I (very stupidly) ran out of dry complete food today and I order from CSJ normally so I knew I had to nip to the shops and get something to tide the little ones over the New Year period.  What a shock to the system that was!!  I ended up buying Butchers complete 3 Kgs as it ended up being the best of a terrible bunch.  Who buys this rubbish? I had the choice between wagg, Pedigreechum,  Butchers or bakers complete oh and the supermarkets own.  Why do decent companies not put some bags into the supermarkets and at least try and improve the diets of the poor pets who's owners don't know better? 

I agree. If 'Good' dog food companies are prepared to sell via many internet web sites then surely it would be good business sense to get a few bags in the big supermarkets, unless the supermarkets are scared that it may not sell because of the price. Surely a sell or return ( when the sell by date runs out ) would work and maybe people would buy even if it is only the smaller size bags for a start. But it would be handy to be able to buy when out food shopping and also avoid delivery charges etc. Also I would think that Tesco or Asda etc should be able to offer competitive prices.

I'd also think the profit margins would be greater on the more expensive foods...

I always think the same, who buys it? Some supermarkets stock Harringtons which I am told is not too bad, certainly far better than the usual brands.

For info Waitrose sell (or did last time I looked) Arden Grange...

Probably because only big names (cheap food) can sell cheap enough to the supermarkets.  Remember that the majority of these foods are owned by the big name food companies Heinz, Nestle, Kraft etc so they've already bought their way into the major supermarkets.  I can't imagine quality food companies could ever compete with them on price, they are dealing with very big boys here.

There's surprisingly little mark up on dog food, my friend owns a small independent pet shop and only makes about £ 3-5 on high end brands.

It's depressing to see so many supermarkets only stocking rubbish food, it's just wall to wall Bakers, for a while you used to at least get boxes of Natures Menu but it got dropped. The Co Op also used to stock Autarky which was handy in an emergency,

I don't know about that Celli. I've got a Batleys card and quite often there is a good £10 mark-up per 15kg bag on the good quality foods.

My vet has a huge animal shop area with plenty of decent brands.  And, given that they are only closed on a BH, there is almost daily opportunity to buy.

I recently had folk collect a puppy and they had their present 4 year old dog on Bakers!  They got a lecture from me, as that particular dog left me with a 4kg bag of RC mini junior as a pupster!

To be fair, between choosing pup before Xmas, and collecting pup, they had stocked with Fish4Puppies as I gave them the details and they were impressed that they could get it delivered free of P&P. 

I wondered if the OP had thought of pet shops, as opposed to supermarkets?

marisa

I think that you will find the shops that Celli mentions, are extremely unlikely to have the same mark up as a wholesaler who buys in humungous quantities, and has a far faster turnaround time.

Have heard very good reports about Lathams which is sold in Tescos. Have never used it myself but jane Lilley raved about it in one of her recent colums

Mine are fed on RC mini and each time the price goes up I keep thinking about changing to an alternative,so may give Lathams a try in the new year.

Whenever I see someone pop Bakers,or worse still,those horrible sausage looking dog foods,into their trolley,I always think "poor dog" but really it is none of my buisness what others feed their dogs and they probably don't even realise what rubbish is in them as the packaging is very appealing and those are the brands advertised on tv etc.

Waitrose do still stock arden grange and their prices were very competitive

I had thought of the Pet shop but as it's a bit out the way and I was in the supermarket anyway, I thought I'd give myself a break and just grab a bag.  My vets are in tow with Hills so that's all they stock that's why I never went there. 
The shelves were heaving with Bakers!!Senior, light, puppy, large adult, small bite!!!Jeez louise!!I didn't know they made so many types.  Well, It's only a day or two then I'll get my lot back on the usual.  Well, I might not even need the food what with all the family coming tomorrow and the leaft-overs!!Pah!

Happy new year everyone!!

JeanSW said "marisa

I think that you will find the shops that Celli mentions, are extremely unlikely to have the same mark up as a wholesaler who buys in humungous quantities, and has a far faster turnaround time."

I don't know if we are talking at cross purposes here but the pet shops are amongst those who buy from Batleys (see their vans parked outside each time I go) and then pop another tenner on it.

