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Jane Grant: “I am so proud we have put Derry on the map and shown our great city to be a major player on the worldwide stage” (Photo: Gail McGowan) |
INTERNATIONAL. A uniquely designed pet bowl developed by travel retail industry executive Jane Grant scooped top prize at the prestigious Pet Fashion Week New York 2008 last weekend.
Grant’s Northern Ireland-based company, Hugx, beat off stiff competition from the US, Canada and Italy – including top Italian designer Alessi – to scoop the Lifestyle Innovation Award in the category of pet dinnerware.
This coveted industry award is presented to the company that has demonstrated the highest level of excellence in pet product design in the last year.
Working with Bigsmall – design consultants for UUTech, the commercial division of the University of Ulster, Trufflepig, Invest NI and Noribic – Hugx Managing Director Jane Grant welcomed the opportunity to showcase both the pet bowl and the talents of the team involved.
Speaking today from New York, Jane Grant said: “I am delighted to win this award on behalf of all of us at Hugx who have worked so hard to bring our design not only to local but to worldwide attention. I wholeheartedly believe in supporting our local businesspeople, who, like me, are trying to promote the excellent resources we have in our city [Derry] to the world.
“All credit to the entire team, the design and branding of the company is getting such positive reactions, including at the recent Interzoo trade event in Nurnberg, Germany and now at Pet Fashion Week New York.
“We are already listed in a few exclusive pet boutiques on the West Coast and New York, and have just agreed distribution in Canada, with enquiries from as far away as Australia to Brazil in the past few weeks. I envision Hugx offering licensing opportunities as a brand that offers pet thoughtful design to pets and their owners. We have a lot of projects we want to develop, both premium and mass market, and Pet Fashion Week New York has been a tremendous boost to keep focused.”
Grant thanked Justin Magee and Stephen McGilloway of Bigsmall, who collaborated on the design; Tom Casey of Trufflepig for designing the company branding; and Invest NI and Noribic, who helped get her company off the ground. She added: “And [thanks] to all my staff, friends and family in the North-West and beyond for their unfailing help and support. I am so proud we have put Derry on the map and shown our great city to be a major player on the worldwide stage!”
The pet sector has been growing exponentially around the world – the US market alone is worth US$43.4 billion – and it is now recognised as a lucrative business.
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For the pet in your life: the Hugx bowls provide easy access to food and ensure less spillage | |
About Hugx pet bowls
Hugx pet bowls are advanced and unique in their shape and angle, recognising from extensive research that the angle of the bowl is just as important as the depth in allowing your dog or cat to access and direct their food to optimum advantage.
The Hugx angle allows pets to work their food against the curved wall of the bowl, while the sturdy aluminium frame holds the feeding system in place, thereby eliminating the noise and chasing that occurs with a traditional pet bowl.
The aluminium casing will not rust or tarnish and the bowl is made from high quality ABS plastic which eliminates the likelihood of chips or breakage that can occur when ceramic comes in contact with tiled floors.
The unique angle allows pets even wearing Elizabethan collars to access their drinking water or meal. This reduces trauma for pet and owner as there is no need to take off the post-operative collar giving the pet independence to eat or drink comfortably.
Hugx comes in a variety of colours – Snow White, LA Blue, Piccadilly Red and Donegal Pink – and the bowls are interchangeable within the frame, affording pet owners the fun of updating their look to match their interior.
For pets on a diet, owners can turn the bowl 180° to achieve a smaller plate. This means the Hugx feeding system grows with your pet into adulthood.
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Jane Grant’s Hugx up for major innovation award at Pet Fashion Week New York – 09/07/08
