Pedigree Withdraws Crufts Sponsorship
Pedigree, the Mars owned dog food brand will not be sponsoring Crufts next year.
The pet food giant has cited a ‘business review’ as its main reason.
A Mars spokesperson would not comment on whether the decision was based around the documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed.
The decision is a further blow to the Kennel Club who suffered the high profile withdrawals of the RSPCA, Dogs Trust and NDWA.
Pedigree’s decision to pull their brand’s support comes at a time when the BBC is reviewing its position with regard to its ongoing coverage of the UK’s largest dog show event.
“After careful consideration, Pedigree has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Crufts. The Pedigree brand has evolved and we are prioritising initiatives that support the broadest possible community of dog owners.”
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Another big player walking away, who is left?
Agree with:
“The Pedigree brand has evolved and we are prioritising initiatives that support the broadest possible community of dog owners.”
Perhaps they should include non-pedigree dogs at any future Crufts (apart from the fly ball dogs and other specialist non-pedigree dogs especially after the Kennel Club claims:
“The primary object of The Kennel Club is to promote in every way, the general improvement of dogs.”
Does that include non-pedigree as well?
Always think that Scrufts is a class riddled throwback to some kind of ‘them and us’ ‘divide and rule’ objective.
Maybe it is time they have ’scrufts’ at Crufts, that would be a bit more inclusive.
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crufts went downhill since it let foreign entries in, too many strange looking dogs now, i dont wanna sit and watch dogs from around the world at crufts, go back to the traditional british show that you always were.
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I am sure eukanuba or similar companies will see this as an open door for them. Sadly I fear many breeders would walk away if mixed breeds were included even in a sub category, as they are a strange old lot some of these breeders.
If Crufts simply got back to basics we would see all these companies back on board.
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KAza writes:
‘Sadly I fear many breeders would walk away if mixed breeds were included even in a sub category, as they are a strange old lot some of these breeders.’
Elitism is fine when it comes to things like the SAS and other special forces units but why would pedigree breeders walk away if mixed breeds were allowed in Crufts?
Would it be anything to do with a breed purity issue perhaps or even a form of canine apartheid?
All very sad and re eukanuba et al, of course there is an opportunity for such companies now that pedigree has walked away, but with all the negative publicity who would want to advertise their products via Crufts and if it may end up being pulled by the BBC, what benefit would there be for any of the companies if they attended?
Everytime I now think of the Kennel Club I think of a lack of leadership over a great many years in respect of the missed opportunity of getting their house (or should that be mansion) in order.
What have they been doing for more than 100 years apart from sitting in their boardroom drinking brandy, then again just what have they been doing if they have no authority over any dog breeders?
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Arthur I think you misunderstand ME, I would very much like to see the KC focus upon ALL DOGS, however many breeders would not as this would not give some of them the stage that they command in order to sell their over priced poor quality progeny.
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KAza
Apologies, I have misunderstood what you wrote!
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Yet another story that hasn’t been researched correctly Ryan.
If you had done your homework you would know that Pedigree (Mars) also own Royal Canin, James Welbeloved and Nutro dog foods so the company are hardly withdrawing from Crufts. Could it have something to do with the fact that in August Pedigree pulled out of Championship Dog Shows as part of its ‘business review’ and sacked all its Breeder Reps therefore they would have no one to man the stand without hiring people without the appropriate knowledge to man it. This was done before the Pedigree Dogs Exposed programme incidentally.
Arthur wrote
“Another big player walking away, who is left?”
only about another 300 trade stands!
“Perhaps they should include non-pedigree dogs at any future Crufts”
Plenty of non-pedigree dogs at Crufts they are not excluded” but Pedigree or Crossbreed all dogs have to earn their place to be there.
“The primary object of The Kennel Club is to promote in every way, the general improvement of dogs”
Have you not heard of the Companion Dog Club and KC Dog to name just two?
and Ryan if you had bothered to stay behind for the NDWA AGM you would have heard that they had withdrawn from Crufts for a number of reasons, the Pedigree Programme being just the excuse the Committee were looking for. The main reasons were the cost (£8,000), lack of and overstretched Committee Members with a lack of volunteers and probably the main reason was that Life Member Cuthbert Jackson has resigned from the NDWA. As you would know he WAS the NDWA stand with his wonderful puppet theatre.
