The show, held March 23-25 in San Diego, was the second co-sponsored by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.) and the Pet Industry Distributors Association (Bel Air, Md.).

Billed as the largest annual pet trade show ever held, Global Pet Expo featured more than 700 companies in an exhibit space equal to 11 football fields. Last year’s APPMA show featured 680 exhibitors in 2,049 booths.

“Global Pet Expo 2006 sold out of booth space months in advance, further demonstrating just how big the pet industry is getting,” said Andrew Darmohraj, vice president and deputy managing director of APPMA.

A total of 3,508 pet professionals walked the aisles of Global Pet Expo. Of those, 1,473 buyers represented wholesalers, 1,782 represented mass market, multi-unit and single-unit operations, and 253 represented importers/exporters, according to APPMA. Last year’s show, by comparison, attracted 4,365 qualified buyers—including 2,213 buyers representing wholesalers and multi-unit retail operations, and 2,152 representing single-unit retailers.

Six companies garnered awards for outstanding booth presentations. In the large-booth category, for exhibits occupying 400 square feet or more, the winners were The Meow Mix Co. (Secaucus, N.J.) and Pet Gear Inc. (West Rutland, Vt.).

In the small-booth category, for exhibits occupying 300 square feet or less, the winners were Pet Soup (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc. (Pacoima, Calif.).

In the What’s New! category, for booths by first-time exhibitors, the winners were Petropics L.L.C. (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Zuba L.L.C. (San Mateo, Calif.).

In addition, Dr. Marty Becker and Steve Dale were recognized for excellence in journalism and for outstanding contributions to the pet industry. Becker, a veterinarian, author and media personality, has become known as the “best loved family doctor for pets,” while Dale writes a syndicated newspaper column and hosts three pet-related radio shows.

And, at the end of the show, exhibitors donated enough pet food and accessories to fill two semi trucks—worth about $140,000—for the Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

The next Global Pet Expo will be held Feb. 22-24, 2007, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. For more information, call APPMA at (203) 532-000, or visit www.globalpetexpo.org. [June 2006 PET AGE]