We’re fortunate to have had the inside opportunity to speak with Bern Pet Foods Regional Sales Manager, Tan Nagrecha, who was this year’s judge for the Working Group at Crufts 2025. In this interview, Tan shares his experiences judging at the world’s most prestigious dog show, his path to becoming a judge, and the skills required to evaluate the best in the world of canine excellence.

How was Crufts 2025?

Indescribable! Crufts is the pinnacle of any exhibitor’s, breeder’s, or judge’s career. To be chosen to judge on the green carpet of the biggest dog show in the world is truly an honour. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the atmosphere is like no other. The level of quality in the dogs and the talent and expertise of the handlers from all over the world is great to see and a privilege to be part of.

How did you become a Crufts Category Judge?

Becoming a judge at Crufts is a significant achievement and not something that happens overnight. The UK system for judges is the most intensive in the world. It takes years of dedication and hard work to reach this level—on average, judges spend around 20 years immersed in a breed before they are eligible to judge it at Crufts.

After mastering breed-level judging, the next step is to progress to group judging, which encompasses seven distinct groups. To qualify for this, you must be a Kennel Club approved judge for at least 70% of the breeds within the group and have experience judging these breeds at Championship shows. A judge has to be highly experienced at judging the particular group prior to an invitation from Crufts.

To receive an invitation to judge at Crufts is a huge honour and is usually offered four years in advance. The anticipation is immense, particularly as it gets closer to the event, but the excitement and pride that come with it makes the wait worthwhile.

What did it feel like when you entered the ring before judging the Working Dogs?

Walking into the ring at Crufts can be quite overwhelming. The packed auditorium and the excitement in the air create a mix of emotions. There’s a moment of nervousness, especially when you’re standing alone in the ring, but as soon as the dogs enter, everything changes. The nerves disappear, and your experience and skills kick in. You’re focused, and the task at hand takes over. It’s a unique feeling—one that turns from anxiety to complete focus and adrenaline.

What do you look for in a Category winner?

Every breed has a written breed standard which is a blueprint for the ideal specimen for that breed. As a judge at the group level, you are awarding dogs that are as close to their breed specific standard as possible. Performance, presentation and handling also comes into the equation – the big tick boxes are: breed type, good conformation, correct movement, temperament and showmanship.

By the time these dogs reach this stage, after a long day of competing in their respective breeds, the pressure on both handlers and dogs is immense. To perform at this level once again, under the bright lights and in front of an audience, takes considerable skill and composure.

How do you compare different breeds?

This is where the breed standards come into play. Each breed has unique characteristics and qualities, and the challenge is to evaluate how well each dog exemplifies those traits.

The beauty of Crufts is that you get to see such a diverse range of breeds; the task of comparing them is a true test of a judge’s experience and understanding of the breeds.

Tell us about Viking the Tibetan Mastiff?

My choice, the Tibetan mastiff Dzhozias Viking, fits the standard to a tee. He is so noble and dignified. His head is a joy to handle and his expression solemn, with a well filled and moulded muzzle, his off square frame, and a full mane. At one point he shook and just typified all that is beautiful about this Tibetan breed.

Viking has everything with a strong body, good ribs and short loin, moderate in his angles with a well feathered tail carried perfectly to his coat texture. I could not fault him. And then he moved! He held himself like the king that he is. Perfect foot fall coming and going using his quarters to advantage, his profile movement is breathtaking, all of a piece with the ideal break point down his midline as he floated past me.

I just could not resist him and neither could Patsy Hollings, the Best in show Judge, who took him all the way through to Reserve Best in Show at Crufts, the World’s most famous dog show.

From October 2024 to January 2025 actress Joanna Page and her spaniels Lola and Bess helped us share the benefits of an ACANA Classics diet.

Joanna Page created four beautiful reels demonstrating her devotion to her dogs and their central role in her family. The topics covered included the pleasure in Autumnal walks, the joy of Christmas and the importance of great nutrition and rotational feeding for dogs. Her energy and enthusiasm shines through in each film as does her love for her dogs. Each reel includes a dinner time shot with Lola and Bess enjoying some ACANA Classics Prairie Poultry, Red Meat and Wild Coast. Joanna references their 50% meat content including fresh meat as well as wholesome grains, fresh fruit and vegetables in the audio.

The campaign launched across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube and is being strengthened with ongoing Creator Generated Content (CGC). Timed to coincide with the much-anticipated Gavin & Stacy Christmas Finale on BBC1, the campaign was very successful. The campaign successfully reached over 1.5 million people, generating more than 6 million impressions helping to continue raising awareness of ACANA Classics in the UK.

