28th - 30th September 2025  |  NEC, Birmingham
28 Mar 2024

What it means to win a New Product Award at PATS

What it means to win a New Product Award at PATS
New Product Winners 2023

Winning a New Product Award at the Pet & Aquatics Trade Show can have a tremendous impact on the fortunes of a PATS exhibitor. It can help turn a new launch into a bestselling item in pet stores around the country and clinch that all-important export deal.

One of the main reasons why the Award is held in such high esteem is the fact it is decided by a panel of independent retailers, who know what it takes for a product to fly off the shelves.

The New Product Showcase at PATS 2024, which takes place from Sunday 29th September to Tuesday, 1st October, at Telford International Centre, Shropshire, is always a popular feature with visitors, and it is expected that this year’s three-day exhibition will attract a record number of entries.

Here three companies who triumphed in the New Products Awards at PATS Telford in 2023 reveal what the accolade has done for their business.

Case Study No 1

RTogz

Rogz – Winner of Dog Harnesses, Leads and Dog Wear with Amphibian Classic Collar.

Sallie-Ann Reed, managing director for UK and Ireland, said: “For us as an established pet accessories brand winning the New Product Award at PATS last year provided recognition for the whole team for the endless hard work and creative determination to continue bringing new and exciting products to market.”

Do you think the award has helped to elevate your winning product in terms of exposure?
“Absolutely. The UK pet market is extremely busy and receiving the award gave us the opportunity to stand out and shout about the fabulousness of our products and why retailers should choose to stock Rogz. It put us on the radar for sure.”

Have you used the award to promote the product?
“We added the ‘New Product Award Winner 2023’ logo to our email footers straight away, then included the award photos and blurb to our digital platforms. Winning the award certainly added some kudos to the range!”

Will you be entering this year’s New Product Showcase?
“Definitely. Rogz is committed to the ongoing innovation and development to further enhance the brand portfolio and bring products to retailers that pet parents want to buy and love to use.”

Case Study No 2

Mealberry

Mealberry GmbH – Winner of Small Animal and Bird Products with Little One Christmas Tree (Christmas treat toy)

Doreen Werner, sales and marketing manager, said: “Winning the respected PATS New Product Showcase Award makes us very proud, as it acknowledges Mealberry’s expertise in the industry. Our products have already won five of these awards, and every time it gives us confidence that the company is on the right path of its development and growth.”

Do you think the award has helped to elevate your winning product in terms of exposure?
“It definitely does. We experience the great brand awarness it creates on a daily basis. These awards are also a quality assurance for our new customers, and we believe they also help customers to recognise our company’s products in the market and choose them above others.”

Have you used the award to promote the product?
“We use it all the time for our marketing and proudly show them at the big international events. Winning PATS Awards reflects on all the effort, time and hard work that we put into our products.”

Have you used the award to promote the product?
“We are very greateful for this opportunity and won’t miss this chance to enter the competition. The New Product Showcase is a great way to announce novelties and winning the award is the best advertisement for a new launch.”

Case Study No 3

Naturaw

Naturaw – Winner of Dog Food Products with Naturaw Forage – Free Range Pork (lower carbon).

Chris Broadbent, director, said: “Winning at PATS for the past three years has been hugely beneficial to the Naturaw brand. It means everything in terms of credibility.”

Do you think the award has helped to elevate your winning product in terms of exposure?
“It has certainly been helpful across the pet trade sector, both for existing stockists and helping to attract new ones.”

Have you used the award to promote the product?
“We have used the awards on our website and in both consumer and trade communication across a number of channels.”

Will you be entering this year’s New Product Showcase?
“Yes, we are looking at a number of options for 2024.”

To register for free entry to PATS 2024, which takes place at Telford International Centre from Sunday 29th September to Tuesday, 1st October, visit www.patshow.co.uk

Photographs of PATS Telford 2023 are available to download at

https://stewartwrittle.dphoto.com/album/dollqv

For further media information please contact Neil Pope by email press@impact-exhibitions.co

Loading

We are thrilled with the incredible response from our very first exhibition at PATS! The three days were absolutely brilliant, giving us the opportunity to connect with many new and existing customers. PATS proved to be the perfect platform for launching our new catalogue and introducing over 350 brand-new SKUs. We can't wait to be a part of next year's event at the NEC!

Tom Gwilliam
Sales & Marketing Director |  HugglePets

I think it’s a great idea to add a third day to PATS. We’re here for all three days, giving us enough time to meet everyone and make informed decisions about stocking new products. We also like PATS because of all the networking opportunities.

Tina Quest
Redpaw Pet Supplies, Devon

At PATS 2024 it was lovely to reconnect with our existing customers while also having the opportunity to meet potential new ones. We were thrilled to launch three new ranges during the show, Canagan Petite, Canagan Raw (Freeze Dried Treats and Toppers) and Symply Little, all of which have sold amazingly well, further highlighting the value of this event for showcasing our innovations. Looking ahead, we believe that the Birmingham NEC could offer significant advantages, including improved transport links and a larger venue to accommodate a growing number of exhibitors and visitors, both will enhance the overall experience.

Charlie Williams
Joint Managing Director |  Canagan Group

We’ve been rushed off our feet on all three days. It has been an excellent show and I love the fact you can spend more time with visitors. I will definitely need a larger stand in 2025

Cyril Geoffray
UK & Ireland national Sales Manager |  Zoo Med
We’ve missed going to Aqua so we’re really happy to be visiting the Aquatics Zone at PATS. We’ve come to see the new products, find out about deals on offer and meet people face to face. It’s also a great opportunity for networking with other shops and companies and building new relationships – something we have missed out on during the Covid years
Mark Warren
Partner |  West Dorset Aquatics
We’ve come to PATS for the whole three days because you just can’t do it justice in only two. For us, as we deal with the whole spectrum of the pet industry, we spend day one wandering through the halls to see what catches our eye and day two doing our buying – but we’ve found that by the end of the second day we haven’t always got round to everyone. So the third day is a real bonus. There is less of a rush to get it all done and we can spend more time building relationships and ensuring we’ve caught all the deals and found all the new products we might want to stock. PATS is an important highlight of the year and we wouldn’t want to miss any of it!
Toni Thornton
Managing Director |  Four Oaks Pet Supplies, Scarborough

It was great to see the Aquatics Zone sold out and full of exhibitors. For us at J&K it was a pleasure, as always, to catch up with a good number of our longstanding customers as well as meet with and introduce our brands and product ranges to potential new ones. Hopefully the new format for 2025, moving into a larger venue, capable of accommodating even more exhibitors, and with better air, road and rail access, will encourage even more visitors, allowing the show to grow in the years to come.

Ben Windeatt
Sales & Marketing |  J&K Aquatics
I’m a big advocate of having three show days because it gives you more time to spend with clients. PATS keeps growing in a good way because it gives more companies – big and small, old and new – the platform to make their mark. I had a look at the New Starter Zone and loved the buzz that these new companies were creating. PATS is great for the UK pet industry
Greg Van Praagh
Head of UK |  RPFC Group

Supporting Partners