Champion Petfoods

Today is the last day of our second on-site internships with Fumiko Imai, Sarah MacDonald Murray, Luciana Guimaraes Reis, Pauline Kosmal, and Kehan Zhang. The scientific insights shared by the students were enthusiastically received by our cross-functional teams at Champion, and students have participated in experiential learning, networking opportunities, and also explored STEM-related careers. We will continue to work closely with them at University of Guelph and Anna Kate Shoveller on their project to drive future innovation and impactful discoveries for the pet food industry. We thank Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Mitacs for supporting a very strong partnership with Dr. Anna Kate Shoveller at the University of Guelph and Champion Petfoods. A huge thank you to all our collaborators; your mentorship, training, and support is what makes this program so valuable, and we really appreciate your time and dedication.  

Week 2 of our on-site internships is fully underway, and the students have networked, collaborated, and explored all types of careers in pet food industry! Thanks to Arsh G. for leading the tours at state-of-the-art facility New NorthStar in Acheson, Alberta and Andrew Stovall for mentoring them on problem solving and a people-first leadership style. Doren Reddy supported our program by sharing her expertise on Quality Assurance and how she ensures top quality of our Biologically Appropriate™ products. Jeannette Davidge shared how she cultivates a culture of growth & learning, manages dynamic stakeholder relationships, and displays calm leadership to navigate challenges in the unpredictable world of supply chain. Dr. Maheswor Gautam kindly provided the Mitacs interns with mentorship and training in our in our state-of-the-art nutrition lab, learning how we ensure the nutritional quality of our ingredients and products. Big thanks to Nicole Briggs for providing valuable work-integrated learning for our students on how we craft new Biologically Appropriate™ kibble in our test facilities.

Week 1 with the University of Guelph interns has wrapped! The University of Guelph Mitacs interns had an action-packed week, learning lots with our team. One highlight of the week was hearing from company leaders. Champion Petfoods’ President Stacey Osborn spent time with the students, sharing insights and detailing her career journey so they could learn about leadership and strategy. The interns also spent time with our SVP Research, Innovation, & Product Development Jeff Johnston who shared more on the history of Champion Petfoods, talked about the creation of our world class brands ACANA™ and ORIJEN™, and mentored on how he leads with vision. Huge thank you to Stacey and Jeff for spending this time with our students and supporting their development as future leaders in the pet food industry!

Pictured here, we welcomed our University of Guelph Mitacs interns and Anna Kate Shoveller on-site for a research and innovation share-out this week. This Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate grant encompasses a vast amount of cutting edge research that is going to drive and accelerate innovation for the pet food industry. The group met with our R&I teams, learning about formulations, innovation, and ingredients. Big thanks to Bonnie Gerow for training our interns about our products and sharing just how unique and special our Biologically Appropriate ™ diets are. They also spent time with Project Managers Amanda Wytinck, PMP and Jodie Worobec learning about product and project management and received tactical tools for managing their own projects. Chinedu Ogbonna spent time mentoring and teaching our talented group about Regulatory Affairs and sharing his career journey. Thanks to all our collaborators who are supporting this program!

For the next two weeks, Champion Petfoods is pleased to welcome our University of Guelph Mitacs interns to kick-off the work-integrated internship program. We have crafted a program for on-site learning, networking, and two-way knowledge transfer. Kehan Zhang (Coco) shared with us “This internship is more than just a learning opportunity; it is a chance to contribute to a company that truly cares about the well-being of pets. I am grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to dive into the world of pet food manufacturing and formulation at Champion Petfoods.” Fumiko Imai, MSc comes to us with an impressive background in the industry and states “Pet owners' needs and wants regarding pet foods are constantly changing, and I am very interested in learning about the latest market trends and CPF's nutritional strategies for meeting them. I would also like to hear what your sales team wants us/scientists to learn about pet nutrition from their experience with their pet owner clients.” From Luciana Guimaraes Reis, MSc “I am excited to spend valuable time with the minds behind Champion PetFoods! I also look forward to discussing how my research work could be incorporated into new and innovative pet food, always considering the pet’s health and well-being. Having the opportunity to contribute at any level and to learn from the professionals who develop high-quality, science-based pet food is an extraordinary experience!” Sarah MacDonald Murray says “I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to meet the dynamic teams driving the success of Champion Petfoods! Meeting with each team promises a clear line of sight into all aspects of the business, allowing me to connect with talented professionals, ask questions, and broaden my network.” Dr. Pauline Kosmal shares “I am most looking forward to networking and making connections with industry experts across various departments at Champion Petfoods. I am interested in discussing our partnered research and the applications our projects have to the industry. This internship is made possible with a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance - Mitacs Accelerate grant with the Anna Kate Shoveller and Adronie Verbrugghe lab groups. Stay tuned to keep updated to learn more about their work-integrated program!

