What happens when a 126-year-old family business meets fruity dog chews, sweet potatoes and one of garden retail’s fastest-growing lifestyle categories? Glee 2026 visitors are about to find out.
As Europe’s biggest buying moment, Glee 2026 (8th – 10th September, NEC Birmingham) is the place to discover something new. New brands, new products, new suppliers and sometimes established businesses entering the garden retail market for the very first time.
This September, one such name is Donald Cooke Ltd, which will be making its Glee debut with Garden Bites, its colourful range of vegetable-based dog treats.
Founded in 1900 and still wholly owned by direct descendants of the founding family, Donald Cooke Ltd may be a new name to many garden retailers, but it brings more than a century of business experience and a strong track record within the independent pet sector.
Ahead of the show, we caught up with Andrew Cooke from the Donald Cooke team to discover why now is the right time to bring Garden Bites to garden retail.
126 years of family business
Donald Cooke Ltd has several strings to its bow, including its own four retail stores in South Yorkshire and a growing portfolio of pet products. That retail experience plays an important role in how the business operates, as Andrew explains: “We’re a family business first and foremost, and I think the old saying ‘small enough to care, big enough to cope’ fits us perfectly. We have four retail stores in South Yorkshire, and the products we distribute have to prove themselves in our own stores first. That gives us a real understanding of what works at retail level.”
One brand already proving its appeal is Garden Bites. Born from a desire to offer a more wholesome alternative to traditional dog treats, Garden Bites was developed in response to the growing focus on pet wellness and demand for vegan-friendly alternatives. The brand launched in the UK in September 2025 and has since enjoyed strong success within the independent pet sector. Now, Donald Cooke Ltd is ready to introduce it to a new audience.
Why Glee, and why now?
For the team, the evolution of the modern garden centre makes Glee a natural next step.
“Garden centres have become lifestyle destinations. Customers aren’t simply visiting to buy plants anymore. They’re shopping for their homes, their gardens, gifts, food and, increasingly, their pets.
“We’re already well known within the pet world, but we’ve had very little exposure within garden retail. That’s what makes Glee so exciting for us. It’s an opportunity to meet a completely new group of buyers and show them what Garden Bites could bring to their stores.”
With pet owners increasingly treating their animals as members of the family, the team believes the crossover between garden retail and the pet category has never been stronger. Andrew said: “Pet humanisation and the growth of one-stop lifestyle shopping are two trends we see as hugely relevant to garden centres. For us, they’re both very good reasons to have a quality, fun pet treat range in store.”
Veggie Buddies, Fruity Friends and treats with personality
So, what exactly makes Garden Bites different? At the heart of every chew is at least 55% sweet potato, giving the range a distinctive point of difference within the vegetarian dog treat market. The treats are 100% gluten-free and enriched with natural mint oil, whilst their shapes are designed to help massage gums and clean teeth as dogs chew. But health credentials are only part of the story. Garden Bites has been designed to be fun.
The team is particularly excited to showcase its Fruity Friends and Twizzlers at Glee, with Fruity Friends shaped like familiar fruits including bananas, peaches and pears.
“These ranges really capture the fun, vibrant spirit of Garden Bites. They’re colourful, eye-catching and look fantastic on the shelf. They prove that healthier pet treats certainly don’t have to look boring.”
Their garden-inspired appearance could also create some interesting merchandising opportunities for retailers, giving buyers scope to position the products within dedicated pet areas or explore more creative cross-merchandising opportunities around the wider store.
Tried, tested and ready for garden retail
For Donald Cooke Ltd, its first Glee is about more than simply showcasing a product. It’s an opportunity to build relationships with a sector it believes is a natural fit for the business. Andrew added: “As first-time exhibitors, we want to build awareness, meet new people and introduce Donald Cooke Ltd as a straightforward, supportive partner for retailers looking to grow their pet category.
“We’d love to meet garden centres, independent retailers and national buyers who want to bring something colourful, different and commercially exciting to their pet offering.”
Buyers visiting the stand will be able to explore the full Garden Bites collection and discover a range of purchasing options designed to suit different retail environments, including pre-packs, bulk boxes and loose pick-and-mix formats, alongside custom POS concepts.
Discover something new at Glee 2026
For buyers searching for newness this September, Donald Cooke Ltd offers an intriguing combination: more than a century of family business experience, proven retail knowledge and a young pet brand ready to make its mark on the garden centre market.
“We’re brand new to the garden centre sector, so for us, everything about Glee is exciting. We’re looking forward to meeting new faces, hearing from retailers and showing buyers just how much fun there can be in the pet treat category.”
Visit Donald Cooke Ltd at Glee 2026 on stand 20H78 to discover Garden Bites, meet the team and find out whether Twizzlers, Fruity Friends and a little more colour could be the next addition to your pet category.
Register for your free ticket today at www.gleebirmingham.com and be part of Europe’s biggest buying moment.