To view the reels, please visit the ACANA Instagram feed here.

Our congratulations go to Craig and Ross Davidson and the team at Dofos Pet Stores in Edinburgh for winning our £1000 PATS Prize Draw. They will be selecting a delicious range of ACANA and ORIJEN foods to the value of £1000 SRP to fill their shelves in time for Christmas. It’s good timing as they are about to open a fourth store in Stockbridge.

The Prize Draw was run for the duration of the Pet & Aquatics Trade Show in Telford from Sunday 29^th September to Tuesday 1^st October. Visitors to the Bern Pet Foods stand scanned a QR code and entered their details to enter. The winner was picked at random.

Urban Search and Rescue Dog and ACANA Ambassador, Luna is celebrating becoming fully licensed to work both across the UK and internationally. She also recently supported UKISAR the UK International Search and Rescue team in their United Nations INSARAG reclassification exercise in Switzerland. UKISAR are the UK government’s response to International disasters.

Luna, a Belgian Malinois, partners with Firefighter and International Search and Rescue Volunteer Mick Attwood. During the assessment, Luna had to prove 100% effective in every search, as well as demonstrate excellent obedience and agility behaviors to demonstrate her skills and suitability for the most demanding search and rescue work.

Mick explains, “As much technology as there is, nothing comes close to how the dogs work – the speed and efficiency with which they go out and find people is incredible. They cover large areas in short periods and that’s what we rely on to identify where people are.”

Mick dedicates his time, energy and devotion to training and looking after Luna, so she is ready to assist in the most critical of situations. Between them they do incredible work saving lives around the world. Mick has raised Luna on ACANA. As a high energy, working dog, she needs top quality, nutritious food packed with premium animal ingredients, vegetables, fruit, botanicals & nutrients.

Luna is now fed on ACANA Sport & Agility which is a complete food rich in animal protein and calories. Made with 75% animal ingredients including fresh chicken and raw hake balanced with fruit and vegetables such as pumpkin, greens, apples and pears, ACANA provides the nutrition and animal protein Luna needs to thrive in her work. Each time Mick and Luna embark on a new mission Mick will pack a supply of food for Luna so that she is well fed each day and has everything she needs to perform at a top level. Maintaining supply of her favourite food is essential to ensure she eats well in any environment.

Karen Rodger, Director Bern Pet Foods says, “We are thrilled for both Luna and Mick. They demonstrate the amazing bond and skillful work between dog and human that can make an enormous difference in the hardest of situations. It’s wonderful to see this partnership go from strength to strength.”

If you are interested in becoming an ACANA stockist, please don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@bernpetfoods.co.uk / 01737 767679.

As a stockist, choosing the right dog food brand is crucial for your business’s success. ACANA Classic Dog range not only delivers on quality but also provides excellent value.

When it comes to choosing dog food, quality and value for money are key factors that pet owners want to balance. The ACANA Classic Dog range is specially designed to cater to these needs. With a focus on quality ingredients, this range ensures that dogs receive the essential nutrients they need to thrive.

1. Value for Money
When comparing the ACANA Classic Dog range with other dog food brands in terms of value for money, ACANA stands out. The range offers a perfect balance of quality and affordability, making it a cost-effective choice for both pet owners and stockists. ACANA Classic Dog range provides premium nutrition at a reasonable price, giving pet owners the assurance that they are getting the best value for their money. (Read more about comparing value in cat and dog food)

2. Quality Ingredients
One of the reasons why the ACANA Classic Dog range stands out is its use of high-quality ingredients. ACANA sources its ingredients from trusted suppliers, ensuring that only the best goes into its products. The ACANA Classic Dog range is formulated to provide dogs with a complete and balanced diet. Each recipe is carefully crafted with 50% quality animal ingredients¹ and balanced with 50% wholesome grains, vegetables, fruit, botanicals and nutrients² that provide dogs with a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. By stocking it, you can offer your customers a high quality product that meets their dog’s nutritional needs.

