#1
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Acana Old vs Acana New (2008)
Absolutely I can provide you some details!
The changes occurred in the summer/fall of 2008. I will provide some of the details on the Acana Small Breed Adult: New formula had smaller kibble size and harder kibbles. Old formula 28% protein, new formula 33%. Old formula single protein source, new formula 3 sources. Old formula didn't have salmon, new formula did. New formula had lower omega 6 and omega 3. New formula had proportionately much lower omega 3, omega 3 sources are expensive. All this happened overnight, new stock came in with different bags, different ingredients, different guaranteed analysis, same name, but built for different dogs and unfair for any unsuspecting owner who assumed a new bag of the "same" food wouldn't be a sudden drastic diet change. |
#2
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Sorry for taking so long to reply but I lost my internet.
And now I'm really tired but hope you can provide a list of ingredients to show the exact changes in the formulas. Off the top of my head, from the info you did provide, I'm thinking that you may be confusing the orignal Acana with the grain free Acana Provincial. I'll check here again tomorrow. |
#3
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For anyone wondering what on earth this thread is doing in existence in 2011, it was brought up on another thread that dog food companies have done this a few times in recent years, often concurrent with a change in ownership or management of the dog food company. Another poster requested details of the Acana change, but that information was off-topic for that thread.
Sometimes the changes are for the better, sometimes for the worse. In my case the food I loved and promoted to others became no longer suitable for my dogs for several reasons. In addition, a 5% increase in protein, plus the addition of many new major ingredients would have affected a large portion of their customers. I wrote to the manufacturer at the time, and they did not respond. |
#4
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I was wondering where you went.
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One day they sold and manufactured ONLY what I call the "old" formula, next time I was in the distributor's store they sold and manufactured ONLY what I call the "new" formula. I don't believe the new formula was grain free, when I look for the "old" label I'll look for the pamphlet on the "new." but as I say this was a couple years back... |
#5
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I think it was in 2008 that they released Pacifica (sp?) as well Rainbow. But they also overhauled their ingredients on the regular Acana in the fall of that year as well.
However, SIA I think you may be mistaken in your assertion that they did so "overnight". That implies a level of irresponsibility and callous disregard for quality service which didn't and doesn't fit with my impression of Acana so I went and did some checking. I went back to some historical threads in another forum I belong to and found that Acana did in fact announce, in advance, that changes would be made to their existing formula. Apparently, they posted an announcement in July on their website, the ingredient list was posted in August and the food hit the shelves in late August/ September. |
#6
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I never thought checking their website on a regular basis was something I might need to be doing. I thought this is a great company, I can expect consistency, etc, etc. If I remember correctly, Acana was sold at that time? |
#7
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Staying informed as a consumer is difficult, yes. But it seems to me, that the blame should be more properly placed on your retail provider not the manufacturer as they are, in my experience, given plenty of lead time and notice regarding product changes and their effective dates.
I'm sorry SIA, I don't understand your last question. Was Acana sold at the time? Ummm...yes. |
#8
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I mean the company Acana, or the Acana line, sold to new owners.
I was buying from the Champion Feeds that I lived near, not a retailer. |
#9
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I think you are asking whether Acana (the product)was bought by Champion> As far as I can recall Champion has always made Acana, it was never a separate company overtaken by Champion. Rainbow is an expert on their foods however, and I hope she will correct me if I am off.
Is "Champion Feeds" a Co-op Feed Store or do you mean that you purchased it directly from the manufacturing facility in Alberta? Quite honestly, I surprized that they didn't respond to your query. I know Rainbow has never had an issue with correspondence with Champion/ Acana/ Orijen ~ she has stated they've always been incredibly prompt, polite and helpful in her many dealings with them. |
#10
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I don't know exactly what happened. Something. I know that's not very useful!
The place I bought from was called Champion Feeds, I'm not sure if it's still there as I know they did close most of their own stores. It was not the location where their dog food was manufactured, no, but definitely owned/managed/named by the same company. When they didn't respond at all, it really made me lose respect for them. I hope they took my letter to heart anyway but no way to know. |
#11
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I think you mean Champion Feed Services. It is the mothership to Champion Pet Foods. I wasn't aware they had opened a retail location. It must have been a HUGE place given all the other large animal food and bird food they manufacture. Like a Costco for farmers. Where is that if you don't mind me asking?
