food “Size Health Nutrition X-Small” from Royal Canin, with second place going to “Gamma Healthy Dog” from Francken Food. The Mars product “Whiskas Les P’tits Plats” took the third spot. In the accessories and care products category, the winner was Surplus Distribution with its dog bathrobe “Furdry”, followed by the dog jacket “Lumijack” by Made For Dogs. Third place went to the dog bed “SO” from Milk & Pepper. Grooming demonstrations If the Anido president Erik Lambrecht has his way, the next show in 2014 will feature another category in addition to the existing ones: “I will campaign for the inclusion of a communications category in the competition.” At a time when social media platforms and the Internet are becoming increasingly important, this topic should not be omitted, stresses Lambrecht. The trade could also benefit greatly from this subject. In addition to the latest products from the exhibitors, visitors to the show learned about the latest grooming trends. Various trimming demonstrations were given in an entrance hall on both show days. Kitty Dekeersgieter, international trimming champion and member of the jury at trimming competitions, also presented a complete grooming programme. In the course of the two-day fair, a number of different breeds were professionally shampooed and trimmed. The fair organisers say that this special offer is attributable to the increase in visits by professional dog groomers to Anido…