VetUK Ltd, based in Thirsk, is growing 30 per cent per year selling veterinary products over the internet.

The business was set up five years ago by Iain Booth, who worked in vet practices and saw customers presented with high prices and little choice.

After convincing suppliers to go online, he now sells 5,000 products at 50 to 60 per cent cheaper in the UK and Europe, and the business has grown to employ 22 people and achieve more than £10 million turnover.

Iain is now going for Large Business and Retailer Of The Year at The Press Business Awards 2011.

The business has its own vet to write and check full descriptions of its products, and markets the business through promotions to attract more than a million website visitors per year.

Last year it also launched the V-E-T locator iPhone app, which give details of the nearest vet to a user’s location for emergencies, which had more than 7,000 downloads.

Iain said: “The future is very bright for VetUK. Our site is currently visited by over 3,500 people every day of the week and growing.”

Next, the business is investing in designing and developing its own range of pet accessories, pet food and pharmaceuticals which are due to be launched this year.