KAza wrote
I would very much like to see the KC focus upon ALL DOGS, however many breeders would not as this would not give some of them the stage that they command in order to sell their over priced poor quality progeny.”
Sorry there is no logic in this statement
“
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Sorry, but what ARE you talking about?
Well researched?
It came straight from Pedigree themselves!! And if you haven’t been reading the news I would point in the direction of
http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_enGB247GB248&tab=wn&ncl=1261979837&hl=en
Because there are 20 news outlets including:
The Guardian
The BBC
The Times
The Telegraph
Sky News
and more who are also reporting the exact same story.
It is nothing to do with ‘manning a trade’ stand from Pedigree’s point of view. They were principle sponsor. So what you have failed to realise is that the company as recently as ONE MONTH ago had a three year contract as principle sponsor of Crufts. And now they don’t. How do I know this? Because I spoke to Mars about it as recently as last Friday. So please, if you want to come and bandy about ‘research’ you need to do better.
It does make me smile though to see how many excuses some people want to make to try and pretend like their world isn’t crashing down around their ears. Face it, Pedigree HAVE withdrawn from Crufts – as a principle sponsor. They had a contract as recently as one month ago and issued a statement that they had ‘no plans to withdraw’. And now they’ve withdrawn. So why you’d feel the need to try and suggest this report is not accurate is, frankly, bizarre.
So maybe it’s YOU who should be doing the homework otherwise you’ll end up looking foolish.
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OH, and just to further compound your lack of research
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/2118/23/5/3
Headlined: The Kennel Club’s Response to Pedigree’s Decision to Withdraw Sponsorship from Crufts 2009
Which is pretty much what our own story says.
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I was not disputing that Pedigree had pulled out of Crufts, I was disputing the reasons why and also pointing out that Mars’ three other major petfood companies are still (currently) attending Crufts next year.
Surely if they were pulling out for the reasons you were implying all four Brands would have pulled out not just Pedigree.
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No, because the other 4 Mars owned brand were not the principle sponsor. And when you say ‘reasons I’m implying’ – what would those reasons be, that I am ‘implying’? This report implies absolutely nothing. It simply reports facts.
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You were implying that the Pedigree decision was connected to the Pedigree Dogs Exposed programme.
Taken from the Crufts Catalogue last year
Principal Sponsor Pedigree
Major Sponsor Eukanuba, Hills, Pro Plan, Samsung
Official Sponsor Arden Grange, Barclays, Royal Canin
I seem to remember from many years ago that originally Pedigree were the sole and only sponsor and were not happy about other companies treading on their toes, it was decided that Pedigree would be named the one ‘Principle’ and others would be allowed to follow on.
It will be interesting to see if the sponsorship definitions are changed next year.
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This report implies nothing of the sort. That is your implication, not mine. Besides, every single major media outlet has linked this decision by Pedigree to the documentary – without exception. So it goes without saying that Mars would be asked to give clarification on why they have publicly announced their immediate withdrawal of sponsorship from this event when they were contracted to do it and were issuing statements not older than one month ago saying they had ‘no plans to withdraw’. So yes, any journalist worth their salt will ask Mars if the decision is linked. And I asked twice for categorical clarification that this decision was NOT linked to Pedigree Dogs Exposed and no comment was given. So people can draw their own conclusions (as they have). The fact that Pedigree themselves have neither confirmed or denied this decision leaves people to make their own minds up. There is certainly no implication in my report and it is 100% accurate – ‘lack of research’ is nothing to do with it, the report comes direct from communication from Mars to us.
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“So people can draw their own conclusions (as they have).”
Exactly my point a case of people putting two and two together and making 6.
If Pedigree (Mars) were pulling out because of the programme, they would have pulled Royal Canin, James Welbeloved and Nutro surely as well. Of course this may still happen only time will tell.