Key features:
• 1st ingredient is fresh or raw
• Crafted with 50% quality animal ingredients¹, balanced with 50% wholesome grains, vegetables, fruit, botanicals and nutrients²
• Includes antioxidants from fruit & vegetables and vitamin C to help support immune function
• Includes prebiotics & fibre to help support healthy digestion.
• Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil help support healthy skin & coat
• Is crafted in Canada with the world’s finest ingredients

3. Nutritional Benefits
The ACANA Classic Dog range provides numerous nutritional benefits for dogs. The range is formulated to support healthy skin, a shiny coat, and aid healthy digestion. With three formulations to choose from covering all life stages, pet owners can find the perfect match for their dog’s specific needs, ensuring their dog receives the nutrients they require to thrive:

• ACANA Prairie Poultry – Made with fresh chicken which helps your dog to stay happy, healthy, and strong. This is a good introductory diet for dogs transitioning to ACANA. Suitable for All Life Stages.
• ACANA Red Meat – Made with nourishing protein from animal ingredients such as beef, lamb, and pork, giving your dog nutrition they need to stay healthy, happy, and thriving. Great for picky dogs. Suitable for All Life Stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult).
• ACANA Wild Coast – Made with nourishing protein and Omega fatty acids from raw salmon and fish oil. Great for skin and coat health. Suitable for All Life Stages including growth of all large size dogs.

These proteins are not only delicious but also provide essential amino acids that dogs need for muscle development, growth, and overall well-being.

Furthermore, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives are added in kitchen. This means that pet owners can have peace of mind knowing that they are feeding their dogs a natural and wholesome diet.

4. Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
Offering a high-quality product such as the ACANA Classic Dog range, helps in gaining the trust and loyalty of your customers. Pet owners are increasingly conscious of the ingredients in their dog’s food and are willing to invest in brands that prioritise quality and nutrition. By offering the ACANA, you become a trusted source of premium dog food, attracting loyal customers who are seeking a reliable and nourishing option for their furry friends.

5. Marketing Support
As a stockist of the ACANA Classic Dog range, you’ll benefit from marketing support such as point-of-sale material, brochures, and digital assets. These resources help you effectively promote the range to your customers and highlight the value it offers. Additionally, ACANA regularly invests in advertising and brand-building activities, further increasing the visibility and desirability of the products.

Stocking the ACANA Classic Dog range is a smart choice for any retailer looking to offer their customers a high-quality dog food that provides excellent value for money. With its focus on natural ingredients, nutritional benefits, and customer satisfaction, ACANA Classic Dog stands out among its competitors and provides customers a high-quality dog food option that they can trust.

¹ Approximate and derived from the unprocessed state of the ingredients.
²We also add essential vitamins and minerals, natural preservatives, probiotics and antioxidants.

Congratulations to our Area Sales Manager Tan Nagrecha who is celebrating his 20^th group winner at the Southern Counties Show. His beautiful St Bernard Ch. Chandlimore Heart Beat (Mandy) was awarded Best In Show on Sunday 4^th June at Newbury Showground in Berkshire.

Mandy is Tan’s 20th group winner at championship shows. He has clocked up 70 such group wins over the last 30 years in partnership with Alison Grainger. Dedicated to the breed, when he is not working for Bern Pet Foods, Tan spends much of his time showing his dogs and judging at shows across the UK. His wealth of experience with large breed dogs is happily shared with all who will listen. As well as being a multi award-winning St Bernard breeder, Tan has also recently taken an interest in Jack Russell Terriers and has seen some great results with new bitch Pebbles who won reserve best bitch and topped the terrier Junior group.

Tan said: “As a breeder I cannot help but feel fulfilled that so many of the judges over the last three decades have appreciated the St Bernard as a breed through my interpretation of what they should be; sound, balanced, functional and yet typical.”

Mandy has been fed ACANA since weaning and currently eats ACANA Adult Large Breed Dog Food. She is testament to the value of feeding high quality food to keep her in great condition inside and out.

ORIJEN and ACANA will be exhibiting at stands G9 & F8 at PATS Telford on Sunday 26th & Monday 27th September.

We will be showcasing ACANA’s brand-new High-Protein Dog Treats, so make sure you visit stand to find out more!

Made from just five simple ingredients, New ACANA Treats are offered in 100g bags and available in four flavours: Chicken Liver, Beef Liver, Pork Liver and Turkey Liver. The SRP is £3.49

If you haven’t yet seen them, we will have ORIJEN Small Breed and the New ACANA Cat range on stand, as well as some great show offers.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Brand-new ACANA High-Protein Dog Treats are now available to stock in the UK & Ireland. Made from just five simple ingredients, ACANA High-Protein treats are a guilt-free way to reward all dogs in any stage of their life.

Recognised as a dog superfood*, liver is the number one ingredient in ACANA High-Protein Dog Treats. These premium, nutritious treats are protein-packed – with 85%* of total protein coming from free-run and ranch-raised animal ingredients. Each nutritious treat is also grain-free and contains fibre-rich sweet potato. This combination ensures the treats are rich in vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin D and iron – helping boost gut and immune health for puppies and adult dogs. The treats have no artificial preservatives added in our kitchens – meaning dog owners can be reassured that they are treating their dog in the healthiest possible way.

