Extra paw space and headline sponsors at the London Pet Show 2013

The London Pet Show is set for its biggest year to date in 2013, with exhibition space increased by nearly forty per cent, attracting repeat sponsorship from big names including Burgess Pet Care and Royal Canin.

For the third year running, exhibition organisers QD Events Ltd have increased floor space at Earls Court Two to 11,400 sqm for the top pet show in the country. Despite launching during the recession, the show has grown larger and larger year on year, surpassing visitor targets and attracting headline sponsors.

Nicole Cooper, Director of the London Pet Show, said: "Following the success of the last two events, we are working hard with all our partners developing our show – which is the largest in the country that includes a range of pets - to ensure it delivers the right visitors for our sponsors and exhibitors. We want to make it the strongest show ever!"

The show launched in 2011 at Olympia but outgrew the hall in its inaugural year. In 2012, a move to Earls Court Two increased floor space by an additional fifty per cent. The London Pet Show 2013 will take place at Earls Court Two, London, on 11th - 12th May and its organisers are expressing confidence that the increased space, new features and promotions will help smash previous visitor numbers.

The event attracted over 16,000 pet lovers over the weekend of 12th to 13th May this year, beating its original target of 15,000 visitors and up 18 per cent on 2011 when 13,640 visitors attended. Organisers are expecting 18,000 visitors in 2013. The show is a fun day out aimed at pet owners and pet lovers, but, point out the organisers, it puts animal welfare at its heart, working closely with all the major organisations and charities to promote responsible ownership to existing and potential pet owners.

The London Pet Show 2013 will again be divided into four zones: Discover Dogs, Discover Cats, Discover Small Furries and Discover Animals, featuring aquatics and exotics. Each section will have its own live interactive and stimulating feature area with demonstrations, talks and activities for that particular pet, plus plenty of shopping opportunities.

Premium dog and cat food brand Royal Canin will be sponsoring Discover Cats for the second year running. Gemma Duffield, Retail Marketing Manager at Royal Canin, said: "We were absolutely delighted with the response from the thousands of visitors to the Discover Cats section of the London Pet Show 2012 and are once again looking forward to reach out and meet cat owners in an enjoyable, informal environment at the 2013 event".

Burgess Pet Care will return for the third time as sponsor of the Discover Small Furries area as well as having stands in the Discover Dogs and Discover Cats areas. The Yorkshire-based company's product range includes food for dogs, cats and small animals, including Burgess Excel, the UK's number one vet recommended range of food for rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas.

"Burgess Excel will once again be exclusively sponsoring the Discover Small Furries area in 2013 following the success of the previous two London Pet Shows", said Burgess Pet Care's Head of Marketing, Justin Heaton. "The 2012 Show was a hugely worthwhile investment attracting more than 16,000 people during the two days. Many of those who attended were small animal owners, keen to see our rabbit jumping display, which provided us with a great opportunity to educate consumers about diet and exercise for these particular pets. Our Excel Food Cube literally flew off the shelf, and we were able to sample and sell our other products to many more thousands of people, who being primarily southern based are a key target audience for us".

The show's 2012 research survey completed by more than 800 attendees found 79 per cent of visitors said they owned own animals, 77 per cent thought the show was very successful or successful, 79 per cent would recommend it to a friend and 71 per cent purchased goods at the show.

The 2012 visitor marketing campaign reached more than twenty million people over the five months of promotion, say the organisers, with an opportunity to see (OTS) of approximately fifty million. Total gross coverage achieved through the PR campaign was almost sixty-five million with a value of £1.3 million in advertising terms. More than three hundred pieces of coverage were achieved including a major feature on BBC Breakfast TV with presenter Mike Bushell trying his hand at doggy dancing as well as a ten-minute feature article on BBC1's hit children's programme, Blue Peter.

The show was also shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Consumer Launch Show category at the Association of Event Organisers Excellence Awards 2012.

Click here for link to the London Pet Show.