John James, founder of pet trade distributor James & Steel Ltd, has passed away after a short illness, it has been announced.
One of the best-known characters in the UK pet trade, James founded the distributor more than 25 years ago. He was a regular attendee at many pet trade events such as the PATS show and Pet Industry Federation (PIF) gatherings and was presented with the lifetime achievement awards by PetQuip at the trade association’s annual awards ceremony in 2018. While John reduced his working hours in recent years, James & Steel has remained a family business, involving wife Judy, sons Jason and Saul, daughter Emma, son-in-law Martin and daughter-in-law Miranda.
PetQuip director general Amanda Sizer Barrett was among the first to pay tribute.
She said: “I was deeply saddened by the news of John James’ passing. John was such a passionate supporter of international trade shows and of the PetQuip trade association, supporting our work to expand UK pet product exports, encouraging other companies to join our initiatives. For this and many other reasons, John was a worthy recipient of the PetQuip Lifetime Achievement Award, but he didn’t rest on his laurels: in recent years he was a regular attendee at international trade events including Interzoo, Zoomark and attended Superzoo in August and Pet Fair South-East Asia only last November.
“John was a great entrepreneur, a consummate salesperson and an incredible hard worker, as well as being one of the nicest, funniest and interesting people I have ever had the privilege to meet. The team at PetQuip all knew and loved John’s energy, straight-talking and positive thinking.
“The UK pet sector has lost one of its best. Our warmest wishes and sincere condolences go to John’s family and friends.”
Nigel Baker, chief executive of the Pet Industry Federation (PIF) added his tribute: “John James was a true stalwart of the pet industry, and through his company, James & Steel, was a valued member of the Pet Industry Federation. A familiar face at our events and at pet industry gatherings in the UK and abroad, his presence, charm, and good humour will be deeply missed. No trade show will be the same without him.
“I had the privilege of knowing John for over 30 years; he was part of the old guard of the UK pet industry, which has witnessed so much change over the decades. He was a constant throughout the years, however. A true gentleman, his dedication, hard work, and unwavering support for this industry were hallmarks of his character and career. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”
