28th - 30th September 2025  |  NEC, Birmingham
03 Jan 2024

PATS 2024 is THE talk of the UK pet and aquatics trade

PATS 2024 is THE talk of the UK pet and aquatics trade
PATS 2024

The relaunch of PATS 2024 as an all-encompassing three-day exhibition has become THE major talking point with companies operating within a growing UK pet and aquatics trade.

PATS 2024, the UK’s Pet & Aquatics Trade Show, will take place at Telford International Centre from Sunday 29th September to Tuesday 1st October 2024, and an impressive line-up of companies have already booked their stands for next year’s event with many taking bigger spaces.

Vetfleece, a leading manufacturer of super soft pet bedding for kennels, crates and domestic homes, is one company that has increased its stand space after a highly successful PATS exhibition in October.

Richard Ward, Joint Managing Director of Vetfleece, which also supplies premium leads, harnesses, and car accessories, said: “Vetfleece/AK-9 is wholeheartedly embracing the extension to a three-day event at the PATS pet and aquatics trade show for 2024.

“Following our record-breaking achievement in 2023, where we proudly established 150 new trade accounts in a span of two days, we are maintaining our momentum by keeping our free stock offer – a complimentary stock package valued at £239 for each new trade account – open until PATS 2024. Those interested can take advantage of this offer by visiting (www.green-rocks.co.uk/qr/account).

“The expansion to a three-day event is a welcome development for us. During previous shows, we found ourselves stretched to engage meaningfully with every visitor at our stand. The sheer volume of interest meant that valuable conversations were often cut short. To rectify this, we are planning to double our stand size and double the staff presence for the 2024 show, ensuring that every inquiry and potential partnership is given the attention it deserves.

“With two of the three days falling within the working week, we are optimistic about connecting with more corporate buyers and larger teams from independent pet stores. These are the professionals who interact with end-users daily, and their insights are invaluable to us. The additional day also enhances the social aspects of the event, allowing for more of the successful evening do’s hosted by organiser Gordon Thomas and his team, which have become a highlight for networking and camaraderie. The atmosphere around the Holiday Inn bar is always buzzing, presenting an ideal setting for exhibitors to mingle and exchange ideas that daytime schedules may otherwise preclude.

“The restructuring of PATS for 2024 into one comprehensive event, rather than two separate shows, is a strategic move we believe will yield a more impactful, cost-effective, and dynamic trade show. It also provides us with a better lead time to prepare and launch outstanding products that will resonate with our partners and their customers. We’re gearing up for what we anticipate will be not just our best PATS show to date, but an event that surpasses all expectations and sets a new standard for the pet and aquatics trade.”

Independent pet wholesaler We.pet is also planning ahead for PATS 2024, having booked its stand. Director Daniel Vander (pictured above) commented: “We are really excited at what a three-day event might hold for We.pet! We are confident that footfall over a three-day one-off exhibition will increase with both existing customers and potential new customers making the effort to attend a bigger exhibition.

“We are also hopeful that it will encourage more international customers to make the journey which is a market sector we are targeting and growing in every year. And finally with three days, it gives us and the team an ideal platform to meet, socialise and enjoy the company of our compatriots from all parts of the pet and aquatics trade.”

Companies and brands to have already secured their stand space include: Ancol Pet Products, Cranswick Pet Products (Alpha & Vitalin), Danish Design, Eden Pet Foods, Fold Hill Foods, Forthglade, IPN, Kennelpak, Natures Menu and Nature’s Variety, Nova Dog Chews, Paleo Ridge, Pedigree Wholesale, Rogz, Trixie, We.pet, and Westland (Bucktons and Peckish), among many others.

Retailers and buyers can register their interest in visiting PATS 2024 by going to the exhibition website www.patshow.co.uk, which has all the up-to-date information about the show.

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.com

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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

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