Multi-million pound pet firm with Mid Sussex base opens new facility

MP Mims Davies joined Pets Corner owner Dean Richmond to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the company’s recently completed ‘green’ centre.

Expected to bring more than 60 jobs to the area, the state-of-the-art £7million building is located on the old Handcross Garden Centre site on the A23, near where the company was launched 52 years ago.

At the opening, held last Monday, Ms Davies said: “It gives me great pleasure to be here today to commemorate the opening of this fantastic facility which will bring local jobs and vital prosperity to the area.

“As the local MP, I strongly encourage and welcome all businesses investing locally and developing great connections with the community.

“This new building is a really exciting and very welcome new venture on our doorstep.”

To mark the occasion, the MP, who is also parliamentary under secretary of state for employment at the Department for Work and Pensions, was invited to plant a tree to represent Pets Corner’s ‘green’ ethos.

The second largest pet retailer in the UK, Pets Corner was started in 1968 in South Road, Haywards Heath, by Mark and Sandra Richmond, Dean’s parents.

The new centre, which is set to service Pets Corner’s 150 stores, trade customers, and export business, is considered a big milestone in the company’s development.

Mr Richmond said: “Pets Corner has come a long way since the days of me working on the tills in my parent’s shop and it fills me with immense pride opening our International Distribution Centre in Handcross, just seven miles away from where it all began.”

Starting with just one shop, Pets Corner has turned into a multi-million pound empire, distributing its products throughout the UK and exporting to more than 40 countries while still remaining a family run business.

Do you have news from your community to share? Send information – and pictures, if available – to [email protected]

Visit www.midsussextimes.co.uk for the latest news.