So I just recieved an email from the store where I buy Acana.
Not only are they moving out of Canada to US...but changing formulas, protein amounts, and smaller bag sizes...why
Sounds to me like Mylos next bag of Acana will be a different food.
So now I'm thinking if I should find some new food or get one of these new Acana bags and transition him in to this new version. I buy a 15lb bag that lasts a little over a month. In fact the recent bag I bought was on the 12th so I have some time to decide.
What would you guys do? Do you guys think these are "great" changes"?
Here are some screen shots of the "highlights"

I would probably shoot them an email with the parts that concern you. If they are boosting the protein then that's probably why the bag size went down. This seems normal. Junk food you can get in 50 pound bags. Medium grade food you get 40. Higher quality, only 30 pounds. If it was me, I would request an ingredient break down of the new food so you can compare it to the old formula. If I didn't see anything or amounts too startling I would try to transition over to it the same as you would a whole new food and see how mylo does on it and likes it. I hate when changes happen, but I would like to hope that moving in country and sourcing from inside the US will turn out to be a good change.

TwisterII wrote:

I would probably shoot them an email with the parts that concern you. If they are boosting the protein then that's probably why the bag size went down. This seems normal. Junk food you can get in 50 pound bags. Medium grade food you get 40. Higher quality, only 30 pounds. If it was me, I would request an ingredient break down of the new food so you can compare it to the old formula. If I didn't see anything or amounts too startling I would try to transition over to it the same as you would a whole new food and see how mylo does on it and likes it. I hate when changes happen, but I would like to hope that moving in country and sourcing from inside the US will turn out to be a good change.

I'm actually gonna be going to the store today, there's a 15% off coupon for national puppy day so the plan already was to go and get Mylo a new toy and treats. While I'm there I'll see if they have the new version of Acana so I can check the ingredients and I'll take a pic of my current bag. If they don't have the new stuff yet then I'll do the email, that's s great idea. And I don't think about the bag sized relating to the protein, makes sense. And yeah it's cool that they are coming to the US but like you said hopefully it tens out good.

Like a lot of things in today's world this - and their write-up - leave me with mixed emotions.  Given that Champion Petfoods has been a long time producer of quality pet foods, if they can maintain that quality while basically entering a whole new line of production then (shades of 1984) that's a good thing for them and questionably for the consumer.

A link to a selection of FAQ's (a PDF, btw) answered a lot of my questions.  

The Canadian 'kitchens' will continue to manufacture to the Canadian and EU markets while the Kentucky kitchen will manufacture for the burgeoning US market.  There is nothing wrong with that, in my opinion, as companies either grow or stagnate - Champion is apparently growing cautiously.

Since, to use their term, the pride themselves on their BAFRINO approach (Biologically appropriate, Fresh Regional Ingredients that are Never Outsourced) that virtually mandates that they use produce from locally source producers - the end result is going to be an entirely new formulation for the US market.  This obviously is going to raise concerns.

I sent the following through Champions web site, let's see how they answer:

Quote :

I'm a member of an active Siberian Husky forum and questions have arisen about the new Kentucky Kitchen for Champion.
Since it appears as if Champion is being BAFRINO appropriate, this seems to indicate an entirely new formulation of food for the US market - needless to say this raises some issues for people who have 'food sensitive' dogs for whom the existing formulations have worked well.  Can you address this concern please.
When can we expect to see the new formulation wend its way through the distribution chain?  The kitchen opens in 2016 which leave a wide window for the Kentucky products to appear.

@davecerv I think I'd be inclined to support your local store, it's really excellent customer support that they notified you of the upcoming change.  Most stores, I think, would have put the new formulation of the shelf and not bothered telling customers about it at all.  It could also be that Champion is pushing the marketing chain to let customers know - though I don't see any indication of that in their information.  It does, in my mind, speak well of Champion that they have 'fronted' as much information about the change as they have.

Well guys, I have been monitoring another forum about dogs on this issue. I can also post updates here on what they find out.