I see no reason for Pedigree to clarify their decision, they have stated that it was a ‘business review’ which certainly follows their previous decisions both to remove sponsorship and first their food lorry and then their trade stand from Championship Dog Shows this year. They also closed at very short notice all of their ‘Breeder Collection Points’ and have now gone solely to a ‘Breeder Direct’ Service. A complete shake up of their company which incidentally also similarly affects the Cat World as the Cat and Dog Breeder Service were one and the same. Incidentally Pedigree pulled out of Cat Show Sponsorship many, many years ago.
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You see no reason for them to clarify?
Well I can give you one. If they HAD said ‘Our decision is nothing to do with Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ those 10 little words would have completely and utterly prevented any speculation and we wouldn’t even be debating it. The fact that they didn’t has given all media outlets just cause to report this in the way they have. Besides, if Pedigree were – one month ago – having no plans to withdraw, we are expected to believe that the brand has made such a large, radical and very public move in the space of 4 weeks? They had a contract to sponsor Crufts and they have sought to terminate it and announce that publicly. People will reach their own conclusions. Pedigree have been given the opportunity to clarify, they chose not to.
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So why not withdraw Royal Canin, James Welbeloved and Nutro?
You state
“Besides, if Pedigree were – one month ago – having no plans to withdraw, we are expected to believe that the brand has made such a large, radical and very public move in the space of 4 weeks?”
With the current economic climate and everything that has happened in the world of finance in the last 4 weeks alone yes I can believe that that is entirely possible. We are all having to take extreme measures, have you heard of the Credit Crunch?
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You’re making a number of errors. Mars is the group owner of those brands. Those brands are individual business units and can make their decisions as they please. They were also not the principle sponsor of Crufts and therefore in no position to withdraw a £1.5m contract.
If you are suggesting this decision is credit crunch based – now it is YOU who is implying something which the company has not stated or even hinted at. If you have a contract and withdraw from it, you need good reason. Pedigree obviously have their reasons for wanting to disassociate with Crufts with immediate effect and they have issued their reasons. They have been asked whether it has anything to do with the documentary and they have refused to confirm or deny. Up to them. Makes no odds to me. But you will find in the initial report which you claimed was ill ‘researched’ that there is NO implication and the information it contains was provided by the company themselves. Pedigree HAVE withdrawn their sponsorship of Crufts and it HAS come at a time when other large organisations have publicly disassociated with the event. These are facts not implied speculation.
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Hello Moppetswood
Surely of the 300 odd other trade stands remaining at Crufts 2009 as you speculate in your response to my observation above, some may decide to not attend as well?
Perhaps some of the 300 may decide that they do not want to risk their brand being associated with Crufts 2009 because of the possible adverse effect on their product(s)?
Many of the stands at Crufts are specifically aimed at show dog owners and breeders anyway and there are plenty of stands that have only a passing association with matters canine. The many clothing stands, antique stands although they are naturally showing their canine ‘objet d’art’ at Crufts and automobile stands that offer a generic car make to name but a small selection.
Naturally a large turnout of the general public would be beneficial to those standholders who have paid a lot of money to have a stall at the show, will there be a large turnout at Crufts 2009?
As you may note from your own posts on this website, Crufts 2009 and the Kennel club is not going to go and lay doggo (pardon the pun), if anything it seems to be building up to a new level and is most certainly not going to blow over and be forgotten, is that because of the genuine outrage from ordinary members of the public such as myself?
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The media has speculated the sum of £1.5 million, other suggestions have been £500,000. Only the relevant parties know the true figures involved.
I was implying it may have something to do with the current economic climate as you were finding it difficult to believe that such a change of direction could have occured in the space of 4 weeks, but what a 4 weeks it has been.
I’m sure that Mars as the ‘parent’ company has some say in how its individual business units are run.
I have already responded to the statement regarding ‘Principle Sponsor’, as they were the first and at one time only sponsor of Crufts, Pedigree were reluctant to let others get involved, it has always been a question of ‘if you want our money you do what we say’. Last year Pedigree tried to force shows to only let exhibitors that fed their products exclusively to enter their Stakes classes at shows, this didn’t work so they cancelled their sponsorship of the Champion and Veteran Stakes.
They were the ‘Principle Sponsor’ because that was what they insisted they were called.
No implication?
You wrote
“A Mars spokesperson would not comment on whether the decision was based around the documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed.
That may have been a statement but the implication was clearly there.
