In July 2018, Nestle Purina Petcare was in talks to purchase Champion Petfoods for more than US$2 billion.
Champion Petfoods executives are exploring options for a potential sale of the company, reported Bloomberg. In the potential sale, dog and cat food and treats maker Champion could be valued at US$2 billion, similar to the estimated value during the last round of sale talks in 2018. Bloomberg cited “people with knowledge of the matter” as its source.
In July 2018, the Wall Street Journal reported that Nestle Purina Petcare was in talks to purchase Edmonton, Alberta, Canada-based Champion Petfoods for more than US$2 billion. Nestle’s consideration of Champion may have been related to pressure from activist investor Daniel Loeb, who published a letter criticizing Nestle for not delivering increased profits for shareholders quickly enough. In December 2018, Nestle renewed discussions to purchase a majority stake in Champion Petfoods, reported the Financial Times.
Champion Petfoods continues to be privately held with investment from Bedford Capital.
More about Champion Petfoods
Founded in a small town in Alberta, Canada, Champion Petfoods has been offering premium food for dogs and cats since 1985, according to Petfood Industry’s Top Companies Current Data. The company exports to nearly 100 countries worldwide. Champion’s annual revenue in 2021 was approximately US$200,000,000.
2020: The company adds 36 SKUs.
2019: Champion opens NorthStar kitchen in Acheson, Alberta, Canada, in late 2019.
2018: Construction begins on NorthStar kitchen, located just west of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 2016 (November): Champion expands production capacity at its newly opened DogStar kitchen production plant in Kentucky, USA, bringing its total investment at the site to US$178 million.
2016: Champion opens its first production facility in the U.S., a US$120 million, 371,000-square-foot site on 85 acres in Kentucky, USA. Called DogStar Kitchens, the plant is to produce nearly 100 metric tons annually for Champion's Acana and Orijen brands.
Brands: Orijen, Acana
Geographic markets served: Australia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, North America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific
Tim Wall covers the dog, cat and other pet food industries as senior reporter for WATT Global Media. His work has appeared inLive Science, Discovery News, Scientific American, Honduras Weekly, Global Journalist and other outlets. He holds a journalism master's degree
from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a bachelor's degree in biology.
Wall served in the Peace Corps in Honduras from 2005 to 2007, where he coordinated with the town government of Moroceli to organize a municipal trash collection system, taught environmental science, translated for medical brigades and facilitated sustainable agriculture, along with other projects.
