Champion Petfoods is focused on sourcing ingredients as regionally as possible to develop biologically appropriate dog and cat food formulas.

The company unloaded a variety of both new and improved pet foods to meet demand for growing cat and small dog ownership.

Champion Petfoods officially opened its new NorthStar kitchens in Alberta, Canada, spanning 426,000-sq.-ft. and the capacity to produce up to 300 million lbs. of kibble per year.

The pet food company was recognized for benefitting the state of Kentucky through its international trade involvement.

The pet food manufacturer added two formulas to its Singles line and two to its Regionals line.

Members toured the manufacturer’s Kentucky pet food kitchens, visited a regional supplier and observed all aspects of operations.

The council has already visited the manufacturer’s DogStar Kitchen in Auburn, Kentucky, along with one of its nearby ingredient suppliers.

The merger of these companies will strengthen their expertise in the food and beverage market.

The manufacturer has released a line of limited-ingredient dog treats, new packaging and formulation for its existing ORIJEN freeze-dried pet diets, and launched a consumer-focused council to provide transparency about its processes.