About the future Acana facility in Kentucky!

[Gail and Bailey]

I was just at the store here in Florida where I buy Acana when we stay here in the winter.   The owner of the store just got back from a convention where she attended a presentation by the Acana folks.  She was very excited and overflowing with information about the new facility that will be in Kentucky and about Acana in general!  I wish I had a tape recorder with me because she had so much to share about the presentation and the company,  that I actually picked up a piece of paper and took a few notes so I could tell you about it. ....or at least as much as I remember!  

Acana cares!  From sourcing the ingredients all the way to the processing and delivery to the stores!  They do not call their buildings a "plant"....they call it a "kitchen" because they are creating food for our pets, and food is created in a kitchen! 

The food that will be made in the US will be a bit different from the Canadian formulas for a logical reason.  They believe in using local food sources for the ingredients.  They have already started subsidizing local farmers who will supply ingredients.  All their meat is delivered to their kitchens fresh...never frozen!  (They even plan the transport of the animals to be processed so they are stressed as little as possible.)   The fish they use will come from the east coast and will be flown in fresh!  Acana even will have a runway on site to accommodate this!   She mentioned something about "wild caught" salmon becoming harder to get and said the company will use a new fish in place of it (can't remember the name) because they feel strongly about not using "farmed" salmon.  The new fish is wild caught.

The new plant is 15-18 months out.   

There was so much more information but alas....I just could not retain it all!  However...I am very excited to read more on their web site, as they will soon be posting lots of new information.

Some of us expressed an interest in doing a "field trip" to the plant when it opens and I am more excited than ever to do it!!!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I did know that Champion was opening a U.S. manufacturing facility, I think we had a discussion here about it some time back. This is great information. I know there are some people who are concerned that the quality will not be as good, because the U.S. doesn't have the same regulations that Canada does. However, with the integrity that Champion has shown in the past, I'm hopefully there will be no reduction in the quality of their products, and the info you posted seems to bear that out. Good news. 

[Gail and Bailey]

The rep assured the store owner that the quality will be the same as in Canada!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's the original discussion, which includes a statement from Champion addressing quality concerns: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/champio...

"Your trust means everything to us. We understand your concern regarding our new Kentucky Kitchens and want to openly discuss that with you. 

We don’t make pet foods like other companies do. As a leader and innovator in making pet foods, Champion works to our own standards. These are our standards, not USDA, not FDA, not CFIA. These agencies set minimum standards which we exceed exponentially. Why? Because our Mission and our Values dictate that we do, and that’s what pet lovers expect from us. 

Our standards and values require that all of our ingredient partners, team members, quality and safety protocols and kitchen facilities are focused on upholding and advancing our Biologically Appropriate mandate, and earning the trust of pet lovers day and in day out.

We choose our ingredient partners carefully, and we set quality and nutritional standards to meet our own food standards. In Kentucky, we will be engaging regional farmers, ranchers and fishermen whose values that match our own, that we can be proud to name. These suppliers will be providing fresh and custom ingredients that are sustainably and ethically produced. 

Building brand new, custom-fitted kitchens in Kentucky provide us a tremendous opportunity to advance our BAFRINO mandate of making Biologically Appropriate foods from Fresh, Regional Ingredients, in our own Kitchens. These three key philosophies have built trust in our brands worldwide, and we fully intend to continue to build on this foundation. 

Champion is different. Our custom Kentucky kitchens will produce ORIJEN and ACANA foods that set a new standard for the foods that we feed to our companion cats and dogs, we guarantee it."

[Kate, Mel, Tenley & Harper]

It will be interesting to see what this does to the price of the food in the US. I wonder if it will fluctuate at all. I imagine from a business perspective they're making a strategic move to compete more in what they identified as a target market. If I had to guess, I'd say they're making this move to either reduce the price of the food in the US OR because they're anticipating increased scrutiny of imported pet products in the wake of all the Chinese pet food (and I include treats when I say "pet food") recalls.

Also wonder if the current formulas will be discontinued in the US market, since the ones they intend to make here don't seem to be quite the same.

[Abigail *George & Juno*]

They mentioned on their facebook that their long term goal is to supply the US market solely using the Kentucky kitchen and the new formulas and supply Canada and their growing worldwide demand using the Canadian kitchen. They also said its so far out that they're still considering all options. I would be upset if I couldnt at least have the option of buying the formula my girls do so well on... But I understand their goals and plan. :)

[Stella]

I think part of the reason for building a plant in the US is the ongoing issues Acana have had getting product over the border from Canada to the US.  This way they can eliminate all that hassle and supply direct to the American market.  I know that not all formulas are available in the US, I'm guessing due to some import issues.