OrganiPets in Norway, Best Pets and Woof Factor!

Just a reminder that the Best Pets Competition closes on 31 July, so if you want your cat or dog to have the chance of being the inspiration for the next character in the Ann Edwards family range getting entering now, full details are on the website under competitions.

We have spent alot of time this week with our distributor from Norway, he had never been to Oxford so enjoyed seeing this beautiful city as well as talking about OrganiPets. We are very popular in Norway and we are about to get even bigger, Ill let you know more about this over the next few months.

The Woof Factor is proving to be a big hit, we have been inundated with entries, but keep on sending them in as we love to see all your fantastic dogs.

We hope you are enjoying the sun, Raffy enjoys her evening walks along the Thames although Im not sure the ducks do!

Finally we are really pleased to have won the prestigous Greenshoots award, this is what they said about us.....

'Oxfordshire based OrganiPets has scooped the top prize in MEPC Milton Park’s 2008 Greenshoots Award. The award was set up by MEPC Milton Park, one of the largest business communities in the UK, to recognise and nurture environmentally focused start-up companies.

The judging panel found OrganiPets to be the most innovative nominee, producing environmentally friendly pet food and embracing sustainable practices throughout the business. The company will receive one year’s free office accommodation at MEPC Milton Park and mentoring from the prestigious Warwick Business School, an award worth an estimated £15,000.

OrganiPets was set up in 2007, when founders John Rice and Liz Nuttall were unable to find high quality organic food for their terminally ill dog, Raffy. When their home-produced organic pet food was linked to the improvement of Raffy’s health, they decided to make the food commercially available.

Alongside the owners’ passion for natural pet food, OrganiPets is committed to growing the business, avoiding excess packaging, recycling wherever possible and supporting local farmers.

The Greenshoots Award was open to any business under three years old with a strong environmental connection. The standard of entries was exceptional, proving Oxfordshire as a hot bed for environmentally-minded entrepreneurs.

Entries were analysed by panel of judges including Professor Roger Mumby-Croft of Warwick Business School and Andrew Smith, business editor of the Oxford Times.

Roger Mumby-Croft of Warwick Business School commented: “The business mentoring part of the prize is set to be particularly beneficial to OrganiPets as it moves into its next stage of growth - collaborating with local growers to produce the ingredients required, rather than sourcing overseas and increasing food miles. This environmental consideration across all aspects of the business is helping to develop growth and efficiency.”

Managing director of MEPC Milton Park James Dipple commented: “Its ethical sourcing and commitment to organic produce has enriched the business, making OrganiPets an outstanding company, and one which we are proud to award the winners of Greenshoots 2008. We look forward to working with OrganiPets and seeing it become a major pet food brand with the help of the Greenshoots Award.”