🎉 We're thrilled to announce our presence at Interzoo 2024 in Germany 🌍 As a leading premium pet food, we're gearing up to showcase our innovative products and strong brands at this year's expo. 🐶🐱 At Champion Petfoods, we're passionate about creating a better world for pets though crafting the best possible nutrition for a happy and healthy life. ✨ Interzoo presents an incredible opportunity for us to connect with industry professionals, showcase our latest offerings, and collaborate on the future of pet care. 📅 Save the date and visit us at Hall 3A, stand 312 to discover what sets ORIJEN™ and ACANA™ apart in the world of pet nutrition. Bring your furry friends with you, we have something really exciting for them. Stay tuned!

The ACANA™ Pet Food team wants to make 1 cat lover’s dream come true by making them our Official Kitten Cuddler! The winner will spend a day giving kittens at a Best Friends Animal Society® partner shelter the love and attention they deserve and take home $10,000 for a job well done (subject to meeting eligibility criteria and complying with contest rules)! ❤️ Please visit our website to learn more and enter for a chance to win. 🐱 https://lnkd.in/gHYQEFes As part of its support for shelters and kittens this season, the ACANA™ pet food team is also donating 5,000 cases of wet kitten food in April to feed kittens throughout the country & to help shelters provide vital care during the height of kitten season. ❤️ . . . Open only to legal residents of the 50 US/DC that are 18+ and who are not allergic to cats. Enter Contest before 8:00 p.m. MT on 4/10/24. Subject to full Official Rules, including prizes, judging criteria, and all details: https://bit.ly/CPFKitten. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Champion Petfoods USA Inc., makers of ACANA™ pet food.

‘Kitten season,’ typically May through November, is when an annual influx of orphaned kittens arrive in shelters needing care. Their labor-intensive care can strain a shelter’s space and resources, but early care and social interaction is vital to each kitten’s future. Recognizing this need, the team behind ACANA™ Pet Food is helping kittens by increasing awareness of ‘kitten season,’ donating 5,000 cases of wet kitten food (120,000 meals) in April to feed kittens throughout the country, encouraging people to volunteer, and most importantly: searching for its first kitten cuddler. ❤️ The ACANA™ Pet Food team will pay one cat lover $10,000 to cuddle with kittens at a Best Friends Animal Society® partner shelter (subject to meeting eligibility criteria and complying with contest rules). Please visit our website to learn more and enter for a chance to win. 🐱 https://lnkd.in/gHYQEFes . . . Open only to legal residents of the 50 US/DC that are 18+ and who are not allergic to cats. Enter Contest before 8:00 p.m. MT on 4/10/24. Subject to full Official Rules, including prizes, judging criteria, and all details: https://bit.ly/CPFKitten. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Champion Petfoods USA Inc., makers of ACANA™ pet food. 

It's not too late to come grab a latte and get the scoop on the latest ORIJEN™ and ACANA™ offerings at the Champion Booth! Don't miss out on the excitement at #GlobalPetExpo! ☕🐶🐱

Would you like a latte with your show deal? In a couple of days, you can stop by the Champion Booth and experience some of the best Global Pet Expo has to offer! ☕🐾 #GlobalPetExpo