Page 19 - PET worldwide issue 05/2022
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leading Interzoo trade fair under everyone who had supported 1 1 Gordon Bonnet, managing
difficult conditions. Majer-Abele the WZF in its organisation of 2 director of the ZZF and WZF
reminded the audience of the Interzoo. Special thanks went to (centre), and Dieter Meyer of
unclear situation at the start of Messe Nürnberg and the entire half of the poll count. It was an Vitakraft congratulate Rowena
the year engendered by the cor- ZZF and WZF team, above all its exciting contest: it became clear Arzt on receiving the Personality
onavirus pandemic and the out- head, ZZF and WZF managing di- following the poll of PET world- of the Year award. Everyone was
break of war in Ukraine. “Would rector Gordon Bonnet. wide readers that three of the five delighted with the decision.
it even be possible to stage Inter- nominees would be involved in a
zoo under such circumstances? International premiere close race. Voting by delegates 2 The level of concentration
No one knew the answer to this Another first at the International to the conference was also tight, is evident on the faces of rep-
question, but everyone wanted Pet Conference in Bologna was and ultimately it was the highly resentatives of the newcomer
to hear one.” Interzoo organiser the award for Newcomer of the emotive and enthusiastic pres- companies as they make their
WZF opted for maximum trans- Year. This award had previously entation by overall winner Strayz pitches. The ultimate outcome of
parency and, based on the prog- only been given at the German Pet that swung the result. The Ger- the polling was very close.
noses of virologists and other Conference. Due to its growing man company aims to improve
scientists, it decided at an early popularity since it was first pre- the lives of dogs and cats living
stage that Interzoo should go sented in 2019, however, the on the street with its species-
ahead in any event. Controver- editorial team of PET worldwide specific organic pet food brand.
sial discussions notwithstand- decided back in 2020 to give an n
ing, this certainly created excite- international award also in future.
ment in the pet sector. On account of the pandemic and
related cancellation of the Inter-
“The right decision” national Pet Conference that year,
“In hindsight, it was the right de- it remained a good intention, but
cision,” said Majer-Abele with this year it finally received its pre-
regard to the WZF’s approach. miere.
Taking place as an in-person trade
show this May for the first time The award was conceived
after an absence of four years due to support start-ups and other
to the coronavirus, Interzoo met newcomer companies from the
with huge enthusiasm on the part pet sector. Interested firms were
of exhibitors and visitors, bringing able to apply for the award back
a perceptible uplift in mood to the in the spring using an online ap-
international pet sector. Arzt, who plication form. Of over 30 appli-
had already come to notice in the cations received from all over
past thanks to her commitment to Europe, the editors at PET world-
achieving greater sustainability in wide selected five nominees,
the sector, is the first woman to who then made five-minute live
receive the industry award. “The pitches to attendees at the Inter-
giving of this award to Rowena national Pet Conference.
Arzt should encourage compa-
nies in the pet sector to put more 50 per cent of the votes for the
women in managerial roles in the winning company came from
future,” commented Majer-Abele. readers of PET worldwide, who
were invited to vote online for
Visibly moved by the recogni- their favourite during the sum-
tion given to her, the award-win- mer. The votes of the conference
ner said a few words thanking delegates, cast live and online in
Bologna, accounted for the other
PET worldwide 5|2022 19