My friend stocks mainly JWB, RC, she has a tiny shop, so can't have huge amounts of food, she certainly doesn't make anything like a tenner on a bag of food, I know as I had to look after the shop for a fortnight when her mum was ill in England, which included ordering from her wholesaler. Perhaps she pays more for it wholesale as it's delivered.

>the pet shops are amongst those who buy from Batleys

Exactly!  :-(

Batleys already put their profit on before selling to the little pet shop owners.  And they have to put a bit on, so it's going to be dearer.  Durrrr!   I have never seen the little pet shop owners putting a tenner on, as they have to accept smaller mark ups to get any business.  I'm afraid the little business people don't make a mint.

>Mine are fed on RC mini and each time the price goes up I keep thinking about changing to an alternative

:-(  :-(  :-(

It's the reason I changed to Fish4Dogs to be totally honest.  They kept hiking it out of my price range.  RC also now charge delivery if you only order one sack.  Fish4Dogs accept any order and free P&P is normal whatever the quantity.

JeanSW said "Batleys already put their profit on before selling to the little pet shop owners.  And they have to put a bit on, so it's going to be dearer.  Durrrr!   I have never seen the little pet shop owners putting a tenner on, as they have to accept smaller mark ups to get any business.  I'm afraid the little business people don't make a mint. "

There is no need to be so rude. I know plenty of pet shops who mark up their bags by a tenner on average as they know JP won't bother driving all the way to the nearest PAH or think of shopping online for their dog food. It's called convenience and they pay well for it. It probably doesn't bother JP as they may only be feeding one or two dogs. I have ten and get through at least 15kgs per week (plus raw, Nature Diet etc) so thank god for my Batleys card as I couldn't afford to keep them if I were to pay pet shop prices, I do know that. If you feel the need to respond, please keep it polite.

Speaking as a retailer this issuing of cards by Batleys is a real thorn in the side of independent retailers.

Proper cash and carry cards should only be available to "proper" businesses but Batleys seem to issue them willy nilly.

>JeanSW said "Batleys already put their profit on before selling to the little pet shop owners.  And they have to put a bit on, so it's going to be dearer.  Durrrr!   I have never seen the little pet shop owners putting a tenner on, as they have to accept smaller mark ups to get any business.  I'm afraid the little business people don't make a mint. "<br /><br />There is no need to be so rude. I know plenty of pet shops who mark up their bags by a tenner on average as they know JP won't bother driving all the way to the nearest PAH or think of shopping online for their dog food. It's called convenience and they pay well for it. It probably doesn't bother JP as they may only be feeding one or two dogs. I have ten and get through at least 15kgs per week (plus raw, Nature Diet etc) so thank god for my Batleys card as I couldn't afford to keep them if I were to pay pet shop prices, I do know that. If you feel the need to respond, please keep it polite.

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Don't think JeanSW was getting at you Marisa.....I read it that she was annoyed at Batleys and the fact that the small business don't get things cheaply enough to make a 'mint'

I think sometimes it is difficult to get things across how you want to on a written forum, it is easy to miscontrue someones true meaning.  Some more smileys would help :-)  (hint hint! ;-))

> Why do decent companies not put some bags into the supermarkets

Both Tesco and Asda stock Eukanuba.

I bought a bag of Lathams from our local tesco 7.5kg half price when our local food outlet was closed unexpectedly a few weeks ago.
It seemed a decent food and Seng did well on it normally feed arden grange or james welbeloved Lathams seems very similar to JWB

>There is no need to be so rude. I know plenty of pet shops who mark up their bags by a tenner on average

I wasn't being rude.  And, not living in an area of "plenty" of independent pet shops, I can only speak as I find.  Obviously, as there are plenty of the little people in your area, it may be totally different.  Most of us only know of a couple of independent pet shops close to us.  You may well be in an extremely heavily populated area, where your experience is totally different to mine.

Batleys have set criteria and of course only pet 'businesses' can buy from their specialist pet food section - corner shops etc can only buy from the general section as the pet food manufacturers have stipulated that - apparently they want their foods to be sold by knowledgeable people.

Batleys criteria (my local Batleys has just re-registered everyone) includes pet shops, breeders and 'clubs' so a range of people can buy from there.  There is also a minimum 'spend' of £100.  For me it's a godsend.  I also buy direct from Fish4dogs.  Apparently they have problems with people 'borrowing' numbers so now everyone has to show their card, although you can take a second person in with you.

