How Champion Petfoods is Redefining Pet Nutrition with Jeff Johnston

How much science and curiosity go into a bowl of premium pet food? More than most people ever see. Animal Health Insider goes on location at Champion Petfoods’ new Global Innovation and Discovery Centre just outside Edmonton, Canada, for a rare peek inside the company’s high-tech Kitchens—and the ideas being cooked up there. Host Julie Lawless sits down with Jeff Johnston, head of Research and Innovation, to explore how the maker of ORIJEN and ACANA is combining fresh and raw ingredients, rigorous science and a real passion to keep pushing pet nutrition forward. From the partnerships behind every ingredient to the testing that turns promising ideas into meaningful advances, Jeff shares how Champion is investing in what’s next—and why the future of pet food is taking shape inside these Kitchens right now. 00:00 Welcome to Animal Health Insider 01:56 Champion Petfoods’ 40-Year History & Biologically Appropriate Nutrition 04:37 Why Fresh & Raw Ingredients Matter 07:22 Building Long-Term Supplier Partnerships 10:08 Food Safety - by Design 13:36 Inside Champion's Research & Innovation Team 20:08 Research Partnerships Driving Pet Nutrition Science 23:14 The "What If" Innovation Philosophy 25:09 Why Failing Fast Fuels Better Products 27:47 Accelerating Innovation Without Cutting Corners 29:05 The Future of ORIJEN, ACANA & Champion Petfoods 31:14 Champion's Passion for Better Pet Food 33:10 Quick Take: Jeff Johnston Outside of Work 35:05 Closing Thoughts Learn more about our episode sponsor, Champion Petfoods, and its ORIJEN and ACANA brands: Champion Petfoods | World's Best Pet Food https://championpetfoods.com/en ACANA | Premium Pet Food for Dogs & Cats https://www.acana.com/en-US/homepage ORIJEN | Premium Pet Food for Dogs & Cats https://www.orijenpetfoods.com/en-US/homepage About Animal Health Insider     🎧 Animal Health Insider brings you behind the scenes of the animal health industry with insights from the leaders, innovators, and dealmakers shaping what’s next. Subscribe today!  Learn more.   If you work in #AnimalHealth, #Veterinary, #Biotech, #Agtech, #Sustainability, #Investment, or #PublicPolicy, subscribe for sharper context and real insight from the people on the inside of the industry.  🌐 Learn more at https://www.lawlesscomms.com/podcast/  LawlessComms  Ready to build industry influence and engage employees through strategic communications made for Animal Health? We’re here to help.  🌐 https://www.lawlesscomms.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julielawless  Stonehaven Transactions  With decades of commercial and legal experience in M&A and other transactions in the animal health sector, Stonehaven Transactions guides small and large life science companies and investors through buy-side or sell-side transactions, license deals and commercial collaborations, ensuring value maximization, a seamless process, optimized synergies, and long-term growth.  🌐 https://sc.group/transactions/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-beatrice-vos-4184201  S&P Global Animal Health  Beyond the headlines, S&P Global Animal Health provides expert insights for your animal health business.  🌐 https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/industries/agriculture/animal-health  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-harvey-08109916