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That is not implication. It is a perfectly logical and justified question. So much so in fact, please see how the Guardian reported it:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/oct/25/animal-welfare-crufts-advertising-pedigree
“A spokeswoman for manufacturer Mars refused to say whether the documentary row had influenced its decision to pull out of Crufts”
We report on dog related issues. When the brand that has been associated with Crufts for more than 40 years pulls out, very suddenly and very publicly, within just a few months of a major documentary about the state of pedigree dogs which has also lead to other high profile withdrawals due to the documentary then it goes without saying we are entitled to ask the company about that. We do not exist to blindly follow the press releases of organisations, be they the KC or Mars. We ask questions. In this case, the company chose not to comment. Had they done so, no speculation would even be occurring.
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OK
That may have been a question but the implication reamains whether from you or the Guardian.
I see that the Guardian also states £500,000 but what’s a million between friends?
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Yes £500k x 3 years = £1.5m, please see
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pedigree+%C2%A31.5m&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3DVFA_enGB226GB230
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“With the announcement that Pedigree is no longer sponsoring Crufts, many newspapers and online forums reported the news this weekend. You may have incorrectly read that the Kennel Club is working with Dogs Trust to review breeding standards for 209 species of pedigree dogs. Dogs Trust has no involvement with the review of breed standards which is currently underway; this is something the Kennel Club is conducting independently.
Although Dogs Trust has withdrawn from Crufts and Discover Dogs, we are firmly committed to ensuring that changes are now made to safeguard the health and wellbeing of dogs. This is why we have been in regular dialogue with the Kennel Club and have jointly called for Government support for a review into the breeding, registration and showing of all dogs. Timings and full details for this review have not yet been confirmed. We will be able to update our supporters about this review shortly.”
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Crufts and the Kennel Club
Imagine a pedigree cairn terier born of a bitch whose registration lapsed a long time ago.
Beautiful specimen of the breed as good if not better than any champion.
Cannot be judged due to the lack of a kennel club registration.
May not even be bred from under the kenel club act whereby only registered KC breeders could breed or sell dogs.
Are the kennel club elitists of course they are.
yes allow scrufts and open it up to allow non registered dogs to take on the registered ones.
then see who wins
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Sorry Branwen but your post demonstrates your complete lack of knowledge regarding the KC, dog breeding and dog showing, unfortunately this is not uncommon amongst the general public as has been shown on message boards up and down the country in the last few months.
You wrote
“Imagine a pedigree cairn terier born of a bitch whose registration lapsed a long time ago.”
Registration cannot lapse, there are numerous reasons why a bitches puppies may not be able to be registered, not least that the KC won’t allow puppies to be registered from a bitch under one year, over 8 years (without special permission), one that has had more than 6 litters etc etc, these rules were brought in for the welfare of bitches. Many puppy farmers and back yard breeders will make statements such as this to avoid telling puppy buyers the truth.
“Beautiful specimen of the breed as good if not better than any champion.”
By who’s opinion? We all have ‘Champions’ at home.
“Cannot be judged due to the lack of a kennel club registration.”
Well yes those are the rules but can still be shown at Companion Shows.
“May not even be bred from under the kenel club act whereby only registered KC breeders could breed or sell dogs.
What Kennel Club Act would that be? I think that that is what the KC are going to try and introduce but it is probably unlikely they will succeed. Anyone can register a litter of puppies at present as long as they have details of a KC registered dog and bitch and the owners of said dogs claim a mating took place. Other dogs yes even crossbreeds can be registered on the KC Activity Register. If your bitch isn’t registered and you possibly don’t have the pedigree, how can you research the breeding before breeding a litter for example health problems, temperament, genetics etc?
“Are the kennel club elitists of course they are.”
Not elitist just responsible and if you are so against the KC why didn’t you just mate the bitch anyway? Why did you need to register the puppies? In my opinion not responsible but thats what so many people do.
“yes allow scrufts and open it up to allow non registered dogs to take on the registered ones.
then see who wins”
I have always considered Scrufts to be for the true crossbreed and mongrel mutley not for a pedigree dog that for whatever reason can not be registered. As stated above if you want to show your dog then there are hundreds of Companion Shows where you can take on the Pedigrees. Good Luck
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