News Release

Wednesday 28 February 2024

New Jollyes Pet Superstore sets Northampton opening date

Britain‘s award-winning retailer makes value promise to Northampton pet parents. Community Pet Clinic will offer services such as microchipping and vaccinations up to a third cheaper than traditional vet practices.

Award-winning retailer Jollyes’ is set to open a brand new store at Unit 4, St James Retail Park in Northampton at 10.00am on Friday 26 April.

The Pet People will take up residence in the old Furniture Warehouse unit next to The Range on Towcester Road and will offer a Community Pet Clinic that offers vet services such as microchipping and vaccinations at much lower prices than traditional vets.

In its community pet clinic, which will operate on Wednesdays from 9am to noon from 1 May, with vets accredited by the Royal Veterinary College will offer transparent and low pricing on essential services that pet owners need.

Primary course vaccinations for dogs and cats are available in Jollyes’ community pet clinic for £33 covering both doses and annual boosters for £25.

Microchipping, already compulsory for dogs and mandatory for cats in England from June, start at just £13.

The government through the Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) is already investigating the top six vet chains for possible overcharging and anti-competitive practices that may be leading to pet parents paying far more than they need for vet services.

As part of that investigation, Jollyes last week provided its own evidence to the CMA about vet pricing in Northampton. While some vets were reticent to give prices, those that did were significantly higher than those offered in Jollyes./p>

A microchipping service that costs £13 at Jollyes was as high as £30 at one Northampton vet that was part of one of the big six vet chains.

The price differential on kitten and puppy vaccinations was even more stark. Both necessary doses are a combined £33 at a Jollyes’ community pet clinic but as high as £98 at another local Northampton vet.

When it opens, Jollyes’ commitment to value to Northampton pet parents will go well beyond the clinic service it provides.

The new Jollyes store will have a raw food frozen ‘shop-in-shop’ alongside high quality private label pet food such as its own Lifestage, K9 and Rileys brands which offer a premium experience without a big brand price tag.

Jollyes has recruited a team of 12 in Northampton including manager Andrew Bartlett who joins the pet retailer from Topps Tiles.

For the proud dad of two Labradors, Rocky and Raven, looking after pets runs in the family. Andrew’s mother-in-law runs an animal rescue centre, the source of his two labs and three cats Larry, Lana and Luna.

Andrew got married on 6 April but is delaying his honeymoon so he can open the store.

Performing the grand opening on 26 April will be Mayor Cllr Stephen Hibbert and Mayoress Liz Coxalong. There’ll be animal-themed stilt walkers and the Jollyes mascot to meet and greet customers with free goodie bags for the first 100 customers.

The following weekend on Saturday 4 May, there’ll also be live entertainment with prizes, Jollyes’ iconic ‘Wheel of Fur-tune’ with on-the-spot instant wins and balloon modelling for the kids.

“We’re already working hard getting the store ready for opening at the end of the month so we can give pet parents in Northampton a new alternative for their pets at home.” said Jollyes regional manager Natalie Bentley.

“With a successful store in Kettering, we know how much people in Northamptonshire love their pets, so Andrew and his team can’t wait to bring the kind of value and service we’re famous for, here to the heart of the county.”

When open, Jollyes’ Northampton store will be its 102nd, capping off an amazing few weeks for the retailer as it won new investment to accelerate its store growth and then being named as the best retailer in Britain at the prestigious Retail Week awards for businesses in the category for retailers turning over less than £250m.

Editors’ Notes

Vet Pricing

In a desk survey carried out in April 2024, Jollyes found the following prices for microchipping and vaccinations at vets in Northampton.

Location	Puppy Vaccination #1	Puppy Vaccination #2	Kitten Vaccination #1	Kitten Vaccination #2	Dog Microchip	Cat Microchip
Jollyes Community Pet Clinic	£33 for both		£33 for both		£13	£13
Vet Group 2	£76 for both (£99 including kennel cough)		£55 each or £92 for both		£24	£24
Vet Group 3	£75 for both		£75 for both		£27.50	£27.50
Vet Group 4	£51.90 each or £78.10 for both		£76 for both		£26.90	£26.90
Vet Group 5	£34.22	£34.22	£55	£21.86	£30	£30
Vet Group 6	£49	£49	£49	£49	Not Shared	Not shared

About Jollyes

From modest beginnings in Enfield as a single store in 1971, Jollyes has now grown into one of the leading pet food superstores with over 100 locations across the UK alongside a market-leading position in Northern Ireland.

From Perth to Plymouth, Newry to Norwich, at Jollyes customers can find anything for their pet, from pet food, pet toys and an array of pet accessories.

Customers are actively encouraged to bring their pets into store, while customers shop because Jollyes people are passionate about pets.

Potty about puppies and crazy for cats, no matter what the animal, store colleagues are always on hand to help with anything from product advice, to picking the perfect pet and accessories.

Many stores also run community clinics offering vaccinations and other advice from trained vets. And if one of Jollyes stores isn’t close by, there’s helpful advice on Jollyes website where you can ask the expert.

Jollyes was named 2023 Pet Retail Chain of the Year at the Pet Industry Federation Awards and was named best retailer under £250m turnover in the 2024 Retail Week awards.

A full list of stores and advice for customers on owning a pet can be found at www.jollyes.co.uk.