Do you know who owns your pet food? DelMonte bought Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Dog and Cat food. DelMonte now changed it's name to Big Heart Pet Brands. Big Heart Pet Brands also owns Milo's Kitchen which was part of the huge 2012 chicken jerky from China recall. It's back on the shelves and still made in China.
Now Mars bought P&G's pet food brands. A few years ago P&G bought the Natural pet food line including Innova, California Natural, EVO, Healthwise and Mother Hubbards. All of those brands have had recalls in addition to some of the others P&G owns (for now) like Iams and Eukanuba. Isn't it funny you can now search to see if a dog food or cat food has been recalled but it's probably under a new name so the slate looks clean. Sad, very sad.
Here's the press release from the newest sale:
Mars Inc. is set to purchase Procter & Gamble's pet food brands, including Iams, Eukanuba and Natura, for US$2.9 billion, according to reports. P&G is leaving the pet care market to focus more on its core brands, and the transaction will solidify Mars as the world's biggest pet food company.
Mars did not take on P&G's European business, but it has an option to buy operations in remaining markets in Asia and Africa, said P&G spokesman Paul Fox. The company plans to actively pursue the sale of its European pet care business, he said.
"The announced deal is not a surprise in view of P&G’s declining share," said Paula Flores, head of Euromonitor International's Pet Care division. "P&G is the fourth global player with a global value share 3.6%, down from 4.2% in 2008. Despite the good position in the premium segment of the North American dog and cat food market, where it accounts for 19% of value sales in 2012, this figure stood at 24% as recently as 2008. The company faced two voluntary recalls for its superpremium Natura, Iams and Eukanuba brand during 2013. Moreover P&G has a weak performance in most emerging markets."
The deal is expected to be complete in the second half of the year.
Why Choose Life's Abundance dog and cat products?
Life's Abundance has had NO RECALLS EVER!
Life's Abundance has been in business since 1999.
Life's Abundance currently has 6 warehouses to make shipping to you as quick as possible and carries products for you and your pets.
Life's Abundance dry dog and cat foods are generally shipped within 6 weeks of being made. They don't sit in non climate controlled warehouses or semi trailers for months before hitting the store shelves.