Renewed boost to international interest in PATS
PATS 2025 is set to have a strong international presence at this year’s three-day event with a growing number of pet buyers and exhibitors from across the globe expected to attend.
The Pet & Aquatics Trade Show takes place at its new home – Hall 1 of the NEC Birmingham – from Sunday, 28th September to Tuesday, 30th September with the exhibition showcasing new products from more than 400 brands.
In a move to boost interest with international buyers, the PATS team will be travelling to Bologna in Italy next month to exhibit in the British Pavilion at Zoomark, where PATS event director Gordon Thomas will be giving a talk on ‘The importance of the UK pet and aquatics market’.
A further initiative to drive PATS footfall involves an exciting collaboration with Zoomark and CIPS, the international trade exhibition, with joint marketing and promotional activity across all three shows.
“Our primary aim for exhibiting at international shows is to meet, talk to and encourage international retailers and distributors to come to PATS,” said Gordon Thomas.
“We know that UK pet products sell very strongly around the world and representatives from international pet companies can see the advantage of meeting up with British suppliers all under one roof.
“They agree that PATS is the perfect destination to discover what’s new in the market for the year ahead, and an ideal opportunity to talk to UK-based manufacturers and suppliers.”
With its proximity to Birmingham airport, the NEC is an ideal location for international visitors. There is a good choice of hotels in the area to fit all budgets, and a wide range of purpose-built catering facilities to suit all tastes.
PATS will be working closely with trade association PetQuip to ensure renewed interest from international buyers, starting at Zoomark on 5-7 May 2025.
PetQuip will also be hosting the International Buyers’ Centre and supporting the New Starter Zone at PATS 2025, plus holding its prestigious PetQuip Awards ceremony at the nearby National Conference Centre during the exhibition.
Registration for visitors is now open on the PATS website www.patshow.co.uk so all pet retailers and buyers can now sign up for their free show entry.
Here’s a list of the main visitor attractions:
- The biggest ever New Product Showcase
- The Aquatics Zone, a dedicated area for aquatics, watergardening and reptile exhibitors
- The New Starter Zone, a space hosting new businesses and start-ups
- Grooming Workshop, top groomers giving insightful demonstrations, workshops and talks
- Unrivalled show deals & discounts, and competitions
- Free entry and free show catalogue
PATS 2025 is also being staged alongside BETA International, the leading equestrian trade show taking place in Hall 2 at the NEC on Sunday, 28th September and Monday, 29th September 2025. It means that retailers and buyers will be able to visit both shows, and to make things simple visitors will only have to register once, with BETA International visitors being given access to PATS and vice versa.