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#12
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That "mothership" comment makes me wonder if the sale of Acana wasn't between different parts of Champion. There was a feedmill too, yes, but the retail section very small and I don't remember seeing birdseed there at all, though I'm sure a person could have ordered it in.
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#13
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Yeah... it sounds like a co-op to me.
Champion Pet Foods has been around for at least 25 years and as noted, I believe Acana has always been their product. As far as I'm aware, Champion Feed Services has no other pet food division and never has but Rainbow may know more about that. I'm sorry you let that one incidence so badly coloured your opinion of them. |
#14
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I don't know any more than you do mums.
Champion Pet Foods has been making pet food since 1975 at their own manufacturing plant and I've never questioned the connection between both companies. Regarding the formula change when they introduced the Acana Provincial line I don't believe that they cheapened any of their ingredients. If I find some time I could try to find out the exact changes. |
#15
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Were the retail outlets all in Alberta and where exactly is the manufacturing plant? |
#16
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If Champion Feed Services is a co-op or not I wouldn't know. All the same to me!
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The worst part is that the way I understand it, changes like this aren't by any means rare. What about the safety of dogs with allergies/sensitivities, where today their food is chicken and rice, and next bag is chicken and rice now with salmon, pork, oats and barley mixed in? Rainbow, if you can find the ingredients list for early and late 2008, as well as guaranteed analysis, for sure. Maybe try contacting them, if they might have that info at their fingertips? |
#17
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I have no problem contacting them but I also would like to get clarification from them about the Champion Feed Services connection at the same time so was hoping you would tell me where their plant is located.
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#18
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To my knowledge Champion Feed Services do not and never have had pet food manufacturing plants. And, as far as I know none of their three manufacturing locations have retail outlets of any kind. Quote:
Perhaps, your letter never reached them SIA. If you mistakenly sent it to the Feed Store from which you purchased your dog food, they may not have sent it to Champion Feed Services for it to be passed along to Champion Pet Foods. And, these things do happen. On a slightly I see Champion Pet Foods / Acana is releasing another product this year: http://www.championpetfoods.com/acana/ |
#19
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Just as a small insert - If you have a good rapport with the pet food store where you buy your food they are more than willing to supply you with any notification from their suppliers about upcoming changes in ingredients. In fact the one I frequent most often posts it well in advance of any changes. That way no customer is blindsided.
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Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#20
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Perhaps the store at which you buy your dog food might know SIA. Assuming you still shop there that is. |
#21
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It was Champion Feed Services I went to. Driving past you would never guess they had a pet retail store in there.
The letter was sent electronically to customerservice@championpetfoods.com. Yes, smaller bags/higher prices did come about at the same time. |
#22
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And, where exactly is Champion Feed Services?
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#23
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Funny, the Champion Feed Services I knew about did not sell dog food. They sold everything related to farm animals but not dog food. Now I'm really .
__________________
Assumptions do nothing but make an ass out of u and me. We can stick our heads in the sand for only so long before it starts choking us. Face it folks. The pet population is bad ALL OVER THE WORLD! |
#24
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You and me both but it looks like it's a secret.
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#25
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rainbow, if you google Champion Feed Services, you can find locations. There are at least two in Canada. And when you call Champion Pet Foods, I'm sure they'll be able to give you any other locations they might have and answer any questions.
MMM, do you know why the Acana link on the homepage points to the Orijen product? The only way I can get to info on Acana is through the new product link you posted. Acana is still on the market while they do the change, isn't it?
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference." "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!" "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." |
#26
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I know they were out in AB when I lived there, but didn't know they were in ON and like you guys thought they were really for feed for farm animals.
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Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#27
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Is it possible they're unassociated with Champion Pet foods except that they carried their products? We have feed mills here that carry dog food, but aren't necessarily associated with a manufacturer.
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference." "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!" "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." |
#28
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I don't know since I don't live in AB .... hopefully the OP will be able to answer that question as well. |
#29
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__________________
Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#30
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It is Champion Feed Services we need more info about if your friends know anything about them please let me know if the OP doesn't provide the information on their location first. |
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