Al....this is similar to what a member on the other forum sent, they have a very sensitive dog that needs specific proteins as well as Kcals, and that was one issue that person had, a decrease of around 10% in calories with the new formula. They also asked if they could still buy the Canadian produced version. I will keep everyone posted on any replies I see over there.

The one thing I will add, and have read thru Champion, they are no longer using vitamin packs in their food, one reason for the change over, all vitamins will be inclusive of the food products they use. There has been a great amount of talk about vitamin packs being used in dog foods and the majority of all vitamin packs are produced in China, so that is a plus.

Dave....if Mylo is a strong stomach type of dog, with no allergies, I would slowly transition him over to the new food. See how he does, with any new food it can take upwards of 12 weeks to see any significant change in your dog. My only concern about the move is, I hope they continue with their strict production of their food.

FWIW, the orijen branded foods aren't being changed until later this year. The one change i wasn't happy with, is they will be using catfish in their recipes. I attached some links where you can see the new formulas, sorry they're not clickable, can't post clickable ones since i'm a new member. This was brought up on a GSD forum i am a member of so just transferring it to you guys.

ACANA Singles acana.com/our-foods/singles/?lang=usa]Singles
ACANA Regionas acana.com/our-foods/regionals/?lang=usa]Regionals

New Plant acana.com/dogstar-kitchens/?lang=usa]Kentucky Plant

Tunez.....same here(member of gsd forum), I was too lazy to get the links....haha. Thanks!!

MiyasMomma wrote:

Tunez.....same here(member of gsd forum), I was too lazy to get the links....haha. Thanks!!

Haha it's a small world or should I say Internet? Do you use the same name on there? I just joined both sites this week. 1 for my husky and 1 for my future gsd in September if Skye can get properly socialized

We can take this over to your other thread....I don't participate at the gsd forum much, use it for more info, sometimes I post. My nickname is Sofie and Miya's mom.

Thanks for the replies guys, helpful stuff. this is upsetting my to me cause Mylo has been doing excellent on Acana.

@aljones
Yeah Krisers is an awesome store. It's a dog & cat store that only sells premium stuff. They have the best food, the best toys, etc. Its a small store with two nice employees that know us already. Mylo loves it there and acts better in there compared to a typical big store like Petco. The only reason I still go to Petco sometimes is to get some little cans of Merrick canned food that Krisers only sells in the regular size. I remember when there was a recall involving Stella & Chewys stuff, they sent urgent emails about the issue.

@MiyasMomma
Mylo's tummy can be sensitive sometimes but he has gotten better compared to when be was younger. I think I am going to just go along with this new Acana stuff since they are only exclusively making this food at the new facility, it seems safe to say that focusing a whole organization around two brands of food seems like there's room to keep the strict process going. I can't wait to check out the new bags if they have them already when I go to the store a little later.

I was considering maybe possibly trying out "Fromm" foods but I've been looking through the Acana website and read about the new Dogstar Kitchen. Makes me feel a little better knowing that they will only be making Orijen and Acana exclusively.
Here's a shot from the Acana website of them explaining this new facility

I heard about this yesterday when I went to pick up puppy food for Harley at Natural Pawz.

On a side note, that's so awesome you're from Houston OP! We have a Kriser's near us too!

Whelp guess I'm going to finally make the switch to raw. I feed Acana/Orijen because honestly I don't trust US suppliers to outsource all their ingredients to China.

meemster414 wrote:

I heard about this yesterday when I went to pick up puppy food for Harley at Natural Pawz.

On a side note, that's so awesome you're from Houston OP! We have a Kriser's near us too!

Hey!
I like seeing Houstonians on here. Natural Pawz is great too..they have those awesome cycle dog brand collars and leashes.
Krisers is an excellent store..I like to go to the one off buffalo speedway. It's the smallest Krisers location in Houston but I like that because Mylo is comfortable in there..he absolutely loves it. And I did end up changing foods. Mylo has been eating Fromm, Surf & Turf and Beef Frittata recipes. Great food, he likes it and I love feeding it. Most of all I like that I can give him a variety with Fromm.

Switched Kiba to the new Acana and have been loving it I'm going to try Orijen's puppy formula with the pup (not a husky) that will be joining the family soon.