JeanSW said "Obviously, as there are plenty of the little people in your area, it may be totally different.  Most of us only know of a couple of independent pet shops close to us.  You may well be in an extremely heavily populated area, where your experience is totally different to mine."

No, I don't live in a heavily populated area but have moved twice in the last 6 years and of course you visit any pet shops you can find to see what they have to offer. Before I got my Batleys card, eleven years ago, I had to buy my dog food from a pet shop but I didn't have 10 dogs then. I will support local pet shops in other ways but I would be daft to pay their prices for food when I can get it cheaper elsewehere. TBH when people order from Berrieswood, direct from the likes of Fish4dogs (I also use them as they try to be competitive with their excellent food), Arden Grange etc no one complains that they are avoiding the local pet shop do they?? (Would add a smiley but can't find them lol)

If I ran out of dog food I'd probably buy mince or Butchers Tripe at the supermarket to tide me over. The last time I went into a local pet store they were charging £8 per case more on NatureDiet than I'd paid elsewhere, if you've only got 1 dog that might be ok but I've got 11 so I normally do a job lot shop at Costco for Autarky, and do a bulk order on F4D only when they've got an offer on. That way it costs @ £3.50 a day to feed all my dogs, cheaper than a pack of fags is how I look at it!

> Who buys this rubbish? I had the choice between wagg, Pedigreechum,&nbsp; Butchers or bakers complete oh and the supermarkets own.

Buster was on some very cheap food from Lidl, I had bought it as an emergency food but found it did great things to his stool consitancy! unfortunatley after a few months on the Lidl food I noticed a drop in coat quality so decided to change again, that's when I tried out Wagg. He's doing great on it (been on it about 6 months), so I am one of those people that buy this rubbish :)

> at least try and improve the diets of the poor pets who's owners don't know better?

If a dog is fit, well & in good condition, what needs improving in the diet?

>Have heard very good reports about Lathams which is sold in Tescos

>Both Tesco and Asda stock Eukanuba.

I think it depends on where you live, across "the bridge" in S Wales you'd be hard pushed to find any of these in Tesco or Asda, unless it's the main Cardiff store.   We are lucky to occasionally find Harringtons in Asda or Gusto in Tesco, but not all of them - it's mostly Wall to Wall Baker's     I'd feed Gusto over any packet of Bakers, at least it doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is ;)

We've lost 2 petshops in our town in the last year, PAH came to the next town a few miles away and sold everything the local petshops sold but cheaper.   Now the petshops have closed and the range at PAH has diminished whilst getting really expensive     The one petshop had been here for over 30 years!

>I bought a bag of Lathams from our local tesco 7.5kg half price when our local food outlet was closed unexpectedly a few weeks ago. <br />It seemed a decent food and Seng did well on it normally feed arden grange or james welbeloved Lathams seems very similar to JWB

I did a food trial for Lathams a few months ago and the dogs liked it, there was no adverse effect on their poop and I would definitely buy it again if I ran out of my usual.  For me the only down side is that I would have to go to Tesco to get it rather than have the free delivery I currently get from the food I buy just now.  But for people who want to buy dog food with their weekly shop they could do a damn sight worse than lathams.

Lathams is produced exclusively for Tesco so chances are it is in most stores

Oh, I'm sorry, Mastifflover!  I don't mean anything by it really.  In fact, I tried my lot on Wagg about a year ago but they has seriously sloppy poo and lots of it.  I suppose what works for one doesn't always work for another and viseversa.  Please accept my apologies for insulting what you have found to be a good food.  Mind opened to other options yet again!!lol.

Whenever I have been caught out with food on holiday for instance I have always managed to find tins of Chappie very readily in most supermarkets and even corner shops. 

> Oh, I'm sorry, Mastifflover!&nbsp; I don't mean anything by it really.

No need to appologise! You haven't insulted me atall :)

I did a trial of Lathhams in November for Bzz which included free products and loads of money off coupons.I just had to get a few peoples opinions on it.It was half price in Tescos as well.Though I feed BARF I always have a back up complete - usually F4D - but this seemed fairly natural.
In my area there are quite a few agricultural merchants that have a wide variety of complete foods as well as packs of raw mince and chunks.They were only closed on BHs.