# Champion Petfoods

> Champion Petfoods is the Alberta-founded maker of ACANA and ORIJEN, two premium dog- and cat-food brands built around high inclusions of animal ingredients, controlled production in company-operated kitchens and a tightly managed supplier network. Founded in 1985 and acquired by Mars Petcare in 2023, Champion sells dry, wet and freeze-dried foods and treats in more than 80 markets, serving pet owners through specialty retailers, distributors and ecommerce.

- **Founded:** 1985
- **Headquarters:** Louisville, Colorado, United States
- **Founders:** Reinhard Muhlenfeld (Founder)
- **Team size:** Nearly 1,000 associates as reported by Champion in June 2026; LinkedIn lists 501-1,000 employees.
- **Products:** ACANA, ORIJEN, ORIJEN Guardian 8, Retailer and distributor programs
- **Notable:** Built ACANA and ORIJEN into brands sold in more than 80 markets worldwide., DogStar Kitchen received the inaugural Global Markets Award from the Global Food Safety Initiative in 2017., Recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in 2020.

## Products & services

- **ACANA** — Premium dog and cat foods spanning dry recipes, wet foods, treats and biscuits, positioned around animal ingredients balanced with fruit, vegetables and botanicals.
- **ORIJEN** — The company's higher-animal-ingredient brand for dogs and cats, including dry, wet and freeze-dried foods and treats built around its Biologically Appropriate and WholePrey concepts.
- **ORIJEN Guardian 8** — An adult cat recipe introduced to provide nutritional support across eight areas including immune, digestive, skin, coat and heart health.
- **Retailer and distributor programs** — Wholesale distribution, retailer support and product availability across specialty pet channels and international markets.

## Achievements

- Built ACANA and ORIJEN into brands sold in more than 80 markets worldwide.
- DogStar Kitchen received the inaugural Global Markets Award from the Global Food Safety Initiative in 2017.
- Recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in 2020.
- Established the Champion Petfoods Chair in Canine and Feline Nutrition at the University of Guelph in 2021.
- Reports donating more than 3.5 million pet meals annually to animal-welfare organizations.
- Achieved zero waste to landfill in its kitchens, according to the company's sustainability reporting.
- Opened a C$32 million Global Innovation and Discovery Centre in Acheson, Alberta, in 2026.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Opened a C$32 million Global Innovation and Discovery Centre at the NorthStar Kitchen in Acheson, with a small-batch pilot line and C$15 million in additional Canadian investment planned over five years.
- **2025-09** — Global President Stacey Osborn joined the National 4-H Council Board of Trustees.
- **2025-05** — Champion Petfoods Holding Inc. joined Mars Canada and Royal Canin Canada in a consolidated human-rights supply-chain disclosure under Canadian law.
- **2023-02** — Mars Petcare completed its acquisition of Champion, which continued as an independent business unit within Mars Pet Nutrition.

## Links

- Website: https://championpetfoods.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-petfoods
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/ChampionPetfood
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChampionPetfoodsLP
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/championpetfood/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChampionPetfoods/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/champion-petfoods
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-08-13