Judging panel

Claire Gavin, consultant

Claire is a former Director of the UK’s leading pet care business, Pets at Home, where she spent 12 years in senior roles leading the strategic development, innovation and creative design of the company’s private brands. 

Claire now harnesses her extensive buying, sourcing, marketing, NPD, strategic brand creation and category management experience to help other pet retail, manufacturer and vendor companies successfully grow their businesses.

Her energetic and visionary entrepreneurial style, and her consumer centric approach along with her proven track record with Pets at Home makes Claire a valuable and insightful consultant, advisor, NED and pet retail specialist.

To find out more about Claire’s consultancy services, please email claire@clairegavin.co.uk

Darrel Strachan, Business Development Director Copdock Mill

Darrel Strachan is Director of Business Development for Copdock Mill Wholesale where he is responsible for identifying any opportunities to further grow the business to provide the best possible service to their customers and their pets!

He has over 20 years of experience working in the retail industry, with 12 of those years spent in pet retail and 10 of them at Copdock.

Darrel has a passion for animals so when he started out as a part time Sales Assistant at Pets at Home after leaving school he quickly learnt that he wanted to work with both people and pets.

Darrel is originally from Yorkshire although he now lives in Suffolk with his wife, three children, Rocket the Cocker Spaniel and Daisy the cat.

When he is not in the office he enjoys taking Rocket for long walks in the country, spending time with his family and travelling.

Claire Best, Waggles Pet Emporium

Claire runs two independent pet shops in south east London.  The shops have been trading as Waggles Pet Emporium for nearly 20 years and currently employ a team of 12 mostly part time staff across the two shops. The company prides itself on their excellent customer service and the staff are part of a “Waggles Family”. 

Pat Flynn

Former association manager for PetQuip and the CHA and following retirement, now a part time consultant for projects.

Pat has 40 years’ experience in publishing books, magazines and latterly working in the digital world; an experienced organiser of outdoor and indoor events including exhibitions, conferences and awards ceremonies.  Loves being a secret shopper and has studied retail development, brand awareness and marketing to consumers in detail for over twenty years.

Julie Sandercock, Retail Director Bodle Bros

Bodle Bros is an independent animal, pet and equestrian store, established over 50 years ago and have had an angling section since 2019.

The company aims to provide sound advice, stocking a wide range of products that are not necessarily in outlets such as Pets at Home or supermarkets, with the ability to order any products in, with plenty of parking and where dogs are welcome.

Most of staff have dogs and/or horses, Julie included. The family's younger son runs the angling and eldest is on the Board.

“It is an honour to be asked to judge and I do take into account when judging that not everything would sell in our store !!”

Michelle de Lavis-Trafford, CEO Choice Marketing

With 35 years of experience in the garden centre industry, Michelle is a well-known figure who has worked on both the supplier and retail sides of the business. As the CEO of Choice Marketing, a company she co-founded 22 years ago, Michelle has been instrumental in establishing the UK’s leading Buying & Marketing Group for independent garden centres. Under her leadership, the organisation has now grown to 57 members and is highly respected in the industry. Michelle is experienced in all aspects of garden centre retail and has been a judge on the PetQuip awards for a number of years now.

Stuart Kitchen

Stuart Kitchen, a seasoned professional with many years’ experience in the gardening industry, has made significant contributions throughout his career.  Having held numerous high-profile positions in Sales and Marketing, Stuart has successfully introduced a wide range of products to the market over the years, including pet-related lines. With an eye for detail, a flair for recognising good product innovation and extensive marketing experience, he has been a judge on the PetQuip awards for a number of years now.