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The Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) has launched its new edition of the International Private Label Yearbook. The guide comprises new figures for the private label market of pet food products by volume and by value. In value the market share of private label products is highest in Germany (54.7 per cent), Portugal (54.4 per cent) and Spain (52.8 per cent). At the lower end of the ranking are Finland (13.1 per cent), Norway (19.9 per cent) and the Netherlands (24.5 per cent), according to the yearbook. The volume share of private label products is highest in Portugal (72.8 per cent), followed by Spain (70.6 per cent), Germany (66.9 per cent) and Hungary (66.8 per cent). At the lower end of the ranking are Finland and the Netherlands (each 29.4 per cent), points out the yearbook.

Solus Garden & Leisure, a British wholesale supplier of garden products, called in administrators in the middle of May. The collapse of the Worcestershire-based firm also has consequences for its clients, for example Dog Rocks. The supplier of products to rid grass, shrubs and box hedging of pet urine burns has now announced that it will supply directly to garden centres while they conclude negotiations with other garden trade wholesalers. Carina Evans, CEO of Dog Rocks, points out that by supplying direct, the company has the opportunity to get to know its garden retailers a little bit better.

The two American companies Fetch...for pets! and Rock Your Hair have jointly developed a new line of dog grooming products, called Rock Your Fur. The products have been available at pet speciality stores, retailers, and professional beauty salons since the beginning of July.

The US pet retail chain Petland has criticised animal rights groups that push for local bans on pet shops selling puppies. A majority of the retail pet sales bans already in effect are concentrated in Florida, California and New Jersey. "Retail bans are essentially a feel-good effort that does little to nothing to address sub-standard breeders," said CEO Joe Watson. He pointed out that only 2 per cent of all puppies are purchased in pet stores. "If every pet store selling puppies closed tomorrow, not a single breeder would go out of business. Retail bans aim to close the only regulated distribution channel for puppy sales in America," Watson said. Petland defends its…