New ACANA Crunchy Treats are available in four flavours: Chicken Liver, Beef Liver, Pork Liver and Turkey Liver.

Colin Rodger, Managing Director of Bern Pet Foods, says: “The PFMA recently reported an influx of over three million pets being welcomed into UK households over the past year. With dog ownership and reward-based training on the rise, it’s perhaps no surprise that Euromonitor forecasts a growth of 24% in the UK dog treat market in the next five years.

“We predict the higher demand will also encourage consumers to care about quality and healthy treats for their pets from their stockists. That is why ACANA High Protein Dog Treats are the perfect high-value treat for reward-based training. We’re very excited to exclusively offer this brand-new quality and affordable range of treats to our stockists all over the UK & Ireland.”

New ACANA Dog Treats are available in 100g bags and the SRP is £3.49.

**85% of 33% to 38% crude protein, approximate and derived from unprocessed state of ingredients.

For more information contact:

Sales: 01737 767679 or email sales@BernPetFoods.co.uk.

Dear Valued Pet Lover,

I am pleased to be able to report that, in order to improve our service offering to you, we will be moving our entire warehousing and logistics processing to a new warehouse later this month.

In order to simplify the transition we will with immediate effect be reducing the range of products and bag sizes that are available from our website until Early August (when the transfer to our new warehouse should be complete).

The following is a complete list of the products that we will continue to stock during the transition period:

• ACANA Adult Small Breed 6kg
• ACANA Puppy Small Breed 6kg
• ACANA Puppy & Junior 11.4kg
• ACANA Puppy & Junior 6kg
• ACANA Puppy Large Breed 11.4kg
• ACANA Adult Dog 11.4kg
• ACANA Wild Prairie Dog 11.4kg
• ACANA Pacifica Dog 11.4kg
• ORIJEN Puppy 11.4kg
• ORIJEN Puppy 6kg
• ORIJEN Puppy Large 11.4kg
• ORIJEN Puppy Large 6kg
• ORIJEN Original 11.4kg
• ORIJEN Original 6kg
• ORIJEN 6 Fish 11.4kg
• ORIJEN Regional Red 11.4kg
• ORIJEN Senior 11.4kg

Following completion of the transfer to our new warehouse in early August we will be then re-enable the products that had temporarily been removed.

In the meantime should you need to purchase any of the products that we have temporarily suspended for sale on our website, then they can still be purchased from any of our stockists or internet retailers, see https://www.bernpetfoods.co.uk/stockists/ for details.

Thank you for your patience and support during the transition. We believe that we will be able to provide you with a much improved service offering, following the completion of the transfer to our new warehouse.

Best regards,

The Bern Pet Foods Team

We have seen demand for ORIJEN cat food grow significantly over the past year, particularly amongst cat owners who have discovered us through either recommendation or research. What is it that makes ORIJEN so special?

Cats and kittens have evolved to require a diet that is rich in animal ingredients, in order to maintain peak health. ORIJEN Cat Foods contain richly nourishing protein from trusted, regional suppliers. Two-thirds of our animal ingredients are FRESH or RAW, and one-third is dried for a concentrated source of protein. Each recipe uses the whole prey animal, including meat, organs, cartilage, and bone, providing cats with everything they need in order to stay happy, healthy, and strong.

The five ORIJEN recipes available for cats are:

ORIJEN Cat & Kitten – packed with free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs. Suitable for all life-stages.

ORIJEN Six Fish – brimming with meat, organs, and bone from fresh pilchard, hake, mackerel, flounder, rockfish, and sole, wild-caught from Canada’s Pacific. Suitable for all life-stages.

ORIJEN Regional Red ranch-raised beef, wild boar, bison, grass-fed lamb, Yorkshire pork, and wild-caught pilchard. Suitable for all life-stages.

ORIJEN Tundra offers 40% protein from goat, wild boar, ranch-raised venison, Arctic char, free-run duck, and mutton. Suitable for all life-stages.

ORIJEN Fit & Trim Rich in protein with limited carbohydrates and calories, Fit & Trim is the ultimate Biologically Appropriate™ weight management diet for overweight cats. Made with free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish, and cage-free eggs, plus infusions of freeze-dried liver, Fit & Trim also contains a soluble fibre blend to promote sufficiency and digestive health. Suitable for adult cats.

ORIJEN Cat recipes provide unsurpassed dry, natural nutrition that mirrors the ancestral diet. Our recipes are available in 340g, 1.8kg and 5.4kg bag sizes. For more information please contact Bern Pet Foods on 01737 767679 or email sales@BernPetFoods.co.uk.